And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything'? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell 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 the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" - Luke 11:5-13 ESV
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'" And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" - Luke 18:1-8 ESV
Rev Charles Han
Prayerlessness is condemned. But Jesus exhorts us to pray. Prayer takes focus and hard work. It humbles us.
What's the point of praying? Your circumstances don't change. Your family is not healed. Your sin struggles stay the same. Does God really hear? Does he really care?
So the guy who is knocking... He is out of bread. In this culture of hospitality, it was embarrassing. So houses back then was usually a single room. So knocking meant that he was waking up his friend's entire family. It was not an easy choice. But by his impudent asking, he got what he needed.
The widow and the evil judge speaks of a tough situation. A widow with no defender, no siblings, no family or man to protect her. She could not in that day and age go to the courts. Courts only allowed men. So she used the only thing available to her, persistence. She gave the judge no rest. The judge realized that she would not leave him alone, so the unrighteous judge gave her justice.
This is such a pair of unlikely outcomes. Justice to the powerless widow and a neighbor who will give you bread. This is the backdrop for God's relationship with his children. Even evil parents will love the children, so much so will God who placed that instinct in parents... Love his people.
What then of those "unanswered" prayers? Diseases unhealed, people unsaved, tough times unrelenting? We ask wrongly. The Lord's prayer does not ask greedily. It does not ask for filet mignon. It asks for today's bread. The neighbor did not ask for something stupid. The widow didn't ask for a shady favor from the judge, she asked for true justice.
God will sometimes answer with no. But it's not just no, God will answer the desire behind our request. He will answer in value, if not in kind. Paul prayed three times for that thorn to be taken away... And God said yes, I will give you strength for ministry. The thorn remained, but God answered.
God sometimes makes us wait. It is hard to see. The timing is not right. He is working in us. He is doing what is best for you as you ask him in faith. Take heart and persist in prayer.
A hymn: Unanswered Yet
Unanswered yet? The prayer your lips have pleaded
In agony of heart these many years?
Does faith begin to fail, is hope departing,
And think you all in vain those falling tears?
Say not the Father hath not heard your prayer;
You shall have your desire, sometime, somewhere.
2. Unanswered yet? Though when you first presented
This one petition at the Father’s throne,
It seemed you could not wait the time of asking,
So urgent was your heart to make it known.
Though years have passed since then, do not despair;
The Lord will answer you, sometime, somewhere.
3. Unanswered yet? But you are not unheeded;
The promises of God forever stand;
To Him our days and years alike are equal;
“Have faith in God”; it is your Lord’s command.
Hold on to Jacob’s angel and your prayer
Shall bring a blessing down sometime, somewhere.
4. Unanswered yet? Nay, do not say ungranted;
Perhaps your part is not yet wholly done;
The work began when first your prayer was uttered,
And God will finish what He has begun.
If you will keep the incense burning there,
His glory you shall see, sometime, somewhere.
5. Unanswered yet? Faith cannot be unanswered;
Her feet were firmly planted on the Rock;
Amid the wildest storm prayer stands undaunted,
Nor quails before the loudest thunder shock.
She knows Omnipotence has heard her prayer,
And cries, “It shall be done,” sometime, somewhere.
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