Luke 11:1-4 The Model Prayer
“Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
So, He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
Luke 11:5-8 A Friend Comes at Midnight
“And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
Luke 11:9-13 Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking
“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. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
All this time, the disciples have been watching Jesus pray and get answers. Although the disciples have ministered successfully, they realize that there’s still more they need to learn. Why hasn’t Jesus taught them these principles before now? Timing is everything, and before this, the disciples probably weren’t ready emotionally or mentally. Now Jesus knows the disciples are ready and receptive.
“Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” This prayer is probably one of the simplest ones ever prayed and yet one of the most profound. People have written innumerable books about this prayer, have taught about this prayer in countless meetings, and continue to do so.
While teaching about this prayer, Jesus gives several explanations, and it is those explanations that we will look like. “And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.”
Jesus uses a common situation; a family receives a visitor at midnight and must beg for help from the neighbors. The neighbors are prepared to give whatever they have because they know next time it might be their turn. Jesus’ point is that if human neighbors will respond in emergencies, an Almighty God will do even more.
“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. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Jesus wants the disciples to know that success in prayer includes persistence and continued praying. God will bless those who are fervent in prayer and who refuse to give up. Jesus also assures the disciples that God will give good things, including the Holy Spirit, to those who ask Him. But success in prayer demands refusing to give up
One of the greatest stories Jesus tells his followers is found in Luke 18:1-8. “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”
Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
George Mueller was a man of great prayer and faith who built orphanages handling thousands of children, supported ministries, and produced Christian literature for international ministries. When one of Mueller’s close friends begged him to pray for the friend’s son’s salvation, Mueller began and continued for the next fifty years. Meanwhile, the son fled to Canada in hopes of outrunning his father’s prayers. But after Mueller’s death when the news of his demise reached Canada, that man fell to his knees and repented, becoming a fervent Christian.
Prayer and faith-the two-fold approach to success in prayer Jesus is teaching his disciples. The later success of the early church has its beginnings in these quiet talks on prayer Jesus gives his disciples. No matter what happens, Jesus always continues to prepare the disciples. Jesus always has Calvary in mind.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Please help us to persevere in prayer and to trust that You are a prayer-answering God. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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