Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, which is commonly referred as “The Lord’s Prayer.”  He continued to teach them about intercessory prayer using a hypothetical situation involving three friends.

“Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him” (Luke 11:5,6).

One friend had an unexpected visitor late at night, a friend from a far away place.  He had nothing to offer to this tired and hungry friend.  His love and compassion did not allow him to go to bed without dinner.  So he inconvenienced himself at midnight, went to another friend’s house knocking and asking for bread.  This friend was already in bed.  Because of his friend’s persistence and friendship he got up and gave as much as he needed (Luke 11:5 – 8).

Jesus reveals three secrets to getting answers to intercessory prayers through this story.  One is friendship or fellowship with God and people.  Second and third comes out of the love from the friendship;  intercession and persistence.

Interestingly, all the characters in this story are referred as “friend”.  After telling them this story, Jesus said, “So ask, it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9,10).  When we read words like so or therefore, there is a truth behind it.  I believe he was emphasizing friendship for intercession.  

Our family, children, friends, colleagues, neighbors and nations need salvation.  They come to us tired and hungry.  We cannot give eternal life with Jesus, we cannot meet their financial need, we cannot heal their emotions, we cannot protect them from evil, we cannot take away their sickness and pain.  We don’t have what they need.  Though we are helpless, we have a Friend Jesus to go to (John 15:15).  You are my friends if you do what I command (John 15:14).  When we obey Him we are His friend.  Abraham believed God, it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God (James 2:23).  When we believe Him he calls us friend.  So let’s go to Him in obedience and trust on behalf of our friends.

Lord, thank you for the friends who are praying for us and our children.  Restore things that are lost and reward them with deeper friendship with You.

Rewarding intercession requires growing fellowship with God and friendship with men.