Willmington, Harold

English

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Liberty UniversityDigitalCommons@LibertyUniversityThe Second Person File Theological Studies3-2018The Parables of Jesus Christ: Secrets for Success -Asking, Seeking, KnockingHarold WillmingtonLiberty University, hwillmington@liberty.eduFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/second_personPart of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christianity Commons, and the Religious Thought,Theology and Philosophy of Religion CommonsThis The Parables of Jesus Christ is brought to you for free and open access by the Theological Studies at DigitalCommons@Liberty University. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in The Second Person File by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Liberty University. For more information,please contact scholarlycommunication@liberty.edu.Recommended CitationWillmington, Harold, "The Parables of Jesus Christ: Secrets for Success - Asking, Seeking, Knocking" (2018). The Second Person File.220.http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/second_person/2201  PARABLES OF JESUS CHRIST  TWENTY-FOUR: Secrets for Success—Asking, Seeking, Knocking (Lk. 11:5-10)  SURVEY Jesus spoke of a man who paid a midnight visit to a friend. The man: "I need to borrow three loaves of bread to set before a guest in my home who has just arrived." The friend: "I can't help you. The door is locked and we're all in bed here." Jesus concluded this parable by saying that if the man continued to knock and request, his persistence would eventually be rewarded.  SIGNIFICANCE  This is the first of three parables of Jesus which emphasizes the importance of prayer. For the other two, see parables 35 and 36.  SPIRITUAL TRUTHS  Negative: This parable does not teach we must constantly and persistently beg a reluctant God to answer our requests. In fact, to the contrary. Note Peter's words: "For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil." (1 Pet. 3:12)  Positive: What the parable does teach is that if even an unwilling human friend can be moved by persistent intercession, how much more will God be moved by the requests of His people? The following verses testify to this: "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Mt. 7:11) 2  " For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 4:15-16)  In reality, some Christians do not receive simply because they either do not ask, or if they do, make their requests with impure motives! "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord." (Jas. 1:5-7) " Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." (Jas. 4:2-3)  The truths stressed here are re-emphasized by Jesus in a later parable, dealing with a persistent widow and an uncaring judge. See parable 35.  

The Parables of Jesus Christ: Secrets for Success - Asking, Seeking, Knocking

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The Parables of Jesus Christ: Secrets for Success - Asking, Seeking, Knocking

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