¡§Pray Persistently¡¨
(Luke 18:1-8)
Who knows what this picture is? Yep, you guessed it ¡V it is my fire pit! [SHOW PICTURE] And if you recall, a few months back I taught you how to pray (from Luke 11) and I used this fire pit as an example, remember? You¡¦re saying, ¡§Who could forget!¡¨ The point was that we are to pray with shameless boldness and persistence! I knew you¡¦d remember the fire pit?
Today, on day 8 of our 50-Day Adventure, I want to share with you why we¡¦re to pray that way. And we learn the why from a parable similar to the one in Luke 11, but this one is in Luke 18. So take your Bible and turn to Luke 18, and when you get there, put your finger on the first word in 18:1¡K ¡§Then¡¨. Got it? Good!
Now put another finger on the word ¡§when¡¨ in 18:8. Got it? Great! (We¡¦re doing a finger version of Twister, eh?)
These two key words will unlock the parable for us and show us how best to understand our Lord¡¦s teaching in this odd story about a widow and a stern judge. Let me explain¡K
Verse 1 ¡V ¡§Then¡K¡¨
Looks back to chapter 17:20-37 and the coming of the kingdom of God. Things will get worse¡Kit will not be a time of ease or comfort. So what does he tell the disciples to do? PRAY! In light of the coming end, PRAY!
Now skip down to 18:8¡K
Verse 8 ¡V ¡§When¡K¡¨
He closes this parable with the same theme ¡V the end of time and his return/coming. See the phrase ¡§When the Son of Man comes¡K¡¨? His question regarding faith is designed to bring us to a point of evaluation ¡V ¡§Will I be one who is enduring, watching, and persevering? Will my faith in God¡¦s eventual justice keep me faithful and committed?¡¨ Again, there is a focus on the soon-coming end.
And what is between these two key words? A story that has often been misinterpreted and taught incorrectly. Let me say at the outset that this parable is not designed to cast God as the judge who is bothered by the widow. Instead, it is a parable that teaches by contrast ¡V if even human judges eventually right the wrongs and avenge the mistreated and persecuted, how much more will God rescue his own at the right time?! Let me show you what I mean¡K
[TEACH PARABLE and WORD MEANINGS]
Here¡¦s the point he is making in the parable: Persistent prayer is one of the key ways we find the strength to endure, especially as the end draws near.
Let¡¦s say it like this:
¡§Persistent prayer is where I discover God¡¦s perspective and partnership, which gives me the strength to endure, especially as the end draws near.¡¨
There’s no better example or illustration of this than the life of Jesus. What did he do as his life neared the end? PRAYED! In fact, it would be good for you to take some time this week and look through John 17, Christ’s high priestly prayer. Or look at his prayer meeting in the garden where the disciples fell asleep! In the waning days of his life, prayer became one of his top priorities. Why? Becasue that discipline, more han most others, gives us the strength to go on and not give up.
Let me break this statement down for a minute and expand on a couple of principles taught in the parable:
1. God¡¦s perspective helps me see through the trial!
In other words, God¡¦s timetable is the only timetable that really matters. This is called perspective. Seeing through the immediate to the eventual is a mark of maturity and of one following our Lord as a disciple. It¡¦s about his timetable, not my schedule.
What if, while watching the playoffs, you left in the 6th inning and told your friends, ¡§Game over!¡¨ They would laugh at you! Why? Because no matter what the score, the game isn¡¦t over till the 9th inning. So you hang in there and keep on cheering knowing that ¡§it ain¡¦t over till it¡¦s over!¡¨
So it is with spiritual perspective ¡V it ain¡¦t over, Christian! What we see around us looks bleak, and you may feel maligned, persecuted, mistreated ¡K but it ain¡¦t over, brother and sister! Don¡¦t give up!
