Luke 18: 1-8
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man .Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’” Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
The book of Proverbs 24:10 records this
If you falter in a time of trouble,
how small is your strength! NIV
If you fail under pressure,
your strength is too small.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint. (NKJV)
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.NIV
- When we pray we are to trust that the LORD hears our prayers
- We are to be patient in receiving from the LORD
- We are not to give up
The widow in this parable never gave up
- She continued to hope
- She did not stop going to the judge
- She refused to give up even though the judge was not quick to answer
Jesus used the word PERSISTENT
Meaning of Persistent
Continuing without change in function or structure
Continuing or inclined to persist in a course
Stubbornly determined
- The widow was stubborn and totally refused to give up.
- The widow was focused in getting a result to her request.
There is another parable that Jesus gave about persistence in prayer in Luke 11: 5-8
And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Jesus is using this two parables to encourage us not to give up on our request when praying.
James 5:16b
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much - NKJV
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective - NiV
The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results - NLT
Let's remember that because of Jesus we are the righteousness of God!
So because we are the righteous our prayers has great power and produces wonderful results.
The most important thing is not to give up in our PRAYERS!
The book of 1 Thessalonians 5:17 records this about Prayer
- Pray continually NIV
- Never stop praying NLT
- Pray without ceasing ESV
- Pray constantly HCSB
- Continually be prayerful ISV
Our Lord Jesus Christ never stopped praying. He prayed prayed and prayed. Jesus was always praying and he prayed continually he is our example of praying at all times.
Hebrews 5:7 says this about Jesus
While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God.
New Living Translation (NLT)
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. NIV
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. ESV
WHAT IS PRAYER?
Is a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or a deity.
It's intercession
It's a religious service, especially a regular one at which people gather in order to pray together.
It's a spiritual communion with God or an object of worship as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration or confession.
Prayer is the primary way for the believer in Jesus Christ to communicate with God and to fellowship with God.
Scriptures on Jesus Praying:
Matthew 14:23
And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
Mark 1:35
Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
Luke 5:16
So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
Luke 6:12
Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Mark 6:46
And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.
Jesus gave us the commandment to pray and not give up in prayers.
The book of Philippians 4: 6-7 records this about prayers.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. NIV
Never worry about anything. Instead, in every situation let your petitions be made known to God through prayers and requests, with thanksgiving. Then God’s peace, which goes far beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your hearts and minds in union with the Messiah Jesus. ISV
Instead of worrying or being anxious we are to go before our creator and talk to him in prayer about our situation, we are not to keep quiet and hoping that the situation will change. Without communicating with God through our prayers the situation might not change. Our prayers will eventually bring a change to the circumstance and there will be a turn around to his glory.
And God listens according to this scriptures.
! Kings 8:28
Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O Lord my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today: NKJV
Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you today. NLT
Daniel 6:10
Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
The circumstance that surrounded Daniel was a very serious one and one in which Daniel could not find a way of escape.
BUT
Because Daniel was a praying man, knew God and obeyed God he continued in prayer even after the decree had gone out to all in the province, that no one was to pray to any other God expect the god of the king. Daniel did not worry, he was not anxious, he did not give up his usual way of praying but went up to his upper room and knelt down to God three times that day and prayed, giving thanks to God.
- Daniel was not fearful
- Daniel maintained his prayer position
- Daniel gave thanks to God
We can notice that in this scripture about Daniel that he continued to pray and even with the evil decree he did not give up.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DO NOT GIVE UP
Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
New King James Version - NKJV
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
New International Version NIV
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. NLT
- When we pray God gives us peace
- His peace will guard our hearts and minds
- We are to trust in God that He will answer our prayers
We are to pray according to His will and as we pray in line with His will, He hears us according to 1 John 5:14
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
- We are to ask according to his will
- Asking according to his will will produce results
- His will is found in his word.
When we pray according to His will we are to believe that he hears us.
Matthew 21:22
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. NIV
You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it. NLT
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. KJV
Meaning of Believe
Accept that ( something ) is true, especially without proof.
Trust.
Be convinced by.
To consider to be true or honest.
To accept the word or evidence of.
