Don’t Give Up!
Notes
Transcript
Winston Churchill speech - never give up
There are so many areas of life in which people can feel discouraged:
weight
activities
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?”
Let’s consider some of the background to this parable.
Background
Background
Remember, last week, we discussed Jesus’ response to the Pharisees question about the coming of the Kingdom of God. Jesus then went on to tell his disciples about some realities about how to recognize the kingdom, but also a bit of how to live in light of the Kingdom.
Jesus’ seems to know that the coming of the Kingdom will be a ways off. It will require patience and perseverance on the part of His followers. They will face trials and challenges along the way.
As Luke is gathering this material for Theophilus (and us), he helps us to understand why Jesus told this parable:
with a command - to keep praying
and an outcome - not lose heart - or not grow weary.
On one hand the parable is not difficult to understand, and yet I think it has some depth to it.
It’s a hyperbolic parable. It’s filled with exaggerations to the extreme.
unnamed town - we don’t know where this is. Frankly the town could be anywhere
unnamed Widow - recognizing great need - in their culture, a widow would have had little and would have been reliant on the generosity of family or friends around them. There was not necessarily a social safety net. Life insurance was not a factor.
unnamed request/offense - Jesus doesn’t go into details about the nature of her concern - He simply states that she sought justice against her adversary repeatedly.
unnamed Judge -
On top of being unnamed, Jesus notes that this judge is…
unjust (contrary) - a judge should be just -
The woman receives justice through persistence
There are several contrasts that Jesus seems to bring up - things that we need to pay attention to.
Where the judge is unnamed, God is named. Jesus is not referring to some “higher power” or “spiritual force” but rather THE God of the universe - who invites people to pray, to plead, to commune with Him.
Where the judge is unrighteous - God is perfectly righteous
where the widow is unnamed and uncared about by the judge - God’s people are elect, chosen and deeply cared for.
where the widow may have been destitute - we are not without help - from God and from each other
So, Jesus shares this parable for the purpose of encouraging His disciples and by extension us. But even in that, we have to recognize that if we need encouragement it’s because discouragement abounds.
Discouragement abounds
Discouragement abounds
There are so many things in life that can cause us to be discouraged. But in the context here, we could find discouragement in…
The delay of Jesus return
The delay of Jesus return
Scripture suggests that we should long for Jesus’ return (2 Tim. 4:8). As people who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus, there is a natural and good desire to be with Jesus - in His presence, communing face to face with him.
He promises that He will return - even noting in John 14 that he is going to prepare a place for us, promising that he will come again to bring us to himself, to be with Him.
Even as we saw last week, there is a promise of judgment. That promise of judgment and of justice is sensed in the cry of the martyrs - Rev. 6:9-10
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
So we can be discouraged over the fact that for 2000 years of church history, we have been looking forward to Jesus’ return, even while we seek to live out and expand the Kingdom of God here. That already and not yet of the Kingdom highlights another source of discouragement in the…
Persecution and friction in the world around us
Persecution and friction in the world around us
There is a recognition that all that is in the world is not the way it should be. The paradise of Eden is not the reality that we face day in and day out as injustices abound, violence, disease, and devastation fill so much of the world.
Some of our brothers and sisters around the world even face persecution while they seek to share the goodness of God to their persecutors.
Then, on a more personal note, there is the discouragement from…
God’s timing answering prayers
God’s timing answering prayers
at least answering them in the ways that we would prefer. We can easily be discouraged as we pray and plead to God, seeking certain outcomes - and yet we find delay.
Eliza Jane - Carl and Joy’s great-grand daughter who died just three-weeks into her tumultous life on earth. Dozen’s of people were praying for her and her parents as doctors sought to do all that they could to bring her to full health. It that was not God’s plan.
healing - for ourselves and loved ones
Children - for their salvation and for them to own their own faith - (Cody Snyder of Lovettsville BC, praying for his kids to be saved)
marriages - whether our own marriages or those of people close to us.
salvation of loved ones - family members, friends, neighbors, classmates. (Death of Helen Jeffress - a dear sister in Christ who prayed faithfully for her brother’s salvation. I never got to hear if he ever came to faith, but as of 8-9 years ago he was still resistant to the gospel.)
