THIRSTING FOR MORE OF GOD, FROM GOD & OUT OF LIFE
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Sunday, NOVEMBER 23, 2025
Pastor Muche Ukegbu
SCRIPTURE READING:
What’s happening:
A model for prayer:
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
v1
He said to them, “When you pray, say:
The greatness of God
“‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
v2
Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.
v4
The goodness of God
Give us each day our daily bread.
v3
The motivation for prayer:
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
v9
The reality of needs
Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.
v5-6
The sincerity of desires
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
v11-12
The power of humility & grit
Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
v5-8
Earnest desire is not a substitute for everyday grit.
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
v11-13
The greatest gift God can give people is Himself.
“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
Genesis 15:2
“If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
John 4:10
Jesus is grounding their prayer life in the greatness of God, the goodness of God, needs, desires, courage, & contentment.
Why it matters:
I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
v8-10
Jesus is guiding their entire life towards greater courage & contentment.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked
-scripture after scripture
Prayer is the place where easy wins & big dreams meet.
What comes next:
Give oxygen to the God-Dream.
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
v1
Pray kingdom mindedly & boldly.
“‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
v2
Closing Considerations:
Where do you need to do work with Jesus?
Where can you go to do work with Jesus?
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place.
v1
Create a secret space
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:6
Commit to a Sunday space
“If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children. When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.”
Psalms 73:15-17
A model for prayer:
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
v1
He said to them, “When you pray, say:
The greatness of God
“‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
v2
Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.
v4
The goodness of God
Give us each day our daily bread.
v3
The motivation for prayer:
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
v9
The reality of needs
Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.
v5-6
The sincerity of desires
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
v11-12
The power of humility & grit
Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
v5-8
Earnest desire is not a substitute for everyday grit.
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
v11-13
The greatest gift God can give people is Himself.
“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”
Genesis 15:2
“If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
John 4:10
Jesus is grounding their prayer life in the greatness of God, the goodness of God, needs, desires, courage, & contentment.
Why it matters:
I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
v8-10
Jesus is guiding their entire life towards greater courage & contentment.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked
-scripture after scripture
Prayer is the place where easy wins & big dreams meet.
What comes next:
Give oxygen to the God-Dream.
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
v1
Pray kingdom mindedly & boldly.
“‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
v2
Closing Considerations:
Where do you need to do work with Jesus?
Where can you go to do work with Jesus?
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place.
v1
Create a secret space
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:6
Commit to a Sunday space
“If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children. When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.”
Psalms 73:15-17