Nevertheless Will He Find Faith
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Intro; This morning we looked at how “God’s Timing Is Perfect.” Even though we live in a world where we don’t like to wait for anything, we learned three things about God’s timing;
His timing brings Him the greatest glory
His timing teaches us to trust Him by waiting on Him
His timing increases our faith
Tonight I want us to go a little deeper in God’s Timing as we look at “Nevertheless Will He Find Faith.”
Text; Luke 18:1-8
Luke 18:1–8 (NKJV)
1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.
3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Avenge me from my adversary.’
4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man,
5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”
6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.
7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?
8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Before this parable the Lord was asked by a Pharisee about the coming of God’s kingdom. So Jesus began teaching about His Second Coming. And He compared those days to the days of Noah, that they would be difficult days—days that would not be conducive to faith of believers. He also knew there would be a period of time between the present and His second coming, so Jesus shares this parable on prayer.
Due to the coming circumstances facing His disciples and future believers, it would be natural for a child of God to pray for His return to judge the ungodly and set up His eternal kingdom. So the context of this passage is about God’s timing and our prayers of faith concerning the Second Coming of Christ.
1. Men Always Ought to Pray; 1
1. Men Always Ought to Pray; 1
Jesus said, “Men always ought to pray.” The word “ought” means “it is necessary, there is need of, it is right and proper.”
Praying is necessary if we are to guard against losing heart [quitting or fainting].
Now there are thousands of reasons why we ought to pray [Family, friends, careers, health, finances, church, ministry, lost, salvation, military, president, government, peace, etc…]
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Prayer should also be consistent, a natural habit of a believers life. Prayer is the practice of the presence of God. Prayer is an attitude of life.
11 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!
13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
17 pray without ceasing,
Prayer is needed so that we don’t give up on God in times of trouble
41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
2. Characters of the Parable; 2-3
2. Characters of the Parable; 2-3
Unjust Judge- man of power/authority concerning the rule of law where he governed. A paid magistrate appointed either by Herod or by the Romans.
He was a worldly man who did not fear God nor respect people.
The idea behind his character is that he took bribes and gave favors to persons who held position and authority. He did not care for the conscience of the law, morality or true justice. [Todays politicians/judges]
16 Moreover I saw under the sun: In the place of judgment, Wickedness was there; And in the place of righteousness, Iniquity was there.
Widow- a woman with a deceased husband and in this case no male caretaker or kinsman [he would have pleaded her case]. She was a woman in a man’s world which spelled trouble for her.
3. Her Problem and Her Persistence; 3-5
3. Her Problem and Her Persistence; 3-5
Problem- she had been taken advantage of or swindled by someone and her situation was desperate. She could have been swindled by the religious leaders.
14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
She pleads her case to the deaf ear of an unjust judge who was probably bribed by the defendant [Pharisee].
Avenge- to vindicate one’s right; to protect or defend one person from another; to exact justice; to punish a person for a thing.
If she had been cheated, she wanted justice to restore what had been taken from her. If she was being threatened, she wanted protection from the judge.
But because she is widow without proper council nor money, there was no chance of her winning her case.
Persistence- firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition: relentless and determined.
She was going to seek justice served if it was the last thing she would ever do in her life! And it payed off!!
The widow likely was being beaten out of her little home. The mortgage was being foreclosed, and she was being treated unjustly. She went to this prominent judge, took her place in his office, and asked the secretary if she might talk to the judge. The secretary told her, “He’s very busy. If you will just tell me the nature of your complaint….”
So the widow told her, “I’m just a poor widow. I live out here at the edge of town, and I’m about to lose my place. It is unfair and unjust, and I want to appeal to the judge.”
The secretary went into the judge’s office and said, “There is a widow out there….”
“Well, I can get rid of her in three minutes. I’m a politician, I know how to handle her. Let her come in.”
She came in. He listened to her for three minutes. Then he said, “I’m sorry, but that’s out of my realm. I’d love to do something for you, but I am unable to do anything. Good day.”
The next day when he came into the office, there was the widow. He hurried into his office, called his secretary in, and asked, “What’s that widow doing back?”
“She says she wants to see you.”
“You go back and tell her I am busy until lunch time.”
“I’ve already told her that. But she brought her lunch. She says she will stay here as long as necessary.”
She stayed all that day and didn’t get to see him. He thought he had gotten rid of her. But the next morning when he came in, there she was! She did that for several days, and finally he said, “I’ll have to do something about this. I can’t go on like this.”
And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. The word weary is a poor translation. What he said was this, “I must see her lest she give me a black eye!”
You see, he was thinking of himself. I don’t know if he meant a literal black eye—we are not told that the widow had threatened him! But the very fact that a widow is sitting in the judge’s office every day doesn’t look good. He had gotten into office by saying, “I’m thinking of the poor people,” but he wasn’t—he was thinking of himself. “And lest she give me a black eye, I’d better hear her.” To his secretary he said, “Bring her in.” This time he said to the widow, “I’ll give you legal protection.”
McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Gospels (Luke) (electronic ed., Vol. 37, pp. 221–222). Thomas Nelson.
She prevailed over an unjust judge because she wouldn’t give up !
4. Why We should Pray Faithful Prayers; 6-8
4. Why We should Pray Faithful Prayers; 6-8
Just like this woman, followers of Christ will be treated with disrespect, ridiculed, criticized, despised, looked down upon and persecuted by the world. But if an unjust judge would hear this persistent widow and avenge her, how much more will a just and loving God avenge His own children, who cry out day and night!!
God’s Justice- God will act on our behalf against our enemy
19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
Avenge Speedily- not necessarily when we pray but when God’s timing is best to give Him the glory.
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
Many times a believer is allowed to suffer in order to be a dynamic witness to others when God answers.
Often a believer is allowed to suffer in order to become stronger, trusting and hoping in God.
Nevertheless- “Notwithstanding, however, still, on the other hand, there is another side.…”
Even when we know that things will continue to deteriorate, and trials will become more harsh against the believer, “Will Christ find us faithful at His return?”
Jesus knows there will be faith on earth when He returns, what He is asking is will He find us faithful praying for His return!
Remember the context of this parable is in the view of Christs’ Second Coming when He will avenge his own and justice will be served.
The doctrine of the Second Coming brings comfort to the believer, promotes holy living, and spurs on evangelism. It has implications on how believers view everything they own, how they live their lives, and how they pray.
MacArthur, J. (2014). Luke 18–24 (p. 7). Moody Publishers.
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
Soberly- with understanding, alert
Righteously- fair, just, upright
Godly- holy, devoted to Biblical doctrines of faith
Zealous for good works- Praying and preparing ourself and others for Christs’ return
Speak with authority- Putting faith into daily practice
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!
Close;
How do you/I pray?
Do you/I pray for just the here and now, or do you/I pray for Him to come?
According to how you/I pray determines the strength of our faith and trust in His return!
9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Lord, help me to live for You today, anticipating Your return!
To live like that we must pray like that!