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March 8, 2021 3:00 am
Importunity theirs were nobody ever uses it is a word that has urgency and persistence in it, but it's bigger than the word persistence some dictionaries translated this white trouble simply urgent, overly persistent somebody who has a lot of nerve. Jesus teaches us to participate in the means by which God achieves your life but frankly there's a lot of room for improvement. So get ready. John is about to launch a study that could forever change what you put into and what you get out of your communication with God. John calls this study. Don't be afraid to ask. All right, a bit of context the messages you're going to hear in this study caused a lot of buzz around Grace Community Church. When John first preached them so John maybe you could give some background. Why did this study get people talking but I think because this is as the title indicates, don't be afraid to ask.
And then the subtitle got surprising desire to answer bold prayers, flies in the face of what people feel because they have an exalted view of God, and they should. And because they believe in the sovereignty of God and that God wills what he wills and does what he does because of his own sovereign choice believers can be a little reluctant in praying boldly you almost always feel like you need to say whatever your will is you do this do that. I pray for this, I pray for that but little or whatever your will is is almost a sort of a an automatic response.
Now I'm not pushing you, God, I'm I'm not not really pushing you.
So the default position is to pray for something and back out of it and say yeah well I understand if you don't want to do that God you like. Pray timidly and I did that at the opposite of then I think we think that's sort of theologically sound you and Luke 11. Just absolutely overturns that completely because it's all about praying boldly really boldly and that's not something foreign to Scripture we are told to come boldly to the throne of grace to to seek help in time of need. So this boldness is striking in the account of Luke chapter 11 we have this distorted view of God's sovereignty that not only causes us to come to back out of the request, but may even cause us not to pray at all because we have such a strong view of God. Somebody's going to do is going to do and so the prayer could be as simple is okay, God, do what you gonna do today and I supported but that is not what we learn and we learn this from Jesus himself. This is a very surprising series and you're going to find your view of prayer dramatically change so you need to stay with us. Don't miss the day of the study called. Don't be afraid to ask right that Charles Spurgeon put it simply, a Christian can have everything that he asks for.
In Jesus name, but practically, what does that mean and what does that sort of powerful prayer look like to help answer that hears John MacArthur to launch his series.
Don't be afraid to ask.
Luke 11 verses five and following the familiar and really unforgettable little story that Jesus tells here. It actually has a lot of humor in it.
And while Jesus didn't say things that are actually funnier that make us laugh. We certainly see the warmth of his humor in this story because it's so much like life. The story begins in verse five. Luke 11 and he said to them, suppose one of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight and say to him, friend, lend me three loaves for a friend of mine is come to me from a journey and I have nothing to set before him, and from inside.
He shall answer and Satan do not bother me. The door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
And I say to you, ask and it shall be given to you seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be open to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened.
Suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish, he will not give him a snake instead of a fish really Dorothy is asked for an egg.
He will not give him a scorpion really. If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him for what starts out as a simple story ends a pretty theological dozen starts with a simple and ends up in the profound mature believer who has been shaped by Scripture. And that's the only way to be mature understands the nature of God, your view of God is really the benchmark of your spiritual maturity.
Understanding the nature of God is critical to spiritual maturity because in the end, you rest in the reality of your God superficial knowledge of God, a shallow knowledge of God. A limited knowledge of God contributes to limited understanding and limited faith and limited trust and so will we talk about spiritual maturity were really talking about understanding the nature of God that is essential.
That is to say you understand that God is eternal, that he is powerful that he is holy, that he is unchangeable, that he is mission that he is omnipresent that he is purposeful that he is sovereign, that he is in perfect control of everything he has created all the time. You understand that God is above and beyond and outside all of the contingencies that go on in the created universe. He is transcendent he is high and lofty Majestic and lifted up, and he is working to perfection his plan for the universe and for mankind. He has everything under control all the time and is in perfect knowledge in bringing to pass the plan which he ordained from the very beginning.
In Job 42 two we read these words.
I know that thou canst do all things and that no purpose of dying can be thwarted.
And there's a comment of a mature man, I know that you're in charge of everything and no purpose of yours can ever be thwarted.
Psalm 3311 says the counsel of the Lord stands forever. That is to say what God says is fixed permanently. Nothing God says ever changes because there's never any more information there is never anything to be clarified in no circumstance can occur which God doesn't already know about and knew about when he made that declaration.
