His Prayer at Work in Us

I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.  (Luke 11:8 ESV) Prayer is a form of spiritual exercise, something to be taught and practiced in the life of the follower of Jesus. It is not mere platitudes but a form of relentless and unabashed holding on to the Giver of all good things in such a way that our lives are changed and shaped by God and in a way that especially affects the lives of those around us! Today at International Lutheran Church, we learn with the disciples and Abraham how prayer shapes our lives and the lives of those we are called to serve.As I write to you dear saints of International Lutheran Church from Boston, MA our presentations have concluded and we are on the last leg of our journey. It has been a joy to travel this summer sharing with many friends, family members, supporting congregations but especially prayer supporters of our work together about what God is doing in and through each of us. Still I long to be with you and share with you in person God’s Word and Spirit so that we would be mutually edified. As I reflect on the Scripture passages for this coming weekend, I am encouraged and emboldened to ask that God would mightily give us His Spirit so that we would have the impudence of Abraham (Genesis 18:17-33) and of those followers of Jesus (Luke 11:1-13).

When Jesus taught the disciples about prayer at their bequest, He also used a short parabolic scenario of a midnight visitor whose request was granted not on the basis of a relationship, but based on the person’s “impudence” or brash boldness. In doing so Jesus was pointing out one less obvious aspect of prayer that is found throughout the Scriptures – that simple yet profound reality of how prayer takes a hold and actually engages the Almighty in a full-on struggle to seek the good of not just self but others.

Yet the good news of this teaching is not found in ourselves, our ability to replicate this kind of attitude or life practice. The Good News is that Jesus lived and prayed in such a way that our lives are completely transformed. As Paul clearly saw, the good I know I should do, I don’t do. And the evil that I shouldn’t do, I keep on doing. This wasn’t just true for Paul, but for each of us. Our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak. Or as Paul put it in his letter to the saints in Colossae, “we are dead in our trespasses and sins.” (Colossians 2:13) There isn’t anything we can do. Yet, this is precisely why God has come down in Christ and made us one with Him in His death and resurrection. His prayer, His life of prayer and “impudence” with His Father on the cross was not for His sake but for ours. His victory over death means that His prayer on our behalf is effective. God does not sweep us away in our wickedness but counts us His own dear children and longs for us in such a way that transforms our lives and the lives of those who are all around us. He even gives us His Holy Spirit to call, gather, and enlighten our lives so that His prayer is effective in our lives in such a way that others are called, enlightened, and gathered as well. Yes, we even become the very impudence of God in our world today as we struggle and care for the needs of others in such a way that takes hold of them in the way that God has taken hold of us.

This is why our baptism into Christ is life changing. We are united with Him in His death and raised to new life in His resurrection. This is why receiving His Body and Blood in, with, and under the bread and wine that we bless gives us the very forgiveness of our sin. We are raptured into His prayer and made a living and active part of His prayer through His Spirit. God grant you His peace as you live in the “impudence” of His Spirit and are filled with His joy for the lives of those around you.

Pastor Carl