The Parable of the Friend at Midnight
Jesus describes an important parable beginning in Luke 11:5. According to the parable, a man visits a friend at midnight and asks for three loaves of bread. Although the friend is not happy about being bothered at such a late hour of the night, the friend will give the bread because of the man's "shameless audacity" or to preserve his good name. Jesus then explains:
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.
Jesus uses this example to show that God will answer the requests of those who ask, but there must be enough audacity to ask. By asking for a particular request, one is showing faith that the request can and will be answered. Therefore, by asking God for a particular request, one is showing faith that God can answer the request. However, patience is also important, as requests are not always answered immediately and those who have faith will be rewarded.
Jesus explains in Luke 11:9-10:
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:9-10.
Jesus then explains that if a father will answer his son's requests, how much more will the Father in Heaven answer the requests:
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:11-13.
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.
Jesus uses this example to show that God will answer the requests of those who ask, but there must be enough audacity to ask. By asking for a particular request, one is showing faith that the request can and will be answered. Therefore, by asking God for a particular request, one is showing faith that God can answer the request. However, patience is also important, as requests are not always answered immediately and those who have faith will be rewarded.
Jesus explains in Luke 11:9-10:
So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Luke 11:9-10.
Jesus then explains that if a father will answer his son's requests, how much more will the Father in Heaven answer the requests:
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:11-13.
