Praying Boldly

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LEARNING TO PRAY BOLDLY

By Dr.Dick Hubbard

Luke 11:5-13

In Luke 11:1, after Jesus had finished praying, His disciples asked the Lord to teach them to pray as John the Baptist had taught his disciples. In a way, that prayer request from the disciples is most remarkable. Nowhere in the Gospels is it recorded that the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to preach…or to heal. But they did request that Jesus teach them to pray. Prayer, then, is something we can all learn to do and must do.

Luke 11:2-13 records Jesus’ response to that request. He gave His disciples a pattern on prayer (the model prayer, explained more fully in Matthew 6), a parable illustrating prayer, and principles applying prayer to our spiritual lives.

We are going to focus on that marvelous story Jesus told and its application. He spoke of a friend who came at midnight to the home of another and asked for three loaves of bread. Evidently an unexpected guest had arrived at that late hour and Middle Eastern courtesy required that food be set before the late arrival. But the host had no bread to serve. Hence this late night request.

Some cultural considerations will assist us in understanding what Jesus is teaching here. In the Middle East, it was considered necessary that food be set before a guest who had arrived regardless of the time of day (or night). Bread was baked daily and obviously the householder had no bread remaining from that day. Not to serve a meal to a late arriving guest would not only damage the reputation of his host, it would also stain the reputation of the entire village.

Since the reputation of the village was at stake, the host considered his options. He could admit that he had nothing to share and send his visitor to bed hungry… but that would be untenable and would lead to a huge embarrassment both for him as well as for the village. Or he could go to a neighbor, regardless of the lateness of the hour, and request bread for his guest. He chose to do the latter.

As he approached the other person’s home, he would note immediately that the door was closed and locked from the inside. A closed door always meant that the occupants were not receiving any guests. The door would remain open throughout the day and any guest would be welcome. But at night the door would be closed and the message to all was, "Come tomorrow!"

In addition, the homes were usually one-room arrangements with a raised platform at one end. The family all slept together (for warmth) on the raised platform with the farm animals brought in for warmth and protection on the lower level. To respond to a knock on the door late at night would not only rouse the children (and who wants to awaken sleeping children?), it would also set off a din among the animals.

As Jesus told the story, the person who needed the bread sought bread from his neighbor. But his neighbor at first stated that he could not arise. We can well understand why. But the one asking continued until finally the one asked agreed to get up even at the risk of waking his family in order to give him what he wanted and needed.

Just what does this story teach us about prayer? Frankly, Bible students are divided as to the correct interpretation of this parable Jesus told. When we study the parables of Jesus, we must note that there were two ways in which Jesus taught truth. One way was by comparison; the other was by contrast. Which is the case here? We all need to approach this study with humility. The important truth is that it should encourage us to pray.

The first interpretation suggested by many is what I would call "The Comparison Interpretation." In this interpretation, God is compared to the reluctant householder. Although the householder refused at first to grant the request, persistent effort finally won the day and the beseeching one received what he had asked. Not only was the host’s honor at stake, so also was the honor of the neighbor and the village. The parable is considered to be a lesson on persistence, or importunity, in prayer that overcomes the apparent reluctance of God.

Those who interpret the parable in this way say that when we pray, God’s honor is at stake and thus He will grant us our requests! We must pray and continue to pray until God grants what we have requested. The key to successful praying, they say, is praying with importunity, not giving up, until we have our request granted.

Now there is certainly an element of truth in this interpretation. We all know the value of persistency in our praying. But this view troubles many…including me.

Perhaps the biggest difficulty with this understanding is that it sets forth our holy God as subject to our prayer concerns including our potential whims! God is seen as our errand Boy doing what we command Him to do. Another problem appears be that such an interpretation teaches that God is reluctant to answer our prayers until we batter down His resistance! We know that view does not seem to correspond to the teaching that God is our loving heavenly Father Who always has our best interests at heart.

The other interpretation of this parable is what I would call "The Contrasting Interpretation". This interpretation emphasizes that God the Father is not to be likened to the householder who finally gave the bread; rather, God is to be contrasted with him. If it took all that persistence in order to obtain from a reluctant earthly friend, it does not require all of that importunity to receive from our heavenly Friend. And, besides, we are not neighbors; we are already members of His family; we are within the house, not outside it! We need not knock on the door from the outside; we pray within the family relationship. Those explaining the parable in this way emphasize that the concept of persistency in prayer is not necessarily the main thrust of the parable.

