PRAY ON!PRAY ON! Luke 18:1-8 Luke 18:1-8

1 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3

A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’” 6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge.

Luke 18:1-8 (New Living Translation)

6 Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

Luke 18:1-8 (New Living Translation)

TA

KE

HO

ME

TA

KE

HO

ME

1)1) Prayer may include a commitment to help Prayer may include a commitment to help God bring about the answer I seek.God bring about the answer I seek.

2)2) God is not bugged by our persistence and God is not bugged by our persistence and constant beating on his door.constant beating on his door.

3)3) God can be moved. Can I?God can be moved. Can I?

4)4) It is not good for a man to pray cream and It is not good for a man to pray cream and live skim milk. Henry Ward Beecherlive skim milk. Henry Ward Beecher

Op

en

ing

Pra

yer

Op

en

ing

Pra

yer

An

nou

nce

men

tsA

nn

ou

nce

men

ts

Wors

hip

Wors

hip

Prayer Can Be ConfusingPrayer Can Be Confusing

Jesus said: “Give us daily bread”.Jesus said: “Give us daily bread”.

But he also said, “Your father knows what you But he also said, “Your father knows what you need”.need”.

Does God have everything laid out…or can he Does God have everything laid out…or can he be moved to grant a favor?be moved to grant a favor?

Should I only make my request once…or is Should I only make my request once…or is persistent begging okay?persistent begging okay?

If Jesus Responded To Requests For Assistance, Does It Stand To Reason That God Does As Well?

Paul encouraged petitions and requests to be Paul encouraged petitions and requests to be made to God. Philippians 4:6-7made to God. Philippians 4:6-7

God tells us to burden him with what burdens us.God tells us to burden him with what burdens us.

Jesus said ‘that they should always pray and not Jesus said ‘that they should always pray and not give up’. Luke 18:1give up’. Luke 18:1

Have a testimony of a long season of prayer Have a testimony of a long season of prayer resulting in God’s blessing?resulting in God’s blessing?

A Matter Of Contrast, Not Comparison

The judge is heartless…irritated at requests for The judge is heartless…irritated at requests for help. God is not.help. God is not.

She is a burden, a nuisance. We are not.She is a burden, a nuisance. We are not.

If such a wretch can be moved to action…how If such a wretch can be moved to action…how much more, Godmuch more, God

What Are We Called To Pray For?

JusticeJustice Our enemies Our enemies Matthew 5:43-46Matthew 5:43-46

Salvation of othersSalvation of others. Romans 10:1. Romans 10:1 We usually pray to God not that We usually pray to God not that His will His will be done, but be done, but that he approves ours. Helga Grossthat he approves ours. Helga Gross

Prayer involves commitmentPrayer involves commitment. Look at the Lord’s . Look at the Lord’s Prayer! Matthew 6Prayer! Matthew 6

For othersFor others. Ephesians 1:15-19, Philippians . Ephesians 1:15-19, Philippians 1:9-11, Colossians 1:9-131:9-11, Colossians 1:9-13

I believe that Jesus is I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Christ, the Son of the living God.the living God.

I trust him as my Lord I trust him as my Lord and Savior. and Savior. C

on

fess

ion

Con

fess

ion

Wors

hip

Wors

hip

Off

eri

ng

Off

eri

ng

Wors

hip

Wors

hip

TA

KE

HO

ME

TA

KE

HO

ME

1)1) Prayer may include a commitment to help Prayer may include a commitment to help God bring about the answer I seek.God bring about the answer I seek.

2)2) God is not bugged by our persistence and God is not bugged by our persistence and constant beating on his door.constant beating on his door.

3)3) God can be moved. Can I?God can be moved. Can I?

4)4) It is not good for a man to pray cream and It is not good for a man to pray cream and live skim milk. Henry Ward Beecherlive skim milk. Henry Ward Beecher

Pra

yer

Pra

yer

GO TO GO TO PRAY ON!PRAY ON! Luke 18:1-9 Luke 18:1-9