Step Out Of The Silence - Luke 11:5-13

Step Out Of The Silence

Text: Luke 11:5-13

Introduction: (3min) Luke 18:1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

1 Timothy 2:1  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

1 Timothy 2:8  I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

1) A Habit Of Prayer Is One Of The Surest Marks Of A True Christian.

It is a sign of life

Illustration: The first sign of an infant after it is born is breathing—Prayer is equal to breathing!

Luke 18:7-8  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?  [8]  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Romans 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. When Jesus quickens He creates in the Believer a voice—God has no dumb children.

A sign of dependency

Illustration: Children cry out by nature 1) When they feel empty and weak; 2) They can’t satisfy themselves—Their only option is to cry out. Prayer is to faith what breath is to life—A man cannot live without breathing. Jesus is our best example — feeding 5000, before going to the cross, facing the Devil, etc.

Notice verse 8-9

“Importunity” — insolence n. — shameless immodesty without concern for propriety or one’s own dignity.

Jesus is saying, “If you will just stay at the door and knock long enough, He will give you the single portion, maybe even the whole deep freeze.

Jesus wants you to simply REFUSE TO GO AWAY.

This difference between the guy in the story and some of you is that he is in full connection with his need and knows who can supply it!

Did you know the Bible teaches that we’re to continually, steadfastly, come to God; that we’re to bother God; we’re to weary God; we’re to beat against heaven’s door? Adrian Rogers, “Intercessory Prayer,” in Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Signal Hill, CA: Rogers Family Trust, 2017), Lk 11:5–13.

James 5:16 “16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Quote: (Adrian Rogers) just keep on keeping on until you receive what you want from the Lord, or until the Lord tells you He has a higher plan, a different plan, or another plan for you. Don’t give up. Adrian Rogers, “Intercessory Prayer,” in Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Signal Hill, CA: Rogers Family Trust, 2017), Lk 11:5–13.

Bible examples:

Matthew 15:21–28 “21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”

Jesus was not trying to discourage her or you. He is just wanting you to continue coming back to take a crumb from His table.

Genesis 32:24–26 “24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.”

Do you really think this angel could not get away?

He wanted Jacob to embrace importunity.

2) The Neglect Of Prayer

Many are too religious

Turn to: Luke 18:10-14

There is much religion, but a vast neglect of prayer. It is one of these private transactions between God and your soul.

Quote: I believe that thousands never say a word of prayer at all. They eat: they drink; they sleep; they rise; they go forth to their labour; they return to their homes; they breathe God’s air; they see God’s sun; they walk on God’s earth; they enjoy god’s mercies; they have dying bodies; they have judgment and eternity before them. But they never speak to God! They live like the beasts that perish; they behave life creatures without souls; they have not a word to say to him in whose hand are their life, and breath, and all things, and from whose mouth they must one day receive their everlasting sentence. How dreadful this seems! But if the secrets of men were only known, how common! — J.C. Ryle

There is a form of prayer, but without meaning.

The question to ask is, “What is prayer in the sight of God?” God does not listen to your voice, but rather your heart.

Words said without heart are useless.

The tongue and lip may move, but the heart remains idle.

Many either ask for nothing or don’t mean what they ask.

Many forget the reality of people’s life

Many are forgetting the lives that many live.

Can we really suppose that people are praying against sin night and day, while watching them dive right in to it?

Can we really suppose they really pray against the worldly distraction, while they themselves are absorbed in them?

Can we really believe they are praying for grace to serve while the show zero interest in serving God?

There are 1 of 2 things that will happen: 1) Prayer will either consume sin, or 2) Sin will choke out prayer.

Prayer and sinning cannot live in the same heart!

Many are too embarrassed

Notice how the guy requesting bread is making a fool of himself.

Out in the middle of the night.

Beating on the door.

Probably getting ridiculed by his neighbors.

He spooked the neighbors dog.

People looking through the blinds and wondering, “What could this guy need so badly he would adopt such actions?”

This guy was willing to be embarrassed for the sake of his friend!

He was willing for it to cost him a little shame and sacrifice.

Quit worry about what people will think of you and start living more concerned about how God will see you!

Quote: Adrian Rogers once said, “I’ll just go ahead and admit it: I’m a nut, but I’m fastened to a good bolt.” BE A NUT FOR LORD!

3) There Is Great Encouragement In Prayer

You are encouraged to be specific

Notice the phrasing of this guy’s request:

“I want THREE LOAVES OF BREAD.”

Are you prayers so general that if God answered them would you even recognize them as yours?

Here is how a lot of prayers sound like: “Lord, please save the lost.”

That is about the safest prayer you could pray.

A better prayer would be, “Lord, save my brother or sister.”

An even better prayer would be, “Give me an opportunity today to speak to my brother about salvation.”

There is an unfailing name

1 John 2:1  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

You have an Advocate! The name of Jesus is a never failing passport to our prayers!

Your prayers are poor in themselves without the mighty power hand of your High Priest.

Illustration: A bank note without a signature is a worthless piece of paper.

When endorsed by Jesus it makes it to God’s throne and availeth much. There is everything on God’s part to make prayer easy, if men will only attempt it All things are ready on God’s side—Turn to: Luke 14:16-24

Jesus leaves all his children without excuse to not pray.

What prompted the disciples to ask Jesus to teach them how to pray?

These men began to understand that when Jesus prayed THINGS HAPPENED! (healings, various miracles, the strength to pay your debt)

There is an unfailing guide

Turn to: Romans 8:26-27  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  [27]  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

God’s Spirit will provide the words if we seek His aid. It is not you merely praying, but the Holy Spirit pleading in you—WOW!

Conclusion

Will you step out and begin a new campaign of reaching Heaven in prayer? You have all you need to move mountains. All that is lacking is a concern in your heart and a belief in God’s power. Don’t stand there silent!!!