Good Shepherd sermon. July 26 / 27, 2025. Luke 11: 1-11
“Shamelessly Persistent”
Pastor’s note: The following is the original text for what I had planned for Sunday, July 27; the Holy Spirit had other plans, witnessed on the video from our outdoor worship service. Nonetheless, my prayer is that you will somehow be touched by our gracious God as you read.
Grace, mercy, and peace to you, from God, the Creator, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, thru the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Greetings disciples! I love this – when was Jesus, our forever example for faithful following, asked by the disciples to teach them to pray? When? – Yes, after he finished praying. Jesus, the pray–er, showing the vital importance of prayer and relationship with God.
Abraham Lincoln said of prayer: “I’ve been driven to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no place else to go.” There’s even a lyric from a Garth Brooks song which says, “Just because he doesn’t answer, doesn’t mean God doesn’t care; Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.”
With that in mind we might consider a quip about a little boy who responded to his pastor who asked if he said his prayers today. The boy replied, “Nope – didn’t need anything today!”
So here we are – talking about prayer and the act of praying. Throughout the Gospels, we read about Jesus praying, either by himself, or with his disciples. I think that begs the question: “Why do we pray?” We might ask ourselves, “If God knows everything, what good is taking the time to pray?” Or perhaps you’ve thought in the past, “I’m not good enough for God to listen, much less have God answer my prayers.” Hey – I’ve been there -and more than once. Martin Luther said that all our prayers must be based on obedience to God, regardless of our person, whether we are sinners or righteous people, worthy or unworthy.
The book of James, chapter 5, is all over praying. James asks, “Are any of you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise.” (Pray) “Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.” Yes – healing, thanksgiving, anointing – all prayerful voices lifted to God in a relationship manner!
Prayer is communion with God. It is an act of sharing with God. It is something God wants to hear from us – God wants us to pray. It’s something God expects from us. Do you realize we have been invited by God to pray? Throughout scripture God is calling God’s people to pray. Prayer is a lifeline to our Lifeline, God made flesh; the One whose nail-scarred hands welcomes all people, loves all people, and loves to forgive all people.
Amid life’s murky waters, prayer provides clarity to what God really wants us to see – to do – to be! How else do we find peace, wholeness, wisdom? How else are we advocates for others? How else do we praise and thank God for family, friends, other gifts so generously given, especially the gift of our Lord Jesus and all he has done for us?
It is thru prayer – communion with God.
It is a relationship.
Prayer can build such a strong relationship with God, yet many people I’ve spoken with over the past few years leaves me the impression there is less dependence on this worshipful practice of becoming closer to God. It’s like we want control -total control – and don’t we know what we can do when we’re at life’s steering wheel!
Control, indeed. So often it seems like our world is out of control! Lines are constantly being drawn in the political sand, either at home or internationally. So much division throughout our world.
Our world needs prayer.
Consider all the crime and drug overdoses in recent years.
Our communities need prayer.
The divorce rate is higher than it has ever been!
Our families need prayer.
Look at all the churches just here in Dayton struggling, even closing.
Our bodies of Christ desperately need prayer.
Would you agree we must be persistent? Let us be prayer-sistent. Look at the parable given by Jesus in verses 5-8. The person within the house is complaining that he can’t come to the aid of his friend – who is being bold in his request for bread – yes, persistent – and that is the operative word; this man’s persistence will make the man inside get up from his sleep and give him what he needs.
The reason persistence is key, as is in this instance it means, shamelessness. As a matter of fact, the New Living Translation says the neighbor had “shameless persistence” in his asking his neighbor. Remember, this was an “honor-shame” society, and basically, the neighbor was ashamed not to help him, as he would have violated a social standard, and he could have become a target of verbal abuse from the village.
The point Jesus is making is this: Our God of Grace never sleeps; this is a story about God who wants only the best for God’s children. If a sleeping neighbor, on the basis of friendship and social etiquette, will meet the demands of a friend, how much more will our Father in Heaven meet the needs of God’s children? Listen to the words of Apostle Paul in Romans 12:12; “Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.”
What this text exemplifies is how our humility and dependence is upon God. This communion with God helps bind us as we assemble, and all assemblies – yes, communities of God, which, because of the gift of prayer, gives us a common union; a common unity with our Creator and Sustainer of life.
Gifted theologian, pastor, and author, Thomas Long, has said about prayer: “We speak to God, but God touches, embraces, shapes and changes us. Whether we pray for rain or sunshine, our prayer is answered because in the act of praying we receive the gift we really seek–intimacy with God.” It is a grace-filled relationship thru faith and trust this world cannot offer.
Let us offer no excuses why not to pray. Let us allow nothing to get between our prayers – our communion with Jesus. Let us give thanks for the daily bread – the Bread of Life – who lived, died, and rose again for us, and walks with us every day. Jesus is always reaching out to us. May we be more shamefully persistent in our reaching out to him thru prayer.
Thanks be to God.
AMEN.