Why Must We Not Lose Heart in Prayer

Introduction

Opening Illustration: We come today to a very important and very practical teaching of Christ’s on the nature of prayer. Particularly, today’s passage has something very important to teach us about persistent prayer, the ability to continue praying, even when it feels like we are not seeing any response from God.

Personal: Some of you know what this is like. You know what it is like to be praying continuously for something to happen in your life. Perhaps you have been praying for a loved one to come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and so much time has passed that you are tempted to begin losing hope that God is able, or ever will respond to your prayers. Perhaps you have been praying for an end to a difficult trial, but it just seems like your prayers are falling on deaf ears and you are tempted to stop really praying about it, to cease laying your cares and worries at the feet of Jesus.

Context: Today, uses a short parable to teach a very important lesson on persistent prayer. I have titled this sermon ‘How We Might not Lose Heart in Prayer.’ Christ’s desire, through this section of scripture, to fill us with a sense of faithful, continuous, obedient, hopeful prayer. To not lose heart, but to continue to run back to God in prayer for all of our needs.

Luke 18:1–18 “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?” He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a…”

I have structured this sermon in a way that I pray will push each of us to lean further into God in prayer with all of our worries and concerns. So today we will look at seven considerations for why no Christian can ever lose heart in prayer.

Meaning & Application

I CONSIDER GOD’S JUSTICE

The Word Justice: First, consider God’s justice. In the passage today, the word “justice” is used four times. Verse 3, the woman pleads for justice. Verse 5, the judge relunctantly grants justice. Verse 6, the judge is referred to as an “unrighteous judge.” Verse 7 we are told that God will certainly grant us “justice.” And again in verse 8, we are told that God will give us justice. This passage clearly has a theme of justice running through it. The idea is very simple. If corrupt earthly judges know how to maintain justice for selfish reasons, can’t we expect the God of justice to maintain justice.

God is Just: This moves us to a conversation on the very nature of God. God in his nature is just. To say that God is committed to justice is an understatement, because it assumes that justice is something external to God that he submits to. Know justice flows from the very being of God.

The Cross: The cross of Jesus Christ is of course the shining example in Scripture of God’s justice. At the cross, legitimate debts to God are paid. God cannot just open the doors to heaven to sinners like us. The law demands separation from God for every sin. But God fulfills that just penalty, not by making us pay the fine, but by God Himself, Jesus Christ, paying the fine on our behalf. At the cross justice is epitomized and upheld. You want to know how just God is, look to the cross!

Impact on Prayer: Consider then, he who went to such lengths, that Christ would suffer infinitely on the cross for you in order to uphold justice, and consider what that means when you appeal to that same God for justice. Do you think he who did not spare his own son, will fail to respond in time to your persistent plea for justice? Of course not. What an encouragement this is to continue praying fervently for ourselves and to intercede for others who are experiencing injustice. How could we lose heart in praying for justice, when we know the heart of justice in the one to whom we pray.

God’s Justice: Before I move on from this point, I want to share one brief word. This passage is particularly about prayers for justice. And how we must not lose heart in continuing to pray for justice. Yet I believe there is a larger principle that can apply to all of our prayers. It is only in prayers for justice that we must not lose heart. When we intercede for others in their hardships, in their worries. When we plead with God for the salvation of those around us who are from God. God may or may not answer those specific prayers. But the principle still applies. We are to not lose heart in praying and waiting and watching for God’s response. In time God may answer directly. Or God may reveal things to us that we would have only learned in persistent unwavering prayer.

II CONSIDER GOD’S LOVE FOR HIS CHILDREN

Comparing Judge to God: Second, consider God’s love for his children. The idea that is presented to us in this parable is a contrast between a judge who “does not fear God or respect man” (18:2) and God. When God is presented in verse 7, it begins with what we call in grammar an “emphatic negation.” Will not God?! The reader is supposed to answer that, “Of course God will! Because God is not like that unjust judge who doesn’t respect men. God loves us.”

Eternity Past: Let us really consider that love for a moment. In order to more fully understand the “love of God” we need to go back in time to before the creation of the world. Before there was time or space, God existed as a perfect trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That relationship is the great epitome of love, the very definition of love, the very concept of love, is an expression of the relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That blessed Trinity had infinite love, marred in now way any distance, or any sin, or any stain or corruption. It was purity of love, because God is the truly pure being.