That's why Psalm 3311 also says the plans of his heart are fixed from one generation to another, from generation to generation. The plans of the heart of God stand nothing changes because there's no further information. There's no exigency or contingency that God didn't know about nothing changes.
He inexorably imperfectly works his plan through to the end and Proverbs 1921, reread many are the plans of a man's heart. The counsel of the Lord it will stand. We change our plans all the time because we get more information because circumstances change.
God never changes anything is counsel is fixed in Isaiah 1424 the Lord of hosts has sworn, saying just as I have intended so it has happened just as I have planned, so it will stand all these statements about standing have to do with God fixing a purpose which never changes. I intended it and that's how it happens. I planned it and that's how it is and will be in Isaiah 46 a little bit more prolonged passage. All of this sort of comes together in very clear terms. Isaiah chapter 46 verse eight.
Remember this. Be assured. Recall to mind. You transgressors remember the former things long past, for I am God and there is no other. I am God and there is no one like me.
And here's the distinction, declaring the end from the beginning. We can't do that we don't know the end from the beginning we can't affirm the end we can't bring about the end from the beginning. Only God can. That's why he is God.
There is no one like him because there is no one who can tell how it's going to end before it even begins. He declares the end from the beginning, and from ancient times, things which have not been done and it's not just that he knows how they will happen.
It says my purpose will be established. I will accomplish all my good pleasure from the beginning, God determined the end plan the end and he works. To that end. Verse 11 says truly. I have spoken. Truly I will bring it the past I have planned it. I will do it. God never alters his plan and the plan was established from the beginning and he works it to the very end Jesus in the first chapter of acts said this in verse seven, it is not for you to know times are epics which the father has fixed by his own authority times and epics. What is that mean chronological time clock time calendar time and ethical time events.
All chronological history and all the events that occur within it are fixed in God's own authority.
Everything is determined from the beginning to the end by the purposes of God in the fourth chapter of the book of acts we read the testimony of those early believers. For truly, verse 27 in this city there were gathered together against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint both Herod and Pontius Pilate along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel. Everybody got together to kill Jesus. But verse 28 says to do whatever your hand and your purpose free destined a statement. What a statement. Whatever it is that they did.
It was predestined by God and predetermined by his purpose. Now God is sovereign and God is omnipotent. He knows the plan and he has the power to work the plan. He has perfect knowledge. So there's nothing to change the plan. He doesn't need us to give them more information and he doesn't react to circumstances.
So are you telling us all this because all these realities about God raise the question of how our prayers mattered all day we get in there since they will we know why. What about a prayer. All that seems to squelch my prayer life and my little requests in a course that's the that's one of the accusations been made by people who reject the reformed theology that if you have a strong view of God. If you have the biblical view of God.
It just takes all the heart out of your praying I mean certainly to want bother God.
I don't want to interrupt God only knows what is going knows what he's doing is need information for me about anything that is not about the changes ultimate plan and design so if I am told to pray.
Maybe in all I need to do is just going to go in for a little brief thing and say you know I'm really sorry to bother you.
God idea. I just keep this to a minimum and I really busy and I get the deal worked out you know where it's gone, but so I won't be long. If you say that the mealtime to me biannually really busy and I really got a lot of things in mind. But if I could just have a minute if people think that that's some kind of intrusion into my life and I haven't got a clue what's coming in the future we think about God, we would say to God, while this is ridiculous for me to come and bring my little deal in front of you when you got all worked out. From beginning to end. Even the fact that I was born that I exist and that I would come to you with this request was known to you before the foundation of the world and it's all in the plan.
What's the point. What I do, make it quick. I'll be out.
It's almost embarrassing in sorry God is me again and I and I know interrupt you lot my little things and we save if we have a mature view of God and a full view of God and we understand the character of God and the nature of God, but Doug doesn't really have some kind of a squelching effect on our prayer life will give you an illustration. Go back to the book of Nehemiah Nehemiah chapter 1 Israel is in captivity. God knows that the land of Israel in the land of Judah in particular the southern kingdom in the city of Jerusalem is in ruins. The remnant verse three of chapter 1 are in great distress reproached the wall of Jerusalem is broken down the gates are burned with fire.
