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Ask, Seek,
Knock: The Friend at Midnight
Introduction
Open your Bible to Luke 11. For several weeks we have walked through
the Lord’s stories—pictures that reveal how the kingdom works and
how citizens of that kingdom live. Today’s text functions like a
parable. It begins when Jesus finishes praying. A disciple, moved by
what he has witnessed, says, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).
Jesus answers with a model prayer and then immediately tells a
story—often called the Friend at Midnight—that presses one great
truth into our hearts: prayer draws near to God with reverence,
aligns itself with God’s will, and perseveres without quitting.
Watching
Jesus Pray
Before we study His words, observe His ways. Jesus built His life
around prayer. Mark 1:35 shows Him rising very early and seeking a
solitary place. Luke 5:16 shows Him withdrawing regularly to
desolate places. Luke 6:12–13 shows Him praying through the night
before choosing the apostles. He stepped away from distraction,
created space for communion with the Father, and prayed most
earnestly when weighty decisions stood close at hand. If the sinless
Son pursued focused, regular, and extended prayer, His disciples
gain wisdom by following the same pattern—fewer distractions, deeper
devotion, and deliberate seasons of intercession.
The Model
Prayer (Luke 11:2–4)
Jesus’ pattern guides the heart in prayer—a Spirit-shaped framework.
He begins with reverence: “Father, hallowed be Your name.” God’s
name carries holiness; our prayers begin by treating Him as holy. He
moves to the reign of God: “Your kingdom come; Your will be done on
earth as it is in heaven.” We ask for God’s rule to advance—first in
us, then through us. He teaches reliance: “Give us each day our
daily bread.” Daily needs come with daily trust. He leads us into
repentance and graciousness: “Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves
forgive everyone who is indebted to us.” Grace received becomes
grace extended. He ends with moral clarity and protection: “Lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” We ask for
wise guidance around snares and for rescue when battle approaches.
This pattern shapes what we value, how we speak to God, and how we
live before Him and with one another.
The Friend
at Midnight (Luke 11:5–8)
Jesus then tells a story that His hearers would recognize. A
traveler arrives late; hospitality requires bread; the pantry sits
empty. At midnight a man knocks on a friend’s door and asks for
three loaves. The friend has already settled his children and
latched the door. Yet the man at the door keeps knocking and keeps
asking, and the friend rises and gives as much as needed. The lesson
stands plain: persistent prayer obtains provision. Steady knocking
overcomes delay. Requests that serve love and mercy deserve
perseverance.
Ask, Seek,
Knock (Luke 11:9–10)
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given; seek, and you will
find; knock, and it will be opened.” The wording carries a
continuous sense: keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking.
Some prayers grow faint because we grow faint. Jesus invites an
honest progression. Asking begins the conversation. Seeking engages
mind and heart in God’s purposes. Knocking takes concrete steps of
faith while we wait at the door. “Everyone who asks receives; the
one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, it will be opened.”
The invitation stands for God-honoring requests, carried with
perseverance.
The
Father’s Goodness (Luke 11:11–13)
Jesus widens the vision with a family picture. A child asks for
bread, fish, or an egg. No faithful father places a stone, a snake,
or a scorpion in that child’s hands. Earthly fathers still have
limits; they still give good gifts. Our heavenly Father acts with
perfect wisdom and generosity and gives the Holy Spirit to those who
ask. God’s answers carry sanctifying goodness. He meets needs and,
by His Spirit, forms holy character.
Persistence
and God’s Will
Luke 18:1–8 records another story about persistence. A widow keeps
coming to an unjust judge until he grants her request. Jesus tells
that story “to show that they should always pray and not lose
heart.” God hears His people who cry to Him day and night. The Son
of Man then asks a searching question: “When He comes, will He find
faith on the earth?” Persistent prayer reveals living faith. This
perseverance walks in step with surrender. The model prayer anchors
us: “Your will be done.” James 4:3 warns that misguided motives
hinder prayer. Paul prayed three times for his thorn’s removal and
received an answer more precious than relief: “My grace is
sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:7–9). Malachi 3:8–10 shows
another side of prayer’s partnership with obedience. When God’s
people withhold faithfulness, they choke blessing; when they bring
the whole tithe with a willing heart, God opens the windows of
heaven. Prayer and obedience travel together.
