Keep on Asking: The Power of Persistent Prayer

Series: What He Said – The Parables of Jesus #18

Luke 11:5–13 ESV

5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Introduction:

Have you ever wanted something so badly that you refused to give up? Maybe as a child, you kept asking your parents for a toy, a snack, or to stay up late. No matter how many times they said no, you kept asking, kept pleading, kept hoping.

Or maybe as an adult, you’ve been in a situation where you had to press through obstacles—a job application that got rejected, a relationship that seemed broken, a financial burden that wouldn’t lift. But something inside you wouldn’t let you quit.

Jesus tells a parable about a man who had a need and refused to take no for an answer. He went to his friend’s house at midnight—an inconvenient hour—and knocked. At first, the friend refused. But the man kept on knocking. He kept on asking. He kept on seeking. And because of his persistence, he got what he needed!

This parable teaches us one of the most important lessons about prayer: Don’t stop knocking! Don’t stop asking! Don’t stop believing!

Let’s walk through this passage together and see what Jesus is teaching us about persistence in prayer.

Transition: The text first teaches us. . .

The Urgency of Persistent Prayer (vv.5-8)

Luke 11:5–8 ESV

5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.

Jesus describes a situation that many in His day would have understood. Hospitality was a sacred duty in Jewish culture, and to run out of food when a guest arrived would have been embarrassing. The man in the parable had no choice but to go to his friend’s house and ask for help—even though it was late at night.

At first, the friend resisted. He didn’t want to get out of bed, and he was reluctant to help. But the man at the door did not stop knocking. He kept asking, kept pleading, kept making his need known.

Now, here’s what we need to understand about first-century homes:

Most families lived in small, one-room houses where everyone slept on mats close together.

The door was bolted shut and opening it would wake up the whole household!

That’s why the friend says in verse 7: "Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything."

In other words, "Man, it’s too late for this! Stop knocking!"

But the man at the door doesn’t stop knocking!

Jesus says in verse 8: "Though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence (shameless persistence), he will rise and give him whatever he needs."

The Greek word for impudence (anaideia, ἀναίδεια) means bold audacity—an unashamed refusal to give up

Illustration:

Imagine a man standing before a source of fresh water, desperately wanting to quench his thirst. Instead of just standing there, he begins to dig. Hour after hour passes, and he hits nothing but dirt. But he feels a burning desire to keep digging. Finally, at the depth of his persistence, the water bursts forth. So it is with prayer - God rewards our earnest efforts in the end.

So it is with prayer! Some of us are standing right where the blessing is, but we’re unwilling to dig deep. We pray once, and when we don’t see immediate results, we stop. But Jesus teaches us to keep knocking, keep seeking, keep asking!

There are times in our lives when we must approach God with this same level of urgency.

Some breakthroughs won’t come in a single prayer.

Some doors won’t open with a casual knock.

Some blessings will only come when we demonstrate faith through persistence!

🔹 Are you willing to dig deeper in prayer, trusting that God will bring the breakthrough at just the right time? Because if you keep pressing, keep praying, keep knocking—the water will flow, and the door will open!

Transition: Now, if persistence can move a reluctant friend, imagine what it can do with a loving Father! But Jesus doesn’t stop here—He takes the lesson even deeper!

The Promise of Persistent Prayer (vv.9-10)

Luke 11:9–10 ESV

9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

After telling the parable, Jesus gives an important teaching:

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

These words are not one-time actions. In the Greek, the verbs are in the present active tense, meaning:

Keep on asking – Don’t stop praying.

Keep on seeking – Don’t stop pursuing God’s will.

Keep on knocking – Don’t stop believing that God will answer.

This is a progression of persistence:

Asking – A request for help.

Seeking – A pursuit that requires effort.

Knocking – A sign that you have arrived at the place where the answer is.

Jesus is teaching us that persistence is the key to answered prayer.

Why do we need to persist?

Because delay does not mean denial – God’s timing is perfect, even when it doesn’t match ours.

Because persistence strengthens faith – Every prayer is an act of trust in God’s goodness.

Because God is shaping us through the process – Sometimes, He delays the answer to work on our character before He gives the blessing.

