A Demanding Widow Series

SERMON OUTLINE:

The Widow in the story:

(1) She had an opponent.

(2) She couldn’t solve her own problem.

(3) She was persistent.

(4) She had a genuine need.

(5) She got what she wanted.

The judge in the story:

(1) He didn’t fear God.

(2) He didn’t respect man.

(3) He was unrighteous.

(4) He didn’t care about the widow.

(5) He was unwilling to help at first.

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• When a night club opened on the main street of a small American town;

• The local Church held an all-night prayer meeting.

• One member asked God to burn it down.

• Within a few moments, lightning struck the club and it was burnt to the ground.

• The owner sued the church,

• While the Church denied all responsibility.

• In court the judge said, “It seems that wherever the guilt may lie;

• The night club owner believes in the power of prayer, while the church does not!”

In our passage today, we have story about a woman who prayed:

• I like the story of the mum,

• Who had been teaching her three-year old daughter, the Lord's Prayer.

• Night after night mum would say the prayer line by line,

• And the little girl would repeat it, lines by line,

• Finally, the little girl decided to go solo.

• So, it was eyes shut tight and hands clasped together and off she went.

• Mum listened with pride as she carefully spoke each word,

• Right up to the end of the prayer,

• After saying the words; "Lead us not into temptation,"

• She prayed, "but deliver us some E-mail. Amen."

• TRANSITION: In our passage today, we have story about a woman who prayed,

• And this woman is very much centre stage in this short parable.

Ill:

• ‘Para’ is not an English word, but a Greek word;

• Instead of translating it we have transliterated into the English language.

• ‘Para’ before any word always means, ‘alongside’

• e.g. Parachute is a chute alongside.

• e.g. Parallel lines are one line alongside another.

• e.g. Para-Olympics is a one event alongside another.

• TRANSITION: A parable is one everyday story;

• But alongside it there is a deeper spiritual meaning waiting to be discovered.

Note:

• Verse 1b, clearly tells us clearly the point of this parable:

• “You should always pray and not give up”

• Therefore, anything else in the parable may or may not be important,

• But this fact is all-important!

• “You should always pray and not give up”

Ill:

• Derek Redmond Finishes the Race. A Video about Determination and Love

• Derek Redmond was favoured to medal in the 400m sprint at the 1992 Olympics.

• When he tore a hamstring halfway through the race his dream died.

• But his determination to finish the race, with his father by his side,

• Became the defining moment of the Games.

• TRANSITION: A beautiful story of perseverance and a father’s loving heart.

• Download video Clip: https://vimeo.com/25249737

• TRANSITION: That is what Jesus is teaching his disciples regarding prayer;

• Never give in, never give up, keep on keeping on!

• Jesus said:

• (N.I.V.): "Pray and not give up"

• N.A.S.B.: "Pray and not lose heart,"

• K..JV.: "Pray, and not faint."

• T.L.B.: “Keep praying until the answer comes.”

• Jesus gives his disciples an inescapable choice:

• We must either pray or give up, one or the other.

• There are no other alternatives.

• We ‘pray’ – that is depend on God for daily help and strength,

• Or we ‘give up’ – that is we live life in our own strength and by our own wisdom.

• There are no other alternatives!

THE STORY OF A DEMANDING WIDOW.

• In New Testament days;

• Widows usually had a difficult time making ends meet.

• There was of course no pension schemes and no state benefits;

• A widow without children had to literally survive day-by-day;

• It was a hard existence!

Ill:

• According to the charity: Women For Women International;

• There are 245 million widows around the world,

• 115 million of whom live in poverty and neglect.

• Widows are regularly ignored by government and NGO programs,

• Unaccounted for in statistics and thus invisible.

• Without economic opportunities or prospects for livelihood,

• Younger widows are often forced to beg or engage in sex work.

• Their children are often taken out of school and subjected to child labour,

• And not given opportunities for education, thus perpetuating the cycle of poverty.

• Women For Women International website:

• https://www.womenforwomen.org/blogs/nearly-50-widows-live-poverty-we-can-change

• TRANSITION: In New Testament days;

• Widows found that life was one long difficult existence!