1 00:00:02,700 --> 00:00:03,660 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:05,500 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 2: Hi, from the Salvation Army, you're listening to Words of Life. 3 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:13,380 Speaker 3: Welcome back to Words of Life. 4 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:31,260 Speaker 4: This is our third episode in a series studying the 5 00:00:31,300 --> 00:00:34,669 Speaker 4: parables of Jesus with Major Cam Henderson. In today's study, 6 00:00:34,750 --> 00:00:37,089 Speaker 4: Jesus shares a story about a friend who comes knocking 7 00:00:37,130 --> 00:00:40,190 Speaker 4: at midnight, asking for bread and simply refuses to leave. 8 00:00:40,670 --> 00:00:43,900 Speaker 4: What does this persistent, even slightly annoying friend have to 9 00:00:43,940 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 4: teach us about prayer? If you're enjoying this different type 10 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 4: of series for Words of Life lately, we'd really appreciate 11 00:00:49,820 --> 00:00:52,260 Speaker 4: it if you left a rating and review wherever you're listening. 12 00:00:53,060 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 4: And be sure to check out the show notes for 13 00:00:54,860 --> 00:00:55,870 Speaker 4: some additional resources. 14 00:01:17,260 --> 00:01:22,780 Speaker 5: Do you have one of those annoying, persistent friends? Or 15 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:26,020 Speaker 5: maybe you are one of those annoying, persistent friends. But 16 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:30,020 Speaker 5: we never know it, do we? Well, welcome back to 17 00:01:30,060 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 5: the parable series. I'm enjoying these with you. I hope 18 00:01:33,860 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 5: that you're enjoying them. If you're still here, then maybe 19 00:01:36,940 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 5: you're enjoying them with me as well. But this time 20 00:01:39,740 --> 00:01:41,960 Speaker 5: I'm going to be in Luke chapter 11. And we're 21 00:01:41,980 --> 00:01:48,059 Speaker 5: going to be talking about Jesus who points to an annoying, 22 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:52,270 Speaker 5: persistent friend in kind of a funny parable. This one 23 00:01:52,420 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 5: is a lot of fun. But at first it may 24 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,310 Speaker 5: not make any sense, which is kind of fun as well. 25 00:02:05,340 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 5: Jesus has returned from Jerusalem, and in this section of 26 00:02:09,139 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 5: Luke's gospel, his teaching becomes very practical and instructional for 27 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:16,630 Speaker 5: a time. Some of his earlier parables in Galilee were 28 00:02:17,090 --> 00:02:20,750 Speaker 5: exciting and pointing to the kingdom of God who's coming 29 00:02:21,370 --> 00:02:24,290 Speaker 5: and helping us understand the king's activity in the world. 30 00:02:24,990 --> 00:02:28,590 Speaker 5: Some of his parables in Jerusalem later to the religious 31 00:02:28,650 --> 00:02:32,250 Speaker 5: leaders were very pointed with a tone of warning and judgment. 32 00:02:33,230 --> 00:02:36,149 Speaker 5: This one doesn't do that. Jesus was having fun with 33 00:02:36,190 --> 00:02:39,810 Speaker 5: this one, I think. He knows the crowds, he's enjoying them, 34 00:02:39,830 --> 00:02:43,010 Speaker 5: and they're enjoying him. Now, there doesn't seem to be 35 00:02:43,050 --> 00:02:47,450 Speaker 5: much overtly spiritual about this story. There's a man who's asleep, 36 00:02:47,690 --> 00:02:50,830 Speaker 5: his family's asleep, the door is locked, and then all 37 00:02:50,850 --> 00:02:53,630 Speaker 5: of a sudden somebody starts knocking in the middle of 38 00:02:53,669 --> 00:02:58,430 Speaker 5: the night. Can you imagine it? Luke chapter 11, starting 39 00:02:58,470 --> 00:03:04,950 Speaker 5: at verse 5. Luke 11 Suppose you went to a 40 00:03:05,010 --> 00:03:08,550 Speaker 5: friend's house at midnight. You're wanting to borrow three loaves 41 00:03:08,610 --> 00:03:11,589 Speaker 5: of bread, and you say to him, Hey, a friend 42 