.
Beloved, I am glad to share with you the above theme from Luke 11: 8 today. Indeed, the disciples are struck by the place that prayer occupies in the life of their Master. Let’s do like them: let us ask the Lord to teach us to pray. Is it a matter of reciting a few memorized sentences? On the contrary, the parable of the two friends teaches us to express each need in a simple and precise way: “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread…” Isn’t it a spiritual need that suddenly arises, and for so to speak, knocking on the door of our own heart?
Let’s be careful not to push him away; on the contrary, let’s treat him as a passing friend. But we have nothing to present to him? So let’s turn to the divine Friend, without fear of bothering Him. In his love, God takes pleasure in responding to his children and never deceives them. On the contrary, if in our ignorance and our lack of wisdom we happened to ask Him for “a stone”, He knew how to change our request into “good things”.
Until he has met the Lord Jesus, man is as dumb to God as the demoniac (Luke 11:14). For, saved by Christ, having received the gift of the Holy Spirit at his conversion, it is then that he can raise his voice in praise and prayer. Let’s use this privilege widely.
The prayer topics Jesus gave his disciples related to their times, while also presenting the main principles of what we have to ask for today. Prayer has as its object, first of all, the glory of God, which must be our primary concern. The Lord teaches us this when he says: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you further” (Mt 6.33).
Jesus shows them that prayer should express felt needs, presented with faith and perseverance, as they arise. He gives the example of someone who, around midnight, receives a visit from a friend and is short of food, goes to one of his friends despite the late hour to ask him for three loaves of bread. This friend, already in bed, does not seem willing to give him what he asks for: “Don’t bother me,” he said; “The door is already closed, and my children are in bed with me; I can’t get up and give it to you. “
Jesus adds: “I tell you that although he does not get up and give her because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will get up and give him as much as he does. needs it ”. This example teaches us that if a man allows himself to be moved by the insistence of a friend who presents his needs to him, how much more will God the Father answer the prayer of faith! If a man gives in to the opportunity of others, God, who is never bothered by prayer, will give what he knows to be good to those who turn to him with confidence.
This is why the Lord confirms by his conduct the testimony already given in his parabolic teachings, testimony which clearly gave to understand that it was not a question of the reception of the Messiah by Israel, but of the publication of the Word which attracted to God and to Him the souls destined to enjoy the blessing. He also confirms that the Word was the foundation of all relationship with Him, declaring, when spoken to of his mother and brothers, by whom he was in relationship with Israel according to the flesh, that he did not recognize as parents other than those who heard and observed the word of God.
We have seen that he surrounds himself with them; they are devoted to his service; the most imminent danger threatens them, and human resources offer no means to guarantee them from inevitable ruin. The waves are ready to engulf them, and from what man could see, Jesus was not minding their critical and hopeless position; but God allowed this exercise of faith. If the disciples are there because of Jesus and with Him, He is with them; and the power of Him for whose sake they are stormed is there to secure them. They are together with Him in the same boat; and if, considered apart in themselves they could perish, in the counsels of God they were associated with Jesus; his presence guaranteed them. Jesus allows the storm; but he himself is in the boat, and when he awakens and manifests himself, all will become calm. For Jesus, as for his ministry, wants this work to be hidden: it must be received according to the testimony which he gives to the conscience and to the heart. While he was on his way, this testimony was not entirely finished; and we see his last efforts on the unbelieving heart of man.
This is why he wants to explain to his disciples how a prayer becomes effective. He uses the parable of the three loaves for this purpose. There will be a promise and an exhortation, depending on how we view the two men present there. For the promise can be summed up as follows: Here is a man who, out of laziness and pure selfishness, seeks to get rid of a petitioner. He will come, reluctantly, to grant his request, even if it was presented to him at the most inopportune moment, in the middle of the night. Jesus affirms: How much more will God who is love, knowing perfectly our needs, answer our prayers.
Then the exhortation is the “petitioner” who, by his example, presents it to us. The circumstances were unfavorable; however, pressed by the urgency of the need, he does not hesitate to annoy this man, whom he nevertheless knows not to be very generous, and he does not hesitate to insist on him knowing that his friend has more “means” than him. How then can we hesitate to speak freely to God? He is ready to welcome us: he does not feed himself, as men do, on selfish, unkind feelings. In addition, He never “sleeps” (Ps 121.4), his door always remains open. In his infinite mercy, He is always ready to grant us infinitely more than we know how to ask (Ep 3.20). Because “he will give him” is the expression of complete confidence for time and eternity.
