Father and Friend
Notes
Transcript
Open your bible with me to Luke 11:5-13
What would you ask for if you could ask God for anything? If you knew that God would give you whatever you desired. What would you pray for? Where our first inclination might be great joy in receiving whatever we may wish. I think for the more careful observer to that question, if they were honest, would reveal just how far our hearts were from the heart of God. And further, how those gifts that we prescribe as good are actually far from the good gift that God gives to His children, namely His Holy Spirit.
The gift of God’s Spirit to His people is, as Jesus says here, the good gift of the Father, through the Son. He is the good gift that Father gives. And sadly, He is often forgotten to be desired among God’s people. So we might ask for many things, but more of His Spirit would likely fail to make our list. But it is the giving of the Spirit of God that truly changes our lives! One such believer who knows this reality is John Newton, the former slave trader, who God saved and who became a preacher and a hymn writer. It was Newton, the former captain of “The Greyhound,” who was caught by a violent storm. As the storm tossed the ship, Newton wondered if he would survive. As his life seemed to perish before him, he reflected on his life, which, to this point, he had lived without God. He concluded that his sins were too great to be forgiven. Yet, as he continued to ponder a life with God and living unto God, he knew that the best way forward was a life compelled, governed, and controlled by the Holy Spirit, and living in the power of the Gospel. Eventually, Newton found himself drawn over and over to this passage, specifically Luke 11:13, where God promised to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” And, as a consequence, Newton was soon saved.
It is this reality that we enter, that there is no greater gift that God could give to His children than the gift of Himself. The imparting of His Spirit to His children. The spirit of God that transforms lives. The Spirit of God, who convicts us, guides us, indwells us, transforms us, inspires, and leads us to live lives in step with the Gospel that we have received. It is why Paul would commend the Ephesians, in Ephesians 5:18, “but be filled with the Spirit”.
The gift of the Spirit of God is often neglected, but how muchhe is needed in our lives.
And so Jesus continues to instruct His disciples on prayer. And He teaches them of God’s love and God’s concern and wisdom in giving good gifts to His children. The intimacy, the nearness, and the relationship that we are invited into through prayer with the HOLY GOD of Heaven, who governs and rules all things, whose Kingdom is come, who has forgiven our sins, and leads us NOT into temptation. Gives to us good gifts and welcomes us to pray in relationship with Him!! And the greatest of all, imparts to us, His Spirit!!
Sermon Summary: God welcomes His children in prayer.
And you can add to that, that God gives to His children, wise and good gifts. He gives to us the best gift!..... Even when we don’t have the wisdom to even ask for what is best, given the opportunity to ask for anything.
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!”
This is God’s word, let’s pray.
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I. The Parable: Bold Request at Midnight (v. 5–8)
I. The Parable: Bold Request at Midnight (v. 5–8)
I want to set this in its proper context. Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray, and he has just given them the means and principles of the Lord’s Prayer, the Disciples’ prayer as we looked at a couple of weeks ago. Jesus continues to instruct his disciples in this way.
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.
There is a story in Gen 18: God has just reaffirmed his covenant with Abraham, despite the fact that he and Sarah, who is barren, and Abraham, who is old and advanced in years. And they come to dwell by the oak of Mamre. And the Lord draws near, through 3 visitors. The visitors, though unexpected, are welcomed by Abraham. They feed them, and which one appears to be the Lord himself, affirming the promises of God to Abraham, but also of His intention to judge Sodom, in which Abraham in turn interceded for Sodom. That story is likely in the background here.
When Jesus tells of a man travelling at night, arriving at the home of a friend, in need of food. The friend of the traveler, by all measures of hospitality, would have been expected to provide a meal and welcome him in his home after his travel. And Jesus tells a parable. Teaching his disciples on prayer – asks a question – WHICH of YOU has a friend…..When you have a travelling companion who arrives late at night, which would NOT have been uncommon, in order to avoid the heat of the day. And let’s say Jesus says, "You have nothing for him… so you go next door and ask your neighbor, your other friend next door, for bread – like you are to ask the Lord for daily bread."
And this “friend”, rather than helping him. Gives a quadruple denial of aid.
Don’t Bother me
The door is shut
My children are in bed – you’ll wake them, sleeping in the same room, and the same bed
I cannot give you anything
And yet in verse 8, something changes: the friend decides to get up and give him whatever he needs.
Now, this is interesting….And typically, this verse is taught to teach on persistence in prayer. And that is a truth that Jesus does teach later in Luke 18. So I want to say that the idea of persistence in prayer is certainly a biblical truth and is often taught from this passage…, and there may be a slight hint in that direction, I just don’t believe that is the point here.
