Luke 11 So Whats The Problem
So What’s the problem?
God desires to answers your prayers
Miscellaneous scriptures
I. The certain promise – God responds
A. A universal promise
(NKJV) Luke 11 9 “So I say to 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 he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
1. To all
B. An Overwhelming promise
(NKJV) Matthew 21 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
(NKJV) Mark 11 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
(NKJV) John 14 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
(NKJV) John 15 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
(NKJV) John 16 23 … Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.
(NKJV) 1 John 3 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
(NKJV) 1 John 5 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
1. Pervasive promise - whatever
2. Certain promise – will do
C. A positive intent of the promise
1. Prayer is asking about specific things – pray specifically
2. God says He will give those specific things – pray expectantly
3. God wants us to expect a positive response – pray persistently
II. So what’s the problem?
A. Must pray
(NKJV) James 4 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
1. Do everything else but pray
2. Subjunctive (not certain that you will, but if you do I will give)
3. Worth the time invested
B. Must believe God will act
1. Demand of faith
(NKJV) Mark 11 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
(NKJV) Matthew 21 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
2. Believe God listens and acts
(NKJV) 1 John 5 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
C. Must be focused on Him
1. Ultimate goal to glorify Him
(NKJV) John 14 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
2. Demands submission and reliance on Him
(NKJV) John 16 23 “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.
D. Must evaluate self
1. Am I seeking to please Him?
(NKJV) 1 John 3 22 And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
a) Deal with sin
b) Seek to live biblically
c) Respond to His leadership
2. Am I driven by my own selfishness?
(NKJV) James 4 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
a) Seek it the wrong way
b) Wrong things
c) Consume on myself
d) Personal pleasure driven
E. Must persevere in requests
(NKJV) Luke 11 9 “So I say to 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 he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
1. Allow God to lead (change prayers)
2. Allow God to speak (about our life or events)
3. Allow growth of faith (develop in trusting Him)
III. An example of proper prayer
(NKJV) Luke 11 5 And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’;
A. Recognized the need
1. Saw the need
2. Responded in an urgent manner (untimely hour)
B. Knew his own impotence
1. Knew he did not have what was needed
2. Went to the one who did
C. Engaged personally
1. Looked outward
2. Invested himself
3. Depended upon his own relationship
4. Took a risk
D. Kept at it till the need was met
(NKJV) Luke 11 7 and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? 8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.