Luke 11:5-10
Introduction: In these passages we see that perseverance and endurance receives what it asks. Because of this friends “importunity” (continual coming), his Friend gave him as many as he needed.
There are certain request that needs a continual coming to God- Luke 11:8 “yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he neededth”. Luke 18:5 “Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”
The believer is to continue asking for what he needs- Ask, and it shall be give you. But if asking does not receive it, then…Seek, and ye shall find. But if seeking does not receive it, then…Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. The point is that we must mean what we pray, and the way we show God our sincerity is by continuing to ask for what we need.
Our Part in Prayer is to:
- Ask– Why do we need to ask, because “it shall be given unto you”. Prayer is essentially asking God for something. One thing is true, if we don’t ask, we may not get anything. However, if we ask, we will receive.
- If you don’t ask, you don’t get- James 4:2 “ye have not, because ye ask not”.
- Paul tells the Philippians to make requests- Philippians 4:19 “in every thing by Prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” God wants to hear us through prayer “in everything”.
- So what do you ask for- Ask for the things you need in this life.
- Ask for Wisdom- James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God”.
- James 3:15-17 – Why do you want to ask for God’s wisdom instead of earthly wisdom? There is so much earthly wisdom (earthly, sensual, devilish) and that’s not what we want, we want the wisdom that comes from God that helps us makes decisions that please Him (pure, peaceable, gentle, and easy to be increased, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy). If we are trying to make a decision in our lives, these are the things we need.
- Ask for Mercy and Grace- Hebrews 4:14-16- By the mercy and grace of God we can find rest in Jesus Christ. Because we are human, and we mess up sometimes, we need to ask God for mercy and grace. Praise the Lord that Jesus Christ already paid the ultimate price and all we have to do is ASK God for this. Notice, “come boldly” that we may obtain. In order to obtain this mercy (not getting what we deserve) and grace (the free unmerited love and favor of God) that gives us rest, forgiveness, fellowship, etc., we have to ask God.
- Ask for Deliverance- Psalm 50:15- “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee”. When were found in a situation where we are in trouble, ask for God’s deliverance, He can get you out of it.
- Example of Manasseh- II Chronicles 33:12-13 If you want to be delivered of your troubles like Manasseh, ask God in prayer. All of us need wisdom, mercy/grace, and deliverance daily, and all we need to do to get it, is ask.
- Seek– Why do we need to seek, because “ye shall find”. Seeking is trying to obtain something. Actively looking for something. What are we seeking for?
- Seek with Heart and Soul- Deuteronomy 4:29 “But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy hearth and with all thy soul”.
- This seeking requires a lot of effort, it’s not just something that is searched for superficially, God wants to be sought for, this is a pursuit of God himself.
- Peace-Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Has there ever been a time in which you needed peace. You asked God for it, but didn’t receive it. That’s because God is peace, and He wants us to search for Him. IF you find HIM, you find peace.
- Love of Christ- I John 4:8 “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love”. If you want to find love when you don’t feel you are loved, you have to seek God himself who IS love. Romans 8:35-39 nothing can separate us from the Love of Christ- but we have to seek His Love.
- Prayer, and the seeking of God teaches us patience and hope in God.
- Knock– Why do we need to knock, because “it shall be opened”.
- When we ask, and then we seek for Him, then we find God, He will open the door and He just wants to spend some time with us in prayer. God wants to have some sweet fellowship and communion with us.
- Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
- I Corinthians 1:9 “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. When was the last time we had fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ?
- II Corinthians 13:14 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all”. Because were so busy we don’t have time to commune with the Holy Ghost.
Conclusion: The whole point is that the person must be sincere, fervent, constant, persistent, preserving, and enduring in seeking the face of God for whatever he wants. Ask, seek, and knock are all continuous action. Ask and keep asking, seek and keep seeking, and knock and keep knocking.