Giving
Welcome to Refinery Life Australia.
This week we start a new study focusing on some of Jesus’ great parables, it is titled The Parables of Jesus Continue to Speak.
Today we are talking about Parable of the Friend at Midnight.
Text
Luke 11:9-10 AMP
9 “So I say to you, ask and keep on asking, and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking, and you will find; knock and keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
10 For everyone who keeps on asking [persistently], receives; and he who keeps on seeking [persistently], finds; and to him who keeps on knocking [persistently], the door will be opened.
Scripture Reading
Luke 11:1-13 AMP
Instruction about Prayer
11 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.”
2 He said to them,
“When you pray, say:
‘Father, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
3 ‘Give us each day our [e]daily bread.
4 ‘And forgive us our sins,
For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us [who has offended or wronged us].
And lead us not into temptation [but rescue us from evil].’”
Parable of Persistence
5 Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves [of bread];
6 for a friend of mine who is on a journey has just come to visit me, and I have nothing to serve him’;
7 and from inside he answers, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’
8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything just because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence and boldness he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
9 “So I say to you, ask and keep on asking, and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking, and you will find; knock and keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
10 For everyone who keeps on asking [persistently], receives; and he who keeps on seeking [persistently], finds; and to him who keeps on knocking [persistently], the door will be opened.
11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish?
12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
13 If you, then, being evil [that is, sinful by nature], know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!”
Prayer
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
Introduction
The words of today’s Scripture reading are not specifically declared as a parable.
However, some people identify it as one.
And since a parable is a story used to teach a lesson, I will treat this passage as a parable for today’s message.
We find some big little words in these verses, words that are short in the number of letters but big in meaning.
One of these words is the two letter word “if”.
Notice how it is used in this passage.
First, Jesus said if a mere friend does not want to give because of inconvenience but will give when asked urgently, how much more will God give?
Second, Jesus said if a mere part will give and not mock, how much more will the heavenly Father give?
Since this is the central message of the passage, let’s have a look at it using two phrases.
- “Because of his persistence and boldness.”
- Consider this picture.
It is a picture of sheer desperation.
A picture of shame.
Thus this is the perfect picture of a person lost in sin.
In the Scripture passage the man was desperate because he failed to plan ahead.
In modern life the reasons are very similar.
B. Consider this lesson.
The lesson is that a person brings this condition of desperation on himself.
It is the result of sinful attitudes and behaviour.
Humankind is lost because of sin.
Some Christians are ineffective because of it.
2. “So I say to you, ask and keep on asking”
- These words are intended as words of hope.
Even though a person may be lost in desperation, God is ready, willing, and able to do something about it.
He offers hope to those who ask for his help in sincerity.
He is able to meet all needs.
B. We need only to ask, seek, and knock.
- These words are continuous action.
They do not relate to a singular attitude or activity but to the continuous attitude of a person and his or her relation to God.
Christians are to keep on asking, seeking, and knocking.
2. The passage referred to as the Lord’s prayer reflects this attitude.
- We must have an attitude of confidence.
The term “Father” indicates someone who is close to hand.
God is always close by, and believers are to pray with an attitude of faith in him.
b. We must have an attitude of reverence.
“Hallowed be thy name.”
The word “name” denotes all that God is in character.
Believers are to treat His name as holy.
c. We must have an attitude of submission.
“Thy kingdom come.”
This refers to the rule and reign of God.
Submission begins with an openness to God’s will, starting within our heart and moving out to others hearts.
d. We must have an attitude of dependance.
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
Bread stands for everything we need for earthly existence.
Believers are to depend on God to supply their “daily bread.”
e. We must have an attitude of repentance.
“Forgive us our sins.”
When believers pray for forgiveness, they confess.
Forgiveness means to send away.
F. We must have an attitude of humility.
“Lead us not into temptation.”
This is a prayer for deliverance from temptation.
It is also a prayer for strength to resist temptation.
Conclusion.
In today’s message we have discussed how to have our needs met.
Our greatest need is eternal salvation.
We need to ask for forgiveness and receive it.
Let’s do it right now.
Until next time
Stay in the Blessings
Giving
I really want to encourage you to be diligent with your Bible study time, because God has so much more for us than we can get from just going to church once or twice a week and hearing someone else talk about the Word.
When you spend time with God, your life will change in amazing ways, because God is a Redeemer.
Theres nothing thats too hard for Him, and He can make you whole, spirit, soul and body!
You’re important to God, and you’re important to us at www.refinerylife.org
When it comes to prayer, we believe that God wants to meet your needs and reveal His promises to you.
So whatever you’re concerned about and need prayer for we want to be here for you! Or even if you just want to say Hi, you can contact us
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