Ask Boldly, Receive Bountifully
Notes
Transcript
Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
5 Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’
7 “Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Introduction
Introduction
Context - Christ taught his disciples to pray
Importantly from that...
Christ taught a model / framework...
Certainly not the only prayer that can be prayed.
Doesn't cover every possible prayer item... it was a framework
Note - the main focus is the glory and honour of God.
Begins with "hallowed be they name..."
Continues with... "they kingdom come..."
Then goes on to praying for personal daily needs.
Those daily needs - to bring glory to God through living in a manner pleasing to him.
We want to give him glory in the world.
Then also prayers for keeping from temptaiton...
Again - so that God's name may be honoured and glorified!
The current text, Luke uses to convey some further teaching by Jesus on prayer.
Originally, not necessarily taught one after the other.
But Luke wants to emphasize the importance of this particular teaching on prayer by Christ for his reader...
Teaches us the importance of Asking Boldly, in order to receive bountifully.
But we will also see that importance of what we should be praying for...
1. The Need at Midnight (vv.5-8)
1. The Need at Midnight (vv.5-8)
1.1. The Need Expressed (vv.5-6)
1.1. The Need Expressed (vv.5-6)
Christ begins this teaching on the importance of asking with a story / parable.
The scenario painted is one that would be easy to grasp...
The answer - would be obvious...
5 Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’
In those days, travel was difficult...
Terrain was rough.. long distances... usually by foot.
The heat would bake down...
Travel was nothing like we experience in our day.
After a long trip - food was needed... priority... most important.
Luke, Volumes 1 & 2 The Friend at Midnight
To see the absurdity of it all, it helps to know the cultural context. In biblical times hospitality was a sacred duty. When a guest arrived—especially a friend—the host had a holy obligation to provide a bountiful meal. There are several notable examples in Scripture, from the feast that Abraham scrambled to provide for three visitors (Gen. 18:1–5) to the fatted calf that the welcoming father killed for his long-lost son (Luke 15:22–24).
In this event, a man's friend arrives late into the night... but he has nothing to feed him.
His cupboards are literally bare.
And so what does he do?? Certainly doesn't leave this traveller hungry... instead he goes to his firend's house... his neighbours house...
He asks the neighbour (who by this time is asleep, with his door bolted shut... for food.
The question that is asked is for an urgent need, it's from a friend.
Would such a friend deny a person their request...?
The obvious answer is, of course not...
1.2. The Unlikely Response (v.7)
1.2. The Unlikely Response (v.7)
7 “Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’
Notice the way in which this neighbour refuses, according to the picture…
Elaborate on each...
“Don’t bother me...”
“The door is already locked...”
“My children are with me in bed...”
“I can’t get up and give you anything...”
Quite simply, this neighbour doesn’t want to help…
Would someone inside honestly say... I'm sorry... the door's locked... the kids are in bed... I'm not going to climb past them and open the door... I might scare them.
Certainly a friend would never treat another friend in this manner.
In addition to that, even if the man did answer in this manner… what would the neighbour do? He would keep on asking.
As annoying as it would have been to get up, unbolt the door… not doing that was only going to prolong the disturbance.
And so the man would certainly have gotten up and helped.
That's the point that Jesus is making here.
When he gives the answer, however, he goes one step further.
1.3. The Abundant Supply (v.8)
1.3. The Abundant Supply (v.8)
8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
In the absurd scenario... Even if he doesn't want to help as a friend... he would most certainly get up and help... simply because of the boldness... and the persistence of the man in making his request.
The word used in the Greek is interesting…
Luke, Volumes 1 & 2 Audacious, Persistent Prayer
The Greek word anaideian refers to someone who “acts without any sensibility to shame or disgrace.”
We all know someone like this… they’re truly not worried what a person thinks about them… they’re just going to come out and ask what no one else would dare ask…
The emphasis here is… the neighbour would most certainly help.
In fact, Jesus says that even more than help will be received.
The friend would give the man at the door "as much as he needs...." so that he has no lack.
That's the point that JEsus is making in the story...
When there's such an urgent need, you go to a friend, you're going to expect help... and rightly so.
No good friend will turn a person away...
Some important things to note thus far.
Firstly, we should approach God in prayer in order to ask.
