Persistent Prayer Series

Yet sometimes we think that the reason for our failure in prayer is that we have not been persistent enough. We say at least to ourselves, “I know that if I had prayed more, more things would happen,” that is because we have convinced ourselves that we must keep beating on God ‘s door until we overcome God’s unwillingness to act. Is that what verse eight is teaching about prayer, of course not. The meaning of the Greek word (anaideian) translated “importunity” (KJV, RSV) and as “persistence” (NKJV, NIV) is the key to understanding the lesson that Jesus is teaching here. Cirlcle this word in your Bible. This is the only time this word appears in the entire New Testament. The Greek word carries the idea of “shamelessness,” the question is which of the men in this story is shameless. Some point to the neighbor who arose and gave his friend bread, saying that he did so to avoid bringing shame to the village by breaking the rules of hospitality.

The context seems to suggest that it refers to the man who came making the request. He was shameless in his persistence, continuing his pleading until his friend responded.

But what gives us the right to come boldly or shamelessly come to God with our needs. “From Roman history comes the story of a Roman emperor in his chariot as a part of a parade, Cheering people lined the streets while the legionnaires were stationed to keep the people at a safe distance. The emperor’s family sat on a platform to watch him go by in al the pride of his position. As the emperor came near the place where his family was stationed, a young boy jumped from the platform, burrowed through the crowd, and tried to dodge a legionnaire so he could run to the emperor’s chariot. The soldier stopped him and said, “You cannot go near him.” The boy laughed, then said; “He may be your emperor but he is my father.” Then he ran into his fathers open arms.” [Martin Wiles. “Jesus on Prayer.” (Sermon Central.)

The writer of Hebrew reminds us as believer’s that because our high priest Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the father in heaven, we can “ come boldly before the throne of grace” (Heb 4:16). We have no need to fear because we are children of the king.

We are to pray boldly and

2. WE ARE TO PRAY PASSIONATELY vv. 9-10

"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

Each of the three actions, asking, seeking and knocking occurs in the present tense in the original Greek language. It thus literally; “Keep Asking, Keep Seeking and Keep Knocking.”

There is a progression in this persistence, asking, seeking and knocking. Mark these three levels of prayer in your Bible, Ask, Seek, Knock. Now let’s consider there meaning, “asking means making a simple request. Seeking implies a stronger desire and a more definite kind of request. It is something that takes time. It implies a greater sense of urgency. Knocking shows determination to get an answer.” [The Complete Biblical Library. The New Testament Study Bible – Luke. Vol. 4 (Springfield, Missouri: The Complete Biblical Library, 1988) p. 351]