7/10/04 : Luke 11:5-13

11:5 Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, `Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him. 7 "Then the one inside answers, `Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. 9 "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. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Dear God: Please send a new baby for Mommy. The new baby you sent last week cries too much. Debbie, 7

Dear God: This is my prayer. Could you please give my brother some brains. So far he doesn't have any. Angela, 8

Dear Lord: Thank you for the nice day today. You even fooled the TV weather man. Hank, 7

A Vicar said to a precocious six-year-old boy: "So your mother says your prayers for you each night? Very praiseworthy. What does she say?" The little boy replied, "Thank God he's in bed!"

During the minister's prayer one Sunday, there was a loud whistle from one of the back pews. Gary's mother was horrified. She pinched him into silence, and after church, asked: "Gary, whatever made you do such a thing?" Gary answered soberly: "I asked God to teach me to whistle... And He just then did!"

Jesus had just taught His disciples what we know as the Lord's Prayer. He continues to teach them how to pray. He tells them a parable and then gives them a number of illustrations to show that God loves to give good gifts to His children who ask Him, and especially the gift of the Holy Spirit.

When I was at theological college there were a number of fellow students from Africa. One of the things that is important there is hospitality. For example, someone could visit the home of an African and they would offer the best and last of, sometimes meager resources to welcome someone. In Palestine there was a similar obligation and in Jesus' parable a surprise visitor visits a friend with no bread.

I don't know if any of you bake bread. I do, and the house smells wonderful as it gets to the end of the baking. It has been suggested that, if you are trying to sell your home you should bake bread as the potential purchasers arrive to make the property seem homely!

The breadless man could well have smelled his neighbour cooking bread earlier in the day and would know that he would have some spare. However, it is late and the man and his family are asleep, probably on a mat in the only room in the house. To get up, find the bread and unlock the door the man risks waking his children. Those of us who are parents know this is something to be avoided at all costs!

The man only agrees because of what the NIV translates 'boldness', verse 8. The translation of the Greek word anaideia is crucial to the meaning of this parable. Some have translated it 'importunity', meaning persistent or burdensome.

Yet another interpretation is that anaideia can mean "avoidance of shame" (Bailey, Poet and Peasant, pp. 125-33). The parable would therefore mean that just as the man in bed would respond so as not to incur shame (for having refused the needs of a visitor to his community), so God will always do what is honourable and consistent with his character.

If we split the word anaideia it is made of an, meaning 'not', and aideia meaning reverent or modest. So, I would like to suggest that the word means immodest, irreverent, even cheeky!

This would change the verse to, yet because of the man's barefaced cheek he (the neighbour) will get up and give him as much as he needs.

You may think that I am just playing with words until you think of our own attitude to prayer. We can approach God, our Father, like a cheeky child with our prayers! I am sure that many a parent has been taken aback when approached by their child with an audacious request. But perhaps this boldness has inspired the parent to grant the request!

So, next time you pray. Be bold, audacious, daring, adventurous. Make God smile and grant your request.

I recently bought a laptop computer. I went into Staples who were selling the last display model of an "end of line" laptop. I knew they had been trying to sell it for over a week so I approached a shop assistant and asked if there was any room for negotiation on the price, offering to buy it for £50 less than the already discounted price. He rang the manager who said I could have it for £100 less! Now, if I had not asked for a discount I could have paid £100 more for my laptop. If you don't ask you don't get, the saying goes. Jesus picks up on this theme in verse 9 and 10.

9 "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. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Who receives? Everyone who asks. Not just the persistent, the religious, the bold, but every child of God who asks. This does not mean to say that God will grant every foolish and/or selfish request that we make. However, our prayers may be the catalyst for His power to be released.

In verses 11 and 12 Jesus continues outlining the way that God will generously answer the prayers of His children. There are two steps in this:

(1) God is our heavenly Father (v. 13) and will do no less for his children than would an earthly father;

(2) God is perfect and will do "much more" than sinful man would.

It has been suggested that the fish, which was the sign of the Christian faith from the early church, represents the gift of faith. And the egg, represents life. This may be reading too much into this, but Jesus promises that God will give the Holy Spirit. Verse 13, "how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Immediately before His ascension Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. We know that they prayed and can safely assume that this would have included prayer to receive the promised Holy Spirit. Acts 1:14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

We too can be bold and ask God for His Holy Spirit. Every believer by definition has God's Spirit within them. However, that does not mean that we do not need regular 'topping up' or filling with the Spirit. In Ephesians 5:18 Paul instructs the Christians at Ephesus to be filled and go on being filled with the Spirit.

We had a clergy Chapter meeting this Tuesday. As I was praying with hands open to God He filled me with His Spirit. Whilst some may be surprised to discover the Holy Spirit in a room full of clergy it shows what a gracious, and surprising God was have!

During the World's Fair in Chicago many years ago, Mr. Dwight Moody was carrying on a campaign which cost a many thousands of dollars. A little group met one day to plan and assist and pray with Mr. Moody about the work. As they sat down to eat, Mr. Moody said, "We need $7,000 today for the work. I have already received $1,000, but before we eat I propose that we pray and ask God for the other $6,000." So with simple childlike faith, Mr. Moody presented this problem to the Father.

About an hour later after the little group had finished their lunch and completed their plans for the day, a boy came in with a telegram in his hand. Mr. Moody read it and handed it to Reuben Torrey to read aloud. This was what it said: "Mr. Moody, your friends in North Field had a feeling that you needed money in Chicago. We have just taken up a collection and there is $6,000 in the basket." North Field is nearly a thousand miles from Chicago. That morning, as a service was coming to a close in North Field, someone proposed that they take a collection for Mr. Moody's work in Chicago.

So, in the light of today's passage how are we to pray?

We are to come to God with bold requests.

We can come to God with confidence, knowing that He loves us and wants the best for us and everyone.

We are to ask God to keep giving us His Spirit so we can live for Him.

PRAY