00:03:11,610 --> 00:03:13,709 Speaker 5: of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I 43 00:03:13,750 --> 00:03:17,549 Speaker 5: have nothing for him to eat. And suppose he calls 44 00:03:17,650 --> 00:03:21,410 Speaker 5: out from his bedroom, Don't bother me. The door is 45 00:03:21,470 --> 00:03:23,610 Speaker 5: locked for the night, and my family and I are 46 00:03:23,690 --> 00:03:27,410 Speaker 5: all in bed. I cannot help you. But I tell 47 00:03:27,460 --> 00:03:30,220 Speaker 5: you this, though he won't do it because you're his 48 00:03:30,280 --> 00:03:33,769 Speaker 5: friend for friendship's sake, If you keep knocking long enough, 49 00:03:34,070 --> 00:03:36,590 Speaker 5: he will get up and give you whatever you need 50 00:03:36,690 --> 00:03:41,770 Speaker 5: because of your shameless persistence, your annoying persistence as a friend. 51 00:03:43,830 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 5: I love that Jesus said that. I wonder if he 52 00:03:45,460 --> 00:03:47,460 Speaker 5: was laughing. He must have been laughing when he said 53 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 5: it and the crowd was laughing. Maybe either because they've 54 00:03:50,180 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 5: been there before as the friend needing help or somebody, 55 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 5: their neighbor is knocking on their door and they're kind 56 00:03:56,100 --> 00:03:59,020 Speaker 5: of laughing about it. But just imagine the whole scene, 57 00:03:59,080 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 5: just kind of knocking on the door and Yelling through 58 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:06,040 Speaker 5: the door at each other. I love that Jesus says, 59 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:08,420 Speaker 5: you might be great friends, but he's not getting up 60 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:10,780 Speaker 5: out of bed because you're his friend. He will get 61 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:15,710 Speaker 5: up because you're persistent. And so Jesus goes on, verse 9. 62 00:04:15,710 --> 00:04:20,250 Speaker 5: So I tell you. Keep on asking and you'll receive 63 00:04:20,290 --> 00:04:23,330 Speaker 5: what you ask for. Keep on seeking and you'll find. 64 00:04:23,910 --> 00:04:27,140 Speaker 5: Keep on knocking and the door will be open to you. 65 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:32,010 Speaker 5: For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And 66 00:04:32,150 --> 00:04:34,890 Speaker 5: everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 67 00:04:40,180 --> 00:04:40,620 Speaker 1: I love that. 68 00:04:41,450 --> 00:04:43,500 Speaker 5: Jesus was full of joy. He knew how to paint 69 00:04:43,540 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 5: a picture that would make people smile. When we look 70 00:04:46,339 --> 00:04:50,140 Speaker 5: at the story, remember the context. Jesus had just been 71 00:04:50,220 --> 00:04:53,839 Speaker 5: teaching his disciples how to pray. The Lord's Prayer comes 72 00:04:53,900 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 5: immediately before this passage. So everything Jesus says here is 73 00:04:57,620 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 5: about prayer. How to pray. Why to pray. what we 74 00:05:01,140 --> 00:05:04,510 Speaker 5: should pray for, and what we should expect. So this 75 00:05:04,570 --> 00:05:09,090 Speaker 5: man arrives at midnight unexpectedly. Hospitality was a serious matter 76 00:05:09,130 --> 00:05:12,750 Speaker 5: in that culture. He must take care of his traveling friend. 77 00:05:13,330 --> 00:05:16,550 Speaker 5: The problem is he has no food, no bread, nothing 78 00:05:16,589 --> 00:05:18,850 Speaker 5: to offer. So what does he do? He goes to 79 00:05:18,890 --> 00:05:22,750 Speaker 5: another friend's house and he starts knocking. Not at noon, 80 00:05:23,630 --> 00:05:27,790 Speaker 5: not at suppertime. Inside the neighbor is already in bed. 81 00:05:28,050 --> 00:05:31,460 Speaker 5: The children are sleeping. Everyone's settled for the night. The 82 00:05:31,500 --> 00:05:35,700 Speaker 5: neighbor responds from inside. Don't bother me. The door's locked. 83 00:05:36,180 --> 00:05:38,620 Speaker 5: Children are in bed. I can't get up and get 84 00:05:38,660 --> 00:05:41,690 Speaker 5: you anything. But they just showed up at my house. 