God knows all that, in fact, God made sure that happened because God brought you remember the Babylonians to be his executioner to bring judgment on Israel for idolatry and so God knows all of that but I want you to still see the response of Nehemiah verse four that came about when I heard these words got a report back about the condition of Jerusalem, I sat down and wept and mourned for D's didn't change the heartbreak. Just because God knew all of this and Nehemiah knew God knew it didn't change how Nehemiah felt, and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven is, it will maybe didn't have a very good idea for many didn't really understand who God wasn't and he was getting over exercise and fasting and praying and weeping and mourning in his he's really in a highly emotional condition here maybe just doesn't kinda know that God is in charge. Maybe he's just really a loose Arminian floating around in the Old Testament but look at his prayer in verse five I said, I beseech the old Lord God of heaven.
The great and awesome God who preserves the covenant in loving kindness for those who love him and keep his commandment that he understood God. He understood God it was God the sovereign Lord interested his greatness is awesomeness all the attributes that fill up those terms. He understood that he had a covenant and that he was faithful to that covenant. He understood his grace and his lovingkindness to those that love him and keep his commandments. He understood all of that and still in verse six.
Let thine ear now, be attentive, and thine eyes open to hear the prayer of thy servant which I am praying before the now day and night on behalf of the sons of Israel. This you know when you read this in the context makes it just a little bit squeamish many. Talk to God like that if you said God listen to me. I'm talking. Open your eyes and check out my situation. I don't think I've ever said that the God and not only did he say once he says I am praying before you day and night, fasting, weeping morning, praying before the God of heaven, whom he fully understands these really storming the gates he say God open your ear and open your eyes and look at the situation is pretty bold stuff and it's almost embarrassing and we sorta going to God's presence.
You know it's me again Lord watches what is your will. Please let's get that out the way at the beginning. That's where I am. You know, I know you got other things to attend to so I'll understand if you can't be bothered with distal, this isn't is not Nehemiah's approach God no wake up, take a look, look at Psalm 17 verse one here a just cause, old Lord, give heed to my cry give ear to my prayer listen to me God. These these people to pray in the Old Testament demanded a hearing with God.
Psalm 27 verse seven. These are illustrations there are many more. Psalm 27 seven.
Here, old Lord when I cry with my voice, listen to me when I'm talking to you God and be gracious to me and look at this, answer me that ever said that to God. I'm telling you, God, you better listen to me and I want an answer answer me.
Psalm 55 adds another component give verse one give ear to my prayer of God and do not hide yourself from my supplication was you behind anywhere I'm talking to you.
It's amazing give heed to me and answer me.
I am restless in my complaint and I am surely distracted.
I'm telling you, things aren't going right and you need to listen to me and don't you be going to find somewhere that tension sounds like my kids talk to me like that when I'm distracted. Psalm 102 is another one. And again, those are samples and giving hear my prayer. Oh Lord, and let my cry for help. Come to the do not hide thy face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me again. Is that same sort demanding it's it's almost rude. It's almost rude to ask him to come in at you and say look or talk to you listening or talk you look at me, but you believe in. Don't be distracted, say will wait a minute here. Psalm 143 as one other component, hear my prayer, Lord.
Psalm 143 one give ear to my supplication's answer me in thy faithfulness and thy righteousness, not of an action and do not enter the judgment with thy servant. I want to discussion want to be upset at me just cool your your anger is listen pleasing way to talk to God amazing I'm I'm shocked by some of this, the boldness of it. The brashness of it when I was growing up as a kid my grandmother used to have this little state saying out here much anymore.
My mom picked it up and carried it on. She said well Joni that took a lot of goal your hear anybody say that took a lot of goal.
I don't know where that came from the look of goal in the dictionary on how to connect with my mom so I took a lot of nerves this like he stepped over the boundaries of rudeness you've gone too far.
So what is the point of talking to God like that would mean if you know God is sovereign and if you know God is all wise and all-powerful and all-knowing and has purposed everything from the beginning to the end and all the way through the middle. What in the world is the point of praying and the answer is because God is not only ordained the end. He has ordained the means to the end and on about you, but I'd rather be a part of God's means than anything else. I suppose I could be a spiritual couch potato and not care whether I participated as the means which God uses to reach his and but I'd much rather be engaged and involved in being the means because the residual impact to me is wonderful. It is his goodness and blessing in this life and eternal reward in the life to come. It's not about changing God's mind.
It's not about changing God's plans is not about giving him information he doesn't have.
