Dear Christian friends:

This past week Wednesday and Thursday we saw on TV and in the papers one more wonderful success for our nation in space. No doubt many people were praying before Gordon Cooper's blast-off and also while he was going around the earth twenty-two times. Perhaps some people even prayed after he landed and was safe aboard the ship. But you know that most people prayed before the blast-off because of worry and fear. But not many stopped to pray after landing to thank God for His protection and care.

Many people say poor and wrong prayers. They only pray in time of danger and trouble. And they only pray for earthly things; food, jobs, protection and many never pray in Jesus' name, or for spiritual things. These people cannot be sure that God hears and answers their prayers. They think maybe, they don't know. Some deceive themselves and act bold in prayer, but they are afraid in their heart.

But true Christians can be bold in prayer and sure that God hears and answers their prayers. Jesus in out text teaches this very plainly. So let us this morning attend to our text. We do not pray enough and often we pray without hope. Here Jesus shows that:


In our text Jesus tells about a man who had company come late at night. The visitor was hungry and the man had no bread left in the house to feed him. So the man went to a neighbor friend and asked to borrow three loaves of bread. The neighbor friend told him to go away and not bother because his door was locked and the children were all asleep. But the man refused to go away and kept on asking. Finally the neighbor friend arose and gave him the bread. He was tired of hearing the man knock and ask many times.

The neighbor friend only gave the bread because the man kept begging. He was not a very good neighbor or friend. But God is more than a neighbor or friend. He is our Father in heaven, and we are His dear children by faith in Jesus Christ. He loves us and gave His only Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins.

We do not bother Him if we come to Him in prayer. Even if we come to Him at midnight or at 2:00 a.m. that does not displease our heavenly Father. He never sleeps anyhow. He loves to hear our prayers. He knows that we trust Him and love Him if we are bold to come to Him with our problems, troubles and needs.

You who are mothers and fathers, you feel good and pleased when your children trust you and come to you with their troubles and needs. You are not cross and displeased when your children ask you for help or something. You feel satisfied and glad because they depend on you and think you are strong and wise to help them in their needs.

So God our heavenly Father is honored and pleased when we his children are not afraid of Him, but trust Him and pray to Him in all our troubles and needs. He is better than any father or mother on earth. Sometimes fathers and mothers are busy and you get cross if your children bother you and ask for something. Sometimes you are broke and can't give them any money. Sometimes you are not wise enough or strong enough to help your children. And so you are sometimes cross and displeased when your children ask you for help.

But God is never too busy. God is never broke and He is not ignorant to help us. He is never cross or displeased if we come to Him with our prayers. So we can be sure that God hears and answers our prayers. We are His dear children.

And even more Jesus, who never lies gives a very strong command and promise here to us about prayer in Luke 11:9-10, "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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

When we talk about that we can be sure that God answers prayer, always someone says, "Yes, but I have prayed and prayed for something and He never gave it to me." That does not mean that God did not hear your prayer or that He was displeased with your praying. Perhaps you asked for something that would not be good for you. God knows what things are good for us and what things are bad for us. He does not always give us exactly what we ask.

He knows what is best for us. In Luke 11:11-13 He tells us this, "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? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

If we sinful parents know what is best for our children. (Father whose teenage son wants a car.) Especially God promises the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him.

So often we ask only for earthly things, but our chief need is spiritual things: more faith; better knowledge and understanding of the Bible; more love, patience and kindness for one another; power to explain and teach God's wonderful word to others; eagerness to do church and mission work; more hope and courage in time of loss and sorrow. The power to give help and comfort to others in Jesus' name.

We are all very weak in these spiritual powers and abilities, and often we don't care if we improve. How many times did you pray for the Holy Spirit for more faith, more understanding of God's Word, more love and kindness? Do you read your Bible and first pray for God's Holy Spirit to help you understand and believe? Do you want to come to Bible Class and pray and study God's Word so you can receive the power of the Holy Spirit? Many of you seem to think that if you come on Sunday for church that is enough prayer and Bible lesson.

But, see now here in our lesson the wonderful things Jesus tells you about prayer. How your heavenly Father waits for you to pray and poke Him. How He promises to hear your prayers and give you such wonderful gifts and blessings.

Amen.