Pentecost 7 - Proper 12

Pentecost 7 – Proper 12
28 July 2019
Luke 11:1-13
Your prayers are the voice of faith
 

O Lord, the Protector of all who trust in You, without whom nothing is strong and nothing is holy, increase and multiply Your mercy on us that with You as our Ruler and Guide we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

"I’ll give you what you want so long as you will…go away!” We’ve each experienced such annoyances and frustrations. From the belligerent and aggressive telemarketer who knows exactly when you sit down to eat to an obnoxious friend. We contribute to a cause not because we are so noble. To the contrary, all too often we give in, submitting to their wishes and demands to acquire for ourselves, a little peace. 

How then are we to approach God? Jesus gives us insight as we consider approaching our Father in prayer. 

After repeated request -you receive mercy.

1. Sometimes we get what we want because we badger people – pounding them into submission.

A. We submit to others, we get what we want, or we press others to do for us – because we know which buttons to push. Try reasoning with a three – year -old. It does not work! They know exactly which button to push! Yours!

B. Some equate prayer, or answers to pray similar to debates parents have with toddlers.  They believe  the only way to get something from God is to first get His attention by complaining until we are heard.

Transition: We do not have to argue with God forcing Him to hear us. He understands us.

2. Not so with the Father. He knows your need.

A. Your heavenly Father knows your needs already. He not so distant that He has to be pushed or driven into submission. We do not have to provoke the Lord. We do not have to wake Him up or stand on our head to gain His attention. 

B. We do not even have to initiate the conversation. Before there is a word spoken from your tongue. He knows it altogether. Before there is even a thought in your mind. Your heavenly Father knows it already.

Transition: As the Father knows you, He is able to provide for all your needs.

3. When you request of the Lord in prayer He will always answer according to your need.

A. Every petition, every request, every plea that we cry out to God has already been answered. The answer is already there for you to receive. Your only prayer needs to be, “Thy will be don Lord!” Recall the explanation give to us from Luther’s Catechism, “The will of God is done indeed without our prayer; but we pray is this petition that it may be done among us also.” 

B. The good and gracious will of God includes – everything that God wants to do for us according to His promise. “God would have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” – 1 Timothy 2:4

C. The good and gracious will of God includes – everything that God wants us to suffer patiently according to His good pleasure. “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” – Matthew 16:24

D. The good and gracious will of God includes – everything God wants us to do as well as avoid – according to His will.  “This is the will of God, even your sanctification.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:3

Transition: You do not have to worry approaching the Father. Every request will be answered by grace for Jesus’ sake.  

4. Every request, every petition, we be answered with grace. 

A. There is no need to worry about holdouts. You do not have to wait for Him to be in a good mood for Him to act. You do not have to worry about Him changing His mind or going back on His Word. His mind is already made up. His Word is clear – “I am the Lord and I change not!”  - Malachi 3:6

B. The Father knows only how to give only good and perfect gifts. This is why we pray. We pray that God would strengthen and preserve us steadfast in His Word and faith unto our end; so that we may at all times do His will as gladly as the angels in heaven. 

C. We pray that God would in all suffering keep us faithful to our end. “He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” – 1 Corinthians 12:9

So what does this mean? God would be these words tenderly invite us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that we may with all boldness and confidence ask –as dear children ask their dear father.

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Words – 835
Passive Sentences – 5% 
Readability – 79.1
Reading Level – 5.3