Persistent Prayer: Humility and Audacity in Faith
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we continue our series, "The Storyteller's Kingdom," focusing on the parables of Jesus. We explored two parables: the parable of the friend at midnight and the parable of the persistent widow, both of which teach us about the importance of prayer. These parables reveal that prayer is not just a casual conversation with God but a persistent, humble, and audacious pursuit.
In the parable of the friend at midnight, Jesus teaches us to pray persistently. The friend keeps knocking until he gets the bread he needs, illustrating the need for continual prayer. This persistence is crucial because we are in a spiritual battle between good and evil, as highlighted in Ephesians 6:12. Our prayers are part of this battle, and we must keep praying even when it seems like nothing is happening.
The second lesson is to pray humbly. The friend in the parable asks for bread not for himself but to feed his visitor, showing a selfless attitude. This humility in prayer aligns with God's desire for us to care for others and not just ourselves. When we pray with a humble heart, God is more likely to bless us abundantly, sometimes even beyond what we ask for.
The parable of the persistent widow further emphasizes the need for persistent and humble prayer. The widow keeps coming to the unjust judge, seeking justice. Her shameless audacity in continually asking for what she needs is a model for how we should approach God in prayer. This raw, real, and desperate form of prayer is what God desires from us.
Finally, we are called to pray with shameless audacity. This means praying with a sense of rawness and realness, not worrying about how we sound or what others think. It's about being laser-focused on God, much like how my dog is focused on a jar of peanut butter. This kind of prayer shows our total dependence on God and our trust in His provision.
### Key Takeaways
1. Pray Persistently: Just as the friend at midnight kept knocking until he received what he needed, we must persist in our prayers. This persistence is crucial because we are engaged in a spiritual battle between good and evil. Our continual prayers are a powerful weapon in this battle, and we must not give up, even when it seems like nothing is happening. [36:30]
2. Pray Humbly: The friend in the parable asked for bread not for himself but to feed his visitor, demonstrating a selfless attitude. When we pray with humility, focusing on the needs of others rather than our own, God is more likely to bless us abundantly. This humility aligns with God's desire for us to care for each other and the injustices in the world. [41:12]
3. Pray with Shameless Audacity: The persistent widow's continual plea for justice from the unjust judge teaches us to pray with shameless audacity. This means praying with a sense of rawness and realness, not worrying about how we sound or what others think. It's about being laser-focused on God and showing our total dependence on Him. [48:56]
4. God's Timing and Provision: Sometimes, God doesn't answer our prayers in the way or timing we expect. This is because His understanding of time and our needs is different from ours. We must trust that God will provide what we need when the time is right, and our persistent, humble prayers prepare us to receive His blessings. [43:43]
5. Prayer as a Way of Life: Continual devotion to prayer should be a way of life. When the Son of Man returns, will He find faith on the earth? This question challenges us to make prayer a central part of our lives, praying persistently, humbly, and with shameless audacity. Our relationship with God should be vital, not just another aspect of our lives. [53:10]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[32:03] - Introduction to Parables
[32:41] - Parable of the Friend at Midnight
[34:18] - Shameless Audacity
[36:30] - Pray Persistently
[41:12] - Pray Humbly
[45:47] - Parable of the Persistent Widow
[48:56] - Pray with Shameless Audacity
[53:10] - Prayer as a Way of Life
[54:42] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Luke 11:5-13 - The Parable of the Friend at Midnight
