This document discusses two parables from Luke that teach about the importance of persistent prayer. The parable of the bad friend shows that God is more willing to answer prayers than an unwilling friend, and calls believers to ask, seek, and knock. The parable of the unjust judge illustrates that believers should always pray and not lose heart, as God will surely answer His elect who cry out to Him day and night. The document emphasizes that bold persistence in prayer should be based on knowing God's willingness to answer and avenge, though His timing may be long, and that righteous prayer within God's will is powerful.
3. THE PARABLE
Luke 11:5-7 (NKJV)
“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; for a friend
of mine has come to me on his journey, and I
have nothing to set before him’;
!
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’?”
4. THE PARABLE
Luke 11:8 (NKJV)
“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.”
5. THE PRINCIPLE
Luke 11:9-10 (NKJV)
“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. For everyone who asks
receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him
who knocks it will be opened.”
6. THE POINT
Luke 11:11-13 (NKJV)
“If a son asks for bread from any father among
you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a
fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?
Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a
scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to
give good gifts to your children, how much
more will your heavenly Father give the Holy
Spirit to those who ask Him!”
8. THE PURPOSE
Luke 18:1 (NKJV)
“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men
always ought to pray and not lose heart,
saying…”
9. THE PARABLE
Luke 18:2-3 (NKJV)
“There was in a certain city a judge who did not
fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a
widow in that city; and she came to him, saying,
“Get justice for me from my adversary.’
10. THE PARABLE
Luke 18:4-5 (NKJV)
“And he would not for a while; but afterward he
said within himself, “Though I do not fear God
nor regard man, yet because this widow
troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her
continual coming she weary me.’ ”
11. THE POINT
Luke 18:6-8 (NKJV)
“Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust
judge said. And shall God not avenge His own
elect who cry out day and night to Him, though
He bears long with them? I tell you that He will
avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the
Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on
the earth?”
12. A MAJOR
OBSTACLE
TO PRAYER
IS KNOWING
WHO GOD IS
AND WHAT
HE IS LIKE
13. KNOWING WHAT GOD
IS LIKE SHOULD
PROMPT OUR BOLD
PERSISTENCE IN
PRAYER
Ex. 32:10-11; Lk. 5:20;
8:48; 7:50; ; 18:42
14. Romans 12:12
“…rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation,
continuing steadfastly in prayer”
Colossians 4:2
“Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it
with thanksgiving"
1 Thessalonians 5:17
“pray without ceasing”
15. Revelation 6:9-10
“When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the
altar the souls of those who had been slain for
the word of God and for the testimony which
they held. And they cried with a loud voice,
saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until
You judge and avenge our blood on those who
dwell on the earth?’”
16. 2 Peter 3:9
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise,
as some count slackness, but is longsuffering
toward us, not willing that any should perish but
that all should come to repentance.”
17. THIS KIND OF BOLD
PERSISTENCE IN
PRAYER MUST BE
TEMPERED BY LIVING
WITHIN THE WILL OF
GOD IN HOLINESS
AND OBEDIENCE
18. James 5:16
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful
and effective.”
19. 1 John 5:14-15
“Now this is the confidence that we have in
Him, that if we ask anything according to His
will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears
us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the
petitions that we have asked of Him.”
20. 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.”
21. John 9:31
“Now we know that God does not hear sinners;
but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does
His will, He hears him.”
22. James 4:2-3
“You do not have because you do not ask. You
ask and do not receive, because you ask with
wrong motives, so that you may spend it on
your pleasures.”
