Asking More Than Once? (2) Persistence

Some people brought to Jesus a blind man and begged Jesus to give him a healing touch. Jesus spit in the mans eyes and laid hands on him and asked, "Do you see anything?" The blind man said; " I see men walking as trees." Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again. From this point on the man could see clearly.

If Jesus prayed more than once, why would you and I only pray once and quit? Several places Jesus cried out to his father more than once in prayer.

Jesus has just been ask by his disciples in Luke 11:1-13 "Lord teach us how to pray?" Jesus tells the story in this text how that a man came at midnight to ask his friend for 3 loafs of bread. The friends response is; "leave me alone, I have already put the kids to bed, come back another time another day. The man continues to knock. This is the point that Christ was making. Have you quit knocking? Where is your own persistence? Where is your boldness?

Jesus is teaching his disciples don't give up so easy. Keep asking, keep knocking and keep seeking. We so quickly get discourage and dishearten that we turn away thinking that God is not hearing the cry of our hearts.

"The righteous cry out and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all of their troubles." Psalms 34:17 Tell me what father or mother wouldn't come running to the cry of his own baby that is in need?

This man kept knocking at the door. Jesus states that the man got up out of bed and got the man 3 loaves of bread not because it was convenient, not because it was the right time, not because he was up watching the late night show, not because it was easy. No No No.

Jesus states because of his importunity, the word means persistence. When your traveling on the road and your hungry, do you give up because you passed the exit with your favorite food? If I was betting, you will keep looking at the next exit. If you didn't find it on the next exit, you would keep looking until you found what you were looking for. That something that would fill your belly.

Why do we give up so easy? Some of you have been praying for your son who is on drugs, your daughter that is in jail, your health that has gone sour, your in-laws that have become outlaws, your marriage that is broke.

Jesus says when you have a need, keep asking, keep knocking, and keep seeking. I don't know why He hasn't answered your prayer yet, but He is a very present help in the time of need.

May God give you boldness that will stand up in you and never bail or give up on the cry in the pit of your soul. Keep asking with persistence and see what the Lord will do.