Don't Stop
Notes
Transcript
Don’t Stop
Don’t Stop
I. Scripture
1 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people.
3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’
4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people,
5 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!’ ”
6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge.
7 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?
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?”
1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
II. Intro
The Civil Rights movement started in the late 1940’s and partly ended in the late 1960’s. During this time there were many people shot.. hung… beat.. simply because they wanted what was due to them… they wanted to be treated the same way as everyone one else.. your skin complection should not determine whether or not .. you will be treated like a human being..
on August 28th 1963, MLK along with other leaders organized and went to washington. D.C.. They pressed on inspite of the name callings… the attacks .. people telling that its not a good idea...and because they decided to not give up.... because they decided to keep going … on july 2 1964 .. the next yr.... President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964...
the Civil Rights act of 1964.. legally ended segregation .. in public places and banned employment discrimination.. Almost a year later in March of 1965.. a civil rights movement was taking place in Alabama.. and all of a sudden it turn violent .. as the protesters neared the Pettus Bridge...
with armed Police officers.. from the state and local levels .... the protestors refused to stand down… to stop walking.. because to stop walking ment to give up.. to give into .. to say its ok to treat people any type of way…
while the nation looked on by tv.. the police officers began to launch tear gas.. beat and brutalize the peaceful protestors.... that day is called bloody sunday…but even in the midst of all that.. african americans continued to fight for the rights that we have today..
when we see how our elected officals are acting in washington today… with no accountability.. people ignoring whatx morally right because of fear of one another human being… because they would rather be seen as being faithful to a party rather than uphold their morals and live by the word of God....
As men and women of God.. we should know ..that we cant stop.. we cant stop praying.. because went you stop praying.. you are symbolizing that you give up..
III. Txt..
In our text
1 After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with his disciples and entered a grove of olive trees.
2 Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with his disciples.
3 The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove.
4 Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked.
5 “Jesus the Nazarene,” they replied. “I Am he,” Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.)
6 As Jesus said “I Am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground!
7 Once more he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” And again they replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.”
8 “I told you that I Am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.”
we have Jesus telling… teaching… .his disciples to always pray and never give up… Jesus tells a story about 2 characters... a judge.. in a certain city that
#1 did not fear God… he said..
..jesus was setting the scene of the story… the bible says in proverbs 8.. that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom…
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the froward mouth, do I hate.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
15 By me kings reign, And princes decree justice.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the froward mouth, do I hate.
Proverbs
so what we have is an individual who has allowed their position .. to go to his head....
do you know.. or have you ever seen someone who started off one way.. but as soon as they reccieved a certain position… it went straight to their head…
this gentleman may have climbed up the ladder to the judges seat.. but his character said .... i may have made it to the top… but im still dealing with some stuff. ..
jesus said.. he didnt fear God.. nor regarded man.... he didnt care about people....... this lets me know that he had to have been taught .. ot told.. how he should act.. or be as a judge…because.. your not born hating someone… those type of seeds have to be planted… by something or someone in your enviroment…
many of our cacason brothers and sisters… where not born hating african amercans.. black folk… somewhere along the line.. those seeds were planted by something or someone in there environment..... by tv.. social media.. always showing … people of color as criminals.. .. being taught that.. people of color are beneath you.. and here is the kicker.... by teaching them the word of God…
most of us have heard
13 And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
deuteronomy
… and we all know the word of God is the most powerful written and spoken word....
those of you who still maight be struggling with this ..in the words of fire marshall bill… LET ME SHOW YOU SOMETHING...
.. how many of you grab your purses.. or reach for you gun.. when you see a young man with braids.... a face or body full of tatoos… with sagging pants .. walk your way..... what goes through your mind… what words come to mind…
lets be real… its probably not the word of God.. saying.. no weapon formed against me shall prosper....
why do you feel that way… you know nothing about this man or women but in realtiy you have this preconceived notion … simply because.. tv .. social media… has said that criminals look a certain way..
and its ok.. why.. because… there is no one to tell you that frame of thinking is wrong....
so we have a president… im sorry a judge who thinks it ok to do what he wants.. because he doesnt respect anything or anybody…
III. widow
the second character is a widow....someone who had just lost the love of her life… her husband… she represents .. the needy .. the helpless.. the poor… and the oppressed…
she had jsut buried her husband and just like a thief in the night… according to what Jesus said in...
46 “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets.
47 Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be severely punished.”
