PERSEVERING PRAYER

Introduction:

A. When You Pray...

1. Do you say the same general things?

2. Do you make a request more than once? A week? A year?

3. Do you begin to think God has answered no and quit?

B. The Lord's Prayer (1 - 4)

1. Simple, basic, childlike.

2. What about repeated?

Body: Luke 11: 5 - 13

I. The Way Of Friends

A. Request for help.

1. A guest arrives late at night.

2. No food in the house.

3. Go next door to ask for supplies.

B. Reply (of a friend?).

1. Everyone is already in bed.

2. Don't want to get up.

C. The Outcome.

1. Will get up, not because of friendship.

2. Will because of need to "get rid of bother!"

II. Persistent Requests.

A. Keep making request to God.

1. Ask - It will be given to you.

2. Seek - You will find.

3. Knock - It will be opened to you.

B. God's Nature.

1. Will a father give useless, hurtful items instead of food.

2. Why do we think God would be spiteful?

Conclusion:

A. How Are You At Praying?

1. Like Isaac, Hannah, and many others?

2. Or like Saul, Ahab and so many others?

B. Willing To Wait In Prayer For Years?