Always to Pray and Faint Not

Service Notes

Tonight we will have a time of fellowship outside around the Word and pot of Chili

PLEASE BRING A LAWN CHAIR

GriefShare starts next Sunday Night

Luke 18:1–8 (KJV 1900)

1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint (lose heart);

2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Sermon Introduction

Jesus is Coming Soon by the Oak Ridge Boys

This is not just a call to prayer but a call to a specific prayer. Surely Lord come quickly. Rev 2:20

We cannot live our life as God has intended without a proper understanding and appreciation of the Lord’s return.

We ought to be praying and looking for the Lord’s Return

We should never skip an “ought” in the words of Jesus.

Luke 18:1 “1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

You might call this an ought-it (audit), if you are a dad.

Jesus knows how to best lead His disciples.

He knows what our next step should be and where should be headed.

We ought to pray

The manner in which we will pray

Luke 18:7 “7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?”

Jesus speaks to believers about the trial of despair.

Today there will be Christian martyrs who will cry out for the Lord’s return

Maybe you were uncomfortable hearing the Ashley’s talk about how their son would pray that he could be with the Lord. We should be more concerned when we love the things of this world that the coming of Jesus sounds like disruption instead of deliverance.

Expression of our desire to see Jesus

Luke 17:22 “22 And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.”

There will also be Christians who would live in such a way if the Lord would return we would be like a small child asking if we could have another hour of playing before we go to bed.

Transition: Jesus tells a story designed to encourage them to continue in prayer and not lose heart because that was a real possibility.

Contrast of the lousy Judge and our loving Jesus.

Summary of the story: Luke 18:2 “2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:”

Immediately the hearers are saying, “Okay, whoever's going into his courtroom is in trouble.”

We learn the one walking into this story is a widow / vulnerable, not advocate, often mistreated / without influence or resources

The persistence of this woman avails. Luke 18:5 “5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”

Few things like the persistence of a woman on a mission. / Thursday night Greg and Dylan were looking for something then I came and found it. Greg said that I just “out mommed” them. We all knew what that meant. I found a way or made a way.

So here is what the judge is saying about this persistent widow. “You know, even though I don't fear God and I don't respect people, even though I don't fear God and I don't respect people, this woman is driving me crazy! And just to get her out of her hair so she doesn't wear me out, I'm going to give her justice because I don't want to see her again!

What is the moral of the story

If we ended at v.6 we might be left debating about what Jesus meant. Luke 18:6 “6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.”

Maybe I would call you all to the altar and say we aren’t leaving until the Lord returns.

Thankfully Jesus doesn’t stop here.

Transition: Jesus tells you how this story helps believers who feel hopeless to not lose heart and to keep on praying.

Jesus gives three reasons we shouldn’t lose heart.

Let me encourage you to underline these or write them down. You may not think you need them today, but you will. Also, I would like to remind you that you can always find sermon outlines at VisionBaptist.com/outlines or on our church app.

1. Our God is not like this unjust, unloving judge

And all God’s people should say Amen!

What do you expect from God?

A question is asked about what we believe about our expectations of God to act on our behalf. Luke 18:7 “7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?”

Problem is that when we are in great despair we question God’s intentions and good will toward us.

God is more ready to answer your prayer than you are to ask it!

Our God is good beyond our comprehension of good. Take all your focus and think of what you think is the best understanding of good you have and know you are at a very elementary level of good.

Most of the world have been given a wrong understanding of the goodness of God.

"I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I just lived the length of it. I want to live the width of it as well." - Poet and naturalist Diane Ackerman concerning life. [Please make a slide]

I would like to speak this woman. I would like to share with her that she will never know the “width of life” without knowing the breadth, length, depth, and height of God’s love for her. Eph 3:18-19 “18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”

Remember in Geometry how if you know two sides of the a triangle you can know the third. The Pythagorean Theorem [slide included]

Believer do not believe God’s waiting to vindicate and for His Son’s return is a sign of apathy.

Luke 18:7 “7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?”

God is “bearing long with us.”

God is patient. 2 Peter 3:15 “15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;”

What is He waiting for? 2 Peter 3:9 “9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

T.W. Manson told a story that came from the old rabbis and this is the story.  There was a king who was a very compassionate king.  He wanted to rule his people with compassion and so he determined that his army would be stationed many miles from the city.  And when he was asked by the wise men of the city why he would station his army many miles from the city, because they would be so far removed from civil disobedience that people would get away with things and they wouldn't be able to get there in time, he said this, according to the rabbis.  That on any occasion of such rebellion in the city, it will take a long time to bring the soldiers here and this will be time for the rebels to come to their senses. God keeps His wrath at a distance in order for Israel to have time to repent.  And not just Israel, but Gentiles as well.

2. We are not like the widow

That’s now all there is more good news.

Luke 18:7 “7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?”

His own elect

Not going to miss the richness and wonder of this verse due to fear of the confusion of the word elect.

It is a wonderful word for us believers found throughout Scripture.

We also see it referring to all those who will make up the church. Eph 1:4-5 “4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”

Eph 1:7 “7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

Much more could be said here and I would invite you into a further study seen in Matthew 22 with the parable of the wedding that Jesus gives.

Simple example that will help us understand. The band director at my kids school sent out an email telling us all the things the kids will be able to do by the Winter band Concert. He did this before knowing what kids would sign up. His confidence was not in the kids but in his ability.

All that has been promised has been promised to us in Christ

Luke 18:7 “7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?”

Different relationship of that of the widow and judge

This is why “in Christ” is the most common description of us as believers in the New Testament.

Unlike the unjust judge our Judge loves us and is personally involved.

3. Jesus will come and set everything right.

Luke 18:7-8 “7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

When will He avenge? Speedily.

People have questioned this over the 2000 years. I’ll let the words of Peter answer that. 2 Peter 3:8 “8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

How? The Son of man cometh

Jesus is equating the full answer of His people's cries for justice in the midst of their hopelessness and despair with His what — His coming

The Lord may not come when you want Him, but He's always on time.

“I will take care of everything. No prayer will go unanswered. There will be no ultimate hopelessness for My people, however hard your situation is now. I'm coming to set everything right.”

Jesus ends with a question. It is the question we will end with today.

We have seen three wonderful answers to our despair.

Our God is not like this unjust, unloving judge

We are not like the widow

Jesus will come and set everything right.

Here is the question: Shall he find faith on the earth?

Luke 18:8 “8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

Jesus is not asking..

Will He return and find no one of faith on this earth?

Will there be reason for people to lose hope in his return?

Jesus is asking when He returns will he find us praying and waiting for His return.

The reason why we do not despair in this world is not because of us. I am plenty of reason to despair

As believers we may wrestle with feelings hopelessness but their is no reality to our hopelessness. We have no rights to it!

The way to be ready for His coming is what? To trust and to pray.

Conclusion

As Kristen comes to the piano.

I am going to ask you to stand with me as we pray.

With every head bowed and every eye closed me help you as you make the right decision concerning today.

Prayer - that believers and unbelievers would be honest before God during this time

Let’s make the question personal. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

Let’s say it like this. How will Jesus find you?

Believer

Remember we “ought to always pray and not lose heart”

Are you struggling with hopelessness and despair. Let me encourage you to come find a place to pray?

Maybe you haven’t prayed this prayer in sometime because you have become entangled with the things of the world and you love creation over the Creator.

Unbeliever

This passage should not only you inform you to the fact that you have a decision to make but you also have a time frame.

God has been patient toward you. You have been given yet another opportunity to come to Him.

Make today the day. Better yet make right now that moment in your life.