Building a
Life of Persistent Prayer
A life of prayer grows through simple, steady practices. Choose a
daily meeting with God, as Jesus did, and let Scripture tune your
voice before you speak. Pray through the pattern Jesus
gave—reverence, reign, reliance, repentance, and resistance—and
linger where the Spirit presses. Name one request that clearly
serves God’s kingdom and return to it morning and evening for a
season, trusting the Father’s timing. Fast on occasion to sharpen
focus and humility. Keep record of requests and answers; remembered
mercies strengthen weary hearts. Say often and mean deeply, “Your
will be done,” and keep going.
Conclusion
A disciple watched Jesus pray and asked the wisest question: “Lord,
teach us to pray.” Jesus gave a pattern that guides the heart, a
story that stirs perseverance, and a promise that the Father
delights to give the Spirit. Church, keep asking, keep seeking, keep
knocking—until the door swings wide, or until His grace proves
better than the door you wanted. Do not lose heart.
Sermon
Outline
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Introduction: Context in Luke 11; “Lord, teach us to pray”
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Watching
Jesus Pray: Solitude (Mark 1:35); withdrawal (Luke 5:16);
all-night prayer before choosing the twelve (Luke 6:12–13)
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The Model
Prayer (Luke 11:2–4):
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Father,
hallowed be Your name (reverence)
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Your
kingdom come; Your will be done (reign)
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Give us
each day our daily bread (reliance)
-
Forgive
us as we forgive (repentance and graciousness)
-
Lead us
not into temptation; deliver us from the evil one
(resistance)
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The Friend
at Midnight (Luke 11:5–8): Ancient hospitality; midnight
request; persistence obtains provision
-
Ask, Seek,
Knock (Luke 11:9–10): Continuous invitation; progression from
asking to seeking to knocking; promise of response
-
The Father’s
Goodness (Luke 11:11–13): Earthly fathers give good gifts; the
heavenly Father gives the Holy Spirit
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Persistence
and God’s Will:
-
Persistent widow (Luke 18:1–8): pray always; do not lose
heart
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“Your
will be done” as anchor; motives examined (James 4:3)
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Paul’s
thorn and sufficient grace (2 Corinthians 12:7–9)
-
Malachi
3:8–10: obedience and open windows of heaven
-
Building a
Life of Persistent Prayer: Set times and places; pray Scripture;
practice the pattern; fast; record answers; maintain surrender
-
Conclusion:
Keep asking, seeking, knocking; trust the Father’s perfect gifts
by His Spirit
Call to
Action
Choose one request that clearly honors God’s kingdom. Write it down.
For the next seven days, pray morning and evening through the Lord’s
pattern—reverence, reign, reliance, repentance, and resistance—and
then return to that one request with steady asking, seeking, and
knocking. Say, “Your will be done,” every time you pray it. Share
your request with one believer and ask them to join you. Do not lose
heart.
Scripture
Reference List
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Luke 11:1–13
— Context, the model prayer, the Friend at Midnight, and the
call to ask, seek, and knock; establishes reverence, alignment
with God’s will, and persistence
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Mark 1:35 —
Jesus rises early to pray in solitude; pattern of focus and
priority
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Luke 5:16 —
Jesus withdraws regularly to desolate places; rhythm of prayer
in His ministry
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Luke 6:12–13
— Jesus prays through the night before selecting the apostles;
prayer before major decisions
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Luke 18:1–8
— The persistent widow; purpose of praying always and not losing
heart
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James 4:3 —
Motives matter in prayer; requests miss the mark when driven by
self-pleasing desires
-
2
Corinthians 12:7–9 — Paul’s thorn; sufficient grace when the
request for removal remains unanswered
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Malachi
3:8–10 — God invites faithful obedience and opens the windows of
heaven; prayer and obedience work together
Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at
Granby, MO |
The
church of Christ