Covenant of Redemption: In order for us to grasp how great God’s love is for us, we need to understand what is called in theological terms the Covenant of Redemption, or the Council of Peace. God, in eternity past, determined to share that intra-trinitarian love with humanity. He determined to permit creatures like us, to join in that everlasting fellowship, and experience God’s love. But in that Council of Peace, it was determined that in order for that to happen, the Son would have to one day take on flesh, be physically crucified, and experience separation from the Father. God, did not have to do that. God was lacking nothing. He didn’t create us out of a need to fill some void in God’s existence. He created us, knowing he would have to die for us, for the express purpose of sharing his Trinitarian love with us.

Why Persevere?: When you are tempted to give up on prayer, to call it quits and just move, consider God’s love for you. It is extraordinary. He went to the cross for you. In Christ, he is for you, he delights in you.

III CONSIDER GOD’S MIGHT

Third, consider God’s might. In our parable today it is the judge who has the power to answer the request of the one praying. One of the reasons that many lose heart over time in prayer is that we begin to believe the lie that God is not able.

God is not able to change my sinful habits.

God is not able to change that person’s heart.

God is not able to heal that relationship.

God is not able to restore hope in my heart.

God is not able to heal my child.

God is not able to bring an end to this situation.

God is not able… fill in the blank.

The very notion that God is not able is an oxymoron. It’s like calling something “Minor Crisis” or “Old News.” The two words just don’t go together.

God’s Might: Let us consider God’s might for a moment.

Creation: Our God is the God who spoke all of creation into existence. He did not simply create by molding matter that was already in existence. He created ex nihilo, our of nothing. When there was no space, or matter, or molecules. God said, “Let there be light” and there was light.

Egypt: Our God is the God who rescued the Jews from slavery in Egypt. He performed the miraculous ten plagues before Pharaoh, and then parted the Red Sea for God’s poeple to escape their pursuers on dry ground.

Israel: Our God is the God who empowered Joshua and Caleb to overcome hostile nations in the land of Canaan. Our God defeat Og, King of Bashan, Sihon King of the Amorites. Our God defeated many of Israel’s enemies, including entire empires who ultimately bowed before the God of Israel.

Others: Our God protected David as he was hunted by King Saul. He protected Elijah as he was hunted by Ahab and Jezebel. He protected Daniel in the Lion’s Den. He protected Shadrach, Mishac, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. He protected Jeremiah when he was cast into a cistern. Our God helped Peter and John escape from prisons doors that were locked. He protected the Apostles multiple times when he should have died from being stoned and rioted against.

Our Own Story: Our God was able to get a hold of a stubborn rebellious hard hearted heart like mine, convert me from a man on a destructive path that would bring life, to a man that joyfully bows the knee to Christ alone. And he has done the same for every other follower of Jesus in this room.

Defeated Death: Our God defeated death. Death that great enemy that has stood as victor over fallen humanity, that enslaver that no man could ever escape, our God defeated death. For three days he lied dead in a tomb, but on the third day, Christ rose victoriously over mankind’s greatest enemy.

Impact on Prayer: Consider God’s might when you begin to weary in prayer, and you begin to sense the lie, that God is simply not able to do whatever big thing you are pleading for. He is God. He has no limitation. Every molecule does exactly what he commands it to do. Pray with strength, and faith, and belief to that God.

IV CONSIDER CHRIST’S PRIESTLY OFFICE

Fourth, consider Christ’s priestly office. The text tells us about those who are “crying to Him day and night.” Why are they are crying to him? He is our judge. But is also our High Priest. In theological terms we speak of Christ having a three-fold office: Prophet, Priest, and King. As a King, Christ rules with authority. As a prophet Christ speaks and upholds truth. As a priest, Christ sacrices on our behalf, heals our wounds, and intercedes for us at the right hand of God the Father.

Priestly Sacrifice: The New Testament book of Hebrews spends many chapters speaking of Christ our Priest. The anchoring idea is that just as priests in the Old Testament offered up sacrifices in order for sinful people to stay in relationship with a Holy God, so has Christ our priest offered the ultimate sacrifice, his own life. That sacrifice was received by the Father. As a result of Christ’s sacrifice being receive Hebrews says,

Hebrews 7:25 “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

Implications: Understanding Christ as our eternal priest has massive implications for our faith.

Continually Covers Our Sins: First, Christ’s sacrifice that was offered by him on the cross, continually covers all of our sins. This means as Christians that we never need fear that somehow we have lost standing with God to appeal in prayer because of our sin. No, Christ’s blood continually atones for our sin.