Now, I’ve wrestled with this….for 2 weeks. I’ve studied and read a good bit. And know that I’m NOT alone in this interpretation, but I also know that I’m going against the grain by interpreting the passage this way; nonetheless, it is a view that is growing in understanding…So I say all of this humbly, but I say it with conviction that this passage is NOT teaching so much about persistence as it is the goodness of God towards his children.
The entire passage hangs on how you interpret verse 8, what direction the pronouns are going, and honestly, how you interpret one little word – impudence (ἀναίδεια)….It’s a word used only here in the entire bible. And to complicate this further, it’s used in a parable, where the meaning is intentionally hidden. To add to the difficulty, translators have to make an interpretive call when translating this verse, and some have even opted for the word 'persistence'.
If the word is interpreted positively, it means shamelessness, it means bold persistence, audacity. A shameless audacity. In this view, it is positive and meant to convey the friend's persistence in BOLDLY petitioning his neighbor to give him what he needs!
Yet, if the word is interpreted negatively, it means shameful fear. The fear of shame in NOT meeting a request. In which it is negative and in regard to the shame of the neighbor (the sleeper) that he will incur for NOT helping. And this is the view I take… and I take it for a few reasons.
The first is that this word, when used outside of the Bible, is always interpreted with negative connotations. Many commentators acknowledge that the word calls for disapproval. In fact, there is no evidence that this word would have been understood to mean importunity or persistence. So, for the bible to reinterpret this word to mean something positive is just odd at best. The problem then becomes: what is happening here? And I believe the intended meaning of this word is negative.
First, because the word itself is negative, and here are my other reasons for this view.
Jesus is asking a question-"Who has a friend like this?"} (the question extends through verse 7… that when you go to him in the middle of the night, and need something, he won’t help you and give you anything?…. would give you a 4-fold denial of help. The language is filled with suspicion of this friend, who, on a base reading of this passage, we clearly see….he’s no friend at all!!
And Jesus says, " Who has a friend like this?
Only further, the emphasis then, is on who this friend is!! That when someone comes to his door and says, "I can’t get up," he shuts the door on him. My kids are asleep, go away. The focus is on the sleeper. I take that to mean Jesus is making a point about the sleeper here.
Then, when you look at the pronouns, I take them to be read this way.
8 I tell you, though he will not getup (sleeper) and give him (the man in need) anything because he is his friend (sleeper), yet because of his impudence he will rise (the sleeper!!) and give him whatever he needs (the sleeper).
He’s the one completing the action….and he’s the suspicious “friend” in view here of Jesus question….in fact, the only reason he helps is that he cannot bear the thought of his name being tarnished…the shame involved in a neighbor coming to you in need, and you have no help for him….
Imagine your neighbor, whose wife is pregnant, knocking on your door at midnight, saying-" NOT that I need bread; that’s hard for us to wrap our heads around"-but instead saying, "my wife is in labor, and I went to start the car, and the battery is dead."I need to borrow your car….and you say, “go away! My kids are asleep, and you shut the door in his face……some friend!! ……and then you think, oh man, when word gets out about this….I’m going to be known as the resident JERK!!.... I can’t allow that to happen… so you toss the keys and say, " Have it….take for as long as you need!
That’s NOT a true friend, THAT’s trying to save face!!
And I believeJesus is connecting this in a few ways….You have these petitions to give us our daily bread….and you come now to a neighbor asking for bread, and he doesn’t give it? What kind of friend is this… who has a friend like that?… he doesn’t have that friend for long, I know that…
And Jesus is saying, and you don’t have a God like that either….You have a loving FATHER, and he’s NOT some useless friend, who knows your need and says “GO AWAY!!”…..and you come to him, even at midnight, beloved, the Lord never slumbers or sleeps. You are NOT a bother to HIM!! Instead, he welcomes you!! He’s NOT annoyed by your requests, and he doesn’t shut the door in your face. No, he delights in meeting you with mercy, in your need!!
And God is NOT a God who is looking to “save face.” And acting selfishly, looking to preserve Himself…NO!! God responds NOT to save face, but out of his character!! He gives! He gives of Himself….and He imparts Himself to us, through His spirit.
I think to understand this passage this way, the flow is crystal clear!! You come and pray to God, who is your Father, recognizing His name is Holy! His character is good!! Petition that His kingdom come, His will be done!! And when you ask for daily bread, and for deliverance, He responds…..
