Keep Asking, Keep Seeking, Keep Knocking.
Stand with me and holdup your Bibles and repeat after me.
This is my Bible.
I am what it says I am.
I can do what it says I can do.
I am going to learn how to be what it says I can be.
Today I will learn more of the word of God.
The indestructible, never ending, living word Of God.
I will never be the same.
I will never be the same.
In Jesus Name
Amen?
Before you sit down, say good morning to your brothers and sisters.
Keep Asking, Keep Seeking, Keep Knocking"
Luke 11:8 (NIV)
"I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity, he will surely get up and give you as much as you need."
Introduction:
Today, we are diving into one of the most profound, yet practical teachings Jesus gives on prayer in Luke 11:8.
Turn with me in your Bibles to Luke chapter 11 and say, “amen” when you are there.
In this passage, Jesus uses the illustration of a man who goes to his friend at midnight, asking for bread. The friend initially refuses, but because of the man’s boldness and persistence, the friend eventually gives him what he needs.
This parable speaks to us not only about our relationship with God but also about the power of persistence in prayer and the heart of God toward those who seek Him.
So often in life, we can grow weary or discouraged when our prayers don’t seem to be answered right away. But Jesus encourages us to be relentless in our pursuit, to keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking—knowing that God will respond with generosity and love.
1. Shameless Audacity: Boldness in Prayer
Let’s begin by examining the "shameless audacity" that the man in this parable displays. Jesus uses this term to describe the man’s courage to approach his friend at such an inconvenient hour.
The man wasn’t concerned about disturbing his friend or about the social norms that would make such a request embarrassing. His need was great, and his faith was bold.
This boldness in asking is the kind of faith Jesus calls us to.
Too often, we may feel unworthy or hesitant to ask God for what we need. But God invites us to approach Him with confidence, knowing that He is not a distant or disinterested ruler but a loving Father who desires to meet our needs.
The Apostle James reminds us of this in James 4:2-3: "You do not have because you do not ask God."
Let that sink in for a moment. God wants to bless you, but He is waiting for you to ask, to step forward with boldness, and to present your needs to Him.
We don’t have to be perfect; we just have to trust that God is good, and He will respond.
2. Persistent Faith: Keep Asking, Keep Seeking, Keep Knocking
Jesus goes on to say, "keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking." These words emphasize that prayer is not a one-time event, but a continual, active pursuit of God.
He’s teaching us that there is power in persistence. It’s through the act of continually coming before God that our faith grows, and we learn to trust in His timing.
Think about the story of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8. She keeps going to the unjust judge, pleading for justice.
The judge, though not a good man, finally grants her request because of her persistence. Jesus tells us, "And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night?" (Luke 18:7).
The widow’s persistence was a reflection of her deep trust that, even though the judge was indifferent, someone greater was listening.
There’s a powerful lesson here: persistence is a reflection of faith. When we keep asking, we’re saying, "I believe God can and will answer. I trust Him, even when the answer doesn’t come as quickly as I expect."
Let me share a story that highlights the power of persistence.
There was a man named George Müller, a Christian missionary and philanthropist in the 19th century, who built orphanages in England. He was known for his unwavering faith in prayer. One story that stands out is of him praying for the salvation of five of his friends. Müller prayed for them daily for years. Four of them came to Christ during his lifetime. The fifth came to faith after Müller’s death—just as he had been praying for all along. This is the kind of persistence that changes lives, both ours and the world around us.
3. God’s Generosity: He Will Answer
Jesus assures us that our persistence will not go unnoticed. The friend in the parable finally responds not because of their friendship, but because of the man’s shameless audacity. He gives him what he needs because of his persistence.
Now, Jesus says, if an unwilling, reluctant friend would respond to a bold request, how much more will your loving Father, who is generous and kind, answer your prayers? God is not a distant, indifferent deity; He is a Father who longs to provide for His children. He delights in giving us what we need—and often more than we can imagine.
We see this principle play out in the story of Solomon. When Solomon was offered anything he wanted by God, he didn’t ask for wealth or power but for wisdom to govern God's people well.
God was so pleased with his request that He not only gave him wisdom but also gave him wealth and honor greater than any other king (1 Kings 3:5-14). God's generosity far exceeds our expectations.
In the same way, God doesn’t just meet our needs; He lavishes us with His goodness. He is eager to bless us, to guide us, and to answer our prayers according to His will and perfect timing.
4. Encouragement: God’s Timing
But what happens when the answer doesn’t come immediately? We may wonder, "If God is so generous, why does He sometimes delay?"
Remember, God’s timing is perfect, even when we don’t understand it. There are times when He is working behind the scenes, preparing us for what we ask or preparing what we ask for. His delay is not a denial.
Think about the story of Daniel.
In Daniel 10, Daniel prays for understanding, and the angel of the Lord tells him, "Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them" (Daniel 10:12).
Even when it seemed like God was silent, He was at work. Daniel’s persistence in prayer, even in the waiting, was a reflection of his trust in God’s perfect timing.
God is working in your life, even when you don’t see it. Don’t lose heart. Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking.
Altar Call:
As we close today, I want to encourage you to think about areas in your life where you may need to persist in prayer.
Are there dreams you’ve given up on?
Relationships you’ve stopped praying for?
Healing you’ve stopped asking for?
God is inviting you to come with boldness, with audacity, and to ask again, seek again, knock again.
If you are here today and you’ve been waiting on God’s answer, I invite you to come forward.
Let’s take a moment to lay our burdens at His feet and trust that He will answer in His time.
Don’t be afraid to ask big. Don’t be afraid to believe for the impossible. God is faithful to His promises.
Let’s pray together:
“Father, we thank You for Your generous heart, for Your kindness, and Your willingness to answer our prayers. We come to You today with boldness, with faith, and with trust that You will meet every need. Help us to persist in our prayers, to never give up, and to always believe that You are working in our lives. We trust Your timing, and we know that You are good. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
If you’d like to come forward, we invite you to do so now. God is here, and He is waiting to meet you.
May we all continue to ask, seek, and knock with unwavering faith, knowing that our Heavenly Father is faithful to answer. Keep pressing in, keep trusting, and watch as He moves in our lives.