Finally, Jesus adds: “And I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you; for whoever asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks it will be opened ”. God knows that we are without capacity and without resources as to ourselves, and he is pleased to satisfy our various needs, as long as what we ask of him meets his will. For we can always count on the love of God to give us what we need, and even if he does not answer us according to our desires, he will answer us according to his love; but he will always do so in a way that does not harm our spiritual interests which are eternal. For the Lord insists on perseverance, or on that the requests not be those of a heart indifferent to the result. He assures his disciples that their prayers would not be without effect; also their heavenly Father would give the Holy Spirit to those who asked for it. They are thus placed in His own relationship on earth with God.
So let’s learn to present our needs, in all simplicity: “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread”. Such a prayer is concise: it doesn’t need to be long to be answered. Often the need turns out to be more spiritual. Because he comes to knock with insistence on the door of our hearts. Let’s not try to ignore it, it will come back quickly, with even greater authority. Let us treat him with the same solicitude as this passing friend of whom the parable speaks. Because we are without resources, unable to respond to a need placed in our path. This is why we must recognize ourselves before God with humility, totally helpless, and turn to Him with faith, “not doubting in any way” (James 1: 6-7). He is a faithful and tender Friend, He always enjoys answering the prayer of faith and He never deceives his children.
Noting that the Lord Jesus does not give a random number, For there is a strong link with the trinity. The interpretation is as follows: the first loaf represents the compassion of God the Father. For Scripture tells us: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16). So, we need the compassion of God, because that is what will push us to no longer live only for ourselves. This compassion of God is what will make us say something other than “Give us bread, forgive us, or forgive us.”
Then, beyond our concern for ourselves thanks to the compassion of God, we enter what the second bread represents: the courage of the Son. For when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, He said, “Take this cup away from me. However, not what I want, but what you want ”(Mk 14.36). So we need that same courage, so that we can put our own will aside and embrace that of God, living as His witness in this generation. For we’re going to need a supernatural force to come out and stand for Christ in the midst of a hostile generation that is resisting its own salvation.
Finally the third bread: the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the Lord’s promise to those who belong to Him and who want to engage in His work on Earth. It is for those who are no longer content to go to the secret place only for their own needs, but who are touched by the needs of this generation. These are the people who will have power in their prayers.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and put together for your better understanding.
- Borrow:
Ex 22.13 If it was torn to pieces by a wild animal, he shall bring in the remains as evidence and he will not be required to pay for the torn animal; 2 Kings 6.5 As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. “Oh, my lord,” he cried out, “it was borrowed!” Ps 37.21 The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously; Pr 22.7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender..; Mt 5.42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
- The causes of family worries:
-sickness of a servant: Mt 8.6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.”
-illness of a child: Mt 15.22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession.”
-taking care of guests: Luke 10:40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
-hospitality: Luke 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,
-responsibility for a spouse: Luke 14.20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’
-provide for the needs of the family: 1 Tim 5: 8 If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever
- Examples of expediency in prayer (Lk 18.5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’)
-Abraham: Gn 18.32 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?” He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”
-Jacob: Gn 32.27 27The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered.
-Moses: Dt 9.18 18Then once again I fell prostrate before the Lord for forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water, because of all the sin you had committed, doing what was evil in the Lord ‘s sight and so provoking him to anger.
-the Canaanite woman: Mt 15.27 “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
-Jesus: Luk 22. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
-the royal officer of Capernaum: Jn 4.49 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
-the early church: Acts 12.5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
-Elijah: Jas 5:17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.
- Stability: to persevere until the end:
Jb 17.9 Nevertheless, the righteous will hold to their ways, and those with clean hands will grow stronger; Jn 15.9 9″As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love; Ga 6.9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up; He 12.1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 1 P 1.13 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed; Rev 3.11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
From all of the above, we note that we have to keep praying. Then the first loaf represents the compassion of God the Father. So, we need the compassion of God, because that is what will push us to no longer live only for ourselves. This compassion of God is what will make us say something other than “Give us bread, forgive us, or forgive us.” The second bread is the courage of the Son. For when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, He said, “Take this cup away from me. However, not what I want, but what you want ”(Mk 14.36). So we need that same courage, so that we can put our own will aside and embrace that of God, living as His witness in this generation. The third bread is the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the Lord’s promise to those who belong to Him and who want to engage in His work on Earth. It is for those who are no longer content to go to the secret place only for their own needs, but who are touched by the needs of this generation. These are the people who will have power in their prayers. Our prayers are with you all there.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all worship, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be glad to respond to your queries and comments if necessary, before sharing with you next week “a miracle refused by the Lord Jesus.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you profusely.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.