Introduction

Good morning, dear ones. I am delighted to see each one of you here today, gathered in the spirit of unity and faith, ready to receive the Word of God. There's something truly remarkable about being in the company of fellow believers, isn't there? It's like walking into a warm embrace, a safe haven, a sanctuary where our hearts can sing in unison, and our souls can be nourished by the divine truth of the Gospel. Today, we will be turning our hearts and minds towards the Gospel of Luke, specifically chapter 18, verses 1 to 8.

Before we do so, I'd like to share a quote from the esteemed Christian theologian, J.I. Packer, who once said, "There's a difference between knowing God and knowing about God. When you truly know God, you have energy to serve Him, boldness to share Him, and contentment in Him." This quote is particularly fitting for our discussion today, as we will be focusing on the themes of persisting in prayer, the power of perseverance, and the promises for the persistent.

Now, let's read the Scripture passage together:

"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: 'In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ And the Lord said, '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? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?'"

In the light of this passage, we see a beautiful illustration of how our persistence in prayer can move mountains, how our perseverance can shape our spiritual growth, and how the promises of God are always fulfilled to those who persistently seek Him.

Let us bow our heads in prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of this day, for the opportunity to gather in Your name, and for the privilege of studying Your Word. As we delve into the Scripture, we pray that you open our hearts and minds to receive the wisdom and truth that You have for us. May we learn to persist in prayer, to persevere in faith, and to trust in Your promises. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen.

So, beloved, are you ready to immerse yourself in the richness of God's Word? Are you eager to understand what it truly means to persist in prayer, to persevere in faith, and to trust in God's promises? Let's embark on this spiritual expedition together, hand in hand, heart to heart, and spirit to spirit.

Persisting in Prayer

In the parable we just read, we see a widow who is relentless in her pursuit of justice. She doesn't give up, she doesn't back down. She keeps coming back, again and again, pleading her case before the judge. This is a powerful picture of what our prayer life should look like. We should be like that widow, constantly coming before God, presenting our needs, our desires, our hopes, and our fears to Him.

Why should we persist in prayer?: Doesn't God already know what we need before we even ask? Yes, He does. But prayer is not just about asking God for things. It's about developing a relationship with Him. It's about aligning our will with His. It's about learning to trust in His timing and His provision. And sometimes, that takes persistence.

Think about it this way: When you're trying to get to know someone, you don't just have a single conversation with them and then never speak to them again, do you? No, you keep talking to them, you keep asking questions, you keep showing interest in their life. That's how you build a relationship. And it's the same with God. We need to keep coming to Him in prayer, keep talking to Him, keep seeking His face. That's how we get to know Him better. That's how we grow in our faith.

What does it look like to persist in prayer?: It means praying regularly. It means setting aside time each day to talk to God, to read His Word, to listen for His voice. It means making prayer a priority, not just something we do when we're in trouble or when we need something.

Praying with faith: It means believing that God hears our prayers, that He cares about our needs, and that He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. It means trusting in His goodness, His power, and His love, even when we don't see immediate answers to our prayers.

Praying with perseverance: It means not giving up, even when we're tired, even when we're discouraged, even when we're tempted to doubt. It means pressing on, keeping the faith, and holding onto hope.

Praying with a heart of surrender: It means letting go of our own plans and desires, and submitting to God's will. It means saying, "Not my will, but Yours be done," just as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Power of Perseverance

The parable of the persistent widow, as we have read, is a powerful narrative that illustrates the virtue of perseverance ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO