PERSISTENCE IN PRAYER The Parable of the Persistent Widow Luke 18:1-8. When we work, we work; when we pray, God works. --Anonymous

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1 1 PERSISTENCE IN PRAYER The Parable of the Persistent Widow Luke 18:1-8 When we work, we work; when we pray, God works. --Anonymous Continuous effort-not strength or intelligence-is the key to unlocking our potential. 1 --Winston Churchill In The Parable of the Persistent Widow, Jesus makes the point that we are to always pray and clearly emphasizes the necessity of dogged persistence. WE ARE TO ALWAYS PRAY (18:1) Notice that Luke introduces this parable by pointing to the reason for it: Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up (v. 1). Jesus was clear about the priority of prayer: My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. (Mt 21:13; Mk 11:17; see also Isa 56:7) The word should indicates that persistence is not just nice or a duty, but a necessity to effective prayer. The word always implies that we should pray continually in spite of the temptation to give up because of what we consider delayed answers. It should be obvious to us all why we should and need to spend time in prayer on a daily basis. As human beings we have a lot of needs. The following is a list: 1. Thanksgiving and Praise WHAT TO PRAY FOR Praise and thanksgiving to God for His continued and unfailing love, mercy, grace, compassion, faithfulness, etc. 2. Mental, Emotional and Physical Healing and Health Since our God is a God who heals, it is only logical that we would look to Him for healing, whether in the area of the physical, mental and/or emotional aspect of life.

2 2 3. The Church That the Church universal that God s glory will be manifested in her. That as a church body we will grow in our passion for God and compassion for people. That our priorities will be the same as those of God for our church family. Praise God for our church family that unity in the Spirit will be encouraged, maintained and fostered. That those who have visited our church recently. That all leaders of our church will display integrity, spirituality and leadership skills. That the Lord will draw in young adults who are seeking to know the Lord and serve Him. That our children will find Jesus early in life and be firmly rooted in Him. 4. The Persecuted Church That God s people who have undergone persecution will display a Christ-like attitude. That the persecuted will have courage, wisdom and protection. 5. Our Nation President Obama, his Cabinet, Congress, and all in authority The Court System Those who serve in the military The Educational System 7. Our City For those who serve us (Mayor, City Council, Police personnel, Firefighters, Hospital Workers, etc.) That we will have leaders who have integrity and are gifted in leading. 8. Evangelism Salvation For people to repent of their sins and come to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That we will be open to the opportunities God provides to share our love and faith on a daily basis. For family members, relatives, neighbors and friends who do not know the Lord. 9. Missions That the far corners of the earth will be reached with the Gospel. Missionaries from our church should be lifted up in prayer regularly.

3 3 10. Revival That God s people will come alive and be a powerful witness of the love and grace of God. 11. Personal Spiritual Growth That we would grow in our knowledge and wisdom of Christ. That we would grow in spiritual disciplines (e.g. prayer, meditation, study, worship, service, giving, fasting, etc.) That we exercise our faith on a daily basis. That we live a life of joyful obedience. A CORRUPT JUDGE AND A NEEDY WIDOW (18:2-8) Two persons provide the focus of this parable: a corrupt judge and a needy widow: In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to her with a plea, Grant me justice against my adversary. For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, Even though I don t fear God or care about men, yet because this woman keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets her justice, so that she won t eventually wear me out with her coming! And the Lord said, Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth? (vv. 2-8) The corrupt judge is described as a person who neither feared God nor cared about men (v. 2). It is no wonder that our Lord calls this person an unjust judge (v. 6). No person is worthy to be put in the sacred office of a judge who does not deeply fear God and respect his fellow human beings. Because this person did not fear God, he paid no attention to the demand for justice; and because he did not respect people, he was unmoved by the complaint of the widow. Even among the heathens this was the character of a man totally abandoned to all evil. Dion Cassius said concerning Vitellius, He neither regarded gods nor men. 2 Because this man neither feared God nor people, it was therefore unlikely that anyone would receive any consideration and fairness from him.

4 4 The person who came to make the plea was the most unlikely prospect to gain favors from anyone in that culture: a widow (a symbol of all who were poor and thus considered utterly helpless in the East). It was obvious that she, without resources of any kind, had no hope of ever receiving justice from such a judge. However, this particular widow had a powerful weapon: persistent prayer. Luke, in describing her actions points out that she kept coming. She did not just make one appearance before the judge but many. And the judge s attitude is highlighted as Jesus points out that For some time he refused (v. 4). The woman kept coming and the judge kept refusing. In the end, it was the woman s dogged persistence that overcame the judge s reluctance. Determination, and determination only, was the cause of this reversal. Luke points out the judge s reason for granting her request: so that she won t eventually wear me out with her coming (v. 5). Because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice says the unjust judge. The merciless judge gives in to this lowly, helpless woman s program through her persistent praying. She desired to have justice, and that only; and by her importunity she received that which the unjust judge had no inclination to give, but merely for his own ease. Our Lord intimates that we should reason that if a person of such an infamous character as this judge was could yield to the pressing petitions of a poor widow, for whom he felt nothing but contempt, how much more ready must God be, who is infinitely good and merciful, and who loves His creatures with an everlasting love, to give His children, who diligently seek Him, what they need. As God has graciously promised to give salvation to every person who comes to Him through His Son, so He hears the prayers people offer to Him and grants them their requests. This does not mean that we should expect God to give us whatever we ask for. Just as a parent will refuse the request of a child because he knows that what the child asks would hurt rather than help, so God will say no to prayers that will ultimately harm us. He loves us too much to give us what contributes to our own demise. This is why any prayers we offer in faith to God must be offered in the spirit that recognizes God s sovereign will, that is, His will be done. APPLICATION Never give in! Never give in! Never, never, never, never.... In nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions or honor and good sense! 3 --Winston Churchill

5 5 NOTES 1 Winston Churchill, Success Quotes. 2 Winston Churchill, No pressure, no diamonds, Quotes..