Shamelessness

So blessed to have Tyler Johnson from East Valley Bible Church speak on Luke 11:1-13 today. As a life-long church attendee, I have heard "The Lord's Prayer" over and over, recited it before sporting events, etc. Tyler's comments on the latter half of this passage were what truly impacted me.

From the ESV:

5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence [3] he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for [4] a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

In verse 8, Luke uses the word "impudence", which isn't exactly in my "every day" vocabulary. The Greek word is ἀναίδεια, which means "shamelessness". We are to be "without shame" in our approach to prayer. Tyler took us to I Kings 18:41-46 where Elijah was shameless in praying seven consecutive times that God would cause it to rain.

Tyler drove home the best point of the day in verse 13. Our prayers should be centered around asking to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit will be manifested from this, which are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control . Imagine what your life will be like if you are shameless and persistent in praying for the Holy Spirit's work in your own life and the lives of your friends and family!