We should approach him boldly.
The point here is not to compare the unwillingness of the neighbour with God, but rather to contrast the unwilling neighbour eventually helping, with a God that is more than willing to help.
In other words, if such a neighbour was prepared to eventually help, how much more so God!?
2. The Need to Ask (vv.9-10)
2. The Need to Ask (vv.9-10)
2.1. The Instruction to Ask
2.1. The Instruction to Ask
9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
Notice that Jesus begins with the word... "so...."
In light of this truth... in light of the fact that a person that asks will indeed be helped, he will be supplied his need.
What ought a person to do.
The question is now turned by Jesus to His disciples.
And the lesson is about their relation to God, and how they are to ask of him..
Keep in mind - they are to approach God in prayer... just been dealt with in the previous passage.
Ask and it will be given....
Quite simply, Jesus is instructing his disciples to ask of God.
One should not expect to receive without asking
On the other hand, when a person approaches God, and humbly brings before this Almighty Father his requests, God will hear the prayers of His children.
As we consider these words, I want to pause and bring encouragement to you who are in Christ.
The Fatherly love of God is upon His children, and inasmuch as a father would invite his child to come and express needs, so God is delighted to meet the needs of His children.
And so, God invites His children to bring supplications before Him.
When we considered the prayer that Christ taught his disciples to pray, we considered this in more detail - calling out to God as Father...
The same applies here. He is our heavenly Father!
...seek and you will find...
This is an interesting statement in this regard. Jesus turns the instruction from asking God for needs, and speaks of seeking...
This takes matters a step further than asking - going out and seeking.
The first thing that we must recognise in this regard is that there is clearly a spiritual dimension in this regard...
That was true of "ask and it will be given.." but so often, the prosperity Gospel hijacks that phrase to mean that you must just ask God for all your selfish desires, and He'll give them to you...
That's certainly not the meaning... (we'll see this a little further on) .
But there is most certainly a spiritual truth here that we need to take heed of.
When God speaks of seeking and finding, he is not talking about seeking for physical, monetary treasures.
Rather, he speaks in this way in terms of us seeking after Him..
In other words, if we seek God, if we seek to know God, seek to deepen our relationship with Him, then we will find him.
This truth is evidenced throughout the Scriptures...
Turn to 1 Chronicles 28:9...
Turn to 2 Chronicles 15:1-15...
17 “I love those who love me;
And those who diligently seek me will find me.
13 ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
6 Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
Knock and the door will be opened...
This particular phrase links back to the parable that Christ gave
A friend at the door at night... if he were to knock, would not the door be opened?
Would not God answer if we were to approach him with our requests?
The knocking here is clearly with the view to seeking after God in prayer... that is the context.
We are to go to the door and knock...
Note: All of the above are in present continuous - thus keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking.
2.2. The Promise to receive
2.2. The Promise to receive
In verse 10, Christ essentially gives a promise that such approach to God will yield results... It will...
10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
What a glorious verse this is...
There is no question about whether or not an approach to God will receive an answer from God.
God answers prayer.... and he will grant the requests that we bring to Him...
Yes... there are some important qualifiers....
14 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.
But for now, take encouragement from this truth.
3. The Need of the Hour (vv.11-13)
3. The Need of the Hour (vv.11-13)
2.1. A Practical Illustration (vv.11-12)
2.1. A Practical Illustration (vv.11-12)
At this point, Christ goes to a very practical illustration...
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
Notice that Christ appeals to those who are fathers... he's appealing to them from the perspective of a father loving his children.
Any good father knows the kind of love that he has for his children...
A good father longs to care for and give the best that he can to his children.
And this is precisely what Christ goes to...
If a son asks you as a father for a fish... would you give them a snake?
Keep in mind, this is talking about the needs of the child.
The reason the child is asking for a fish is that he need to food to sustain him.
A loving father would desire to care for the needs of his child, and thus provide them with that which is needed... food... fish.
Similarly, if he asks for an egg.... the good father will give his child the egg...
2.2. The Essential Need Expressed (v.13)
2.2. The Essential Need Expressed (v.13)
13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
"...though you are evil..."
3 If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
9 The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?
10 As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
The point is clearly made...