Luke 20:46
this widow.. had been hoodwinked.... she had been used and abused.. taking advantgae of.... the SCRIBES.. the religous folk… .. they took her land.. they took evrything.. she had...
im reminded of a church i attended.. and about this time every year..... some of the elders and deacons would begin to talk about the importance of paying tithes....
yes its important that you pay your tithes and offerings to the church you are currently attending ..not down the street and raound the corner…
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be meat in mine house, And prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, If I will not open you the windows of heaven, And pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
in other words.. pay your tithes and give an offering.. so that the ministry thats trying to serve you will be able to serve others...
they would talk about this every year.. and it great to talk about it.. but it sgreat to talk about it … in oct nov… when funds may not be so pleanteous.. and the men and women of God can really see God work.. when they can really see God take little and turn it into much …
this widow.. was robbed by leaders in the community… and she knew the only way the get her stuff back was to go over their heads.... to go to someone that had enough power and atthority to make somethings happen...
so she went to the judge.... one version calls him the unjust judge…
IV. story
and she went to the judge… for the first time.... i can imagine the judge … looking at her appearance and demeanor .........looking broke down… beaten.. and in dispair… and saying… by falica....
i can imagine her going back the second time… and the judge asking her why are you back.. and this time she a had the opportunity to speak.. and she said.. i need some help… and because of his attitude and character..he said… I cant help you… get out..
but by the time the 5 and 6th time rolled around… she was no longer that same .. broken and misused woman… she was a woman walking with purpose and determination....
in the words of Sister Grace.... She knew what she wanted.. and she wasnt going to stop until she got it....
there was a study done that said.. a person usually says no 6 times before they say yes...
how many of you here.. would continue to fight for a yes.. even after you have been told no.. 1 time… let alone 5..
v. dont stop...
i came to tell somebody today.. that God said dont stop.....
what ever you being seeking and asking God for… if its healing… deliverance… salvation.... the Holy Ghost… don stop .. praying..
if you need him to open a door… dont stop praying....
if you need direction.. dont stop praying....
if you need a miracle.. then dont stop.. praying...
HIGH FIVE YOUR NEIGHBOR.. TELL THEM DONT STOP PRAYING....
the bible says.. they we should always pray.... pray without ceasing .. and never.... SOMEBODY SHOUT NEVER! give up....
becasue it you give up… if yo stop.. you have to start alll over again....
you quit one job.. then you have to go through another 90 day probationary period..
you stop working out… you have to go through another body aching period...
the widow woman keep going.. back .. and instead of allowing the struggle .. the answer to make her bitter.. it just made stonger and more determined.... we she went before the judge the 7th time.. she had a look of confidence on her face… a soul full of… all thngs work together for the good of them you love God and are called accordding to his purpose…
and the bible say said that .. after a while.. the judge thought to himself.....
has anyone ever been in court and all of a sudden the judge gets quite…
has aonyone been in an interview and right before the person speaks.. they get quite and starts shuffling papers
have you ever went to the bank for a loan.. and the loan officer.. gets quite..
if you havent .. the next time you find yourself in a place and your waiting on a rsponse… and the person gets quite … i dare you.. start giving God the praise.. I dare you start .. saying .. In the Name Of Jesus....
because the bible says …
proverbs 21
1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever he will.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: But the Lord pondereth the hearts.
3 To do justice and judgment Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 An high look, and a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; But of every one that is hasty only to want.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; Because they refuse to do judgment.
8 The way of man is froward and strange: But as for the pure, his work is right.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, Than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever he will.
VI.
the judge finally responds and gives her the justice she wants.. avenges her...
and then the Lord says…
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
look at your neighbor and tell them… If you stop praying… your going to forfeit your blessing...
if we stop praying.. the we are telling God by our actions … because you faith should prompt you to do something positive… something toward the outcome your expecting from God..
if you stop praying .. your telling God.. I dont need it .. i dont want it… you can t keep it...
if you dont get anything elde. from me today.. get this.... dont ever stop praying..... if you dont pray.. start… because your life…your children… your husband… your wifes life .. depends on your prayer… yes the preacher can pray for you .. but God wants to hear from your...
VII. prayer
song
Saints don’t stop praying for the Lord is Nigh
Don’t stop praying He’ll hear your cry
For the Lord has promised and His word is true
Just don’t stop praying
He’ll answer you
… prayer…
Lord i pray that you keep us in the remberance of the power of Prayer… helps us .. when we feel weak..and want to give up.. give us the stregthn to keep fighting.. to keep believing in your power and in your might.. Lord increase our faith.. our tenacity and our perseverance… give the wisdom to know that .. you dint bring us this far just to leave us high and dry… In Jesus Name Amen.