85 00:05:41,940 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 1: I need bread. 86 00:05:42,730 --> 00:05:45,630 Speaker 5: I need food. Don't bother me. It's funny. 87 00:05:46,130 --> 00:05:49,770 Speaker 1: In other words, go away. Go away. 88 00:05:50,750 --> 00:05:54,870 Speaker 5: But finally, the latch opens. The sleepy neighbor gives in. 89 00:05:55,529 --> 00:05:58,860 Speaker 5: Not because he suddenly becomes generous and he remembers his heart. 90 00:05:59,260 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 4: Not. 91 00:05:59,910 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 5: Because his friendship is overwhelming him and compelled by this friend, 92 00:06:04,700 --> 00:06:08,099 Speaker 5: not because of anything other than the man would not 93 00:06:08,180 --> 00:06:12,740 Speaker 5: stop asking. Finally, the door opens and he does something like, here, 94 00:06:12,820 --> 00:06:15,039 Speaker 5: take the bread, take all of it, just take everything. Here, 95 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:16,820 Speaker 5: just let me go back to sleep and don't come 96 00:06:16,860 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 5: back asking for anything else. 97 00:06:18,990 --> 00:06:19,550 Speaker 1: It's kind of funny. 98 00:06:20,050 --> 00:06:24,170 Speaker 5: It's funny to me anyway. And Jesus paints this picture perfectly. 99 00:06:25,130 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 5: It kind of reminds me of my puppy, Ruby. Ruby 100 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:31,420 Speaker 5: is the sweetest dog you ever met. She's black and 101 00:06:31,460 --> 00:06:34,460 Speaker 5: white with big black patches because she's part basset hound. 102 00:06:34,900 --> 00:06:37,480 Speaker 5: And she's covered with little speckles because she's part blue 103 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:41,820 Speaker 5: tick hound. She's a beautiful dog, sweet, funny, most of 104 00:06:41,890 --> 00:06:45,810 Speaker 5: the time. But when there's a storm outside, or when 105 00:06:45,870 --> 00:06:49,430 Speaker 5: she's hungry, she knows when it's six o'clock on the dot. 106 00:06:50,290 --> 00:06:52,410 Speaker 5: Or she wants to go outside at three in the morning. 107 00:06:53,230 --> 00:06:58,140 Speaker 5: She becomes very persistent. She doesn't ask once, she asks again. 108 00:06:58,740 --> 00:07:02,760 Speaker 5: And again and again, she'll nudge us. She'll keep whining. 109 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:07,659 Speaker 5: She'll scratch until eventually somebody gets up and persistence wins. 110 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 5: That's the picture Jesus gives us here. And he encourages us, 111 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:18,500 Speaker 5: keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking, because you will get 112 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 5: what you need. In fact, it's interesting. He says, everyone 113 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:30,870 Speaker 5: who asks receives. everyone who seeks finds and to everyone 114 00:07:30,890 --> 00:07:32,610 Speaker 5: who knocks the door. 115 00:07:32,450 --> 00:07:33,410 Speaker 1: Will be open. 116 00:07:44,740 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 5: What a promise ask and you will receive what a 117 00:07:48,340 --> 00:07:51,220 Speaker 5: promise he doesn't just say ask once and never come 118 00:07:51,260 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 5: back he says keep asking keep seeking do we trust 119 00:07:55,660 --> 00:07:59,410 Speaker 5: God enough to pray that way Do we believe prayer works? 120 00:08:00,310 --> 00:08:03,170 Speaker 5: Do we believe he hears us? Do we believe he cares? 121 00:08:03,610 --> 00:08:05,450 Speaker 5: The man in the story went to his friend because 122 00:08:05,490 --> 00:08:09,510 Speaker 5: he knew his friend had what he needed. And prayer 123 00:08:09,550 --> 00:08:12,290 Speaker 5: begins the same way. We come to God because we 124 00:08:12,350 --> 00:08:16,570 Speaker 5: believe he has what we need. In fact, Jesus suggests 125 00:08:16,630 --> 00:08:20,860 Speaker 5: something greater. God doesn't just simply have enough. He has abundance. 