Keep Praying! Series

“KEEP PRAYING” Luke 18:1-8

FBCF – 2/25/24

Jon Daniels

INTRO – Who is the most powerful person you know?

- A community or governmental leader – a President, King, Prince, Prime Minister

- A judge or Supreme Court justice

- A parent or grandparent

- A coach or teacher or professor

- A businessperson or corporate executive

All of those have some power in their realm of influence. But I would submit to you today that the most powerful person you know is the person who prays. Alfred Lord Tennyson – “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of.”

- The movers & shakers of the world attempt to change things by their influence.

- Politicians attempt to change things by passing new laws.

- Investors attempt to change things by their financial dealings.

- And while all of these have their place, the way true, lasting change happens is when God’s people do one thing consistently, fervently, & persistently - & that one thing is prayer.

- Luis Pulau – “You can read all the manuals on prayer and listen to other people pray, but until you begin to pray yourself you will never understand prayer. It’s like riding a bicycle or swimming: You learn by doing.”

This will be a simple sermon. It will be on a subject that you’ve heard many preachers & ministers preach & teach on.

- Rickey Blythe: “Prayer is the Christian’s greatest secret weapon that can be launched anywhere, at any time, & hits its target every time.”

- Joe Cole: “If Jesus needed to pray, why in the world would I think I can do anything without it!”

- Steve Stone: “Prayer provides two-way communication with God, so we can discover His will for our lives, then act on that will to impact His Kingdom on earth.”

- Dwayne Parker: “Prayer is essential because it is my connection to the Heavenly Father through which I experience an intimate relationship with Him.”

- Michael: “Prayer is a lifeline, without it, we are utterly hopeless.”

- Matt: “Prayer is important because it allows us to experience the joy of speaking with our Father, the peace when He listens to & answers our cries, & the power when we see the realization of our prayers manifesting into our lives & the lives of others.”

- Mark Sandifer: “Prayer allows me to draw closer to God and His will for my life.”

- Cindy: “Prayer works!”

I will make some points in this sermon that you’ve most likely heard before – even from me from this pulpit on Sundays & on Wednesdays. There are tons of books that have been written on this subject – in my own personal library, I have at least 34 books on prayer & I read 16 of them last year.

So why preach on it again? Simple: Your life depends on it.

- The vibrancy, depth, & passion of your spiritual life depends on it.

- Your marriage depends on it…singleness…family…school studies & activities…work/business/finances…church FAMILY…mental health…future…EVERYTHING in your life depends on it.

EXPLANATION – Luke 18:1-8 (p. 877)

APPLICATION – Christ-followers must persevere in prayer!

3 simple questions to consider today:

WHY DO WE PERSEVERE IN PRAYER?

B/c of its imperative – The Word teaches us this so clearly!

- V. 1 – JESUS taught them that “…they ought always to pray…” “always” means FOREVER! – constant prayer – continuous prayer

- Paul – “Pray w/out ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

- David – “Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am calling on you constantly” (Psalm 86:3).

- Peter – “…be earnest & disciplined in your prayers” (1 Peter 4:7).

- Epaphras – “…he prays constantly & earnestly for you…” (Colossians 4:12).

We persevere b/c of the alternative – The alternative is to “lose heart” – to quit, to faint, to give up.

- PRAY OR QUIT – YOUR CHOICE!

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE PERSEVERE IN PRAYER?

Strength happens – The widow in this parable was weak & helpless against her adversary. She didn’t have a husband to stand up against this enemy. She was on her own, vulnerable, &, if she was childness, she suffered double adversity.

Prayer brings the strength of the Almighty God of the universe into our lives & into our situations. Seemingly hopeless situations are impacted w/ the power of God. Just as the widow needed strength against her adversary, so you & I need the strength that only God can give us against our adversary.

- Ephesians 6:10ff – Paul starts w/ an admonition to “be strong IN THE LORD, & in the strength of HIS might. Put on the full armor of God…” – Lists the pieces of armor. Then v. 18 – “Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God's people.”