“One of [Jesus’] disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1).
Apparently the disciples were impressed by Jesus’ prayer life because He got results. So they asked Him to teach them how to pray. Jesus first taught the Lord’s Prayer. Then He shared another key to prayer:
“And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?” (Luke 11:5-6).
What is bread? Well, when the woman of Canaan in Matthew 15 asked for healing for her daughter, Jesus called healing the children’s bread (v. 26). So in this parable, when the man asked for three loaves of bread, he could have been asking for healing for his friend.
“And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, 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” (Luke 11:7-8).
Jesus said the man finally gave the bread to the petitioner because of his importunity. One meaning of that word importunity is “persistence.” The Amplified Bible says, “because of his shameless persistence and insistence….”
Do you know someone with a need who can’t seem to make contact with God for himself? You can go into the presence of God on his behalf. God will hear your persistent prayers and provide your friend with exactly what he needs—the children’s bread of healing.
I boldly go to my Father on behalf of another,
and my Father gives me what I ask for in faith.
I am persistent to ask and to believe God will
answer because healing is the children’s bread.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
For over 40 years, Pastors Mark and Janet Brazee have traveled throughout the world sharing the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Together they've shared the powerful truths of faith and healing in more than 50 nations.
Today Mark and Janet pastor World Outreach Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they base their ongoing outreach to the world. The Brazees still travel as the Lord leads, and they are raising up a congregation who share their passion to reach Tulsa and the world.