126 00:08:21,780 --> 00:08:26,460 Speaker 5: Limitless resources is what we will be given. He isn't 127 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:31,239 Speaker 5: just scraping together a few crumbs. The treasures in heaven 128 00:08:31,860 --> 00:08:32,559 Speaker 5: belong to him. 129 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:34,060 Speaker 1: So ask him. 130 00:08:35,559 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 5: But then Jesus shifts the picture and he moves from 131 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:42,819 Speaker 5: friendship now to family, from neighbor to father. And he 132 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:48,239 Speaker 5: asks a series of absurd questions. What father among you 133 00:08:48,260 --> 00:08:51,679 Speaker 5: has a son who asks for a fish, will give 134 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:56,330 Speaker 5: him a snake instead? If a son asked for an egg, 135 00:08:56,870 --> 00:08:59,990 Speaker 5: would you fathers give him a scorpion? Of course not. 136 00:09:00,929 --> 00:09:03,470 Speaker 5: If you sinful people know how to give good gifts 137 00:09:03,530 --> 00:09:06,250 Speaker 5: to your children, how much more will your heavenly father 138 00:09:06,309 --> 00:09:08,890 Speaker 5: give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him? 139 00:09:10,790 --> 00:09:10,990 Speaker 2: What? 140 00:09:11,970 --> 00:09:15,960 Speaker 5: Jesus is asking ridiculous questions, and that's the point. Every 141 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:19,660 Speaker 5: parent listening would have laughed. Every son or daughter listening, 142 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 5: they would have laughed too. Because of course they wouldn't 143 00:09:22,380 --> 00:09:25,179 Speaker 5: give something like that. No loving father would give that 144 00:09:25,220 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 5: kind of away. A child asks for food, a father 145 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 5: provides food. The absurdity reveals the obvious. And if imperfect 146 00:09:33,980 --> 00:09:36,320 Speaker 5: earthly parents know how to care for their children, and 147 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:38,329 Speaker 5: Jesus kind of pokes at them and says, you're so 148 00:09:38,420 --> 00:09:40,630 Speaker 5: evil here on this earth, and you know how to 149 00:09:40,670 --> 00:09:44,450 Speaker 5: give good things, how much more does our heavenly father 150 00:09:44,950 --> 00:09:50,070 Speaker 5: know how to give good things? So the question becomes 151 00:09:50,230 --> 00:09:53,949 Speaker 5: in prayer, do we trust him? not just as a 152 00:09:53,990 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 5: friend now, but as a father. Do you trust that 153 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:01,420 Speaker 5: he knows how to give good gifts? and that every 154 00:10:01,540 --> 00:10:06,219 Speaker 5: gift he gives is good? None of it is for 155 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:10,630 Speaker 5: our pain and suffering. Then Jesus brings everything to its 156 00:10:10,770 --> 00:10:18,470 Speaker 5: surprising conclusion. What is the greatest gift God gives? Bread 157 00:10:18,750 --> 00:10:23,559 Speaker 5: when we need it at night? help when we're confused 158 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:28,440 Speaker 5: during the day? No, he says, the greatest gift God 159 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:32,750 Speaker 5: gives and what we should seek above all else, Jesus says, 160 00:10:33,450 --> 00:10:36,790 Speaker 5: is how much more will the Heavenly Father give the 161 00:10:36,850 --> 00:10:41,929 Speaker 5: Holy Spirit to those who ask him? That's kind of 162 00:10:41,950 --> 00:10:45,690 Speaker 5: the punchline, if you will, for the whole parable. The 163 00:10:45,730 --> 00:10:48,390 Speaker 5: greatest need isn't what we might feel in our stomachs 164 00:10:48,450 --> 00:10:50,790 Speaker 5: or what we might feel in our wallets or what 165 00:10:50,809 --> 00:10:53,150 Speaker 5: we might feel in our pride, or what we might 166 00:10:53,230 --> 00:10:57,550 Speaker 5: feel to comfort our fears, the greatest gift is the 167 00:10:57,610 --> 00:11:02,910 Speaker 5: Holy Spirit. Because in giving the Holy Spirit, God gives 168 00:11:03,010 --> 00:11:07,870 Speaker 5: us everything we truly need. In fact, in giving us 169 00:11:07,910 --> 00:11:12,030 Speaker 5: the Holy Spirit, God is giving us all of himself. 