Parables on prayer – 1. Friend at midnight, 2. The good father, 3. The unjust judge
Idea: Because God is good, pray and do not lose heart.
Intro: In the beginning of Luke 11, Luke records the Lord's prayer. Then immediately following that he gives these two parables that teach about prayer. I will take them together along with the Parable of the unjust judge in Luke 18 and consider what Jesus teaches on prayer.
1. Perseverance in Prayer
2. Prayer and Faith
3. Prayer and God's Character
4. Prayer and God's Promises
JC Ryle, “Do we ever feel a secret inclination to hurry our prayers, or shorten our prayers, or become careless about our prayers, or omit our prayers altogether? Let us be sure, when we don that it is a direct temptation from the devil. He is trying to sap and undermine the very citadel of our souls, and to cast us down to hell. Let us resist the temptation, and cast it behind our backs. Let us resolve to pray on steadily, patiently, perseveringly, and let us never doubt that it does us good. However long the answer may be in coming, still let us pray on. Whatever sacrifice and self-denial it may cost us, still let us pray on… Let us arm our minds with [these] parables, and while we live, whatever we make time for, let us make time for prayer." |
