Communion Service

Sermon Introduction

Jesus prayed at every major crisis point in His life.

He prayed at the time of His baptism

Luke 3:21 NKJV

21 When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.

and at the time of the choosing of His disciples.

Luke 6:12 NKJV

12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

He was often alone praying.

Luke 5:16 NKJV

16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

Luke 9:18 NKJV

18 And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

and also prayed with others around.

Luke 9:28–29 NKJV

28 Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.

He prayed for Simon

Luke 22:32 NKJV

32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

and He prayed in the garden before His betrayal.

Luke 22:40–44 NKJV

40 When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” 43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

He even prayed on the cross.

Luke 23:46 NKJV

46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.

So One of His disciples, impressed with Jesus’ life of prayer, asked Jesus to teach them to pray.

1. The Parable of the Persistent Friend Vs. 5-8

Continuing with the subject of prayer, the Lord gave an illustration designed to show God’s willingness to hear and answer the petitions of His children.

The story has to do with a man who had a guest arrive at his home at midnight. Unfortunately he did not have enough food on hand.

So he went to a neighbor, knocked on his door, and asked for three loaves of bread. At first the neighbor was annoyed by the interruption to his sleep and didn’t bother to get up.

But because of the persistent banging and shouting of the worried host, he finally did get up and give him what he needed.

In applying this illustration we must be careful to avoid certain conclusions:

It doesn’t mean that God is annoyed by our persistent requests.

And it doesn’t suggest that the only way to get our prayers answered is to be persistent.

It does teach that if a man is willing to help a friend because of his importunity, God is much more willing to hear the cries of His children.  

2. Second Point Vs. 9-10

It teaches that we should not grow weary or discouraged in our prayer life. “Keep on asking … keep on seeking … keep on knocking.…”

ILLUSTRATION: Asking is simply expressing your need to God. Ask, and you will receive. What a beautiful promise!

The word “seek” intensifies the process. We seek when we don’t know where something is.

In seeking we understand that there is concentrated time and effort involved.

So yes, prayer is asking, but it is not a hit and run. We spend time seeking God in prayer and in his word.

Seeking is a process, and it doesn’t happen all at once.

ILLUSTRATION: About playing Hide n’ Seek with kids.

The word “knock” intensifies the process even further. Whereas seeking implies that you haven’t found something yet, knocking implies that it is shut off from you.

It’s the picture of the closed door that stands in your way. Have you ever had a closed door in your life?

Some doors are shut so tightly, we could never open them on our own, but our God can open any door.

Sometimes God answers our prayers the first time we ask. But in other cases He answers only after prolonged asking.

God answers prayers:

Sometimes, when hearts are weak,

He gives the very gifts believers seek;

But often faith must learn a deeper rest,

And trust God’s silence when He does not speak;

For He whose name is love will send the best,

Stars may burn out, nor mountain walls endure,

But God is true; His promises are sure.

He is our strength.

—M.G.P.

The parable seems to teach increasing degrees of importunity—asking to seeking to knocking.