Which of you has a friend, like this, when you have a need, and goes to him asking for bread, turns you away, and only responds when he thinks about himself?
Well, you don’t have a God like that either!! You have a loving Father! Who loves you! Put’s His reputation on the line in leading you….Psalm 23:3 “He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
So come, ASK, SEEK, and KNOCK! When you come and ask in prayer, it will be given to you. WHAT FATHER among you, when his son asks for a fish, will give him a serpent, or asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion????.....
If you know how to give good gifts, and you are evil (and I think this is pointing back to the sleeper)….then how much more will your heavenly Father?
That’s how I’m interpreting this passage. And the implications are minor, and certainly there is truth to persistence, but I don’t believe that is being emphasized here nearly as much as the goodness of God towards His children.
----------------------------------------------- The Bold Request at Midnight
II. The Principle: Ask, Seek, Knock (v. 9–10)
II. The Principle: Ask, Seek, Knock (v. 9–10)
Alright, point one was a little long and required me to show my cards. It also naturally flowed to interpret the remaining verses in this passage. We will move quickly through the remaining points.
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.
These verses contain a form of synonymous parallelism. Where the same thought is repeated rhythmically. (ASK, SEEK, KNOCK). All these verbs are PRESENT, ACTIVE, IMPERATIVE. ASK and keep on asking. Seek and keep on seeking. Knock and keep on knocking. So there is a piece of persistence that is, here. Again, that is a biblical principle, but I don’t believe that is the main point of the rest of the passage; instead, it is emphasizing the greater principle behind the principle. WHY, we ask, seek, and knock!....because we have a better friend and greater father!
ASK - an invitation to pray (Luke 11:10,13; Matt 18:19; Mark 11:24; John 11:22; Eph 3:20)
SEEK- invitation to pursue God and His will (Deut 4:29, 2 Sam 21:1, Ps 105:4, Isa 65:1, Luke 13:24, Acts 17:27, Jer 29:12-14). Seeking first the kingdom of God (Luke 12:22-43)
KNOCK - coming into the presence and blessing of the Lord.
This is expectation! God will respond. But these verses do not teach that God gives us whatever we want; rather, they speak to God’s good and right provision.
See James 1:5-8, James 4:3. See also 2 Cor 12:7-10).
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
This is whatPaul learned and practiced…. NOT that God gives us everything we desire, but what is good and right, for our good, and His glory!!
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
The point is NOT about getting everything you want just because you ask for it. The point is NOT even about persistence, per se…The point is on the right provision of God’s goodness, when we come and ask, seek, and knock!
There is an argument here, isn’t there…and it’s building. The point is that we ask, seek, and knock, because when we do, we receive… we find…, and when we knock, it will be opened…
God is NOT a friend who closes the door on us!! He is a God who gives. He is a good friend who responds! …He is NOT a God who is distant, but a God who draws near. When we ask him, we receive. When we seek, we find, and when we knock….the door is opened!
NOT because God gives always us what we want, but responds to His children this way….and the argument continues, doesn’t it?
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III. The Reason: God Is a Better Father (v.11–13)
III. The Reason: God Is a Better Father (v.11–13)
Notice the mirroring taking place…Another question is being asked. Almost bracketing the passage, to draw us to the point….FIRST of A FRIEND….now a FATHER….
The first question was “Which of you has a friend like this….” And now, “what Father among you…..
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!”
The response is called a Qal Wahomer, in which the argument is presented from lesser to greater. If humans who are sinful know how to give good gifts to their children. Then HOW MUCH MORE does God know how to give good gifts to his children who ask!
Fish and Serpent look similar. Both have scales of sorts. Then think of something like an eel-like creature. Likewise, an egg and a scorpion look similar. Imagine a curled-up scorpion and its rounded egg-like shape.
Moreover, Fish and eggs are common, but snakes and scorpions are deadly. These are both associated with Evil (see Luke 10:19).
Jesus has come to destroy evil, NOT give evil as gifts. People are NOT so cruel, and neither is God.
You think about this – God is NOT into bait-and-switch. Thinking you are receiving one thing when, in reality, you receive another. That, beloved, is a tactic of SATAN….the EVIL one. Who promises life, but gives death. Who promises joy that gives destruction, that promises satisfaction in the form of poison.
Jesus is saying that God’s character is NOT one of deception. This is the tactic of EVIL. And even humans recognize that and wouldn’t do such a thing, and HOW MUCH more does your FATHER know how to give THE HOLY SPIRIT!
