Shameless Persistance

 In Luke 11:5-13 Jesus uses a parable to teach us a lesson in prayer. In this parable, a visitor arrives at a man's house late at night, and probably unexpectedly. Hospitality was a vital part of middle eastern culture, so this man was in a desperate situation. We may look at this and think to ourselves that the hour is late, welcome your guest, and then get everyone back to bed. Deal with the food issue in the morning. Not so in this example. Hospitality demanded the bread to set before the guest, even at this late hour.

The man, in his desperation goes to his neighbor for help. It is midnight, and his neighbor is in bed with his family, and the house is locked up for the night. His answer is no, I cannot help you. However, Jesus stated that the man may not get up to help because of the friendship these men share, but he will get up and give his friend bread because of his importunity. This word importunity means persistence. The man would not take no for an answer but kept beating on his neighbor's door asking for bread. The Amplified version puts it this way,

     I tell you, although he will not get up and supply him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his shameless persistence and insistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs (Luke 11:8 AMP.)

I think most of us would give up with the first no. It would seem awkward, even rude to wake up a neighbor at midnight, and then to go back and keep knocking and asking. But not so with God. Jesus goes on to tell us that the one who asks receives, the one who seeks finds, and the one who knocks will have the door opened (Luke 11:9-10). In the Greek construction, the verbs ask, seek, and knock imply a continual action. Again, I like how the Amplified Bible puts this.

     So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened (Luke 11:9-10 AMP).

I have run across Christians who believe that if you have to ask more than once it means you don't have faith. I have heard others say that their children don't have to ask more than once for them to hear, listen and give what their child wants. That said however, the point is what Jesus teaches! He is teaching us to be persistent. To be shamefully persistent. Elsewhere we are told to come boldly to the throne of grace for help in time of need (Heb 4:16).

Some may think this to be arrogant or presumptuous, but our need should create a desperation within us, a passion that drives us to God with a desire that cannot be denied. Do we really want what we pray for? Do we really expect God to hear and grant our requests? One whose petitions are fueled by such a faith as this will come boldly, will come with a shameless persistence, and will have their requests granted.

End Times Faith

 "Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come upon you suddenly like a trap; for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:34-36 NASB)

The bible foretells of terrible days ahead of us, the final days of this age. We are warned throughout scripture of coming apostacy (2 Thess 2:3, 1Tim 4:1, Matt 24:10-12). Deception will increase (Matt 24:24, 2 Thess 2:8-12). Persecution such as the world has never seen will come upon us (Matt 24:9-10). Will we be ready? Will we be able to stand?

Right now, we have things fairly easy here in America. We do not face any real persecution, we have liberty to worship, bibles are readily available to anyone who wants one. Now is the time to build up our faith (Jude 20) because once we are in the storm our feeble faith will not sustain us. 

Now more than ever we must immerse ourselves in the word of God. We need to know what we believe and why. We must be actively living out our faith, as a living faith is a working faith (James 2:17, Heb 5:13-14, 6:11-12). And how about our prayer lives?

Jesus tells a parable of a persistent widow, and an unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8). His intent is to teach us to pray at all times without giving up. This widow appeared again and again, seeking justice from a judge who was unwilling to give her what she asked for. finally, because he was tired of her, he grants her request. How much more is God, who is just and caring, willing to bring about justice for us, who cry out to Him day and night? Jesus tells us that He is more than willing to bring it about. However, He leaves us with a sobering statement, "However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8)

If you are prayerless now, will you be prayerless under intense persecution? If you're a spiritual infant now, can you expect to mature under fire? What will your faith look like when Jesus comes back? Will He find you standing firm through to the end (Matt 24:13)? Will you be watchful and prayerful, because that is going to be what we will need in that hour. We need to ruthlessly trust in the one who is able to keep us from falling, and to make us stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy (Jude 24). We are protected by God through faith for a salvation that will be revealed at Christ's second coming. This is when the proof of our faith will be revealed, the faith that endures fiery trial, and comes out firm (1 Peter 1:4-7).