Nov 17, 2019 |Parables

The Purpose of Prayer

11.17.19 | Parables

The Purpose of Prayer

Young Yi

Luke 11:5-13

We are called to fervently and consistently pray to God. If God is sovereign and doesn’t guarantee meeting our requests according to our desires, why should we pray? Young Yi shares the parable of the midnight friend in need and how it paints a picture of our posture of prayer with God. We don’t pray to get what we want from God. We pray to stay in constant communion with God.

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He also said to them: “Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.’ Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’
Luke 11:5-7

I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
Luke 11:8

“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, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Luke 11:9-10

What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
Luke 11:11-12

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me — nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Luke 22:42-44

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 11:13

Prayer is a communal action.

 

We cannot treat prayer as a once in a while act, but rather, as a persistent outworking of our faith in Christ.

 

When we persistently pray in alignment with God’s will, our prayers will move God’s heart to act.

Youth