God is NOT a deceiver, to pretend to give us something good, but is really harmful, or even deadly. So while God may NOT always give us what matches our expectations, he will never disguise evil!
Because God is a better FATHER, and Jesus says this so pointedly. Who can imagine a father doing this? What Father among you would do this? The logical answer is NOT one in their right mind!! A father loves their children! He will only give HIS CHILD what is good, what is right, never evil!!
AND HOW MUCH MORE with GOD! So, while sometimes what he gives may surprise us. He will never betray us!
And that leads us to the greatest gift!
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IV. The Promise: God Gives the Greatest Gift (v.13)
IV. The Promise: God Gives the Greatest Gift (v.13)
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!”
The logic of this text is clear. Jesus is making a simple but powerful point. That the good gift that God gives is the Holy Spirit. To say it another way, God does NOT just give better gifts. He gives a better gift! And the greater gift is the gift of himself.
That is to say that when we come to God in prayer, the greatest gift we receive is the gift of God HIMSELF. WE get HIM! We get the GIFT-giver, who is the GIFT!
That is when we ask God for bread, and fish, and provision. God gives to us HIMSELF. He gives us PRESENCE!! His answer is GREATER than our request! When we request relief, God gives us the strength to stand. Endurance to remain steadfast in trial. His power in us! When we ask for direction and wisdom. God gives to us HIS PRESENCE and PERSON! And when we ask for provision, that God would meet us in our need. God gives to an abiding relationship. All through HIS SPIRIT in us, as HIS CHILDREN!
God is NOT deceptive in that He will give you a snake for a fish. And God is NOT evil that He will give you a scorpion for an egg. God is generous. He is relational. He comes to us and imparts to us the greater gift. He doesn’t just answer our prayers.
He is NOT the selfish sleeper in the house; only moved to spare his reputation and gives nothing until he feels the cost. No, God has given extravagantly. He hears us and is moved to meet us in our need. Because this is what God has done for us through Christ. He has loved us while we were enemies. He has pursued us even when we were sinners and deserving of condemnation. God loved us. And they demonstrated that love, at great cost to HIMSELF!! He gave HIS LIFE TO REDEEM US!! Everything about “God gives Himself” is proven at the cross through Jesus Christ.
1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
This is the love of God through Jesus Christ! And those who are in Christ have HIS SPIRIT. It is the work of His Spirit that transforms us. That causes us to be born again. That cleansesus. Makes us new creatures in Christ. Claims us to Christ, Marks us as Christ’s and Secures us in Christ!
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Having the Spirit of Christ is what it means to be in Christ. And this is why Jesus would say in John 3:5-8
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
And this is why the Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:5-11. In fact, turn there so that you can see this. Romans 8 is NOT just a text about sweet promises of God in Christ, but a chapter about God’s great work in Christ, by the Spirit. In other words, it is a text, just as much about the Spirit’s work, as it is hope and promises in God. It is a beautiful chapter, isn’t it?
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
And it is to the Spirit that we are indebted
12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
And it’s by the Spirit we live.
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
And it’s according to the Spirit we are led
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
And it’s the Spirit work of adoption as children….
15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
And it is the Spirit of God, who confirms His work in our hearts, that we might live as His Children
16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Beloved, there is no greater gift!! God does NOT just give what you ask for—He gives what you need most. And what you need most…is Him.
Do you see it? Life, leading, adoption, assurance—all of it comes from the Spirit God has given you.”
That God gives LIFE to us as His children. He leads us as His Children! He adopts us as His children. And He gives us assurance as CHILDREN….through His Spirit!
Through Jesus Christ, God has NOT only made a way for us to come, but He has given us His very Spirit so that we would know we belong. So when you come to God in prayer, you are NOT coming as an outsider trying to get His attention—you are coming as a child who already has His heart. And that is why we can ask, seek, and knock with confidence… because God does NOT just hear His children—He welcomes them.
He is NOT a false friend who won’t open the door, except to save FACE….He puts his reputation on the line for us. He’s given His life to save us! His name is HIS HALLOWED and deserving of GLORY, BECAUSE OF HIS WORK of REDEMPTION! He is NOT a God who stands idly by. He is a God who acts to save a people for HIS OWN GLORY!
And he’s NOT an absent father, who deceives His children and disguises evil with good. He is a good and loving father. A father who is king. And the King who has invited us to come to him! And a king who welcomes us as children in the Kingdom, and who has received the very gift of His presence in us!
Oh, what a great Father He is! And so when you pray, know this to be the truth. This is the God to whom you pray.
Sermon Summary: God welcomes His children in prayer.
