Never Give Up

Stories With A Purpose

Never Give Up

Luke 18:1-8

Prayer is a recognition of the greatness of God!

“To fail to pray, then, is not to merely break some religious rule – it is a failure to treat God as God.  It is a sin against God.”  Tim Keller

Understanding This Parable

Purpose of the parable (vs. 1)

A Parable of Contrasts:

• The powerless widow with the unjust judge
• Persevering prayer with giving up
• An unjust judge with our just and loving God
• The powerless widow with God’s chosen ones

Applying This Parable

Just because God hasn’t said “yes” yet doesn’t mean that God has not answered our prayers.

1. If the request is wrong, God says “NO”

Biblical Examples: Moses, Paul, Jesus

God is too loving and too wise to say “yes” to an inappropriate request.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8–9)

2. If the timing is wrong, God says “Slow”

Biblical Example: Mary, Martha and Lazarus (John 11)

God’s delays are not necessarily God’s denials

In the midst of a delay, God may:

• Draw us closer to Himself
• Allow us to modify our request
• Develop character qualities within us

3. If I am wrong, God says “Grow”

A checklist for growth:

• How consistent is my praying?

 “You do not have, because you do not ask.” (James 4:2)

• What is my motive?

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (James 4:3)

• Am I trying to make prayer a substitute for thinking or working?

“And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.” (Nehemiah 4:9)

We must combine prayer and work without confusing them

• Is there any sin in my life that needs to be dealt with?

“but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2)

• How are my relationships with others?

“Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7)

• Am I praying in faith?

“But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:6–8)

Clarification:  Faith that honors God trusts in God’s love, wisdom and power.  It is faith to believe that God will answer our prayer by giving us what we ask or something better.

4. If the request is right; If the timing is right; and if I am right, God says “Go”

Biblical Example: Elijah

“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.” (James 5:16–18)

God delights in answering the prayers of His children

The Example Of Jesus

“And he said, 'Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.'” (Mark 14:36)

• Ask Boldly – Bold prayer honors God and God honors bold prayers

• Trust/Surrender Completely

Two Results of Petitionary Prayer:

• External
• Internal

>>INSERT PICTURE OF ERIC LIDDEL<<

Making It Personal:

• Can you call out to God as your Abba, Father? Are you genuinely a child of God through responding to His grace through repentance and faith? 

• What adjustments in your personal practice of prayer will you make in light of this parable?

• Who can you share these truths with?