Be Persistent in Prayer

The squeaky Wheel gets the grease

There’s a saying I’m sure we’ve all heard one time or another, “The squeaky wheel gets the grease”. A squeaky wheel or hinge can be like nails on a chalkboard to some people. It’s going to go on squeaking making your skin crawl, sending shivers down your spine, annoying you to no end until it gets what it needs. The squeaky wheel is persistent.

They told me children make great sermon illustrations, here’s one for you. We have a child that has learned if he whines or cries long enough he will eventually get what he wants, or have his way. The crying and whining is persistent. More persistent than daddy’s ability to resist. Eventually daddy usually gives in, because he can’t take the squeaky whining and crying any more. The cry and whine is persistent.

In today’s parable Jesus is teaching his disciples about being persistent in prayer, no matter what. This isn’t a parable telling us God will give us what we want or think we need if we bother him enough for it. It’s a parable to call us his followers, to be faithfully persistent in prayer despite seemingly unanswered prayers. It’s a call to be persistent no matter what.

Habakkuk was persistent in his prayers even though he didn’t like the answer from God. Daniel was persistent in his prayers even in a hungry den of lions. Jesus was persistent in his prayers even though they lead him to death on a cross. What lead to their persistence prayer life? Their faith in God, no matter the circumstances they saw in front of them. Jesus ends the parable with a question. But when the Son of Man returns how many will he find on the earth who have faith?

As we dig into God’s word this morning may our prayer lives be as persistent as a crying child or squeaky wheel. May it show our faith in God.

The Persistent Widow

Persistence in prayer is an important subject for Jesus in the gospel of Luke he tells two parables encouraging persistence in prayer. In Luke 11:5-10 Jesus tells the parable of the annoying neighbor. Both of these parables to me paint almost a comedic scene in my head. These are proof to me that God in human flesh had a sense of humor. Life lessons I remember most are the ones that have a funny story tied to them. People in Jesus day were no different. Persistence in prayer was a teaching Jesus wanted people to grasp and remember so he taught it twice in two different comedic ways.

The Coming of the Kingdom

-You will long to see the return of the Son of Man, but wont see it.

-As it was in the days of Noah. It was business as usual. Story of destruction

-As it was in the days of Lot. It was business as usual. Story of destruction

-Apocalyptic scene. Despite how you feel, despite the what seems like a world heading for destruction. Jesus tells this parable to encourage his disciples to keep on praying.

KEEP ON PRAYING

Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year C, Volume 4 Pastoral Perspective

“Stop speculating about when I will return, and start praying faithfully now.” Wondering when the Lord will return is a good question, and it is precisely because of this question that Jesus tells this parable about the “need to pray always and not to lose heart” (v. 1). We are reminded, once again, that the life of faith is not only about telling God what is on our wish list but constantly lifting up every joy and concern, every fear and doubt, every lament and plea to the One who hears and answers

The humorous scene in my head of the annoying neighbor and the persistent widow.

The widow cries out to the judge day and night for justice. She is as persistent with it as a squeaky wheel or a whining, crying child. Through out scripture God is scene as judge, but here Jesus paints a picture of a judge that is totally opposite who you would expect God to be. Jesus even calls him the unjust judge. In some bibles the heading for this parable is the persistent widow and in others the unjust judge.

Day and night like nails on a chalk board the judge hears the widow’s cries for justice. Until one day he caved. Luke 18:5 This woman is driving me crazy! I’m going to see that she gets justice because she is wearing me out. Even the unjust judge grants justice in the end.

The issue at hand in this parable is to be persistent in prayer seeking the justice of the Kingdom of God until the coming of the Son of Man.

Micah 6:8 NRSV

8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year C, Volume 4 Homiletical Perspective

the issue here is justice, not using God to get what one wants or needs

Jesus ends this teaching going back to the coming of the son of man. Asking when the son of man returns how many will he find that have faith. Persistent prayer no matter what is a marker of a holy life. In today’s world of intense suffering, injustice fills our communities, the kingdom of God that is already here can be pretty difficult to see. Naturally questions about prayers effectiveness rise up. Why should we pray? Does it really make a difference? Jesus teaching here on the heels of painting an apocalyptic scene, encourages us his disciples, that despite things looking more like the days of Noah or Lot keep on praying.

Discouragement and fatigue can at times characterize the path of believers. As such, persistence in prayer is characteristic of the holy life. Persistence shows our faith in God, that one day his justice will win the day. In the mean time let’s keep on praying.

Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year C, Volume 4 Pastoral Perspective

By praying continually, and not giving up hope, we live in the surety that God has not abandoned this world. Living in hope, we work, in whatever ways we can, for the justice and peace that is coming.

Keep on praying!

The message God has for us today is simple, despite everything going on in our lives, in our church and in our communities, and in our world, don’t stop praying.

Leicester church of the Nazarene is a church committed to prayer. Keep on praying. Keep on praying for your next pastor. Keep on praying for the harvest here in Leicester. Keep on praying for the welfare of the city. Keep on praying in faith knowing God will answer.