Importunity and Prayer !

IMPORTUNITY AND PRAYER: Because of his boldness of faith he came even at midnight. He had faith that, even if he came at the late hour, he would receive bread. Jesus said, "Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. Now hold on to the word friend because it is another key to understanding this scripture. Jesus then said, and I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be open. The amplified Bible reads, "Ask and keep on asking," with a footnote that says, "this is the present imperative and often repeated." It might be often repeated; but, in this instance, it is not because that would be contrary to other scriptures concerning prayer. (See Mark 11:24; John 15:7-- 8; 1 John 5:14--15). If you take that commentary to be the truth meaning of this scripture, it is already distorted in your mind. Many precious people have the distorted view of prayer. Most people never read the footnote anyway, so they are left with a false impression that will defeat them in their prayer life. When you run into a situation like this, study it carefully and see if it compares to the other teachings of Jesus. When you hear preachers preach on certain scriptures, I suggest that you go home and study what was said and comparators of the Scriptures. Here the translator said it could have meant that, but it did not because it would refute other things Jesus talked concerning prayer. PERSISTENT FAITH: Here Are Some Things I want you to notice about the word importunity. The amplified Bible uses the word persistence. The Greek means bear faceness or boldness. If you take the word persistence by itself, it means "to keep on, to continue, to expect or endure in the face of opposition." Now the man came for the bread. His presence was persistent. He didn't go away but was patiently waiting to receive. It does not say that he kept on knocking. It does not say that he not twice. In fact, it does not say that he not once. He probably did, but the Bible doesn't say he did. He came to receive. He is persistent. He wouldn't leave until he had received. We also need to be that stubborn about some things. If you say "persistence of faith," you have changed the meaning of the word persistent. Persistent faith does not mean faith that just keeps on asking. Persistent faith means faith that ask once, then stands its ground until it is manifested. True faith asks and receives. Persistent faith is different from persistence by itself. It is faith that receives or takes from God. Faith takes. This is what Jesus is portraying in this passage of Scripture.