When you pray...

The disciples at one time came to the LORD JESUS and ask "teach us to pray?"

And of course you get the very well known 'prayer' often called "the LORD'S Prayer"...

"Our FATHER who art in heaven...hallowed (holy) is your name"
We all know it.

But the part I want to emphasize is the word 'ask'. You can find the prayer in Matthew 6.
When you read the prayer, and the rest of the chapter you will see JESUS use the word 'ask'.

Ask and it shall be given...
For everyone who asks, receives...
Ask so that you can receive so that your joy will be full...

JESUS goes on to talk about (in the same chapter) a friend that comes to visit you late at night, and you (the host) realize that you don't have anything to feed him.  So, being in the middle of the night, you go to your neighbour who you know has bread, and knock to get some bread for your guest.

Your neighbour tells you from the upstairs window, 'leave me alone, we are all in bed, and you are going to wake the family, we will talk about this tomorrow'.

But you don't take 'no' for an answer and keep asking.

Now to the Jews, they knew the meaning of what YESHUA (JESUS) said, when HE said "ask".
Ask means to the Jews and early church a demand and insisting, a boldness a persistence.

Not 'can you give me bread'....but rather, "Hey, I'm your neighbour and have a great need that you can help me with, so I'm pounding on your door and yelling to you and will not leave until you give me the bread."

Get it?

JESUS said "the man gets up, mumbling to himself and gives fresh bread to his needy neighbour".

But JESUS lets us in on the secret.
The secret to answered prayer.

HE said "you didn't get the bread, because he was your neighbour - NO!  He gave you bread because of your insisting, your demanding!"

A friend of mine that I was sharing this with looked a bit puzzled.
I said, Okay let me put it in today's light.
Its late here and the weather is bad and we get a call to pick up our good friend waiting outside the bus depot in the storm.  I tell you, jump in my car I'm driving.

You think "hmm, eric looks tired and my truck is better to drive in the storm, so you insist that you are driving."

We all do this; we all at times insist when we are dealing with family or friends and it works!

This is how you pray.

JESUS (YESHUA) was wondering if the people got the message, so HE tells it another way.
HE tells them about a widow that needs help from someone who is harassing her, and so she goes to the judge who can help her.

But JESUS tells us; 'this judge' doesn't fear GOD or man. He is selfish and un-caring.

So lest you think that your prayers are answered because the neighbour gave you bread or the judge is favourable towards you - NO!

So this story talks about the judge who doesn't care about you.
But the widow woman keeps coming after the judge, relentlessly.

The judge says, "although I don't fear GOD or man, but because of her importunity (her unbending demanding)  I will give her justice over her enemy"

Now YESHUA reminds us that GOD isn't like that.
HE is NOT an unjust or un-caring GOD but loves you.

But there is a spiritual war going on.
There are lots of mixed signals and downright lies in your head.
And all kinds of people and your senses telling you - it wont WORK!

That is why you have to push through.

Okay, but when do you stop praying like that?

2 ways.

1) when you see that you have what you've been praying for.
2) when you don't see it, but you know it (by faith) in you that it is done. Now you just thank the FATHER (your DADDY) and enjoy the ride because you know like know like you know!

Don't give up!

You will see miracles!
Christmas is the time for miracles too...