About a year ago we were introduced to the concept of a three legged stool. We found by examining scripture that their were three necessary functions for God’s church. Do you remember what they were?
Committed to the word of God, Worship, taking the time to stop our lives and personally connect with God, and Fellowship- encouraging and building each other to be the best that we can be.
In lieu of this I want to spend the next few weeks leading into the summer reviewing the basics. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of life sometimes we miss it. And one of the key basics that we miss has to do with prayer. I truly believe when you and I get to heaven in the midst of the glory of heaven we will see firsthand the power of prayer and what could have and would have happened if only we had prayed.
Before we tackle our scripture passage, I have a question of two to ponder? Assuming all of you in here have a relationship with Jesus Christ? And as a result of that relationship with Christ can approach the throne of Almighty God with our prayers? And knowing that the Bible clearly invites us to ask not only for ourselves but for others. And With such verses like you have not because you ask not or Ask and it shall be given unto you seek and you shall find. Why don’t we pray? Why don’t we regularly lay everything of our lives at the feet of God? Why do we live our lives and make life decisions without everything seeking the counsel of God? Practically living our lives as if God doesn’t exist.
As you ponder that question, you may truthfully wonder if God is really listening? Wondering and feeling like Prayer is a waste of time with our words and our requests going no further than the ceilings of our rooms.
Perhaps you feel like Franklin Roosevelt did when he was president of the United States. He often endured long receiving lines at the White House and complained that no one really paid attention to what was said. One day, during a reception, he decided to try an experiment. To each person who came down the line and shook his hand he murmured, "I murdered my grandmother this morning." The guests responded in typical fashion with phrases like, "Marvelous! Keep up the good work. We are proud of you. God bless you, sir." It was not till the end of the line, while greeting the ambassador from Bolivia, that his words were actually heard. Unrattled, the ambassador leaned over and whispered, "I’m sure she had it coming."
Truth be known, that’s the way a lot of us feel. We’re more surprised when our prayers yield answers that when they don’t. What you need to understand is that unanswered prayer should be the exception and not the norm. We were created by a God who is more willing to answer us than we are to ask him.
Jesus taught his followers the characteristics of effective prayer. If you want to pray and see results then begin to apply his advice. And so it is here that we will pick back up our scripture passage.
Turn with me to Luke 11: 5-10
In this parable are found several important keys to effective praying.
First, It begins with a relationship.
Look back at verse 5, suppose one of you has a friend…
This is perhaps of the most important keys. It is out of the relationship where the praying begins. At the church many times the phone will ring and the person on the other side will say, “Do you help people with things?” I little leary I usually respond Yes, some things” What do you need? And they’ll usually begin to tell me the tough life situation they are in. They are calling asking for help. I usually give the names of different places near them where they can get help. But usually my help is rather limited.
But the situation changes if someone who is a friend, family member, or church member. I tend to become more personally involved and may tend to offer tangible practical help. I remember in one church that same type call caused me to spend the later part of an entire day trying to help this person. What made the difference? We had a relationship.
If all you have is what your mind tells you about God, or what you read in a book, or even what you have memorized, that won’t help you- that is religion. What will help you is entering in committing your life to a personal growing relationship with Jesus Christ. You see the person calling me couldn’t have known everything about me, have memorized my entire resume and even carried a picture of me in his wallet, but if he had never introduced himself to me, I would still not know who he was and the compulsion to help would be limited.
Prayer is an outflow of the relationship. You can not even begin to understand prayer with out it.
Second, it’s aimed at something specific
… Friend lend me three loaves of bread… Because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before Him.
The man went to the friend not with a vague request but a very specific request, three loaves of bread.
In order to grasp the significance of the friend‘s dilemma, you must understand a bit of their culture. In those days hospitality was a big deal. When a visitor arrived at your home it was your responsibility to set a meal before them immediately. Usually the people would bake just enough bread for the day, and when this guest arrived unexpectedly, all their daily bread had been eaten, and there was no bread in the house, so he heads down the road to ask his neighbor for help.
The same logic must be applied to prayer. Often times we see no results because we ask for nothing specific. When we pray we tend to generalize and not ask god what we really need.