While we identify with this interpretation, let us go a step further in order to understand what it is that Jesus is teaching about prayer. Jesus began by saying, "Which of you (disciples) shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight…" The disciples, then, are those who are knocking at the neighbor’s door at midnight. Jesus seems to be indicating that the attitude of the one requesting is the one the disciples are to imitate and learn from him! But we must ask, "Learn what?"
 
The key to interpreting the story may be found in Luke 11:8. Note the little word "persistence" (NKJV); "boldness" (NIV); "persistence" (NASB); "importunity: (KJV); "impudence" (ESV). The Greek word is anaideian. It occurs only here in the NT. The word is difficult to translate in English. The actual word itself combines two qualities: boldness and shamelessness.

The Nelson Study Bible note on Luke 11:8 agrees: "Persistence here refers to shameless boldness more than to tenacity. Jesus’ point is that in prayer the disciple is to be bold." (p 1716). Surely it was a bold thing that the friend requested. Jesus wanted His disciples to be bold in their prayer ministry before their heavenly Father! So should we!

But it is here that we need to sound a word of caution. Praying boldly does not mean praying carelessly or selfishly or foolishly or recklessly. God’s answers to even bold praying are circumscribed by how Jesus taught the disciples to pray in Luke 11:2-4. We must have a right relationship with the Father. We must pray for that which will glorify His Name. Our prayer targets should have in mind the extending of His kingdom on earth. And our bold praying should be within the circle of His will (see also 1 John 5:14) as well as meet other prayer requirements outlined in Scripture. These are some of the filters through which our bold praying will be sifted.

So how can we be bold in our praying? Let’s focus on some keys to bold praying. There are five of them noted in the text…

I. TO PRAY BOLDLY, WE MUST PRAY PERSONALLY…

Right at the start we are made aware that prayer is a very personal responsibility. The disciples asked, "Teach us to pray." They would become involved in the ministry of prayer.

Although the friend may have been expecting his guest, the guest’s late arrival would certainly be a surprise. No one would want to travel late into the evening with all of the robbers and threats involved. It is possible that the host had already retired for the night assuming that his guest would arrive the next day. But then…a knock came on his door.

Yes, the visitor did arrive late at night…and the host welcomed him into his home. The host became actively involved…including a ministry of petition. No one else could do his praying for him.

Note, too, that in this story prayer was born out of another person’s need. The arriving guest needed food! The true necessity for much of our praying is based on the need of others with which we identify. That is often where the burden is felt and the heart is moved to prayer. The host was moved to action.

No substitutes will do when it comes to praying. Our loved ones cannot do our praying for us, nor the church leadership, nor friends, nor anyone else. It was the one who had received the late-night visitor who had the personal responsibility to act…and act he did with boldness!

II. TO PRAY BOLDLY, WE MUST PRAY WISELY...

Where could the needy host obtain the bread he needed for his late arriving guest? He would have to think through who would have enough bread left over since the bread was baked daily for family use that day. Not everyone would have spare bread. He didn’t! So he needed to be wise in choosing not only the person to whom he would make his bold request but also how much bread he would need. He did not want to knock on the door of every house in the village!

To whom can we go with our petitions and requests? The host went to his neighbor. He knew where to go. We also know where we are to take our prayer requests. Jesus taught us to pray, "Our Father…" The Lord invites us to draw near and make known our requests. We are instructed to go to our loving Heavenly Father Who has taught us to approach the throne of grace with assurance that we will receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb 4:16).

Do not think that Jesus is likening the neighbor to God the Father. We have already discussed the serious problems such a view holds. No, Jesus is merely saying that those who pray need wisdom in their prayer ministry.

How can we obtain prayer wisdom? Note James 1:5-8. James reminds the believer to pray for wisdom if he lacks it. What is wisdom? Wisdom is the application of knowledge to life! People can be very knowledgeable yet not be wise at all. The wise person is the person who can and does apply knowledge to life.

