Sermon Tone Analysis

Setting

Connected to passage from Last Sunday

Directed to Disciples in context of question from Pharisees

Prompted Jesus to speak of his coming - Kingdom/Judgment

Kingdom = Already but Not Yet

We await the Not Yet … But We live in the Now

Passage today - About His Disciples Posture … Attitude as they await His coming

This Passage is about their prayer … and their hope

Disciples going to face enourmous challenges

His upcoming death … crucifixion

Throughout their ministries they will face tribulation, persecution, oppression, and marginalization

They will be tempted to lose HOPE and wallow in despair

Pray - Lord your disciples faced many dangers, toils and snares … They may have been tempted to utter despair and hopelessness.

Today there may be some here who feel the same.

They have believed the gospel, they trust the bible … but all the lights have gone out and the hope feels like it hase been extinguished

Thank you for preserving this text for our darkness today … Amen

The Message of the Story (18:1)

It is possible for believers who have walked with the Lord to be in a situation where they lose hope

They feel despairing

Even to the point of testing their very faith in Christ

These words … about HIs Kingdom, His Coming, His Judgment and bringing Justice are intended to empower them as they face trials and injustice

This Story is linked with the Previous Story 17:20-37 - Coming of Christ - 18:8

The Message of this paragraph is stated clearly in

Keep Praying … Don’t Lose Heart (NIV - Not Give Up) - Idea here of growing weary or tired to the point of giving up.

Desperation in View!!!

Keep praying and dont give up

Some of you are at that point today .... Jesus doesn't waste words … some of you pray and it feels like your prayers barely get to the ceiling

You can barely get the words out of your mouth … this text is for you today

This text is for the two couples today who dedicated themselves and their children to the lord … as beautiful as they are … they may cause you to lose hope … so what do you do?

You Pray and Dont Give up

Andre Bradley Ballantyne - Born May 24, 2017 - Parents Dave and Anne - Dave and Anne … Pray and Dont Give up

Naomi Ann Kokkouza - Born June 4, 2017 - Parents Elissa and Kenneth Koukouza … Pray and Don’t Give up

Faith is the furnace of our lives.

Its fuel is the grace of God.

And the divinely appointed shovel for feeding the burner is prayer.

If you lose heart and lay down the shovel, the fire will go out, you will grow cold and hard, and when the lightning flashes from sky to sky and the Son of man appears in glory, he will spew you out of his mouth (Revelation 3:16)

NOW JESUS brings home the message in an interesting way … He tells another story … thats not unusual … but the story takes you back a bit.

There is a widow … destitute … no resourses … no recourse … she is facing some kind of injustice … Wouldnt have been uncommon

Widows were marginalized, had no influence, no resources … desititute and desperate

Her problem … maybe creditors; maybe scam artists; we don’t know

Widows were among the most defenseless in Hebrew society.

The Old Testament refers to their being oppressed (cf. ) and taken advantage of (cf. ).

They were often legal victims (cf.

, ), and this was the case for this poor woman.

Likely she was one of those later described in Luke as victims of men who “devour widows’ houses” (20:47).

The poor woman did not want vengeance—just restorative justice.

The possibilities were limitless

Hughes, R. K. (1998).

Luke: that you may know the truth (p.

185).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.The possibilities were limitless

To top it off she goes to the hanging judge … this guy has no Fear of God … and no respect for people

Talk about going to the wrong judge … any day was His bad day

She will not leave this guy alone … Look at verse 4-5 - The Judge speaks:

The word - Bother in verse 5 = To Beat … to bring distress

The second descriptive word in verse 5 translated “beat me down” literally means to blacken the eye or punch in the face

Maybe the judge exaggerated … but this lady was desperate

She wont leave this guy alone … and he finally breaks.

QUESTION - How is this story going to help me keep praying and not give up

Verses 6-8 gives us the answer:

Do you feel hopeless or despairing … His word is to you today

Encouragement number 1

Your God is Not LIKE this unjust Judge

Say that again … but personalize it … MY GOD is not like that Unjust Judge

This Judge … doesnt fear God or Respect People

God, on the other hand … Is Just AND Loving

Here is the problem … when you feel hopeless thats what you think of Him

Look at he contrast … if that scoundrel will finally give in and give that lady justice for his own selfish reasons …

What makes you think your loving heavenly Father wont hear your prayer and give you justice.

Hear this … Your God is more willing to hear your prayers than you are to pray them.

Your God is more ready to answer your prayers than you are to ask them.

This judge doesn't give a rip about this poor widow

Your God is not like that

Sometimes when he delays to answer our cries:

* This is not for lack of concern or lack of power

* God’s delays are always for our good, even if reasons are hidden from us

He is not distant … on a throne up there … unconcerned … He has not overlooked you … he has not forgotten you

He is more willing to hear your desperate prayers than you are to pray them

If you are hopeless … or despairing … hear this …

Your heavenly Father is waiting to be gracious … more willing to hear your prayers than you are to even get them out of your mouth.

He doesn't stop there … Second Encouragement … Good news

Your situation IS NOT like this Widow

*

It is good news that your God isnt like this judge

It is also good news that your situation is not like this widow

IN your persistent praying … be like the widow

But in your situation … you are not like this widow

When you are despairing you believe that there is no hope … no resources …

But that is not true

Believer … you are one of God’s chosen people … His elect

Do you realize who you are as a Christian?

Not a widow with no resources …

You are the beloved of God … He set His love on you before the foundation of the world … Before you existed He loved you

He loved you so much He sent His son to die in your place.

He not only forgave y our sins … He also adopted you into His forever family and made you a joint heir with Jesus Christ

God does not love you less than He loves Jesus.

Your his child … His Chosen

Some times when I am laying in the dark with all the lights out I reflect … God loved me before I even existed … He chose to set that Love on me

Thats what the doctrine of Election is all about

Good News despairing believer … you dont have an unjust judge for your God

Good news ready to give up believer you are not in the same position as that widow

You are a Child of the King … Praying to the King and asking that King Who loves you and has placed you in his family for help