Prayer: A Conversation with God Pt 6 (2)

Persistent

Luke 18:1–8 ESV

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

In this 18th chapter Luke recounts Jesus teaching his disciples as they approach Jerusalem for this triumphal entry and his last week before his crucifixion. In the previous chapter, after the Pharisees ask a question about the coming of the Kingdom of God, Jesus turns and teaches his disciples about the reality of his return and what they can expect and what they should be looking for.

Luke 17:20–26 “20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” 22 And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man.”

Luke 17:27–35 “27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— 30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.””

Luke 17:36–37 “37 And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.””

In light of his answer to the Pharisee’s question on the Kingdom of God Jesus transitions and tells a parable to encourage them to pray without giving up. His kingdom is coming and they should persevere in prayer without giving in to the injustices around them.

Societal weakness is not kingdom weakness.

Luke 18:2–3 “2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’”

If we are not careful we will translate our position in society with our effectiveness with God. This will cause us not to exercise faith and give up because of how others view us.

Matthew 6:26 “26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

Matthew 6:30 “30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”

You are the object of God’s attention and affection regardless of your status here on earth.

Jesus picks the widow as a symbol of helplessness as compared to the powerful judge that has no concern for her.

The question many seek and answer to is “Why would God listen and answer me? I’m just a …..”

When we see ourselves lower than God sees us we will see no point in persistence.

True faith is revealed in persistence.

Luke 18:3–5 “3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ””

The powerful unconcerned Judge that did not fear God or man buckled under the persistent petition of the widow. Justice would be hers.

Faith is revealed in what we are willing to consistently and persistently ask God for.

Matthew 6:9–13 “9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

Matthew 7:7–11 “7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

Jesus continually taught the disciples to ask and specifically ask the father in his name. This was not a simple one time instruction but an encouragement to keep asking and seeking and the one who persist will see the answer.

The Judge was the only one with the power to bring justice to her circumstance. Jesus is the one with authority over your circumstance and need.

Self reliance is not faith. The picture of the widow is showing us that she had no position or power to be self reliant in. The ungodly just held all the power.

The contrast is that God is for us and he will answer in time. Faith is revealed when we continue to petition him and not rely on our own strength or righteousness.

Persist until he answers.

Luke 18:6–8 “6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?””

God is not in the business of delaying an answer to us. His timing is perfect for us and all those around us. We are not instructed to guess on what the word “speedily” means but instead are simply instructed to “cry to him day and night” with anticipation that he will answer.

If there is not a no keep praying in faith. God responds to faith and there is no greater sign of faith than to persist in the petition. He will answer justly according to his will. We are privileged to be able to petition the King of Kings on our behalf and the behalf of those around us.