JULY 23RD

THE POWER OF IMPORTUNITY IN PRAYER (Continued)

Scripture Luke 11: 1- 10

　^{1And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.}

2　And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

3　Give us day by day our daily bread.

4　And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

5　And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;

6　For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?

7　And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.

8　I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

9　And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

10　For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

     The parable begins in verse 5 above. "And he said unto them, 'Who of you shall have a friend, and shall go on unto him at midnight, and may say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves…" Notice from the entire account that this request is on behalf of another. The request is specific. Three loaves. Christ Jesus is the Bread of Life. When one petitions to sustain another in his journey, this request remains the same. The petition is for a pilgrim; therefore, his true need would not be a natural one. There is no mention of children or others but only the need of a friend in his journey. Think about it again. Why then the need for three loaves? The need is always a tri-fold one spiritually that requires Christ in each area. These three loaves speak to Divine perfection in three realms which are spirit, soul and body.

     In that day, one close to the bridegroom was called his friend. Such a friend would on the bridegroom’s behalf ask the hand of the bride and render the bridegroom various services in closing the marriage and celebrating the nuptials. Is that not a pretty good summation of what true ministry is all about? All believers are friends of Jesus, our Bridegroom. The Bridegroom is with us, and there are many members who make up His Bride who are yet in their journey.

Continued