Power of Prayer: Persistence

Introduction:

Midnight Knocker

A friend to a friend for a friend. Everyone’s friends here, but not for much longer…

Retelling the Story

Freddie starts knocking:

Whisper:

Frank, pist, I need to raid your pantry, man. I’ve got company coming over and I’ve got nothin’.

Frank covers his head with a pillow...

WHAT?!

WHAT?!

Frank! Frank! You got some cereal I can borrow? Maybe some bacon or eggs?

Silence

Silence

Silence

WHAT?!

Frank! Frankiepoo, I need you!

WHAT?!

Frank hates being called Frankiepoo…

WHAT?!

Friends are coming from out of town and I’ve got nothing to feed them.

Your point.

I need some pop tarts, some oatmeal, just the basics, man!

I don’t care.

I don’t care.

But my friends, Frank! They’re coming!

Let them starve.

But I can’t NOT offer them food...

Then send them to my house in the morning!

But you’re my friend, brah! I wouldn’t want to do that to you.

I was. Past tense, brah.

You don’t mean that. You don’t mean that do you, Frankie?

Fred, I was sleeping. My kids are sleeping. Turn around and take that knocking hand of yours to turn your door nob before I call you a nob. Go in your house and worry about this issue yourself, in your home, with your own family.

STOP BOTHERING ME!

At this point, the neighbors are poking their heads through their windows shouting colorful encouragements to keep quiet. Dogs bark back and forth throughout the neighborhood. What was a tiny crisis is has now grown into a community event.

At this point, the neighbors are poking their heads through their windows shouting colorful encouragements to keep quiet. Dogs bark back and forth throughout the neighborhood. What was a tiny crisis is has now grown into a community event.

I feel bad when I ring the doorbell...

I don’t care.

But my friends are coming.

Let them starve.

But I can’t NOT give offer them food...

Then you should have invited them over!

At this point, the neighbors are poking their heads through their windows shouting colorful encouragements to keep quiet. Dogs start barking at the situation....

At this point, the neighbors are poking their heads through their windows shouting colorful encouragements to keep quiet. Dogs start barking at the situation....

Shut it!

Understanding the Parable:

Grocery stores aren’t open 24/7

Who’s who?

Hospitality (especially food) was Super Important

Living arrangements were different in the 1st Century

3. Who’s Who?

Who’s Who?

Midnight Knocker= us

Midnight Knocker= us

Freddie= God?

God? vs. 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’?

vs. 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’?

What’s up with this response? Does this sound like God?

No. Because the point isn’t that Frank is like God. The point is something entirely different.

Vs. 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!”

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!”

So up to this point, the emphasis of this parable isn’t about who’s who

So what IS the Point?

Even though it’s important to who’s who, the point is verse 8.

vs. 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.

even though it’s important to clarify. The point is that Freddie is… what’s the word?… impudent... about his prayers! That’s the point! The point is that Freddie is impudent in his seeking, knocking, and asking. So in order to understand how to receive answerable prayers, we need to know what impudence means? We need to get this right!

The point is that Freddie is… what’s the word?… impudent... with his prayers! That’s the point! Jesus reveals to us how prayer is answered. Here’s the secret behind the prayer sauce:

Freddie is impudent in his seeking, knocking, and asking. So in order to understand how to receive answerable prayers, we need to know what impudence means? We need to get this right!

Defining Impudence?

What does this word mean. Like, when was the last time you used that…

Story of Impudence:

Dad, can I have some water? DAD! WATER!

What does this word mean

Impudence… Lacking modesty,

Lacking modesty, Marian Webster: ‘Marked by contemptuous or cocky boldness or disregard of others’.

Marian Webster: ‘Marked by contemptuous or cocky boldness or disregard of others’.

NIV: Shameless audacity

Sense:

“the lack of sensitivity to what is proper.”

“the lack of sensitivity to what is proper.”

“Shameless immodesty without concern for propriety or one’s own dignity.”

Question #1:

So Mark, are you saying that if we just prayed long and hard enough- annoying enough- that our prayers will be answered?

Answer: Yes.

Question #2:

“Shameless immodesty without concern for propriety or one’s own dignity.”

So, does that mean that if we just prayed long and hard enough, annoying enough- that we will receive anything our heart desires?

Shamelessly audacious within a framework

YES!

But with this caveat, our desires change when we pray...

Shamelessly audacious within a framework of asking:

Jesus desire was ‘don’t wanna die tomorrow’

But desire to honor his Father was more powerful than ‘don’t wanna die tomorrow’

Shamelessly audacious within a framework Jesus provides for us!

A friend to a friend

borrowing milk from neighbors

How should we pray?

1. “Father, hallowed be your name.

“Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up.”

“Father, hallowed be your name.

What’s with this response?

Isn’t this God? Don’t bother me?

Not about God, but more about the ridiculous situation.

Impudence

Impudence

2. Your kingdom come.

3  Give us each day our daily bread,

3. Give us each day our daily bread,

and forgive us our sins,

for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

And lead us not into temptation.”

1. Shamelessly audacious about God’s Glory

What’s the first thing you pray?

Dear Lord, please help me…

Dear Lord, bless this food...

Dear Lord, I’m in a bit of trouble...

Dear God, Can you please give us safe travels?

Dear God, thank you for providing for me...

2. Shamelessly audacious about the Kingdom :

Your kingdom come, not your kingdom

Our prayers flip our wants inside out!

Sam Levenson

Sam Levenson

I even suggested several time-tested inexpensive beauty hints:

Sam Levenson

Time-tested inexpensive beauty hints:

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you will never walk alone.

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you will never walk alone.

Our prayers flip our wants inside out!

Flips prayers from me to THEE

From me to WE

Our prayers flip our wants inside out!

Attractiveness, love, figure, beauty and poise

God’s Kingdom

Loving God, loving neighbor

Ambassadors of the King

Be shamelessly audacious about God’s Kingdom coming and the role God has called you within that Kingdom.

3. Shamelessly Audacious about the Essentials

Need Focused, not Want Focused

Essentials Focused, not Fluff Focused

Need for daily bread

Give me my daily sushi...

Give me my daily kambucha...

Give me my latest gadget, software update, whatever...

OUR NEEDS!

Us-Our, Us-Our, we-ourselves, us, us

Think of needs outside of yourself

Need for forgiveness

Need for confession

Dear Lord, I’m a sinner needing saving...

Need to forgive

Dear Lord, help me not to hold grudges. Open my eyes to people I haven’t forgiven.

Perhaps you’re mad at someone right now. Before you pray about safe travels, first pray that the Lord will help you forgive.

Need to be led out of temptation

Kingdom life is about Discipleship

Be proactive with this! Ask that the Lord will lead you out of temptation and towards JEsus.

“Dear Lord, I am constantly tempted everyday. My eyes wonder. My heart wonders. My idols grow more prominent. People’s lives feel better than mine… “

What is impudence?

Personal Not private

NIV: Shameless audacity

Come out to our prayer meetings

Shamelessly audacious with the things Jesus is asking us to be shamelessly audacious about!

God’s Glory

Christ’s Kingdom

Our Essentials

The Community

Conclusion:

Prayer for Growth

Maybe God doesn’t want us to grow? Maybe He is solely concerned about us just raising disciples who live among us.

Prayer for God’s Glory, not mine our ours.

Christ’s Kingdom and how we live out the Kingdom

Daily reminder of our needs:

Food

Forgiveness

Discipleship

Come out to our prayer meetings