Persistent Prayer Produces Positive Potential
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The Context which brought on this parable.
The Context which brought on this parable.
Go back and read Luke 17.
Go back and read Luke 17.
Luke 17 is about waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. What do we do in that “in-between period before Jesus returns?”
Luke 17 is about waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. What do we do in that “in-between period before Jesus returns?”
What do we do in a world that: 1) Is filled with sin; 2) Filled with the presence of evil; 3) Anxiously awaiting the promise of Revelation 21:4
What do we do in a world that: 1) Is filled with sin; 2) Filled with the presence of evil; 3) Anxiously awaiting the promise of Revelation 21:4
He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
We have the promise that the answers to these prayers are coming in time; God’s time.
We have the promise that the answers to these prayers are coming in time; God’s time.
So Jesus relates one of the more unusual parables.
So Jesus relates one of the more unusual parables.
Read Luke 18:1-8
Read Luke 18:1-8
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’ ”
Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
Read Luke 18:1
Read Luke 18:1
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
Luke (Jesus Tells the Parable of the Persistent Widow / 18:1–8 / 171)
PRAY HARD
Jesus taught his disciples about persistent prayer. A T-shirt reads: “Life is short. Pray hard.” How does a person pray hard?
Do not approach prayer like work. Hard work means sweat, fatigue, and muscle strain. Instead, persistent prayer involves
• Faith. Unbelievers may succumb to anger, resentment, or despair when they face problems. But you believe God has a solution for you. Prayer builds faith.
• Hope. Life ends, sometimes tragically, but it always ends. God promises eternal life in his Word to those who trust him. When you pray often, you reactivate your trust in future life with God. Constant prayer generates hope.
• Love. To be concerned primarily about yourself, your needs, and your problems is normal. To care about someone other than yourself contradicts your instincts. God wants you to learn to love and to express love to others. Remember, prayer nurtures love.
When life is hard, prayer provides a way for you and God to face it together
Read Luke 18:2-5
Read Luke 18:2-5
“There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’ ”
When reading this, what do you think Jesus is saying about God’s attitude to us when we pray?
When reading this, what do you think Jesus is saying about God’s attitude to us when we pray?
Widows and orphans were, and still are some of the most vulnerable people and scriptures in both the Old and New Testament speak about the need to minister to them(See Exodus 22:22-24; Isaiah 1:17; 1 Timothy 5:3; James 1:27) But this judge ignored all that. Why?
Widows and orphans were, and still are some of the most vulnerable people and scriptures in both the Old and New Testament speak about the need to minister to them(See Exodus 22:22-24; Isaiah 1:17; 1 Timothy 5:3; James 1:27) But this judge ignored all that. Why?
What led to him finally giving in?
What led to him finally giving in?
Read Luke 18:6-7
Read Luke 18:6-7
Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
If an unjust judge will succumb to constant pressure, how much more will a loving God respond to the prayers of HIS people?
If an unjust judge will succumb to constant pressure, how much more will a loving God respond to the prayers of HIS people?
Is there a phrase in the previous verses which separates the importance of our prayers from the pleas of the persistent widow and the judge?
Is there a phrase in the previous verses which separates the importance of our prayers from the pleas of the persistent widow and the judge?
We know God loves us and will answer our prayers. Unlike the persistent widow, we don’t need to keep asking God to answer our prayers. So what should we spend our time doing waiting for the answer?
We know God loves us and will answer our prayers. Unlike the persistent widow, we don’t need to keep asking God to answer our prayers. So what should we spend our time doing waiting for the answer?
Read Luke 18:8
Read Luke 18:8
I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
When will HE return? Matthew 24:36
When will HE return? Matthew 24:36
“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.
I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”
Luke (Jesus Tells the Parable of the Persistent Widow / 18:1–8 / 171)
PRAY HARD
Jesus taught his disciples about persistent prayer. A T-shirt reads: “Life is short. Pray hard.” How does a person pray hard?
Do not approach prayer like work. Hard work means sweat, fatigue, and muscle strain. Instead, persistent prayer involves
• Faith. Unbelievers may succumb to anger, resentment, or despair when they face problems. But you believe God has a solution for you. Prayer builds faith.
• Hope. Life ends, sometimes tragically, but it always ends. God promises eternal life in his Word to those who trust him. When you pray often, you reactivate your trust in future life with God. Constant prayer generates hope.
• Love. To be concerned primarily about yourself, your needs, and your problems is normal. To care about someone other than yourself contradicts your instincts. God wants you to learn to love and to express love to others. Remember, prayer nurtures love.
When life is hard, prayer provides a way for you and God to face it together