Continually Brings Us Near God: Second, as Priest, Christ continually and actively brings us near God. In the Old Testament days human priests served in a physical temple made by hands, and their job was to usher people into the presence of God. But Christ is a perfect priest, who has perfect access to God the Father. Therefore, if we are in Christ, our access to God the Father is not limited by any degree in the slightest, because it is Christ who has the access, and shares his access with us. Illustration: Key Cards: I like to think of this like office key-cards. In an office building, different employees get different key cards that grant them access to different rooms. Someone like the CEO has access to every room, to every nook and cranny of the facility. Christ, like that CEO, has full access to God the Father. And when you believe in Christ he grants you that keycard. Its his, but he shares it with you. And therefore your access to God the Father, because of Christ your High Priest, is unlimited.

Makes Intercession For Us: Third, as Priest, Christ continually intercedes for us. Not in the same way that I might intercede for you, as one man prays for another man. But he intercedes with God the Father as one who holds the authority for his intercessions to be answered, on the ground of his shed blood on the cross. And so when Christ intercedes for us, it is no small thing. He is doing that right now, as we speak.

Impact on Prayer: How should this impact our prayer when we begin to lose heart?

“Let this confirm your faith in prayer: If he [Christ], that has such an interest in the heart of God, intercede with the Father for you, then never doubt of audience and acceptance with him; surely you shall be accepted through the beloved. Christ was never denied any thing that he asked. the Father hears him always; though you are not worthy, Christ is, and he ever lives to make intercession for you.”

V CONSIDER CHRIST’S EXAMPLE

Fifth, consider Christ’s example. Jesus Christ is the perfect man. He was fully man in every sense of the word. This is a doctrine that we often do not stop to really think about too deeply, but let us pause and truly consider the reality of what it means that Christ is our example as a man.

Superman: We know that Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man. And sometimes what we think of when we consider that reality, is that Jesus Christ in his life was kind of like Superman. He had many human qualities, but all of those human qualities were infused with superhuman attributes. And so when we think of Jesus Christ we usually believe that Christ as human was omnipotent and omniscient. This is a grave mistake. It is true that Jesus Christ was and is fully God and fully man, but Christ’s divinity in no way shared any attributes with Christ’s humanity. When we read the life of Jesus, we reading the life of a true man. His humanity was limited by all the limitations of humanity (except for sin of course), while his divinity was fully divine. This is a mystery how these two natures of Christ subsist in the one person, but the point is that Christ as man is fully man. The greatest of all men, no doubt, but man, fully man.

As a Man He Prayed: And so, when Christ sets us an example for how to live, and how to pray, and how to intercede, he does so as a man who lived a life, in many ways like you and I live our lives. He had to eat, sleep, grow tired, sweat, work, converse, ask questions, seek God’s will. And what do we see in the example that Christ gave us. We see a man who was regularly drawing away to pray. At times taking entire evenings to be away with God on a mountain top. He never grew tired in prayer, but continually returned to that place of communion with God.

Impact on Prayer: How should this impact on our prayer. Well drastically if we are Christians. As “Christ ones” our ultimate aim in life is to bring all of our life into conformity to Christ and the example he set, as the living embodiment of God’s Word, God’s Word made flesh. The standard of godliness is Christ. And his standard was not set because he was Superman, it was set as a man, so that men could follow. So when we tire from prayer, when we think about losing heart in prayer, we open the pages of Scripture, we look to Christ, and we see the example of the perfect life that never tired in prayer. But persisted through to the end.

VI CONSIDER YOUR POSITION AS ELECT IN GOD

Sixth, consider your position as the elect in God. Verse 7 brings this idea out to the forefront.

Luke 18:7 “And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?”

That word is no accidental term used in this passage. The passage is not only comparing two judges, but its comparing to different people seeking something from those judges. In the first case, there is a widow from the same town as that judge. The only thing that judge and that widow have in common, is that the widow lives in proximity to the judge. And therefore she is able to continually find that judge and pester him with her requests. But you are the elect. You are the chosen.

The Elect: This is a term that causes all kinds of consternation among Christians. But the term actually, when understood, should cause the exact opposite. Your position as one who is loved by God, saved by Christ, and filled by the Holy Spirit is not simply a result of you mustering your strength together in order to believe in Christ. If that were the case, then salvation would be for the strong. Salvation would be for those who got it, who figured it out, who found God. But the scriptures teach us that God chose us before the foundation of the Earth.

