FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BRIGHTON
Lessons
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INSPIRED TO PRAY
Luke 11:5-13
BACKGROUND
This lesson is about prayer. It is preceded (verses 1-4)
with the shortened version of the Model Prayer. This after
the disciples requested instruction in prayer. And just what
prompted this request? In all likelihood, they had heard
bits and pieces of Jesus’ prayers as they journeyed
toward Jerusalem with Him. Think about it: if no one has
heard you pray, how likely is it they will ask you for advice
on prayer? Now ask yourself whether anyone has ever
asked YOU to either pray or teach them to pray. People
tend to ask of you what they feel you do best. This should
be a Christian’s “litmus test”.
As for Jesus, He was at this time making final preparations to die. He had made it clear to all that He was on His
way to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51). He had predicted on at least two occasions that He would die (Luke 9:18-22, 9:43 -45),
yet, when the time would actually come, none of the disciples would be ready.
Now, Jesus is taking time to teach prayer techniques. Why? Because He knew that He would not long be with
them, and they would be left with prayer as the only “line of communication” to Him.
FRIEND’S REQUEST (Luke 11:5-8)
This is a parable. It is NOT an allegory. A parable is told to bring into focus ONE point, or give the answer to ONE
question. Characters and places are incidental. This is important, since it should be noted that God cannot be
pressured into acting.
But look for a moment at the parable. Here is a man whose friend appears at his door at midnight. Now first of
all, we should not be led away from the point of the parable by this. Remember that Palestine is desert, and because
of the intense heat, people would often travel at night.
The friend is tired and hungry, but the host has no food available, as he didn’t expect company that night. The
host therefore goes to another friend to seek the needed supplies. But one thing is here vitally important: the host
was not knocking on his friend’s door at midnight for himself: he was knocking at midnight for someone else!
It is also noteworthy that the man’s initial efforts to secure food were not met with favorable responses. Still, he
kept trying. The Vulgate prefixes verse 8 with the words: “But if he keeps on knocking…”. The question is, how willing
would WE be to get up at midnight, and persistently seek nourishment for someone else? If nothing else, this would
seem to encourage fervent and persistent prayer for the welfare of others.
And keep in mind that, while God cannot be coerced into doing something, the comparison should still be noted:
if one who is ungodly will respond to persistence, how much would God respond out of love?
ASK AND RECEIVE (Luke 11:9, 10)
There are three very important verbs in these two verses: ask, seek, and knock. Why are they so important? Because
they require you to initiate a given activity. God will give you certain blessings, but you must ask. If you want to find
something, you must first seek. And you must knock if you want God to open doors for you. At issue is just how to get
God to respond. In other words, pray. Prayer has a way of doing all three of these things, and God is faithful to
answer sincere prayer.
GIVING FATHER (Luke 11:11-13)
What is the relationship between what you ask and what you get? Notice here that the child does ask, which is a form
of prayer. What decent father or mother could be cruel enough to give a hungry child a stone? After all, doesn’t a
loving parent in a sense actually feel the child’s hunger pains? How much more does your Heavenly Father feel your
spiritual hunger pains? And isn’t it really spiritual food that the Father desires you petition? If so, these are the kinds
of prayers that are answered.
Look at verse 13. Keep in mind that Jesus is speaking to His disciples. Are they evil? The answer is “no” – at
least not in the popular sense of the word. No, this is in all probability a reference to Original Sin, which cause all
humans born of a woman to be in sin. And when one remembers that none of the disciples had yet been indwelt by
the Holy Spirit, they were, in the strictest sense, sinners.
But the point is that even in this unfortunate state, these men knew how to give good gifts to their children. If that
is the case, then how much more will your Heavenly Father be willing to give not just good gifts, but perfect gifts to His
children.
Written by: Truitt F. Evans, Pastor
First Baptist Church of Brighton
1430 Fielding Street
Brighton , AL 35020
Luke 11:5-13
BACKGROUND
This lesson is about prayer. It is preceded (verses 1-4)
with the shortened version of the Model Prayer. This after
the disciples requested instruction in prayer. And just what
prompted this request? In all likelihood, they had heard
bits and pieces of Jesus’ prayers as they journeyed
toward Jerusalem with Him. Think about it: if no one has
heard you pray, how likely is it they will ask you for advice
on prayer? Now ask yourself whether anyone has ever
asked YOU to either pray or teach them to pray. People
tend to ask of you what they feel you do best. This should
be a Christian’s “litmus test”.
As for Jesus, He was at this time making final preparations to die. He had made it clear to all that He was on His
way to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51). He had predicted on at least two occasions that He would die (Luke 9:18-22, 9:43 -45),
yet, when the time would actually come, none of the disciples would be ready.
Now, Jesus is taking time to teach prayer techniques. Why? Because He knew that He would not long be with
them, and they would be left with prayer as the only “line of communication” to Him.
FRIEND’S REQUEST (Luke 11:5-8)
This is a parable. It is NOT an allegory. A parable is told to bring into focus ONE point, or give the answer to ONE
question. Characters and places are incidental. This is important, since it should be noted that God cannot be
pressured into acting.
But look for a moment at the parable. Here is a man whose friend appears at his door at midnight. Now first of
all, we should not be led away from the point of the parable by this. Remember that Palestine is desert, and because
of the intense heat, people would often travel at night.
The friend is tired and hungry, but the host has no food available, as he didn’t expect company that night. The
host therefore goes to another friend to seek the needed supplies. But one thing is here vitally important: the host
was not knocking on his friend’s door at midnight for himself: he was knocking at midnight for someone else!
It is also noteworthy that the man’s initial efforts to secure food were not met with favorable responses. Still, he
kept trying. The Vulgate prefixes verse 8 with the words: “But if he keeps on knocking…”. The question is, how willing
would WE be to get up at midnight, and persistently seek nourishment for someone else? If nothing else, this would
seem to encourage fervent and persistent prayer for the welfare of others.
And keep in mind that, while God cannot be coerced into doing something, the comparison should still be noted:
if one who is ungodly will respond to persistence, how much would God respond out of love?
ASK AND RECEIVE (Luke 11:9, 10)
There are three very important verbs in these two verses: ask, seek, and knock. Why are they so important? Because
they require you to initiate a given activity. God will give you certain blessings, but you must ask. If you want to find
something, you must first seek. And you must knock if you want God to open doors for you. At issue is just how to get
God to respond. In other words, pray. Prayer has a way of doing all three of these things, and God is faithful to
answer sincere prayer.
GIVING FATHER (Luke 11:11-13)
What is the relationship between what you ask and what you get? Notice here that the child does ask, which is a form
of prayer. What decent father or mother could be cruel enough to give a hungry child a stone? After all, doesn’t a
loving parent in a sense actually feel the child’s hunger pains? How much more does your Heavenly Father feel your
spiritual hunger pains? And isn’t it really spiritual food that the Father desires you petition? If so, these are the kinds
of prayers that are answered.
Look at verse 13. Keep in mind that Jesus is speaking to His disciples. Are they evil? The answer is “no” – at
least not in the popular sense of the word. No, this is in all probability a reference to Original Sin, which cause all
humans born of a woman to be in sin. And when one remembers that none of the disciples had yet been indwelt by
the Holy Spirit, they were, in the strictest sense, sinners.
But the point is that even in this unfortunate state, these men knew how to give good gifts to their children. If that
is the case, then how much more will your Heavenly Father be willing to give not just good gifts, but perfect gifts to His
children.
Written by: Truitt F. Evans, Pastor
First Baptist Church of Brighton
1430 Fielding Street
Brighton , AL 35020