Relentless Prayers and a Willing God

Background

• Jesus was teaching His disciples to reliably pray.
• Our prayers should be like a child talking with her father.
• Christ addresses God as Father because He is both personal and loving.
• Prayer should be a simple and daily task for the children of God.

The Parable

• A man’s friend comes at midnight asking for help in providing hospitality.
• The man does not know the traveler, but he does owe the traveler.
• The man agrees to help out of the shameless persistence of his friend and to avoid the shame he would bear.

The Point

• If sinful people will help out someone they are annoyed with, how much will a righteous God help those He loves?
• God is waiting to bless us, we just need to ask.
• Just as we give good gifts to our kids, our Father longs to give good gifts to us.
• God is the good Father who wants to give the best to His children.
• However, this passage is not saying whatever we ask of God we will receive.

Sometimes, God does not answer because:

• What we want is sinful.
• It is not the right time.
• It is not for our best.  

Sometimes, God does not answer.

• Faith in Christ has made us right with God and has given us the best gift, the Holy Spirit.
• We may not always receive what we ask for, but we will always have what we need.