The Reluctant Neighbour, The Willing God

We are all very familiar with the Lord’s Prayer or Jesus’ sample prayer when He taught the disciples about prayer. However, in the accounts of Luke, His following teachings of a parable is often overshadowed or simply misunderstood.

“Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.   Luke 11:5-8

This parable which I will call it The Reluctant Neighbour, where after a persistent knocking on his door, in an ungodly hour, the reluctant neighbour finally got up and gave as much as his neighbour needed. He did this not because of their friendship but because of his neighbour’s shameless persistence. While we have to understand that our persistent plea quicken God’s justice as taught in the Parable of the Persistent Widow, but we have to wonder if indeed our prayers has to be never-ceasing for them to work or even reach God’s ears?

Jesus uses examples of sinfully humans versus a holy God to illustrates the stark contrast between the two.  “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”  In this, Jesus is encouraging disciples to come and ask boldly; and more importantly, with the great expectation of good stuff!

 

So going back, the parable speaks of a most willing God in contrast to the reluctant neighbour. It is not about our arm-twisting God with our persistence or our performance in prayer. It is no longer sucking it in and pressing on to persevere in prayer. I am sure God hear it loud and clear the first time round! (actually, He knows it before you even utter the first word) It is not about us praying it correctly, impressively, repetitively or even lengthly enough. It is about God and His willingness even at an “terrible inconvenience” and a very personal price. Prayer is not about who we are and what we want, it is about who God is and how eager lovingly generous He is!

Praying is a wonderfully relationship time with God; a tremendous privilege only the very children of God can have. It is like coming home to God. Prayer is not using God but finding Him and delighting at His Presence! We will then find ourselves in a place where He wants us to be; adoring right at His feet. And in bonus, God’s loving promise that anything whatever you ask, seek, knock will be fulfilled.

He wants you to keep seeking Him, y’know, He has way plenty to offer!

The Reason I Came

God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.   Romans 3:25

I came here for a purpose
That my Father in heaven will be known
You can’t find another
His love for you is precious pure and bold
I have so much to say before I go
But I just want you to know

Whatever happens to Me
Know that I meant it to be
I came to make everything new
And the reason is you

You have the perfect Father
He gave His only Son, and I am here
And all that I have to go through
I came to wipe away your every tear
In death My life, you don’t have to fear
And I want you to hear

Whatever happens to Me
Know that I meant it to be
I came to make everything new
And the reason is you
Know the reason is you

And the reason is you
Know the reason is you

I came here for a purpose
That’s my Father in heaven will be known
I have so much to say before I go
But I just want you to know

Whatever happens to Me
Know that I meant it to be
I came to make everything new
And the reason is you

No matter what it may be
I came that you needn’t to be
You are the reason for that I do
Know the reason is you

Lamb of God

With so many descriptions and names of Jesus, one of my favorite is The Lamb of God. This name speaks, above all else, about Jesus willingly became the sacrificial lamb or scapegoat on our behalf on the cross. This is an endearing title that all believers have come to love and honor for our Messiah.

John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!   John 1:29   While the title the Lamb of God only started in the New Testament, prophetic pictures and references to the coming Lamb of God are scattered throughout the Old Testament.

In Genesis, God commands Abraham to offer his beloved son Isaac as a sacrifice. God is not endorsing child sacrifice among men — but He is foretelling His Child sacrifice for men. As Abraham did not withhold his son from God, God also did not withhold His Son for mankind.

The Lamb of God is also dramatically revealed in Exodus 12 and 13, with the Jewish Feast of the Passover. This is perhaps the most compelling foreshadow of the coming Lamb of God, the Messiah. The Passover Feast is eaten in remembrance of the Lord “passing over” the houses of those who had sacrificed the Passover Lamb and sprinkled its blood on their wooden doorposts and mantles, while the angel of death visited those who had not sprinkled the blood of the lamb. The angel of death was the final of ten plagues sent by God to redeem His people from slavery in Egypt, the land of their bondage.

