Persistence In Prayer (Luke 18:1-7)

Read: Hebrews 11:6

Have you ever been fishing. Fishing is predicated on persistency. You go to a water source that has fish. You go to this source based on the fact that fish are in that particular body of water. You fish at that source cause you have either seen fish in there personally or saw someone catch fish from that body of water. You might go fishing and you may or may not catch fish that day. You might catch fish within the first hour, it could be three hours later, it could be the next day. But you go fishing because you know the potential to catch something is there. When you fish you persist until you make a catch.

My Grandmother lived in Georgia and Georgia is extremely hot in the Sumer Time. I remember we would ask my Grandmother to cut on the Air Condition but she would not. She would tell us that the Air could drive up her electric Bill. She would only cut the air on when we had company and then soon after turn it back off.

My Grandmother believed the Air conditioner had the power to cool but did not want to use it for the caution of having a high electric bill.

Many Christians believe in Prayer

They believe in the Promises of God.

They believe in the Power of Prayer.

Yet, many Christians use prayer sparingly.

Many don’t pray because they dont’ know how Prayer works.

Some believe that it doesn't matter if you pray because God’s gonna do what God’s gonna do.

Pray is often a last-minute resort.

They Pray a little bit or throw up occasional requests.

We have Daniel as a model for a correct prayer life.

Daniel prayed 3 times every day, He prayed in his room, He prayed in the lions’ den, He prayed for wisdom, He prayed for guidance, He prayed that God would forgive the sins of His people, Israel, and return them to their homes, and Daniel struggled in prayer for 21 days, because he’s troubled by a dream he’s had.

Daniel was PERSISTENT in PRAYER!

TURN TO LUKE 18:1-7

JESUS instructed his followers to pray ALWAYS (v. 1)

PRAYER= INTERCESSION, ADVOCACY “I NEED HELP”

THIS is Jesus instructing you on how to PRAY, so PAY ATTENTION

ALWAYS means CONTINUAL, NOT NON-STOP

There was a little boy who was at Wal-mart with his mother. They ended up going down the cookie aisle. The boy asks his mother for cookies over three times to which she responded NO! So as they haded to the Check out line he took one last chance to ask his mom for cookies. He said, “ IN THE NAME OF JESUS MAY I PLEASE HAVE SOME COOKIES?!” Many onlookers heard and responded with applause and they left the store with 23 boxes of cookies.

We ought to always pray and not give up (get tired, grow weary). In the words of the Mississippi Mass Choir “I'm Not Tired Yet” [I’ve been praying to god for oh so long x2; but I’m not tired yet]

Details of the Parable

(v.2) Jesus provides spiritual truth in a story

The Judge (ruler) did not follow the summary of the Ten Commandments (Love God or his neighbor). The Judge was wicked and was a supposed dealer of justice. Didn't care about God or the wishes of other people.

Widow= defenseless, needy, oppressed, in need of a protector.

(v.3) says she kept coming!

This is what persistence looks like.

The word PERSISTENCE (TELOS)= to the end, see the conclusion, outcome, result, consumption, fulfillment

The Widows Weapon was her HOPE (knowing something would be done)!

She was ASKING (DESIRE), SEEKING, and KNOCKING! Read: Matt 7-7-12

Our greatest problem is not Unanswered Prayer, but Unoffered Prayer

ASKING (WE DON'T PRAY TO IMPRESS OR INFORM, WE PRAY TO INVITE GOD)

Prayer is working (fellowship) with God (2 Cor 6:1)

Prayer is development/growth (John 15:7)

The widow asked for a particular desire “justice against her adversary”

If you can’t ask God for it, then you have no right to desire it!

The devil cant keep God from answering so he’ll keep you from asking!

SEEKING is DIRECTION!

James 4:2–3 CSB

You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Finding the will of God on an issue.

God doesn’t do what you will but His will.

Persistence is not twisting the arm of God.

Prayer is finding the will of God.

KNOCKING (DETERMINATION)

Open this door Lord

Prayer is answered in the following ways, Direct, Different, Denied, or Delayed.

(v.4) “For a while he was unwilling”

DELAY IS NOT DENIAL!

Prayer was the widow's OCCUPATION (V.5) “because she keeps pestering me”

Pestering (kopos)= work, troubling, toiling

As I mentioned last week my daughter Sophia is relentless at getting an answer. She phrases and rephrases statements and questions so that she guarantees an ironclad answer.

The widow desired for her issue to be solved.

The Judge was concerned about public opinion “I’ll give her justice so that she won’t wear me out” “wear me out= blacken my eye (personal reputation)

Jesus wants us to see the distinction between He and the Unjust Judge.

God is just!

God does not purposely not answer you

God answers his elect (family) at all times

Read: Luke 11:5-13

God doesn't have time on his answers

When should you stop asking?

three times

1.Get your answer, 2. Don’t have the answer in your hand but in your heart 3. Denied (NO! i.e. Paul’s Thorn- 2 Cor 12:7-9)

(v.8) “When the Son of Man returns will He find Faith on the Earth”

Praying people Believe (have Faith=Trust)

Those who need help Trust the one they call

Believing People Pray

Trusting people Call out “I need Help”

Conclusion

Persistent prayer is going to “the” source. Not “a” source

Prayer recognizes who God is; that power exists in the person of God.

Prayer recognizes what God could do but what He will do.

Prayer brings us into fellowship with God (How he relates to us and how we relate to him)`

Prayer reveals God’s Will

Prayer is answered by God

Delay is not Denial

Prayer reveals your Faith and Hope

Prayer does twist the “arm” of God.

One man describing his prayers said “When I pray – I PUSH When everything seems to go wrong, I just Push!

When the job gets me down, I just Push!

When people don’t react the way I think they should, I just Push! When my money looks funny and the bills are due, I just Push!

When I want to curse people out for whatever the reason, I just Push! When people just don’t understand me, I just Push!

PUSH stands for …

P-ray!!!

U-ntil!!!

S-omething!!!

H-appens!!!