Ephesians 1:4 “even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love”

Illustration: Adoption: Perhaps one of the most helpful images that the New Testament uses to describe those who are in Christ, is adoption. I have two adopted daughters, and we have come alongside many families who have adopted children over the years. When you adopt a small child, that child is not the one seeking out a family and forging themselves into that family. It is the parents, who see the child, and who choose the child. It is the parents who adopt that child and make that child part of their family. The Bible teaches that we have been adopted into God’s family. And like young children, we did not first seek God in order to be adopted. God elected us, and then he sought us out, and then he applied the blood of Jesus to our account. Then he gifted us faith to believe.

Implications: What are the implications of this doctrine on our prayer life? The love God has for you, is not dependent on you. God chose to pour his overwhelming love on you before you were ever born. He elected you. What this means is that your ability to continue to go to God in prayer, and call on God in prayer, is not dependent on you.

Degrees of Fervency?: First, it would be a mistake to believe that God hears loud crying prayers more directly than he hears simple and methodical prayers. The danger in such a belief is that we start to falsely believe that our prayers getting answered are a direct result of how passionately we prayed. It is true, that we should pray passionately. But that does not always mean overt, loud, boisterous crying. Sometimes it might. But passionate prayers are a function of a heart of dependent on God, a faith that God is who he says he is. Our prayers are heard by God not because we are boisterous pray-ers, but because we are the elect. And the blood of Jesus Christ is the meritorious grounds upon which our prayers are heard.

VII CONSIDER THE JOY OF GREATER COMMUNION WITH GOD

Seventh, why must we not lose heart? Consider the joy of greater communion with God. This passage speaks of those who “cry to him day and night.” The image here is of those who have a very real and unwavering sense of God as father. There is a clinging to God that is dependent on God.

Illustration: Perhaps we might think of a hungry infant, who learns that mama has food. When she feels hunger in her belly, she cries. And though mom might not come right away. She knows that mom loves her and eventually she is going to come. That child is dependent on her mom. She can’t make her own food, or prepare her own food. She is totally dependent on Mom to answer her cries.

Focus on the Joy: And so here I want to focus on the joy of the opportunity to continue coming before the Lord. This is some burden that we wish we could expunge from our life. Some heavy homework assignment that cannot wait to be done. God has invited you into your prayer closet for intimacy with Him. And if God so chooses to delay a prayer request, in order to keep you praying and building your relationship with Him, ought we not have a sense of the joy of the opportunity.

Implications: What this implies is that we might need a prayer reorientation. The great preacher Thomas Watson once said,

"Christian, thou hast a God to serve, and a soul to save; and if thou hast any thing of religion in thee, thou wilt take heed of the thieves of time, and wilt engross all opportunities for the best things. How far are they from Christianity, who jostle out holy duties! Instead of borrowing time from the world for prayer, they steal time from prayer, that they may follow the world."

May we not be those who steal our time in prayer away. For we would be stealing away that which brings the soul, and our lives, and our families the greatest and deepest joy, fellowship with the lover of your soul.

Hypocrisy of the Alternative: And what is the alternative, that we give up in prayer. That we say God can’t, or God won’t, of God is too distant, or too busy. What is the alternative? That we choose not to lean into God? Not to enjoy prayer? Not to claim the promises? Not “pray ceaselessly.” May it not be so. May we be those who experience they great joy of greater communion with God as we labor in prayer.

Conlusion

As I close I want to encourage you with three short exhortations. What shall we do with this, with these seven considerations.

Pray Boldly: First, pray boldly. When we pray we go before the throne of grace, where Christ sits, and we go as cherished sons and daughters. Even if you have mud on your face, or you have made some mistake, you are his child. His love does not waver. Go boldly in prayer.

Irrational Hope: Second, maintain what others around you might consider an irrational hope. As you intercede for others, we are not promised that all will turn out as we hope. Nevertheless, we serve a God who is able to make the miraculous happen. We serve a God who can turn water to wine. Maintain a fervent hope that in your intercessions for others.

Do Not Lose Heart: Lastly, do not lose heart as time goes on. While we are waiting, God is often working. He is the great engineer of all human activity. He sees the entire puzzle, and moves each piece at the right time. Trust that God’s timing is good. Keep your heart open as you wait on Him.