PRAYER PART II: A MATTER OF PERSISTENCE
LUKE 18: 1-8
FEBRUARY 16, 2003
INTRODUCTION: ASAP = ALWAYS SAY A PRAYER: POEM
TRANSITION THOUGHT: Our text for today is very basic in nature. I believe it to be one of those texts that we can all understand at first reading. Luke begins by explaining what Jesus is teaching so as to make it completely clear. Even the parable is not left unexplained. You don’t hear the disciples asking of this parable, “Lord are you speaking to us or to everyone?” and you don’t hear, “Lord, what does this parable mean?” These questions don’t need to be asked because the text is straightforward. With all this said, my job is not to make this text confusing, but to keep it as simple as it is. The power of this text is that it teaches us a lesson we all know, but often forget.
THESIS SENTENCE: PERSISTANT PRAYER IS ANSWERED PRAYER!
I. PERSISTANT PRAYER IS ADMONISHED PERSEVERANCE VV. 1
A. Perseverance is always praying
1. Two weeks ago in our text from Nehemiah 1: 1-11, Nehemiah makes a powerful statement. In verse 6 Nehemiah prays, “Let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel.”
2. Is Nehemiah overstating his case, or is modeling for us perseverance in prayer?
3. The truth of scripture is that we should always pray!!
4. In I Thessalonians 5: 17 we are taught, “Pray continually…” The King James renders this verse, “Pray without ceasing.”
5. Daniel 10: 12-14 is a great example of the power of continual prayer. 6. Throughout the whole of scripture, we are taught to pray and to prayer all the time.
B. Perseverance in prayer is not giving up
1. Matthew 7: 7-8 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”
2. We seem to understand this in theory, but in practice, we struggle.
3. Prayer is a battle to be fought, but the enemy wants us to busy to pray. And not only is business our struggle, often we become weary, for we have not seen the answers we want. We can become very defeatist in prayer and give up, but Luke states, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”
4. What is so interesting here is the previous chapter. Jesus has just taught on the dreadful day of the coming of the kingdom of God. The disciples were more than likely overwhelmed by the information and needed to know how to respond to a great crisis. Where should we begin? We should always say a prayer!!
II. PERSITANT PRAYER IS A REVEALING PARABLE VV. 2-5
A. The justless Judge
1. Why would Jesus tell a parable comparing a justless Judge to the one who hears prayers?
2. The answer is the argument from lesser to greater. If this basic principle is true, consider what the greater principle teaches. This is Jesus argument. 3. In chapter 11 verses 5-10, Jesus has taught a similar lesson. The issue is not the one being addressed, but really focuses on the one doing the addressing. 4. Just looking at this Judge, you might say, “what’s the use, he will not listen.” We probably have all felt this way in prayer, especially if we have not yet received what we have asked.
5. Jesus sets of this judge as a model of this world that we can understand and He says to us, the squeaky wheel gets oiled!
6. Yes, there is opposition in prayer, but don’t be discouraged by a nay saying Judge, just keep at it and see what happens. You might just wear this fellow out and he will give you what you ask for.
B. The persistent widow
1. In contrast to this man of power and prestige, we have a widow as our example to follow.
2. A widow in Jesus day was as low on the totem pole as you could get. In a culture dominated by men, a woman who had no man was almost completely helpless. Social Security did not exist in Palestine. Family was to carry the load and if no other family existed, a widow was hopeless.
3. Jesus point here is that this person, the widow, had no clout, no ability of her own to get what she needed. She was completely powerless in her plea for justice. 4. The bottom line here is what was the outcome. The helpless, hopeless widow got justice. This is just what she asked for!!
AN ASIDE HERE: Did this widow get just anything she asked for? Was she seeking selfish gain? Did she just want her wishes granted or did she have a real issue of need? God is not obligated to answer selfish prayers. This scripture and all scripture never validate asking for anything outside of God’s will and it being granted. This was a prayer within the context of God will and was thus answered!
III. PERSISTANT PRAYER COMES WITH A PROMISE VV. 6-8A
A. The promise is our God will hear
1. Well, you might say, what a great little parable. It is kind of like one of those feel good movies Disney puts out. In the end the good guy wins and the prince kisses the poor maiden and they live happily ever after.
2. The struggle comes when we boil this back down to our own lives.
3. We have prayed and prayed concerning an issue and it has not come to pass. We have sought God and have not heard and answer. We live in the midst of struggle and doubt and wonder where our God is.
4. To this Jesus answers, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
5. What Jesus is saying is that yes, the answers don’t seem to be coming, but God has not forsaken you.
6. He is not putting you off, he hears your request. The request that come before HIM day and night!!
7. Again, the question might not be, “does God hear me?” but “ Do I really pray?”
ILLUSTRATION: PRAYER OF CHILDREN e-mail
B. The promise is our God will answer
1. If you are still wondering, Jesus answers, “I tell you, he will see that yet get justice, and quickly.”
2. It doesn’t get any more direct than this. I don’t know about you, but I can hear what Jesus is saying.
3. Again the only problem is this quickly part. I have been praying for years over certain matters and am still waiting of the “quickly” reply.
4. Context is the key here! What is the context again? What is the teaching on prayer all about? HOW SHOULD WE PRAY? HOW DID THE WIDOW PERSUE THE JUDGE?
ILLUSTRATION: JUST P.U.S.H. Story on prayer: e-mail
IV. PERSISTANT PRAYER IS FAITH PROVEN VV. 8B
A. THE PRESENCE OF PERSISTANT PRAYER IS FAITH
1. Finally, Jesus asks the question, “However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
2. The climax of this text is not the teaching or the wonderful little story; it is the call to respond.
3. What Jesus is saying is that we should pray with persistence and to do so is to have faith.
4. Persistent prayer reveals where we are anchored. Persistent prayer reveal in whom we trust. Persistent prayer creates a different mindset. Persistent prayer is not focused on this world. Persistent prayer is focus on HIM!
ILLUSTRATION: The Practice of the Presence OF GOD by brother Lawrence: Second conversation first paragraph.
B. THE ABSENCE OF PERSISTANT PRAYER IS FAITHLESSNESS
1. Why does Jesus put this question to us, “Will He find faith on the earth?” 2. If we do not pray, we don’t have faith. If we don’t pray with persistence, God cannot work. If surrender our prayer life because we think we are hopeless and helpless, WHO WINS??
3. Jesus had just told the disciples what it would look like when the Kingdom of God came. The Day is coming soon and therefore we must not give up praying. Yes, the days are Dark. Yes uncertainty abounds. Yes things are not as we would like. BUT the answer my friends is prayer and the prayer of persistence! For when we pray continually GOD ANSWERS. And often His answer is knowing more of HIM!!
CONCLUSION: How is your prayer life? Have you given up? Have you become weary in seemingly unanswered prayer? OR do you have tenacity? Have resolved to pray until something happens. “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Keep on praying Church, God is just about to Answer!!
BENEDICTION: Ephesians 3: 20-21
