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Bro. Otis Fisher
And he said unto them which of you shall have a friend and shall go unto him at midnight? Now it seems rather strange to go at midnight well. Without air conditioning and in that country it was not uncommon.
And say unto him friend Lend me three loaves. This man must have been in the bread business. For a friend of mine is coming his journey to. He's come to me and I have nothing to set before him. And he from within shall answer and say trouble me not.
The door is now shut and my children are with me in bed. I cannot rise and Give thee I say unto you. Though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend. Yet because of his importunity He will rise and give him as many as he need us.
Brandon what does him? Opportunity mean well, that's pretty good. Georgette not a clue. I wish everybody was that honest. Well, let's see Charlotte what's importunity mean and we've got another word now.
Who's that sitting beside you? Okay, what's it mean Paul? You move over by Georgette is. See who's on the the back row who's sitting by you? David. Katie what's what's? Importunity mean listen real close.
You may hear you dead. Well this entire Story depends upon that word. Now suppose. A man and his wife live in Arkansas. She receives a letter from her mother saying that she's coming for a visit. She says that she will arrive on a certain day in the middle of the afternoon.
The family decides That they will take her out for dinner when she comes. Well, the big day arrives and she's not there. What do we do now? The afternoon passes. They're looking for her any moment. And finally they receive a telephone call from the mother-in-law.
Explains that she's been delayed by car trouble. They're sure she will have eaten by the time she comes and she shows up at midnight. The son-in-law casually inquires, have you had dinner? She replies that she has not and she is very very hungry since there's nothing in the house to eat.
The son-in-law decides to go next door to his good neighbor and Borrow some food. His neighbor says wait until morning. Leave me alone. I'm in bed. My children are in bed the doors shut. Just go on home you're not gonna starve.
The man replies neighbor. You don't know my mother-in-law. Please get up. So he continues to pound on the door. Finally the neighbor gets up and gives him what he is asking for if therefore We want the grace of God and the assistance of His Holy Spirit.
It is our own fault if we don't have it. It's not God's this man Kept after him. Importunity means Always pounding always pounding on the door wanting in and You notice he did not get up. The man inside did not Get up because of his friendship.
This was his friend, but it's too late at night. But he is rather insistent. He gets up and gives him what he wants. What? Well for whatever reason It was not for friendship. Now. This is a parable by contrast not one by comparison.
In nine and I say unto you ask and it shall be given you seek and you shall find knock and It shall be opened unto you. If therefore we want the grace of God We'll have to be his friend. We'll have to depend upon him.
If your prayers seem to be answered and I know many of them have. It only means that we were let in on God's will beforehand. His will Will be done. Turn to 2nd Peter 1 and 3 if you will, please. And David you read that Through the knowledge of God.
It's a wonderful thing. We all have it all at a different level for everyone that asketh receiveth and He that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh. It shall be opened. Why is this? Why did it not say for everyone that asketh might receive Bill.
That's right. It's not no maybe about it. And he that seeketh findeth he doesn't look around in the dark and give up and Him that knocketh it shall be opened. Do you think God's asleep? Does he ever sleep?
Well, he's not human then is he you feel that he goes to bed and when you pray. And you can't get him up. Do you believe it. He does not want to answer your prayers. Well, that's what this parable is about.
It's a parable by contrast and not by comparison. You do not have to storm the gates of heaven. Or knock down the door of heaven. In order to attract his attention. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father will He give him a stone.
Or if he ask of fish. Will he for a fish give him a serpent. Now one thing we have to know that before we go to God in prayer. Make sure that he is really your gatherer. There won't be a prayer. John 1 12 says.
But as many as received him. To them gave he power to become the sons of God. Even to them that believe on his name Jesus continues. Or if he shall ask an egg. Will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then being evil how many think of themselves as evil.
Know how to give good gifts unto your children. How much more shall your heavenly father? Give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him. How important is the Holy Spirit? David how important is he in your life?
That's right without the Holy Spirit. We can ask nothing. We judge only by what we've seen and heard. It is the Holy Spirit that gives meaning to our prayers you see. The prayer originates with God not you.
All we can do. If we are in the will of God Has returned them to him in our language. That's all we've done. We find that only his chosen will ask and only his chosen Will be ready and do it. It's not a prayer For someone that is not his.
At that time he told his disciples to ask for the Holy Spirit now as far. As I've been able to determine. But I know it's not complete. They never did ask later on. Christ said receive ye the Holy Ghost.
They needed the Holy Spirit during those intervening days before Pentecost. And we'll start with verse 14 next week. Is there anything from anybody? Russell will you dismiss us, please?