And when we pray for wisdom, let us believe that we have received it! Not to trust God in this matter, says James, is becoming a double-minded person. Let not that person think he will receive from the Lord. Yes, true prayer requires the wisdom that the Lord gives.

We need to pray wisely regarding the burdens we carry, the choices we are called upon to make, the needs of other for whom we intercede. Sometimes our prayer for wisdom will bring to our minds a principle from Scripture that will shed light upon the decision we are making. Or it may bring to our understanding the wise counsel of a perceptive friend. Or it may bring to our attention how others have faced similar circumstances and have responded...and we learn from their experiences. So...is our prayer life characterized by wise praying?

III. TO PRAY BOLDLY, WE MUST PRAY SPECIFICALLY...

The friend asked for three loaves of bread. I have wondered, "Why three?" There was but one guest who arrived (note the singular noun). So why not ask for one? But the host asked for three. He was very specific. We are not told why, but his boldness was characterized not only by the hour when he approached his neighbor but also by the specific number of three loaves of bread he was requesting. Believers need to pray specifically.

Why pray specifically? Specific praying requires that we focus on that for which we are praying. Specific praying forces the one praying to truly identify what his concerns are.

Specific praying also requires a sense of preparation. The man knew what he would ask his friend for when he came to request. So many of us lack proper preparation for entering into the ministry of prayer. We just barge our way into the presence of God without having taken the time to think through what our prayer ministry is...and what our requests should be. Do we pray with specific interest about the decision we are called upon to make?

Of course emergency situations arise which call for immediate prayer. Nehemiah is an example of one who experienced the need for sudden prayer (Neh 2:4). He was the king’s cupbearer, one who served the king. As he considered the condition of God’s people and God’s city, Jerusalem, he became sad…and the king noticed it. It was dangerous for the king’s cupbearer to be sad in the king’s presence! The king asked him what the problem was and Nehemiah told him. Then the king asked what Nehemiah wanted to do about it. Before he answered, he prayed quickly that God would guide his words and give him favor in the king’s eyes. God answered his prayer.

IV. TO PRAY BOLDLY, WE MUST PRAY RESPONSIBLY....

It surely was a bold request, wasn’t it? The English Standard Version translates it "impudence". Not one loaf of bread was requested…but three! That was a real need. And then there was the lateness of the hour? At first, the one within the house refused the request. But the one beseeching continued to ask boldly and shamelessly until finally the one within yielded to the request.

Responsible praying considers not only the specifics of the request being made but also the consequences resulting from the granting of the request.

It indeed was a serious matter for both. The one who had no bread would cast a stain on the village’s reputation. The one who had bread but who would be unwilling to share it no matter the lateness of the hour would also cast a stain on the village’s reputation. Serious matters required responsible praying!

Responsible praying requires that we ask for that of which we have need. There were many things for which the petitioning friend might have asked, but he focused on the need. Such responsible praying is one of the barometers revealing how serious we are about the requests we are praying about!

V. TO PRAY BOLDLY, WE MUST PRAY CONFIDENTLY...

Although it seemed to be the wrong time to make such a request (consider the lateness of the hour), the truth is that there is no such thing as a bad time to go to our Heavenly Father with our prayers. The relationship of Father and child carries with it the immediate accessibility at all times of our Father. He had the confidence to go forward with his request.

In Luke 11:11, Jesus mentions fish and snakes. From the Sea of Galilee, fishermen often found water snakes mixed in with the catch of fish in the nets. Jesus probably had this in mind when he asked, "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?" But let us flip this over. What if a son thinks he is asking for bread but is really asking for what will become a stone to him? Will a loving father not give him bread instead? And if a son thinks he is asking for an egg but is really asking for what will become a snake to him, will not a loving father give him fish instead? Of course!

Thus Jesus taught that loving fathers do not give stones when asked for bread, or snakes when asked for fish, or scorpions when asked for eggs! If "evil" parents give "good" gifts to their children, how much more will our "good" and loving heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask! We must give our loving heavenly Father the freedom to respond to our requests in ways that will glorify Him and ultimately will be for our spiritual good. Ct Psa 106:15

And so God commands that His children pray. No time is a bad time; no request in the will of God is too bold. Prayer is perhaps the greatest ministry any of us could have.
 
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