We are those who are evil... Our hearts are by nature deceitful
Our entire life / being is marred by sin...
But even we, by the grace of God, know how to give good gifts.
Although sin has marred humanity, it has not utterly sent men to the worst place they could possibly be.
God is gracious.
And we know how to care for our children as parents... and will seek to do that as best we are able. ..
When our children ask for daily needs, we will certainly do our utmost to provide for them... and to provide even further than is needed...
How much more will your father in heaven....
If we as sinners know how to give good gifts.... How much more so the eternal, loving God.
God as Father will most certainly give according to His riches in glory...
give the Holy Spirit...
Jesus specifically emphasizes here that the good gift that he will give is the Spirit... the Holy Spirit.
Turn to John 14:13-17
John 14:26
John 15:26
John 16:5-8
John 16:12-14
John 16:22-24
Now consider... the giving of the Spirit - what a gift this was.
This was the gift par excellance!
Consider - the coming of the Spirit of Christ marked the beginning of the spread of the kingdom of Christ
17 “ ‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
Important Comments!!
The Holy Spirit being given is not some anti-climax!!
That is the greatest need of mankind - the spirit of God to direct us... to teach us.... to lead us to repentance and faith.
If we breathe a disappointed sigh at the thought that we won't get our real requests, but rather the Holy Spirit if we ask... we truly dont' see the glory of the work of the Spirit!
What are the works / tasks of the Spirit…?
reveal the truth of God / Christ
convict us of sin
grant us the gift of repentance
open our eyes to the truth of the Gospel message
Bring Salvation
Apply the Scriptures to our hearts - sanctification
Give assurance…
Will raise us from the dead.
All Christians have the Spirit of God...
All Christians ought to be increasingly under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;
20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;
Application / Conclusion
Application / Conclusion
Ask God for Good Gifts
Ask God for Good Gifts
Luke, Volumes 1 & 2 Audacious, Persistent Prayer
Prayer is not a way of getting God to do what we want, or of persuading him to do something that he does not want to do. But prayer is an audaciously bold request for God to do what he has promised to do.
First and foremost - gift of the Spirit, and all it means to be filled with the Spirit.
Ask God to fill you with His Spirit through a knowledge of Him through the Word.
This is an exceedingly good gift!!!
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Rest in God’s Providence
Rest in God’s Providence
Sometimes the Lord delays in answering what we believe are prayers that are according to His will…
What are some reasons for that? Richard Sibbes:
(1.) That our faith and dependence on him might be better tried.
(2.) Sometimes it is done to humble us. ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble’ (James 4: 6). Until we are nothing in our own eyes, he never comes with comfortable deliverance; or until we come to that pinch in which we cry, ‘Lord, how long?’ as Paul said of himself (2 Cor. 1: 9). The Lord took away his hope of life that he might be humbled and know the only place to find life, help, and comfort in all his extremities.
(3.) God puts us off longer to quicken our appetite. We are unwise to think that he intends to put us off forever. God does not want us to give up, but to press him so much the more. This experience once found is very sweet, though it smarts at the beginning.
(4.) He delays and puts off our requests to enhance the value of the gift. What comes lightly, goes lightly. We highly prize that which cost us dear. If the things of God did not cost us sighs and tears, we would think them easy to be had. God therefore, to enhance their value, keeps them off that we may know their true price. RICHARD SIBBES, Works, VII: 236-237 [Richard Rushing. Voices from the Past (Kindle Locations 4949-4961). The Banner of Truth Trust. ]
Persist In Prayer
Persist In Prayer
John Bunyan...
The best prayers often are more groans than words. Jacob did not only begin in prayer, he held it: ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me’ (Gen. 32: 26). So do the rest of the godly. But this could not be done without the Spirit of prayer (Jude 20). I will seek the Lord, and wait. I will not leave off, though the Lord keeps his silence and does not speak one word of comfort. He loved Jacob dearly, and yet he made him wrestle before he had the blessing. He loves to keep his people praying, and to find them ever knocking at the gate of heaven. JOHN BUNYAN, Works, 1: 627-634 [Richard Rushing. Voices from the Past (Kindle Locations 5445-5450). The Banner of Truth Trust. ]
“Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.” (1 John 3:21–22, NASB95)