Message based on Luke 11: 5-8. Have you received a call or a visit at midnight, unexpectedly? Or just when they are having lunch, does an acquaintance ring the bell of his house to visit him? It seems that those are inopportune moments that you do not want to receive a visit or call. I remember that when my parents went to visit a relative or acquaintance (brother in Christ), they always tried to go in hours that did not cause discomfort.
Arriving to visit a friend or relative during meal times, we will cause discomfort to the person who will receive us.
Jesus told us about how untimely a friend can be, when he calls his neighbor because of a need, at midnight. And this compares it with prayer, implying that each one of us can have a true friend who is God. And we are not going to cause any inconvenience to him, nor are we inopportune, that is, we can call him at any time and in any situation. In addition, this friend who arrived at midnight, was so persistent to receive help from his neighbor or friend, which caused him to get up and give him what he was asking for. Therefore, God will give us what we need, if we are willing to be persistent. Perhaps you still have not received an answer from the Lord, at your request? Keep praying and trusting in the Lord, knowing that you will have the answer of your Heavenly Father. The title of the sermon today is "THE TRUE FRIENDSHIP". We are reading Luke 11: 5-8. It requires a:
I.- FRIEND.
Who of you has a friend? Which is your best friend? With the friend you share, it is a help in some moments, in difficult situations you can listen and help. But there are also friends who are bad influence, that is, they induce you to do things that do not please God, you have to discard them.
Friendship is something beautiful. This parable, pronounced by Jesus, gives us as an example the certainty that there is an answer for prayer. And prayer is based on personal friendship with God.
This is how friendship with God should be, like that of a friend. But more than a friend, it will never disappoint you, nor will it deceive you, it will always be by your side. So you can count on God. With a friend you share, you enjoy, you laugh, you cry, you play. God must be your friend where you can cry, laugh, enjoy and know that He listens to you and will give you your own help at that moment.
In college, in my student days, I had 2 or 3 friends with whom I studied and shared, but a little superficial friendship, the same happened at work where friends laughed, shared, played. The wife must be one's best friend, where she shares most of her life. But friendship with God must be superior, that must be true friendship. Cultivating friendship with God should be a priority in your life. In 2nd place, which makes the true friendship before one:
II.- NEED.
When you have a need, what do you do? I think the first thing you do is think who can help you. In most cases you go to your friend, parents because you hope that in the face of that need He can help you. Do you have any need? Any problem?
In this case an untimely need arose, this man was presented with a friend at midnight, without prior notice. Many needs arise without warning. Many problems arise without realizing it. Faced with this situation, he immediately thought of his neighbor (friend). In any situation we must think first of Dio, who should be our best friend. Put before him the need or problem. Many times we go to who we should not do it and we get wrong advice, which cause big problems.
They remember King Rehoboam son of Solomon, went to the young people, before a situation that happened to him, and he paid attention to them, leaving aside the advice of the elders. This brought serious problems to the nation. That is why it is important to go to God first.
Let's continue with the story, it was a need for food that we see here, was not to spend on their pleasures and delights. As many needs and problems arise without warning, they can occur in a:
III.- INOPORTUNE MOMENT.
Visiting a family during lunch or dinner is an inopportune time. If you are serving lunch, and 2 or 3 visitors arrive, you have to add more water to the soup, that is a saying, but I think it causes some discomfort. Although as children of God we must be willing to bless our neighbor.
Well the person in the parable we are reading, arrived at midnight, perhaps at 12 or 1 in the morning. What do you think, if someone knocks on the door at that hour? That something serious happened. That is the hour as least indicated to knock on the door. In this week, my sister called me on the phone, early at about 6 in the morning, I was alerted, and I thought something was happening, because at that time it is not normal to receive a call from her. This is what happens to us.
People, in the time of Jesus, rarely ventured out at night for fear of bandits. However, this person challenged this inconvenience and went in search of help (case of the good Samaritan). For him it was a real necessity. So, we are inopportune at some point, but for God there are no inopportune moments. He is always willing to listen and help us.
In these days, have you received someone inopportunely? Have you received any unexpected visits, which caused you some discomfort? Well, God, he will always be willing, he does not have moments that bother him, therefore, you must cultivate a true friendship with him.
IV.- ASK FOR ANOTHER.
This person received a friend who arrived on a trip, it is possible that he traveled on foot all day and had not arrived until midnight, he would be terribly hungry. Hospitality demanded feeding. Faced with this situation, he decides to seek help with his friend at that time of night. He asked not for him, but for another.
This man is willing to help his friend, because of his untimeliness. God is much more willing to listen to our prayers for others and for ourselves.
The heart of a person redeemed by God is to help others with their needs. And God will be willing to listen to our supplications for others and for ourselves.
A selfish life does not please God, and it breaks true friendship with God. Your needs are important, but the needs of our neighbor must be important too.
Many times we turn a blind eye to the needs of our neighbor, and do not even pray for the Lord to meet their needs or help them solve a problem, much less are we willing to help them materially.
Jesus tells us through this parable, that we be sensitive to the needs of our neighbors. May we be willing to pray and help the needy. But sometimes you have to:
V.- PERSIST.
The door was closed and the children and husbands also; do not bother anymore, they told him. The oriental houses, in general, did not have separate bedrooms. Usually the owner of the house closed the door and then spread the mats on the floor for the children. He and his wife occupied the space closest to the wall. Therefore, it would have been impossible to reach the outside door without first disturbing the children. So the one in the house was not willing to open the door. But the persistent call of his neighbor, made him react and lift him.
This principle teaches us that in prayer you have to be persistent. Not all answers require you to be persistent, because they arrive quickly. But there are others that require you to be persistent, because the answer takes.
God is not irritated because you are untimely and because you persist in your request. He will always be listening to you.
The human being is upset and says: leave the annoyance, stop bothering. But God will always be willing to listen to you and persistence causes your need to be met, that is, you receive the answer.
This nocturnal visitor received what he needed, since his persistent call was more annoying than opening the door and giving him bread. God answers, persistence does not change God's plans, but there God tests us.
THE TEACHING FOR YOU TODAY:
God bless you.
