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The Power of Persistent Prayer

1. Jesus tells a parable about a widow who repeatedly asks an unjust judge for justice against her adversary until he finally relents just to end her constant appeals. 2. The parable is meant to teach that if even an unjust judge will eventually help a persistent widow, how much more will a just God answer the prayers of His chosen people who cry out to Him continually. 3. Believers can take comfort that God will surely answer the prayers of His elect, unlike the widow's situation where she faced an unjust judge who did not fear God or care about people.

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175 views1 page

The Power of Persistent Prayer

1. Jesus tells a parable about a widow who repeatedly asks an unjust judge for justice against her adversary until he finally relents just to end her constant appeals. 2. The parable is meant to teach that if even an unjust judge will eventually help a persistent widow, how much more will a just God answer the prayers of His chosen people who cry out to Him continually. 3. Believers can take comfort that God will surely answer the prayers of His elect, unlike the widow's situation where she faced an unjust judge who did not fear God or care about people.

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jEmAhLiCiOuS
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

3. Evidently the element of persistence in prayer was very important to Jesus... a.

For that is also the theme of the first parable in Luke 18 b. As the first verse reads: "Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart..." I. THE PARABLE ITSELF A. THE CHARACTER OF THE JUDGE - Lk 18:2 1. One who did not fear God nor regard man 2. An unjust judge, for which this parable is sometimes known as "The Unjust Judge" B. THE DISTRESS OF THE WIDOW - Lk 18:3 1. She has some adversary who has wronged her 2. She seeks the aid of the judge to avenge her C. THE DIFFICULTY SHE FACED - Lk 18:4a 1. The judge would not help her at first 2. Repeated attempts seem to fall on deaf ears D. AT LAST THE JUDGE HEEDS HER COMPLAINT Lk 18:4b-5 1. Not out of any sense for what was right in the sight of God or man 2. But only to avoid being wearied by her constant appeals [Unlike many of the parables, we are not left on our own to determine the point of this parable. Jesus Himself makes it clear as we consider...] II. THE PARABLE APPLIED A. HEAR WHAT THE UNJUST JUDGE SAID... 1. He was moved by the persistence of the widow 2. Even when he was not moved by reverence for God or regard for man B. SHALL NOT GOD AVENGE HIS OWN ELECT? 1. This is an argument from the lesser to the greater a. If an unjust judge will heed a persistence widow... b. ...how much more will a Just God heed His chosen people! 2. Our assurance is even stronger when we note the following contrasts: The Widow God's People a. A stranger a. His elect, 1Pe 2:9-10 b. Only one b. We are many

c. At a distance c. We can come boldly, He 4:15-16 d. An unjust judge d. A righteous Father e. On her own e. God is for us, Ro 8:3132 f. Pleads her own case f. We have an Advocate, Ro 8:34 g. No promise of an answer g. Promise given, Lk 18:8a h. Access limited h. Access unlimited (can pray to God anytime) i. Asking provoked judge i. Asking delights God 3. If persistence paid off for the widow, how much more for God's elect who pray? CONCLUSION 1. Have you begun to lose heart? Has your faith weakened? a. The state of your "prayer life" reveals the true condition of your faith! b. If you do not pray "always" (cf. "without ceasing" 1Th 5:17), your faith is waning! 2. But the Lord has given us reason to believe in the power of prayer in this parable... a. Especially when we are persecuted for the cause of Christ b. For we do not serve an unjust judge, but a God who has made us His elect people! May this parable of "The Persistent Widow", along with "The Friend At Midnight", encourage us never to lose heart and stop praying!

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