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The Parables Part 7 – Persevering Through Prayer
May 26, 2024The Parables
Part 7 – Persevering Through Prayer
Luke 18:1-8
Perseverance isn’t a very romantic concept. We would rather admire the exploit than examine the endurance that made it possible. — Gary Inrig
Perseverance is produced by !
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. Luke 18:1
20 … Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” Luke 17:20b-21
24 For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. Luke 17:24-25
How in the world can we make it through times of distress when even the Son of Man suffers and is rejected? How can we survive in a world filled with evil?
What does it mean to give up?
It describes the temptation to when we are tired.
What enables us to persevere?
1) Jesus’ followers .
2) Jesus’ followers must .
17 pray continually, 1 Thessalonians 5:17
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18
- Pray .
18 And pray in the Spirit… Ephesians 6:18a
- Pray about !
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Ephesians 6:18a
- Pray for !
18 …With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18b
- Pray to avoid .
40 …“Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” Luke 22:40b.
2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” Luke 18:2-5
6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 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? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:6-8
- Our heavenly Father is like this unjust judge.
- Our persistent prayers don’t motivate God to act; they reveal the that He will act in His time.
- We are not helpless before God; as committed Christ-followers, we are His chosen and He for help!
- Prayer gives us the privilege of speaking to God .
7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Luke 18:7.
35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”
“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.
42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God. Luke 18:35-42
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