It's not about a tweaking of the circumstances, he might not have anticipated simply about being used by God. Old Testament givingthe Old Testament prophets of Jesus to be born in Bethlehem. Well, that's the end and it had to be could be born anywhere else or the whole Old Testament would've been discredited, the prophet would've been wrong. How was Jesus born in Bethlehem, because Caesar Augustus, who didn't know anything about Malachi or Jesus determined a census to be taken in Israel, and everybody had to go to his own original hometown to register for the census Luke two, and so Joseph and Mary had to go down to Bethlehem at exactly the time of the census, which is exactly the time when she delivered the baby, the Messiah was born in Bethlehem, the end was in the plan of God from the very beginning as articulated by the prophet in the Old Testament the means was an ignorant Caesar making a decree. God uses the means as well as determines the end in the next chapter 2 where Peter's preaching on the day of Pentecost. He says you killed the son of God by the predetermined, the determinative will and plan of God. The means of our salvation God determined that Christ be a sacrifice for our salvation. The means Roman soldiers and all the things that went into it like everything else look God determined your salvation from before the foundation of the world. The means is through your faith and repentance, you will not be saved without faith it you will not be sanctified without obedience and you will not enjoy the goodness of God in this life without participating in prayer in the accomplishing of the divine purposes I can think of anything more wonderful than God allowing me to be a means to his sins credible. I want to change God I retire right now I want to change and you can't ridiculous to think of it, but that would be to assume that I had a better idea and that's absolute idiocy, but to think that God could use me totally ignorant of the future.
Totally inept to be a means by which he achieves his eternal ends and then not only bless me for that, but reward me forever beyond belief is for the Bible tells us to pray. Prayer is a means by which God's infinite wisdom, infinite power and perfect purpose are brought together to accomplish his will can be saved without believing it can be sanctified without obeying and you can't enjoy the goodness of God in this life without participating in his unfolding purpose through your prayers and through your service to him drop down to verse eight. You notice in verse eight, the word persistence that's in the NAS on a what other versions have some Bible say importunity. There's a word nobody ever uses importunity that's a good work if you ever get a chance to look at in the dictionary is what you find importunity's different than opportunity. We all use opportunity all the time because that kinda works for us and in our everyday language opportunity is a word. The dictionary says it means a circumstance favorable to us. You see, what appears to be a circumstance favorable to you to take advantage of you move into that circumstance to achieve in that in that opportunity what it is that you think is available for you there. That's opportunity importunity us.
Not that all something different opportunity simply means you move into a favorable circumstance. Importunity is far stronger. It is a word that has the urgency and persistence in it, but it's bigger than the word persistence some dictionaries translated this white trouble, simile, urgent, overly persistent. It's a hyper word or even annoyingly relentless. What happened here was this guy finally got out of bed and gave the man what he wanted because he was an annoyingly persistent he was overly persistent. He was trouble, simile, urgent. It's the word in the Greek on night day on it's it's hypoxia, that is, once said, in that it is the only place it ever appears somebody who just sets aside all sense of shame it's one and Alexa considered overly bold. Another one said her shamelessness. Somebody was just brash and bold somebody who has a lot of nerve reasons to pray like that.
That's what Jesus can teach us here pray like that, and thus to participate in the means by which God achieves is in God is sovereign and all-powerful meaning he does what he wants yet.
That should encourage you to pray and to do it persistently, boldly, don't be afraid to ask. That's the title of John MacArthur study here on grace to you know I would encourage you to get this study so that you can review it again and again prayer is at the heart of knowing God and experiencing the blessings of the Christian life. In this series will certainly motivate you to pray. It answers questions like what you do pray about when and where is the best place to pray and what the Scripture say about praying boldly to order the two CD album titled don't be afraid to ask or to download the MP3s for free.
Contact us today. Don't be afraid to ask costs $12 and shipping is free. Just call 855 race or go to TTY.org to buy the CDs. You can also download the MP3s free of charge@tty.org. In fact, all of John sermons 3500 total are we at our website and this is not something we talk about a lot, but periodically hear from people who are interested in supporting Grace to you through their estate plan that is a great way to help ensure that people will hear and grow from John's teachings generations to come. If you like information on supporting Grace to you through your estate. Contact Paul Ackerman at 855 race men to make a one-time donation now or to set up a recurring gift. You can do that online@tty.org. That's our website one more time. TTY.or call 855 now for John MacArthur and the entire Grace to you staff, I'm Phil Johnson. Thanks for tuning in today and make sure your tomorrow when John continues his look at praying with boldness. Don't miss the next 30 minutes of unleashing God's truth in one verse at a time on grace to you