The Passover law of the Jewish heritage requires each family to keep a young male lamb, without blemish to be sacrificed. Blood is to be poured onto the altar, no bones must be broken during the act and the lamb was then hung upon special hooks or sticks to be skinned. Again a prophetic act that is fufilled by Jesus on the cross. A young cute lamb cruelly sacrified frames the cruelty and pain our sweet Lord had to go through.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.   Matthew 5:17

 

 

The Lamb of God depicts the Son of God.

God provided His very Son, the Son of God who came to become our sacrifical lamb and was thereafter returned to His glory as the Lion of Judah. When the Day of the Lord comes, those who have covered themselves in the blood of the Lamb by accepting Christ will be kept safe while the world pays for their rebellion against God.

Prayer

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matthew 6:5-8

Pray

One of the most searched words online has been the word “pray”. Many people must be searching for the very essential way of communicating with God.  Where there is no communication, there is no relationship.

In the Bible, the gospels recorded that Jesus prayed frequently and earnestly.  The list can be found here.  He prayed when he was baptized; in a solitary place; before calling his disciples; before Peter’s confession of Christ; at the transfiguration; on the Mount of Olives; in Gethsemane. He prayed so earnestly that his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. On the cross, in great pain and suffering, our Lord Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”.

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16

Jesus’ teaching on praying give us amazing insights:   Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.   Luke 11:2-4 

• Father: the addressing, note the closeness of the relationship
• Hallowed be your name: in humble reverence and attitude of worship
• Your kingdom come: for God’s ultimate will to be done
• Give us each our daily bread: in recognition that God is our provider, and ask for our provision
• Forgive us our sins: to confess our sins, so that we can know and learn to overcome, and also to forgive others.
• And lead us not into temptation: is a plea for help in achieving victory over sin and a request for protection from the attacks of the devil

In prayer, God is far more interested in us communing with Him and speaking from our hearts than He is in the specific words we use.

In Jesus’ Name, we pray.   And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.   John 14:13-14

How should our attitude towards prayer be?   Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.   1 John 5:14-15

Just pour out your heart to God. Be honest, confident and open, He already knows anyway. He is looking at your heart. Present your requests to God, but keep in mind that God knows what is best, and will not grant a request that is not His will for you, because He cares.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.   Jeremiah 29:11

Express your love, gratitude, and worship to God in prayer – but do not worry about having just the right words to say. God is more interested with the content of your heart than the quality of your words, or even your posture. See how children come into the warm embrace of their loving parents.

Start with ” Daddy God, thank You for loving me. I need to talk to You…”

Have a fantastic time praying!

My Confession

I have been blind, unwilling to see
The true love you’re giving.
I have ignored every blessing.
I’m on my knees confessing

That  feel myself surrender
Each time I see your face.
I am staggered by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart is turning,
Falling into place.
I can’t hide
Now hear my confession.

I have been wrong about you.
Thought I was strong without you.
For so long nothing could move me.
For so long nothing could change me.
Now I feel myself surrender
Each time I see your face.
I am captured by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart is turning,
Falling into place.
I can’t hide
Now hear my confession.

[bridge:]
You are the air that I breath.
You’re the ground beneath my feet.
When did I stop believing?

Cause I feel myself surrender
Each time I see your face.
I am staggered by your beauty,
Your unassuming grace.
And I feel my heart
Falling into place.
I can’t hide
Now hear my confession.
I can’t hide
Now hear my confession.
Hear my confession

written Richard Page

On Your Shoulders

 

Once I was down and life seems so weary;
I have no strength to carry myself barely;
The road seems so long and so hopeless;
Until You found me in the dirt, weeping quietly.

On Your shoulders, you lifted me up;
Out of the darkness, you took my cup;
How the view looks so different;
On Your shoulders, you carried me.

On Your shoulders, I am no longer afraid;
Like a father, my faith in life you make;
The prowling dogs flee with their tails underneath;
On Your shoulders, they need to be.

On Your shoulders, I feel like flying;
On wings of eagles, you embrace me in being;
There is no other place I rather go;
In the father’s house is where I will be.