But in this, God reminds us through the prophet Isaiah…
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
We don’t understand His timing or what seems like a delay. Points of discouragement abound for us. Jesus knows this, which is in part why He shared this parable.
So, in the face of discouragement, this parable seems to explicitly and implicitly reveals some…
Things to remember about God.
Things to remember about God.
We talk about the omniscience of God - the fact that He knows all things, but I think there are times when we overlook some intimate details of that. First of all…
God knows you
God knows you
If you are a follower of Christ, God chose you. In verse 7, Jesus refers to the “elect” who cry out. These are those who have been called out and redeemed. Since He saved you, He knows
your need/situation -
His timing - he sees the end from the beginning - view history from outside of confines of time. He knows what is needed for His will to be accomplished in the world and in our lives.
Not only does God know you, but…
God loves you
God loves you
I think this is implied in the fact that He will give justice to the His people in contrast to the reluctant justice of the unrighteous judge. Even the fact that He HAS people demonstrates His love.
as it is written:
“None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one.”
God loves you and me, even in our sin.
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
His loves us so much. We could think about verses like John 3:16 (for God so loved the world…) or 1 John 4:10
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Whether you are a follower of Christ or not, I pray that you would hear His Word, hear His heart in the face of whatever discouragement you may be facing - God loves you! Jesus loves you.
Beyond that…
God hears you
God hears you
Jesus notes in this parable that our just God hears the cries of His people. He may not respond in the way or at the time that you and I would like for Him to, but He hears us.
Reading through the Psalms, we get to read the varied ways that God inspires and invites prayer. He hears our praises, our confessions, our laments, our sorrows, our joys, our simple requests. He hears it all!
Finally, we need to remember that in all of this…
God is in control
God is in control
The world may be utter rebellion against God. The trials of life may be disheartening. The temptations of our own souls may be debilitating, but none of that is beyond the sovereign control of God. None of that escapes His will.
The old hymn “This is my Father’s world” is a hymn of praise about creation and the writer hears the varied ways that God’s creatures worship Him. But the final verse provides an extra reminder that even in the difficulties of life, this is God’s world.
This is my Father’s world
O let me ne-er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong
God is the ruler yet
This is my Father’s world
The battle is not done;
Jesus who died shall be satisfied
And earth and heav’n be one.
So, in light of the things that we need to be reminded about God, Jesus provides for us, two…
Ways to respond to discouragement.
Ways to respond to discouragement.
Prayer and not losing heart.
Luke introduced the parable with the purpose of it.
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
“Always to pray” In other words…
Keep praying
Keep praying
Darrell Bock suggests that this is not a perpetual, constant activity, but a repeated event. Elsewhere we are encouraged to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thes. 5:17). Here, Jesus refers to the “day and night” repetition of the petitions of the the elect.
So often I feel like my prayers are light lobs, Jesus please do…, help…., be with…. I certainly need to be more persistent and repetitive. I guess in someways I have been - as I pray for my children and their futures or for Teresa and her restoration or for Danielle’s parents and Teresa’s husband as they care for her. But there are so many more ways, so many more injustices that can and should be brought before the Lord. Frankly in praying for things like my neighbor’s lostness, or my family member’s finances, or any number of other things - it’s keeping it on my mind as well!
But there are also several ways that we should keep praying.
Pray specifically
Pray specifically
While the widow’s request was unnamed in the parable, it was specific - to the point where the unrighteous judge brought justice specifically.
When we pray - we should pray specifically about the the petitions that we bring to God.
Each month, I have lunch with the other pastors from the Pillar Network in our area. You’ve met several of them - Tim White from Winchester Baptist, Josh Miller and Joshua Madl from Hamilton Baptist. Last year, Jeremy Todd from Harvest Point Community Church in Harpers Ferry invited us all to pray that God would move people to respond to the Gospel, resulting in baptisms. Encouraged by that, I began to pray for that as well - specifically. God has answered that prayer as we saw Maddy get baptized a few weeks ago and Alec a few months ago!
When we pray specifically, then we can also recognize and respond appropriately to God’s answered prayers.
We should keep praying specifically, but we should also…
Pray scripturally
Pray scripturally
Pray according to the Word of God. As you read scripture and are praying for things in your life or in the lives of each other, pray those things. Even just in light of this passage.
