Tenacious Prayer; Tenacious Grace

Jesus told his disciples what they should expect upfront.

Jesus used this parable to teach his disciples about their need to pray continually and not lose heart.

Luke wrote to believers who had experienced a delay in the Second Coming of Christ.

There would be some time between Jesus’ death, ascension, and eventual return.

The Hebrew scriptures intertwined the coming of the Messiah and the Day of the Lord.

After the disciples experienced a delay between Jesus’ death and resurrection, they had a sense that his return would also be delayed.

Like a widow who is delayed from receiving justice, believers are delayed from vindication in their belief.

Not only would this judge not deliver on the legal matter, but he would also be violating God’s moral law.

While the apathy of the unjust judge was the reason for her delay, unjust life is the reason for ours.

The widow held out hope that she would be vindicated, evidenced by her tenacious pursuit for justice.

Who doesn’t want justice when they have been wronged?

Jesus does not promise vindication in this life only vindication of his people upon his return.

Paul instructed the Thessalonians to “admonish” idlers among them.

Admonish means to warn or reprimand, the opposite of praise.

Indeed, the unjust judge in Jesus’ parable needed to be warned or reprimanded, but the widow was in no position to do that as an equal.

If only this judge had a peer who would warn him of his unjust actions.

Jesus pointed to this judge’s cynical attitude.

How can we hope to get an answer to our delayed prayers?

When we pray once and get what we want, there is no need to persist in prayer. There is already an immediate answer already.

When the answer to prayer is delayed for any reason, may become cynical and give up, or we persist in prayer.

No matter the reason for the delay, or whether we experience injustice or not, we must not allow cynicism to drive us to act unjustly in selfishness or apathy.

God does not permit us to make justice for ourselves but to wait on the Lord to reveal the truth so that we can be brought to a place of peace.

A widow in this situation would certainly feel discouraged by each rejection.

Each disciple would certainly feel some discouragement as they were persecuted.

Like the widow, the disciples persisted in faith even while being persecuted and martyred.

Quenching the Spirit is suppression of prayer, communion with God, and neglect of good things.

Quenching the Spirit is resisting the work of the Spirit who works in and among believers.

We should not resist the gifts and grace of the Spirit but embrace the convicting and empowering work of the Spirit so that we can flourish.

God is not a cynical and ignorant judge but loves his people.

Jesus often focuses on widows and orphans deserving God’s special attention due to their lower social status.

People of lower social status must be persistent if they want anything to work out.

The flow of power often moves to the advantage of those of higher social status.

The powerful often need to be warned of their ignorance of the weak.

To encourage the poor in Spirit, we must be persistent, have courage, and foster tenacious faith in God.

Injustice might allow for temporary relief, but justice will always be revealed in time for reconciliation.

Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to pray for each other out of love and respect for each other and the gifts God gave them.

They were to prefer another over themselves, to be mindful and engaged with others.

When we are at peace with God, experiencing joy in our relationship with God, we pray to God without ceasing.

JW – Prayer may be said to be the breath of our spiritual life. Thanksgiving is inseparable from true prayer.

There is little no spiritual life without prayer.

In our waiting, we are to be tenacious in our prayers, giving thanks and praise to God for his grace to strengthen us and make us good as he is good.

God makes us good through growing the fruit of the Spirit within us.

Perseverance is only possible through continual prayer, which is constant communion with God.

Praising, giving thanks, and living in joy are the will of God.

We pray with the full intention of living as God directs us because we love God so that our hearts might be transformed in the full image of loving God.

Our Lord Jesus made way for us to live in joy and to make us right before God.

We pray with the tenacity of faith that God would fill our lives with joy between God and each other.

Praying continually is living in the Spirit.

We are tenacious with our prayers because we know God is tenacious in redeeming us.

God’s grace is tenacious.

God revealed himself to humanity from the very beginning.

Throughout the history of the people of God, God made himself and his grace known.

The history of God’s actions at work among his people provides evidence that God will make good on his promises.

Jesus says we should not doubt that God will answer in his justice.

God’s justice is merciful, even gracious, to all who call upon his name.

God’s grace was made available to us, even when we are still sinners.

The more we experience injustice, pain, and sorrow in this life, the more we receive God’s grace to overcome it.

Jesus leaves us with a question, whether he will find people who have faith in God when he returns.

How we respond to God’s grace is up to us to decide.

Will we respond with unbelief, or will we be tenacious so the world will know of God’s tenacious grace?