170 00:11:14,130 --> 00:11:17,740 Speaker 5: Scripture says, God has given us everything we need for life. 171 00:11:17,580 --> 00:11:24,220 Speaker 1: And godliness, because God Wow. Praise the Lord. 172 00:11:25,179 --> 00:11:28,100 Speaker 5: All of it flows through the gracious gift of the 173 00:11:28,120 --> 00:11:33,300 Speaker 5: Holy Spirit. Sometimes we become so focused on the specific 174 00:11:33,460 --> 00:11:36,180 Speaker 5: answer we want that we miss a greater gift God 175 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:40,210 Speaker 5: is offering. We want a particular outcome, but God wants 176 00:11:40,250 --> 00:11:43,589 Speaker 5: to give His presence. We want a solution, but God 177 00:11:43,630 --> 00:11:47,910 Speaker 5: wants to give Himself. We want immediate relief, and God 178 00:11:47,950 --> 00:11:51,780 Speaker 5: wants to shape us into His image. So yes, bring 179 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:59,089 Speaker 5: Him your requests. Pray specifically, boldly, persistently, annoyingly. Ask, seek, 180 00:11:59,650 --> 00:12:03,210 Speaker 5: and knock. But let Him be in charge of the answer. 181 00:12:03,950 --> 00:12:05,830 Speaker 5: And since you know what He wants to give you, 182 00:12:06,150 --> 00:12:10,530 Speaker 5: go ahead and ask Him for His Holy Spirit. Trust 183 00:12:10,570 --> 00:12:15,050 Speaker 5: that your Father knows what's best. Today, Jesus invites us 184 00:12:15,090 --> 00:12:19,380 Speaker 5: to pray with confidence. Pray like a persistent friend knocking 185 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 5: at midnight, Like a beloved child approaching a loving father. 186 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:28,179 Speaker 5: The father's not irritated by our prayers. He's not exhausted 187 00:12:28,240 --> 00:12:32,670 Speaker 5: by your requests. He's not hiding any good from his children. 188 00:12:33,250 --> 00:12:36,650 Speaker 5: He delights in giving good gifts. And he knows our 189 00:12:36,690 --> 00:12:40,910 Speaker 5: greatest need. In fact, his great desire is to give 190 00:12:41,010 --> 00:12:46,820 Speaker 5: us himself in the person of his Holy Spirit. So 191 00:12:46,860 --> 00:12:51,050 Speaker 5: whatever you're carrying today, bring it to him. And trust 192 00:12:51,070 --> 00:12:52,830 Speaker 5: that your Heavenly Father will open the. 193 00:12:52,770 --> 00:13:14,590 Speaker 1: Door and give you exactly what you. 194 00:13:14,980 --> 00:13:16,700 Speaker 3: Need. 195 00:13:18,540 --> 00:13:20,060 Speaker 5: God, may you answer our prayers. 196 00:13:20,710 --> 00:13:23,810 Speaker 1: With your Holy Spirit and your love and your grace, 197 00:13:23,870 --> 00:13:25,610 Speaker 1: we trust you. In Jesus' name. 198 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:36,720 Speaker 2: The Salvation Army's mission, doing the most good, means helping 199 00:13:36,820 --> 00:13:39,860 Speaker 2: people with material and spiritual needs. You become a part 200 00:13:39,880 --> 00:13:42,500 Speaker 2: of this mission every time you give to the Salvation Army. 201 00:13:42,820 --> 00:13:47,000 Speaker 2: Visit SalvationArmyUSA.org to offer your support. You can subscribe to 202 00:13:47,040 --> 00:13:52,030 Speaker 2: Words of Life on your favorite podcast store or visit SalvationArmySoundcast.org. 203 00:13:52,330 --> 00:13:54,829 Speaker 2: Join us next time for the Salvation Army's Words of Life. 204 00:13:56,690 --> 00:14:00,950 Speaker 3: These are the words, these are the words of life. 205 00:14:00,970 --> 00:14:04,980 Speaker 3: These are the words, these are the words, these are 206 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:14,410 Speaker 3: the words of life. 207 00:14:14,429 --> 00:14:15,830 Speaker 5: These are the words of life. 208 00:14:31,890 --> 00:14:34,350 Speaker 4: Thanks so much for listening to Words of Life. We 209 00:14:34,370 --> 00:14:36,190 Speaker 4: want to thank the team at Life Audio for their 210 00:14:36,230 --> 00:14:40,030 Speaker 4: partnership with us on the show. Visit lifeaudio.com where you'll 211 00:14:40,070 --> 00:14:43,590 Speaker 4: find dozens of other faith-centered podcasts in their network. They 212 00:14:43,610 --> 00:14:47,580 Speaker 4: have shows about prayer, Bible studying, parenting, and more. Thanks 213 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:49,280 Speaker 4: again for listening. We'll see you next time.