2. God¡¦s partnership helps me see who to trust!
In other words, God¡¦s truth about his character (trustworthy and dependable) and my condition (I belong to God) helps me realize I am not destined for destruction! God is in control of me and my situation. I am his chosen one, and he will rescue me ¡V avenge me ¡V because he promised! His Word promises a day of reckoning, and we are waiting and watching for that promised day! It¡¦s all about his truth, not my feelings.
Paul said 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 that ¡§God has not appointed us to wrath¡K¡¨ In other words, his promise is that those who believe are guaranteed deliverance from eternal punishment. We have God¡¦s word on it ¡V we will be rescued!
So seeing life from Gods perspective and knowing I am partnered with God keeps me in the ballgame!
And that¡¦s the point of the parable! Remember 18:1? Keep in mind the whole goal of the parable ¡V to encourage us to ¡§not give up!¡¨ When justice seems short, persecution long, as things grow worse and worse, praying helps us ¡§not give up!¡¨
Look at these verses that exhort us to pray, all of which are in the context of end times and the pressure to give up¡K
Matthew 26:40-41
¡§Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.¡¨
1 Thessalonians 5:17
¡§Pray continually.¡¨
1 Peter 4:7
¡§The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self controlled so that you can pray.¡¨
Have you ever wanted to give up? I have! In fact, giving up is what most people do when things don¡¦t go like they want right away. Think about it ¡V If they don¡¦t get their way right away, they go away! Sad, eh? But that is not the attitude of true disciples ¡V we don¡¦t give up! Why? Because we can pray! And in praying we discover God¡¦s perspective and partnership, and that keep us from giving up!
The action point this week is simple: Find time daily to get alone with God in prayer. Ask specifically for his perspective. Cling to his truth. Hold on to his partnership as his child. Simply put, talk to your Father everyday!
„X Before you leave for work
„X At every meal
„X Before you go to bed
„X As you drive
„X Tucking in your kids
„X Special prayer meetings with co-workers/friends at lunchtime
„X Your first response to stressful situations
Pray, Christian brother and sister, pray!
Can I be very transparent with you for a bit about prayer and the temptation to give up? While I¡¦ve not struggled with quitting or giving up, I have experienced a bit of frustration regarding two very important things to the life of FFC: our search for a full-time worship leader and our search for a part-time Elementary Ministry Director. Let me explain¡K
Our Worship Leader Search is, in my estimation, the single most important growth step for us. It will make a huge difference in our front door ministry. So the right person matters! For a while it was going a little slow¡Kbut we kept praying; believing; looking! And if you remember, we asked you to pray as well! Then God began to surface some men who are, from what we have gathered so far, the kind of person we are looking for. We kept praying, and God kept confirming. And now we come to the place where we need you to pray even more. Why? In the next few months you¡¦ll get to see some of the guys¡Kwhy? FFC matters¡Kthe kingdom matters! People encountering God matters!
However, our Elem. Min. Director search has not gone quite like we thought. Still, we pray! We need you to pray! God has the answer and will meet our needs. Our job is to first pray! You see, kids matter¡Kfamilies matter. So we keep praying and looking. The person right for the opportunity is out there¡Kis it you? Do you know them? Pray! The times demand that our church do all we can to help families and equip parents!
So you know what I¡¦ve been doing? Spending more time getting God¡¦s perspective and partnership! I¡¦ve been trying to do just what the hymn says to do¡Kenjoy a ¡§Sweet Hour of Prayer!¡¨ That¡¦s right ¡V as the pressure increases, so should my prayers. Listen to these words from the writer of this old song¡K
Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
That calls me from a world a care.
And bids me at my Father¡¦s throne,
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief
My soul has often found relief.
And oft escaped the tempter¡¦s snare,
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer.
What about you? What is one thing you¡¦d really like someone to pray persistently about? Here¡¦s what I¡¦m asking you to do ¡V take 45 seconds and share with someone near you, using your cards to write down their one request. Pray together, then I¡¦ll finish our time together by closing in prayer. As you leave, turn those all in and we¡¦ll start praying persistently together for the many requests!
Ready? Set? Pray!
