Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
“Pray Persistently” 18, and when you get there, put your finger on
(Luke 18:1-8) the first word in 18:1… “Then”. Got it? Good!
[SHOW PICTURE] These two key words will unlock the parable
for us and show us how best to understand our
And if you recall, a few months back I taught Lord’s teaching in this odd story about a
you how to pray (from Luke 11) and I used this widow and a stern judge. Let me explain…
fire pit as an example, remember? You’re
saying, “Who could forget!” The point was Verse 1 – “Then…”
that we are to pray with shameless boldness Looks back to chapter 17:20-37 and the
and persistence! I knew you’d remember the coming of the kingdom of God. Things will get
fire pit? ☺ worse…it will not be a time of ease or comfort.
So what does he tell the disciples to do?
Today, on day 8 of our 50-Day Adventurer, I PRAY! In light of the coming end, PRAY!
want to share with you why we’re to pray that
way. And we learn the why from a parable Now skip down to 18:8…
similar to the one in Luke 11, but this one is in Verse 8 – “When…”
Luke 18. So take your Bible and turn to Luke
He closes this parable with the same theme – ~TEACH PARABLE and WORD
the end of time and his return/coming. See the MEANINGS~
phrase “When the Son of Man comes…”? His
question regarding faith is designed to bring us
to a point of evaluation – “Will I be one who is Here’s the point he is making in the parable:
enduring, watching, and persevering? Will my Persistent prayer is one of the key ways we
faith in God’s eventual justice keep me faithful find the strength to endure, especially as the
and committed?” Again, there is a focus on the end draws near.
soon-coming end.
Let’s say it like this:
And what is between these two key words? A
story that has often been misinterpreted and “Persistent prayer is where I discover God’s
taught incorrectly. Let me say at the outset that perspective and partnership, which gives me
this parable is not designed to cast God as the the strength to endure, especially as the end
judge who is bothered by the widow. Instead, it draws near.”
is a parable that teaches by contrast – if even
human judges eventually right the wrongs and ILL –
avenge the mistreated and persecuted, how
much more will God rescue his own at the
right time?! Let me show you what I mean…
Let me break this statement down for a minute So it is with spiritual perspective – it ain’t
and expand on a couple of principles taught in over, Christian! What we see around us
the parable: looks bleak, and you may feel maligned,
persecuted, mistreated … but it ain’t over,
God’s perspective helps me see through brother and sister! Don’t give up!
the trial!
In other words, God’s timetable is the only God’s partnership helps me see who to
timetable that really matters. This is called trust!
perspective. Seeing through the immediate In other words, God’s truth about his
to the eventual is a mark of maturity and of character (trustworthy and dependable) and
one following our Lord as a disciple. It’s my condition (I belong to God) helps me
about his timetable, not my schedule. realize I am not destined for destruction!
God is in control of me and my situation. I
ILL – What if, while watching the playoffs, am his chosen one, and he will rescue me –
you left in the 6th inning and told your avenge me – because he promised! His
friends, “Game over!” They would laugh at Word promises a day of reckoning, and we
you! Why? Because no matter what the are waiting and watching for that promised
score, the game isn’t over till the 9th inning. day! It’s all about his truth, not my feelings.
So you hang in there and keep on cheering
knowing that “it ain’t over till it’s over!” Paul said 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 that “God
has not appointed us to wrath…” In other
words, his promise is that those who believe
ACTION POINT: The action point this week the temptation to give up? While I’ve not
is simple: struggled with quitting or giving up, I have
experienced a bit of frustration regarding two
Find time daily to get alone with God in very important things to the life of FFC: our
prayer. Ask specifically for his perspective. search for a full-time worship leader and our
Cling to his truth. Hold on to his partnership as search for a part-time Elem. Min. Dir. Let me
his child. Simply put, talk to your Father explain…
everyday!
Our Worship Leader Search is, in my
Before you leave for work estimation, the single most important growth
At every meal step for us. It will make a huge difference in
Before you go to bed our front door ministry. So the right person
As you drive matters! For a while it was going a little
Tucking in your kids slow…but we kept praying; believing;
Special prayer meetings with co- looking! And if you remember, we asked you
workers/friends at lunchtime to pray as well! Then God began to surface
Your first response to stressful situations some men who are, from what we have
gathered so far, the kind of person we are
Pray, Christian brother and sister, pray! looking for. We kept praying, and God kept
confirming. And now we come to the place
APPLICATION/ILL – Can I be very where we need you to pray even more. Why?
transparent with you for a bit about prayer and In the next few months you’ll get to see some
of the guys…why? FFC matters…the kingdom Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
matters! People encountering God matters! That calls me from a world a care.
And bids me at my Father’s throne,
However, our Elem. Min. Director search has Make all my wants and wishes known.
not gone quite like we thought. Still, we pray!
We need you to pray! God has the answer and In seasons of distress and grief
will meet our needs…our job is to first pray! My soul has often found relief.
You see, kids matter…families matter. So we And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,
keep praying and looking. The person right for By thy return, sweet hour of prayer.
the opportunity is out there…is it you? Do you
know them? Pray! The times demand that our OPT #1: What about you? What is one thing
church do all we can to help families and equip we can partner with you about in prayer –
parents! persistent prayer? While Josh and the band
play, take 45 seconds and write it on your card,
So you know what I’ve been doing? Spending then bring it up here to the front and lay it
more time getting God’s perspective and down…pray while you’re here with one of our
partnership! I’ve been trying to do just what Elders or Deacons, then leave it at the altar.
the hymn says to do…enjoy a “Sweet Hour of We’ll collect them and pray all week as well.
Prayer!” That’s right – as the pressure
increases, so should my prayers. Listen to Got your card? Your pen? Let’s pray and ask
these words from the writer of this old song… God to lead in this time of prayer.