Pray that we and others would not “lose heart” (Luke 18:1)
Pray that we would demonstrate true faith in Jesus (Luke 18:8)
Pray that God would bring justice speedily - as he has said he would (Luke 18:8)
On Tuesdays in the Iron Sharpens Iron sessions - one of my hopes is that we would pray for one another in light of the passage that we’ve read. In essence, that we would learn from God’s Word and Pray God’s Word over each other’s lives.
We should also keep praying - even alone
Pray alone
Pray alone
Jesus said in…
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
But we should also be persistent in prayer as we…
Pray together
Pray together
Jesus commands here are to the group. Whether it is applied corporately, it’s certainly given collectively.
James urges us…
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
There is something beautiful about when we are together, praying with and for each other.
That’s one of the reasons why we do Community Groups the ways that we do. This allows us to be in smaller groups, so that we can get to know one another and be able to pray the Word of God with and for each other.
As Luke notes, Jesus purpose in this parable is not only to call us to prayer, but it is a call to…
Take heart
Take heart
Or as Luke notes here to not lose heart. In other words, be encouraged.
In Greek, that word can be translated “don’t give up, faint, be discouraged, lose hope.”
This word is used a handful of times in the NT. Let’s briefly consider some circumstances in which we may need to take heart or not lose heart.
2 Cor. 4 actually has this word twice.
Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.
Paul’s encouragement stems from the fact that the ministry he has is from God.
But beyond that, Paul goes on to talk about the temporary nature of this life and the challenges that we face. Let’s consider a little bigger section.
Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Not losing heart for Paul means having a longer view, and eternal view of the situation.
In another case, Paul recognizes that our discouragement might come from pain that others experience.
So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
Paul helps the Ephesians to see that whatever he is facing, it’s not a cause for discouragement.
But we can also be discouraged when we feel like the reward for our good deeds or good works or painful labor is way out in the future.
As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
So why should we take heart or not lose heart?
You’re not alone
You’re not alone
Jesus tells this parable to a group of his followers. They heard it together and would be vital to each other in the coming months and years - as Jesus turns over the starting of His church to His people.
But beyond that, when we come to salvation, while we get individually saved - redeemed from the curse of our own sin and we are also saved into a body of believers, a new family, a new community. Look around this room. There are dozens of us together.
Beloved, you are not alone - take heart.
Secondly,…
Jesus knows
Jesus knows
He knows you. He knows what you’re facing. He knows what it needed. Take heart.
Finally, remember…
Jesus is coming
Jesus is coming
Paul referred to the trials of this life as “momentary and light” (2 Cor. 4:16-18) in preparation for an incomparable, eternal weight of glory. Jesus said that He will return. In His perfect time, He will.
Take heart! Don’t give up!
Believe. As Jesus concludes:
“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Let’s pray.
Benediction:
Benediction:
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Questions for reflection and discussion:
Read: Luke 18:1-8
In what circumstances is persistence beneficial?
What was Jesus’ purpose in telling His disciples this parable? (18:1)
How did Jesus describe the judge in the story? (18:2)
Why was the woman in the story especially helpless? (18:3)
What did the woman need from the judge? (18:3)
Why did the judge finally give in to the woman’s request? (18:4–5)
Why should we take note of how the unjust judge responded to persistence? (18:6)
How will God’s actions differ from those of the unjust judge? (18:7)
What can Christians expect from God? (18:7)
What promise does this parable offer to Christians? (18:8)
To what kind of faith did Jesus refer at the end of this passage? (18:8)
Sources:
Sources:
Anyabwile, Thabiti. Exalting Jesus in Luke. Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2018.
Bock, Darrell L. Luke 9:51-24:53. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999.
Martin, John A. “Luke.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
Liefeld, Walter L. “Luke.” In The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, edited by Frank E. Gaebelein, Vol. 8. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984.
McKinley, Mike. Luke 12-24 for You. Edited by Carl Laferton. God’s Word for You. The Good Book Company, 2016.
Stein, Robert H. Luke. Vol. 24. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992.
Thomson, J. G. S. S. “Prayer.” In New Bible Dictionary, edited by D. R. W. Wood, I. H. Marshall, A. R. Millard, J. I. Packer, and D. J. Wiseman. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996.
The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible. Biblical Studies Press, 2005. Print.
Wilcock, Michael. The Savior of the World: The Message of Luke’s Gospel. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979.
