Parable of the Friend at Midnight

Introduction:

A. Text: Luke 11:5-8

1. Jesus precedes this parable by teaching about how to pray, because His disciples requested that of Him (Luke 11:1-4).  Note some things about the model prayer.

a. Jesus prayed for the kingdom to come, which had not come, but now is (Colossians 1:13).
b. Jesus did not pray through the mediator as we must, for He is the advocate.

i. Romans 7:25 
ii. Colossians 3:17
iii. I Timothy 2:5 

c. Jesus showed the approved example of praying in reverence.
d. He showed the approved example of praying for daily food, the forgiveness of sins, deliverance from temptation, and deliverance from evil. 
e. We must make sure that our attitude in prayer is proper (Luke 18:9-14).

2. He follows up this parable by teaching about God taking care of His children when they ask things of Him (Luke 11:9-10).

B. Prayer is shown by way of command, example, and necessary implication.  Notice just a few, of the many that exist, examples below:

1. Command: I Thessalonians 5:17 
2. Example: Matthew 26:26-27
3. Necessary Inference: We are to confess our faults to God (I John 1:9).  Because we have an example showing how we confess our faults to God is through prayer (Acts 8:22), we can infer that confession of our sins to God via I John 1:9 is done through the avenue of prayer.  Thus, we can necessarily infer the need for prayer, so that Christians can have their sins forgiven.

I. Going to God in times of need

A. In verse five of this parable we find a person addressing a friend in a time of need:

1. Those whom have faith, and allow that faith to produce works unto obedience are friends of God (James 1:21-24).
2. We are the friends of Christ if we obey Him (John 15:14). 
3. Our prayers are answered because of our obedience (I John 3:21-22). 
4. In the words of a seven year-old: “My friend helps me when I am sick.  My friend loves me.  My friend gave his Son for me.  My friend is God.” – Trevor A. Yeager

B. We should approach God with the expectation that He will grant our reasonable request:

1. James 1:5-8
2. Matthew 21:22 

a. Faith is obtain from the word of God (Romans 10:17)
b. Therefore, our prayers will be made from a good source of knowledge to make them reasonable prayers – not asking for what we cannot receive (Matthew 26:38-45):

i. Jesus knew He had to die (Matthew 16:21).
ii. Thus, Jesus used prayer as a means of strengthening Himself to be prepared to follow through with His work.  Luke says an angel strengthened Him, but that did not work, prayer in itself did (Luke 22:43-44). 
iii. We know that we cannot pray for that which conflicts with God’s word (i.e. a sinner who has not known God to be saved – II Thessalonians 1:8-9 and Matthew 7:21).

C. What we receive of the Father will be good, not bad:

1. James 1:17 
2. Luke 11:11-13

II. Going to God in prayer for the benefit of others

A. In this parable we see one going to his friend for this reason: Luke 11:6 “For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?”
B. We need to approach God on the behalf of others:

1. James 5:16 
2. I Timothy 2:1-4 
3. Jesus prayed on behalf of others (His disciples): 

a. John 17:9 
b. John 17:15 
c. John 17:20-22 

4. We have apostolic example on the matter as well (Philippians 1:3-4). 

C. We need to be willing to go to God in prayer for all things (Philippians 4:6). 

III. Being persistent in prayer

A. In verses seven and eight we see that the friend helped because of the persistence of the one seeking the loaves of bread.
B. The “Parable of the Unjust Judge” is often referred to as the “Parable of the Persistent Widow” because she got what she sought after through her persistence (Luke 18:2-6).

1. This parable was also taught under the subject of prayer (Luke 18:1).
2. One sign of a widow indeed is her frequency of praying (I Timothy 5:5). 

Conclusion:

A. Our prayers must be consistent and persistent.

1. A child asks his parents for a toy on a special occasion and the parents may shrug it off.
2. The child continues to ask over and over again for the same toy, the parents are going to listen.
3. As shown in this parable and other places in the scriptures, the same goes for God (not for toys, but for beneficial things that hinder not one’s spiritual life).

B. Prayer is a special privilege extended to the faithful children of God (Christians):

1. I Peter 3:12
2. Isaiah 59:1-2 and John 9:31

C. Do you have the privilege of prayer?  If so, are you properly using it?