Cross-References:

James 5:16 ESV

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV

17 pray without ceasing,

Illustration:

Think about a child who keeps asking their father for something. At first, the father might hesitate—not because he doesn’t want to give, but because he wants to see if the child truly values it. The father knows that some gifts mean more when they are sought after with persistence. And when that child keeps coming, keeps asking, keeps showing that they truly desire it—the father delights in giving it.

Now, how much more does our Heavenly Father want us to press in and trust Him?

Have you given up on something you should still be praying for?

Have you stopped knocking on a door that God hasn’t finished working on yet?

Don’t let delay make you doubt. Keep pressing, keep seeking, keep asking—because Jesus is teaching us that the more we press in through prayer, the deeper our faith grows!

Transition: But some might wonder—will God really respond? Will He actually answer? Jesus knew we’d have that question, so He takes us even deeper!

The Heart of the Father (vv.11-13)

Luke 11:11–13 ESV

11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Jesus now shifts the focus from our persistence to God’s generosity.

If an earthly father, who is sinful, knows how to give good gifts to his children…

Then how much more will our perfect Heavenly Father give to His children who ask?

Jesus asks rhetorical questions:

If a child asks for bread, would a father give a stone?

If a child asks for a fish, would a father give a serpent?

If a child asks for an egg, would a father give a scorpion?

Of course not! A loving father gives what is good, not what is harmful.

Then Jesus makes an amazing promise: "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"

Jesus reveals that the greatest gift God gives in response to persistent prayer is not just material blessings, but Himself—His Spirit!

This connects with other promises:

John 7:37–39 ESV

37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Acts 2:38–39 ESV

38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Illustration:

In the midst of a harsh winter, a small boy was shivering outside a bakery. He pressed his nose against the warm glass, wishing he could have even a crumb of the fresh bread inside. The baker, noticing, took pity on him and handed him a whole loaf. That generous act warmed the boy's heart, reminding him of the kindness that exists even in the coldest of times. Similarly, experiencing the heart of God means receiving His generosity and love, which can melt the coldest of hearts.

And isn’t that just like our God? So many times, we stand before Him, longing for just a little help, just a small blessing, just a moment of relief. But instead of handing us crumbs, He gives us the whole loaf! He doesn’t just meet our needs—He exceeds them!

Jesus wants us to understand that God is not a reluctant friend who has to be pressured into giving. No! He is a loving Father who delights in blessing His children.

When we persist in prayer, God doesn’t just give us what we ask for—He gives us more of Himself!

He fills us with His Spirit, His presence, and His power!

He reminds us that we don’t have to stand in the cold, longing for just a crumb, when He has a feast prepared for us!

Are you asking God for the right things? Sometimes, we pray for lesser things when God wants to give us something greater—more of His Spirit, more of His power, and more of His presence! Don't just settle for crumbs—keep knocking, and let God give you the fullness of what He has for you!

Transition: You got to keep praying!

Conclusion:

Jesus teaches us that when it comes to prayer, persistence pays off.

If a friend will respond because of persistence…

If an earthly father will give good gifts to his children…

Then how much more will our God answer when we keep asking?

Somebody here needs to keep knocking!

Don’t give up on that prayer request you’ve been bringing before God.

Don’t stop praying for that lost loved one to come to Christ.

Don’t quit believing that God can heal your body, restore your family, and open doors that seem shut.

Because God is faithful! And when we persist in prayer, we will find that the One who stands behind that door is not a reluctant friend, but a loving Father!

So, keep knocking, church… because the door is about to open!

Blind Bartimaeus kept crying out, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" And Jesus stopped for him!

The woman with the issue of blood pressed through the crowd until she touched the hem of His garment!

The Canaanite woman kept pleading, and Jesus said, "O woman, great is your faith!"

If they kept knocking and God answered—so will He answer you!

And let me remind you… there was another time when someone kept on knocking!

On the third day, Jesus knocked on the door of the grave!

Death tried to keep Him in, but the door had to open!

Early Sunday morning, the stone rolled away—because God answers persistent faith!

Keep knocking, church… because the door is about to open!