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LUKE 18

THE THINGS PRAYER CHANGES

Wiersbe introduces this chapter like this:“There are several kinds of mankind introduced in this chapter, and each one has a spiritual lesson to teach us. Being a compassionate physician, Dr. Luke wrote about widows and politicians, Pharisees and publicans, little children and adults, rich men and beggars.”

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

Luke 18:1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, (NLT never give up!)

  • COURSON - I find it interesting that, although our own judicial system has increasingly moved to restrict prayer, Jesus uses a parable set in a courtroom to teach us about prayer.
  • I really like what David Guzik writes about this: “Jesus does not mean that we should always have our knees bent and eyes closed in prayer; but we must always be in the spirit of prayer. Many law enforcement officers always carry a gun with them, even when off duty. There is a sense in which they are never “off duty,” but always have a weapon nearby. We are to keep our weapon of prayer always near, knowing that we are never “off duty” as Christians.”
  • So for those of us who have prayed for years, many years, and have still not seen the answer of a prayer… Keep on keeping on.
  • F. B. Meyer – “If answers to certain prayers, which we have offered in an agony of tears, are slow in coming, we may be sure, either that the time is not ripe, or that He is going to do something better.”Frederick Brotherton Meyer

How much does God WANT to answer our prayers? Listen to this contrast parable…

2 saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear (NO Awe of God)God nor regard (respect)man.

  • NOW… This IS NOT an analogy of our God… Why people teach that sometimes, I DON’T KNOW!
  • This Judge was a grumpy old geezer who didn’t like anybody!
  • If that is how you think of God, I really feel sorry for you… STOP IT!
  • Would a grumpy old geezer die for you?
  • Would a gavel banging grouch love you so much that He would give His only begotten Son that Whoever believed on Him would never perish and have everlasting life?John 3:16
  • Would a grouchy God get to know you so well that He would know the number of hairs on your head? LUKE 12:7
  • Jesus isn’t teaching that we have a grumpy God to pray to… He is contrasting our God to the cantankerous magistrate.

THE MEAN MAGISTRATE MEETS THE WEEPING WIDOW

3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.'

  • NOTE: What is she asking for? Revenge? Nope… JUSTICE!
  • Does she get justice right away? No.
  • So… She gets discouraged and changes Churches… Right?
  • NO… She keeps asking… She asks without ceasing… She asks believing that she will receive her answer…

THE WEARY PROVIDER

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.' "

  • Here is a provider that can grow weary… Get frustrated… Respond out of anger… Get fed up!
  • This is a Judge who might shout: “OK, take your blessing and go away from me!”
  • If I say “yes” will you then leave Me alone?
  • Please do not think that God would ever answer you that way… THAT is how WE might answer someone, but never God.
  • We don’t have to panhandle from the God who created the heavens and the earth… We are His kids! He wants to bless us.

6 Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said.(See… It’s not God being represented) 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?

  • Well, here’s another contrast for us… On the one hand, Jesus says that God bears long with us… Seemingly delaying the answer to our prayers…
  • Chuck Smith – “ When God delays the answer of our prayer, it is for good reason. God allowed Hannah to go childless for a decade because Samuel’s birth would be just in time to lead the nation of Israel. “
  • God, can’t I have a baby? I just want a baby…
  • Her painful wait is STILL a blessing to us today.
  • When she became SO desperate that she promised God to give her baby back to Him… THEN God answered, Not because Hannah changed God.
  • But because God changed Hannah…
  • Think of how many prayers to just go home Joseph prayed… God, I just want to go home…
  • It wasn’t until much later that he realized that he had been home all along.
  • Very often, realizing it or not, we pray with the purpose of changing God… AND… HE is delaying us in order to CHANGE US!

SO… For those of us waiting on the Lord… Are you willing to let Him change you in order to answer your prayer?

Jesus concludes this parable…

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?"

What is speedily about God’s answers? I will tell what: HIS WILL!

God knows His will for us right now! It may be years before my eyes see it, but in my heart, in my spirit I know today that God is for me.

Jesus’ question is sobering, right?

When He returns, will He find faith on earth? Will He find faith in Me?

Listen to Courson’s conclusion:

Jesus uses the account of the widow to teach what our attitude should be in prayer. But notice, He gave this parable not so much as a parallel, but as a contrast—for our situation is entirely different.

First of all, we appear not before an unjust judge, but before a loving Father. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, "Our Father which art in heaven," the concept of God as a Father was foreign to the Jews. Paul would go on to address God as "Abba" or "Papa" (Rom_8:15). Thus, far from being our judge, God is our loving Father, our Abba, our Papa.

Second, we appear before God not as strangers, but as His children.

A photographer captured on film Supreme Court Justice Anton Scalia in his chambers at his massive desk when one of his grandchildren came bursting into the room. The photograph shows Scalia looking up and smiling from ear to ear.

It's amazing the access a person has with his parents. No matter how important a man might be, his son or daughter can burst into his presence anytime. That is the privilege we have as children of the God of the universe.

Third, this woman was a widow. We are a bride (Rev_21:2). Big difference. A widow feels all alone, not so a bride.

Fourth, the widow went alone, but we have an Advocate with the Father (1Jn_2:1). Jesus stands right beside us.

Lastly, to get help the widow went to a court of law. We come to a throne of grace(Heb_4:16).

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