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‘Because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.’
Luk_11:8
I. Why does God delay to answer prayer?—Let us take the parable as our guide. God may oftentimes delay to answer prayer—
(a) Not because the request in itself is wrong. This man was not wrong (i.) in the occasion of his petition; (ii.) in the matter of his petition; (iii.) as to the purpose for which he desired the gift. Yet the request was for a time refused, or the answer was at least postponed.
(b) But to see if we are in earnest in preferring our request. ‘If the arrow of prayer,’ says an old writer, ‘is to enter heaven, we must draw it from a soul full bent.’ What insults have we frequently offered to God by our hurried and careless petitions!
(c) And again, because God will have us longer at His feet.
(d) Yet, once more, because He would prepare us for receiving the blessing when it comes.
Those prayers that are longest in being answered are often most richly answered at last, just as those ships which are latest in coming into port often have the richest cargo.
We have seen some of the reasons for delay. Notice, now, some of—
II. The encouragements to persevere in prayer.—The force of the parable lies not in parallel, but in contrast. What, then, are the contrasts in which encouragement is to be found?
(a) The condition of the donor. ‘He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.’
(b) The time of the application. The visitor came in the dead of night, but our petitions are offered in midday. This is the time to pray.
(c) God’s nature is the very opposite to that of the man in the parable. This man was selfish, but the nature of God is to give. This man would not rise and give simply because he was the friend of him who asked. When at length he rose, it was to save himself further annoyance. But God delights to bestow. He gives not to get rid of the applicant, but to manifest towards him His unfailing compassion and pity.
Let the parable, therefore, encourage us steadfastly to follow the pathway of prayer, the path trodden by our Saviour Himself, the path trodden by the saints that have gone before us.
Rev. E. W. Moore.
Illustration‘In that most interesting and thrilling account of Dr. Paton’s missionary work in the New Hebrides, we have a remarkable instance of answered prayer in the discovery of water. The Lord, Dr. Paton was convinced, directed him to the place where water could be found, to the amazement of the natives. But yet there must be the patient digging of the well. The water was there, but it must be dug for; it was beneath their feet, but it only yielded itself to hard work. And so the Water of Life is accessible, placed within our reach, but if it is to be ours there must be intensity in the asking. There must be the evidence that we are in earnest.’
IMPORTUNITY IN PRAYER
I. Conditions of prayer.—If you are to pray you must—
(a) Believe in the existence of God. He that cometh to God ‘must believe that He is (i.e. that He exists), and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him’ (Heb_11:6). We may put it in this way—either God hears prayer, or we are all orphans in a lonely, fatherless world.
(b) Believe in His government of the world. God, as we know, governs the world by laws. Can prayer alter those laws? God governs the world by laws, but He is not the slave of those laws. They do not rule Him, else He would not be God. He rules them.
(c) Believe in His willingness to answer. Hear the comfortable words of the Blessed Lord recorded by John: ‘Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My Name, He will give it you’ (Luk_16:23).
(d) And Christ would have men persevere in prayer. To this end He spoke the parable we are considering. Our Lord adds, ‘Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.’ Each of these words denotes a more earnest supplication. If you do not get by asking, then seek; if you do not get by seeking, then besiege the door of heaven with loud knocks. Ask! Seek! Knock!
II. The golden key of prayer.—God has given us this golden key of prayer, a key that will open all hard locks. What are you doing with it? Is the key kept bright by daily, hourly, constant use? or is it rusty because hardly ever used at all? You cannot too often remember, ‘All goeth right when that is bright.’
III. The joy of prayer.—The more you persevere the more you will find the joy of prayer; and, I may add, the power of prayer. Bring your broken vessels, bring your empty vessels to God, for He needs not your strength, but your weakness. ‘Open thy mouth wide,’ He says, ‘and I will fill it’ (Psa_81:10). ‘For from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen a God beside Thee which worketh for him that waiteth for Him’ (Isa_64:4, R.V.). And He is ‘able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think’ (Eph_3:20). With such promises as these ‘let the weak say, “I am strong.” ’
Rev. F. Harper.
Illustrations(1) ‘Luther used to say, “I have so much to do; I cannot get on without three hours a day of praying.” And it has been well said, “Never think lightly of that man’s religion who gets answers to prayer.” ’
(2) ‘Lord, what a change within us one short hour
Spent in Thy Presence will prevail to make,
What heavy burdens from our bosoms take,
What parched grounds refresh, as with a shower!
We kneel, and all around us seems to lower;
We rise, and all the distant and the near
Stands forth in sunny outline, brave and clear:
We kneel, how weak; we rise, how full of power!
Why, therefore, should we do ourselves this wrong,
Or others, that we are not always strong,
That we are ever overborne with care,
That we should ever weak or heartless be,
Anxious or troubled, when with us is prayer;
And joy, and strength, and courage are with Thee?’