Praying comes in stages
1. Pray
2. Believe
3. Trust in God that he hears you
4. Receive with thanksgiving
5. Forgiveness - Mark 11:25-26
In praying we are to be patient and not give up like the examples that Jesus gave us of the widow and the friend. Both of them received their requests because they simply refused to give up and Jesus wants us to have the same determination in prayers.
1 John 3:22
And receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. NIV
And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him. NLT
There are examples of Persistence in prayer in the word of God.
Abraham pleads persistently for Sodom
- Genesis 18: 23-33
And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?”
So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.” And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?”So He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.”
Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?”
So He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?”
So He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.” Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?”
And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” So the Lord went His way as soon as He had finished
- Abraham met with God
- He enquired about Sodom
- He questioned God about the people he brought out of Egypt
- He challenged God
- Six times he was asking God the same question
- He did not give up
Abraham was not giving up until he got his answer.
Jacob persists in wrestling with God.
- Genesis 32:24-32
Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”
But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
So He said to him, “What is your name?”
He said, “Jacob.”And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.”
And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.
So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip. Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip in the muscle that shrank.
Jacob wrestled with the angel until he got his breakthrough and the angel changed his name to Israel and blessed Jacob. He had his situation turned around because of his persistence.
Hannah persists with God
- 1 Samuel 1:10-11
And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”
Hannah got her miracle of a baby because she refused to give up.
Another example in Jesus Christ himself
- Luke 22:39-46
- Matthew 26:36-43
- Mark 14: 32-40
Looking at all these bible verses Jesus did not give up but gave in to His Father's will.
All this is for us to be encouraged in not giving up and like the widow who eventually had her request given to her by the judge.
God is Faithful to all his promises
2 Corinthians 1:20 says
For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. NKJV
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. NIV
For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory. NLT
For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are [all answered] “Yes.” So through Him we say our “Amen” to the glory of God. AMP
Jesus said in Luke 18 verses 6 and 7
Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 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? NLT
We are to learn a lesson from this parable:
- The widow did not give up
- The judge eventually rendered a just decision in the end because of the persistent of the widow
- Likewise God will give justice to his people who cry out to him day and night
- God is a God of justice will not continue to put us off
- God will grant justice if we refuse to give up
The book of Hebrews chapter 10 verse 19-23 records
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Because of Jesus we are to enter into the throne room of grace with boldness, he made a way for us to his Father's presence, He is our high priest and we are to hold on to our confession without giving up.
Also in Hebrews 10: 35-39
Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while,
And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.”
But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
- We are to continue in prayer and not give up because there is a reward in not giving up
- We are to be patient after we have prayed and through this we receive the promise
- He will surely grant our petition
- We live by faith by not giving up
- God is not pleased with those that give up - lose faith
- We are not to give up and not be faithless
- We choose to believe and hold on
Jesus said in Luke 11:9-10 that we are called to keep asking, seeking and knocking
So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
What is the Lord saying
Ask --------------- Receive
Seek -------------- Find
Knock ------------ Opens
Therefore, we are to continue to ask, seek, and knock and when we remain steadfast we will eventually receive from the Lord.
Jesus promised us that He will not withhold any good thing from us
Psalm 84:11
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.
God is good. God is love and gives us the best.
Persistence in prayer does not give up and receives from God.
Jesus wants to find faith when he comes back.
Faith does not give up.
Faith receives.
Faith is not moved.
for we live by faith and not by sight - 2 Corinthians 5:7
- For we live by faith, not by sight NIV
- For we walk by faith, not by sight KJV
- For we live by believing and not by seeing NLT
2 Corinthians 4:18 records this about praying
So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
Another translations puts it this way
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. NLT
We are not to look at what we are seeing at the moment but we are to fix our eyes on the answers to our request - on his promises.
Romans 4:18-22 it's what we should focus on and follow the example of Abraham
Who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be. And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.
And he looked unto Jesus the author and finisher of his faith - Hebrews 12:2
In conclusion
We are to persevere in prayer for God is faithful and in his faithfulness he will eventually give us our hearts desire by being faithful and holding on. We are blessed if we continue to trust in Him that does not fail his children.