2. Luke 18:1-8 - The Parable of the Persistent Widow
3. Ephesians 6:12 - The Spiritual Battle
#### Observation Questions
1. In the parable of the friend at midnight, what does the friend ask for and why? ([34:18])
2. How does the unjust judge in the parable of the persistent widow eventually respond to the widow's pleas? ([46:55])
3. According to Ephesians 6:12, who are we fighting against in our spiritual battle?
4. What does Jesus say will happen to those who ask, seek, and knock in Luke 11:9-10? ([34:58])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is persistence in prayer emphasized in both parables? How does this relate to the spiritual battle mentioned in Ephesians 6:12? ([36:30])
2. How does the friend’s request for bread in the parable of the friend at midnight demonstrate humility? ([41:12])
3. What does it mean to pray with "shameless audacity," and how does this concept challenge our typical approach to prayer? ([48:56])
4. How does the parable of the persistent widow illustrate the importance of justice in our prayers? ([46:55])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like giving up on prayer. How can the lesson of praying persistently encourage you to keep praying? ([36:30])
2. Think about your current prayer life. Are your prayers more focused on your needs or the needs of others? How can you shift towards more humble prayers? ([41:12])
3. Have you ever felt hesitant to pray openly and honestly with God? What steps can you take to pray with more shameless audacity? ([48:56])
4. In what ways can you remind yourself of the spiritual battle that is happening around you and the importance of prayer in this battle? ([37:25])
5. How can you make prayer a more central part of your daily life, ensuring it becomes a way of life rather than just an occasional activity? ([53:10])
6. Identify a specific injustice in your community or the world. How can you incorporate prayers for justice into your daily routine, much like the persistent widow? ([46:55])
7. Consider the distractions that prevent you from focusing on God during prayer. What practical steps can you take to minimize these distractions and maintain a laser-like focus on God? ([50:49])
Devotional
Day 1: Persistent Prayer in Spiritual Warfare
Prayer is not just a casual conversation with God but a persistent, humble, and audacious pursuit. In the parable of the friend at midnight, Jesus teaches us to pray persistently. The friend keeps knocking until he gets the bread he needs, illustrating the need for continual prayer. This persistence is crucial because we are in a spiritual battle between good and evil, as highlighted in Ephesians 6:12. Our prayers are part of this battle, and we must keep praying even when it seems like nothing is happening. [36:30]
Ephesians 6:12 (ESV): "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
Reflection: Think of a situation in your life where you feel like giving up in prayer. How can you commit to persistently praying for this situation, trusting that your prayers are part of a larger spiritual battle?
Day 2: Humility in Prayer
The friend in the parable asked for bread not for himself but to feed his visitor, demonstrating a selfless attitude. When we pray with humility, focusing on the needs of others rather than our own, God is more likely to bless us abundantly. This humility aligns with God's desire for us to care for each other and the injustices in the world. Praying humbly means recognizing our dependence on God and our role in serving others through our prayers. [41:12]
Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV): "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is in need. How can you incorporate their needs into your prayers today, asking God to bless them abundantly?
Day 3: Shameless Audacity in Prayer
The persistent widow's continual plea for justice from the unjust judge teaches us to pray with shameless audacity. This means praying with a sense of rawness and realness, not worrying about how we sound or what others think. It's about being laser-focused on God and showing our total dependence on Him. This kind of prayer shows our trust in God's provision and our willingness to be vulnerable before Him. [48:56]
Luke 11:8 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to pray with more shameless audacity? How can you approach God with rawness and realness in this area today?
Day 4: Trusting God's Timing and Provision
Sometimes, God doesn't answer our prayers in the way or timing we expect. This is because His understanding of time and our needs is different from ours. We must trust that God will provide what we need when the time is right, and our persistent, humble prayers prepare us to receive His blessings. Trusting in God's timing requires faith and patience, knowing that His plans are always for our good. [43:43]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: Reflect on a prayer that you feel has not been answered yet. How can you trust in God's timing and provision for this situation, believing that He knows what is best for you?