"How often have we prayed something like, ’O Lord, be with cousin Billy now in a special way’? Have we stopped to consider what it is we’re requesting? Imagine that you are a parent who is preparing to leave your children with a babysitter. Would you dream of saying, ’O Betsy, I ask you now that you would be with my children in a special way?’ No way. You would say, ’Betsy, the kids need to be in bed by 9 pm. They can have one snack before their baths, and please make sure they finish their homework. You can reach us at this number if there’s any problem. Any questions before we go?’ We are very specific with our requests and instructions for our babysitters. We want them to know specifics. It should be no different with prayer."
Whatever you want God to do for you or another person, ask specifically. It’s not a petty matter to God. He is intimately interested in the details of your life. At our house we pray for all kinds of things In fact I found myself all week long praying for some pictures I had misplaced. No request is too small to God. Pray specifically. After all, how can God prove to you he’s answered your request unless you are
specific?
A third key is asking with confidence
…Then the one inside answers, Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything… Yet because of the man’s boldness, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
Or as the New living Translation outs it, He will get up and give you what you want so his reputation won’t be damaged.
He was bold. It took a lot of guts to do this. In ancient times most homes had only one room. On one end was a raised platform where everybody slept together - husband, wife, and all the children. Not only did the entire family sleep in this one room, so did all the livestock. They’d bring the chickens and goats inside too. The man knocking on the door was confident. The other fellow would have to get up, possibly wake up his wife and kids, stir up the animals, light a lamb, go unlock and open the door and give the man some bread.
The one knocking was confident because he knew his neighbor’s reputation was on the line. Remember, hospitality was a big deal and the neighbor didn’t want to lose good standing in the community.
Jesus’ point isn’t that God will do things grudgingly because his reputation’s on the line. But He does teach us that we can be confident in prayer because of God’s character. He is compassionate and gracious and loving. He wants to answer us and he’ll do it. That is why we can rest confidently on the promises of the word of God.
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it. Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)
Ask specifically and ask confidently because God cares for your needs.
A fourth key is to be persistent
Here’s where we lose it. Most often we don’t see results in our prayer life simply because we’re not persistent enough. We give up too soon.
Listen to verses 9-19 from the New living Translation
"And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks." Luke 11:9-10 (NLT)
Jesus’ point is that the persistent seekers find what they’re looking for. They find answers. Let me point out, however, that though we don’t always get what we ask for. we will always get an answer if we ask, seek and knock, but it may not be the answer that we want.
If God doesn’t present you with what you need, there’s a reason. Persistence helps you at least discover that reason. In his book, Too Busy Not To Pray, Bill Hybels gives us an easy way to understand what God’s up to.
"If the request is wrong, God says, ’No.’
If the timing is wrong, God says, ’Slow.’
If you are wrong, God says, ’Grow.’
But if the request is right, the timing is right,
and you are right, God says, ’Go!’
Your prayer will always be answered, but be ready because the answer might be "No," "Slow," "Grow," or "Go!" There’s a misconception that prayer is simply getting God to give you what you want. But that is simply not true.
Prayer is no more than the process by which God changes us .I f we’re persistent he shapes us to want what he wants. He actually give us the desire to want what is right when we seek him in this way.
E. Stanley Jones said in best when he said.
"Prayer is surrender-surrender to the will of God and cooperation with that will. If I throw out a boat hook from the boat and catch hold of the shore and pull, do I pull the shore to me, or do I pull myself to the shore? Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but the aligning of my will to the will of God."
Guys, we could go on and on… But if you really want to understand prayer and to learn to prayer. We must understand these four basic keys. Prayer flows out of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, Our requests should be specific, they should stem from a bold confidence that God will and does listen and respond, and finally never quit keeping prayer even when it seems nothing is happening.
This morning I encourage you to spend time with Jesus this week in prayer. Many of you have burdens and worries that are killing you, You are emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually overloaded. Today place it all in his ever faithful and reliable hands.
Jesus calls all of us in Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, and you will find rest for your souls, For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
So what are you waiting on Give it all to Jesus and claim his perfect peace and rest.
