Friend In Need; Luke 11:5-8

Church History: 5Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'
7"Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' 8I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

This is the parable of a friend, coming to his friend at midnight, and by his solicitation, he obtains something which otherwise he would have gone without. When our Lord leaves us to infer that if a disrespectful and bold beggar can obtain so much from a man, what can a humble, earnest, and daily petitioner obtain from God? What friend is so faithful and helpful to his dearest friend, as God is to us his children?
From the whole note we can learn:
1. That a man must be brought into a state of friendship and reconciliation with God, if he hopes his prayers shall be accepted.

2. That when any of the friends of God are in need, he allows them the liberty at all hours to call upon him, and pray unto him: at midnight as well as at mid-day, God's ear is open to his praying friends.

3. That Almighty God takes pleasure in being urged in prayer by the holy solicitation of his friends: never is he better pleased, than when his people, with holy Jacob, wrestle with him, and will not let him go till he hath blessed them.

4. That such holy and humble solicitation shall not only obtain what we desired, but more than we expected: only three loaves were desired here, but because he asked he had as many as he needed; more is given in the concession, than was desired in the supplication.