Day 5: Prayer as a Way of Life
Continual devotion to prayer should be a way of life. When the Son of Man returns, will He find faith on the earth? This question challenges us to make prayer a central part of our lives, praying persistently, humbly, and with shameless audacity. Our relationship with God should be vital, not just another aspect of our lives. Making prayer a way of life means integrating it into our daily routines and being in constant communication with God. [53:10]
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV): "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Reflection: How can you make prayer a more integral part of your daily routine? What specific steps can you take to ensure that prayer becomes a way of life for you?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "I think there's something inside of us that just enjoys stories, right? We're fascinated by stories. That's why we watch the next episode of whatever we're binging. We don't even need to click, right? We just sit there and then it just starts the next episode automatically. That's why Disney has an empire that's over 100 years old because we're fascinated by the stories they tell. Parables are just stories of earthly things that reveal kingdom things. It's like Jesus holding up a prism that we can look through to see godly things through everyday story things." [32:03] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So I say to you, ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives. The one who seeks finds. And to the one who knocks the door will be opened. Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg will give him a scorpion?" [34:58] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Even a little bit of prayer is better than no prayer. So, persistence. My second thing here, pray humbly. We're to pray humbly. You notice the neighbor here, he's asking for bread so he can feed his visitor. The culture around the time of Jesus would have really valued hospitality. So it probably would have been a little embarrassing that you have a visitor show up and you don't have bread to feed them." [40:23] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God wants good things for us. And like, maybe our capacity for receiving is tied to how much you're willing to share. So, if you're concerned for others' well-being, you'll receive more. The more you're looking out for others, the more God gives you. Right? It's like, you get an email from your bank, and they increase your credit card limit. So, like, how can I increase my limit with God? Right? The more you look out for others, the more God will give you." [42:43] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So you have the power to crush snakes and scorpions, which is great. Like, in a video game, when you level up and you get a new ability, you get to pick your stats and where you want. Oh, you get the ability to crush snakes and scorpions. Nice. So you have that ability, but Jesus says an earthly father won't give you those things, right? So how much better will our Heavenly Father be? God won't give us bad things, so he gives us good things." [45:47] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Part of the reason we have to keep praying is because there's a spiritual battle happening between good and evil. Right? Jesus talks about it just before when he's talking about the Lord's Prayer. The Lord's Prayer begins, our God in heaven, and ends, deliver us from evil. So right away, Jesus is talking about this spiritual battle. We're introduced to this concept of battle between good and evil. Everything that happens on this earth has a parallel on the spiritual realm." [36:30] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "There's a lot of negative stuff happening in our world and in our lives. There's things like drug addiction, pornography addiction, financial issues, stress in relationships, whether that's a relationship with a spouse or someone you're dating, or a relationship with your friends or your family or coworkers or whoever, right? There's stress in relationships. There's depression and thoughts of suicide. Whatever issues. It's not hard to find. There's a lot of issues in our lives, and these things can be like mountains that seem to be inconquerable." [38:30] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "So maybe we don't need to cast the mountain into the sea, but we can grind away at it. Instead of just like... picking it up, we can just chop away at it, grind away at it. Right? Every day that we pray, we're just whittling away at that mountain, piece by piece. Like my favorite Buddy Holly song, Every day it's getting closer. Maybe that song is too old for a lot of people here. But anyway, so every day, just keep praying, keep grinding, grinding down that mountain." [39:34] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So, not asking for something selfish. He wants to help someone else. I think that should be part of our attitude when we pray. Not looking out for ourselves, but looking out for others. Right? It's not a selfish prayer. It's not like, Lord, I know you love beauty, and a Lamborghini is a beautiful car. If it be your will, you can send one my way. Maybe two. I promise I'll use it for your good. It's not like that. It's a change. It's a flip of the switch." [41:12] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So, you want to know someone who has shameless audacity? I've got a picture. I've got shameless audacity here. This is my dog, Ford. And he has shameless audacity. I think my wife, Chanel, will definitely agree that he has shameless audacity. He doesn't listen. He doesn't sit when I tell him to. He doesn't do what I want him to do. He doesn't fetch a ball. But if I make toast, if I'm doing anything with peanut butter, he comes to the kitchen. He'll sit right in front of me. He'll be so focused on the peanut butter. He has shameless audacity." [50:04] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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