Prayer 101 - #20 Let's Pretend - 4 of 4

I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. Luke 11:8

When Jesus tells a story, there is usually one primary point that he wants to communicate. In this story the primary point is that God responds to shameless audacity. Shameless is defined as impervious to disgrace. And audacity is fearless daring. In a single Jewish word, shameless audacity is chutzpah. Simpler yet, shameless audacity is gall.

Shameless audacity is behavior born out of passion, determination and perseverance in pursuing a goal. It is behavior born in the heart and not behavior that is feigned or fabricated. Faith and confidence in God is at its core. It is Holy Spirit induced behavior.

It is the behavior that was seen when a packed-out, house-meeting with Jesus was interrupted by friends of a paralytic lowering him through the roof in front of Jesus. (Lk 5:18-26) It was the Gentile woman’s behavior who refused to be deterred from her pursuit of Jesus to deliver her daughter from demon possession. Jesus initially ignored her, the disciples tried to send her away, she didn’t fit with Jesus’ mission statement, and she didn’t stop when Jesus said something to her that could be perceived as insulting. (Mk 7:24-30) Shameless audacity was a blind beggar who refused to be silenced in his attempt to get Jesus’ attention in order to be healed.

Students of prayer pay attention. Jesus clearly tells the subject story in Luke 11 in the context of teaching his disciples to pray. Prayer according to Jesus will connect with God when it is offered with shameless audacity.

Prayer 101 - #19 Let's Pretend - 3 of 4

‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread’… And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’

Luke 11:5B, 7

The asker in the “Lets Pretend” story initially encounters resistance to his request. The same is often true in prayer. There are times we ask God for something and encounter apparent resistance to our request. In the Bible someone attempting to talk to Jesus experienced this.

A gentile lady, concerned for her daughter who was tormented by the devil, came to Jesus in Matthew 15:21-28 and desperately cried out for help for her child. Here’s what happened:

• Jesus did not answer a word.
• The disciples attempted to send her away because of the annoying persistence of her cries.
• Jesus stated that he came to minister to Jews not Gentiles.
• The woman knelt before Jesus, again begging for help.
• Jesus stated it would be inappropriate to take the ministry intended for the Jews (i.e. the children) and give it to the Gentiles (i.e. the dogs).
• The woman responded that even the dogs get the crumbs under the master’s table.
• Jesus responded and said your request is granted and the woman’s daughter was healed at that moment.

When we encounter apparent resistance from God, will we walk away? Did the “bread asker” in the “Let’s Pretend” story walk away at the initial response to his request? Jesus teaches us to persevere in prayer.

Prayer 101 - #18 Let's Pretend - 2 of 4

Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ Luke 11:5-6

Jesus continues his prayer class by telling the disciples a “Let’s Pretend” story concerning prayer. The story has the disciples as the main character asking for bread from a friend at an unseemly hour in order to feed a traveling friend who is in need of food. The request for bread was granted…not out of friendship but because of the shameless audacity of the requestor.

Though the friendship between the “bread-asker” and the “bread-giver” was not ultimately the reason the request for bread was granted, it was the basis for why the request was made in the first place. The “bread-asker” knew the “bread-giver” well enough to call him friend…well enough to know that he would have enough bread to give…well enough to know if he came at the most inconvenient time, he would likely grant his request. Prayer is not approaching a stranger named “God” or an impersonal King with a request. Prayer is approaching someone with whom you have a relationship…someone you can call “Friend”. Prayer is approaching someone you know well enough to know that he has abundant supply…well enough to know that he will grant your request. Because he is your friend, you know he will grant your request even though you may approach him very imperfectly.