Once again, good morning. We continue in the series on prayer with a topic today, wrestling
in prayer. That's prevailing and persistent prayer. So from the Bible, we're to pray without
season based on the verse 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 17. In Romans 12 verse 12, we're also
again commanded to persevere in prayer. The text of the verse says, rejoice in hope, be
patient in suffering, and persevere in prayer. Now one will ask, does this refer to the continual
acts of prayer itself? Does that mean we're praying from minute to minute, or does it
refer to the spirit of prayerfulness? Now from Colossians 3 verse 2, we're to set our affections
on things above and not on things on earth. So linking these two together, I believe they're
intertwined. So we're supposed to have this spirit of prayerfulness and also pray always.
Now, what's the subject of our prayers? Are we to pray for ourselves, our families, or are
we to intercede for others? From Scripture, clearly we're supposed to pray for others.
Turn into Ephesians 1 verse 15 and 17. This is taken from the, I believe, the modern English
version. It says, therefore, I also, after hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love
towards all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, mention you in my prayers, so that the God of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the
knowledge of him. And then again, there's a similar prayer in Colossians 1 verse 9 to 11, where Paul
says, for this reason, we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you and to ask that
you may be filled with the knowledge of his will and all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that you
may walk, that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, pleasing to him, being fruitful in every
good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might according to his
glorious power, enduring everything with perseverance and patience joyfully. This is a certainly a beautiful
and lovely prayer to pray for all, for all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Prayer builds us up into the body of Christ. Through prayer, we're able to know the mind of Christ,
and also, we're also able to walk in his will.
From 1 Timothy 2 verse 1, we're also commanded to pray, to lift up our hands, to pray for everyone,
including authorities, kings, rulers, with supplications and thanksgiving. And this is
acceptable and good and pleasing in the sight of God.
Clearly, we can see that we're called not only to pray for our families or ourselves, but we're
supposed to broaden the horizon to pray for our brethren in church, our church, the universal church,
and our nations. So we'll go to the next portion of the session today.
What's Jesus teaching on persistent and prevailing prayer?
So we'll take our text for this portion is Luke 18, 1 to 8.
Okay, and I'll take this from the New King James Version.
So this is the parable of the persistent widow.
Luke 18, verse 1.
Then he spake a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying,
There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God, nor regard man.
Now there was a widow in that city, and she came to him, saying, Get justice for me from my adversary.
And he would not for a while, but afterward he said within himself, Though I do not fear God, nor regard man,
yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge said,
And shall not God avenge his own elect, who cry out day and night to him, though he bears long with them?
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.
Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he really find faith on the earth?
Though answers to prayer may seem to be delayed, Jesus highlighted the need to pray always and not to lose heart.
It's easy to lose heart, to become discouraged, when answers to prayer appear to be taken several years, or appear to be delayed.
Believe me, I've personally been in this place often.
However, from the text of the scripture, we can see that the widow's prayer was persistent.
Her request was, Avenge me against my adversary.
And let's see the promise from God from verse 7.
And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto them, though he bear long with them?
From this verse, we can see clearly that the struggle in prayer may be long and very hard.
And in verse 8, there's an interesting question that Jesus poses to his listeners.
He says, nevertheless, when the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Now, Andrew Murray, the 19th century preacher from South Africa, wrote in his book titled,
The Ministry of Intercession, that there can be no true prayer without faith.
From the definition of faith given in the Bible, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.
So clearly, when we come to God in prayer, we must exercise faith.
For without faith, the Bible says that if we come to the Lord Jesus in prayer without faith,
and we don't believe, we're like one who's tossed on the waves of the sea.
We do not expect to receive anything from God.
So, like the widow in the parable, we must be persistent in prayer.
We must exercise faith.
No delay in prayer must shake our faith.
We can clearly see that unbelief is a barrier to prayer, to answered prayer.
Another barrier to answered prayer, which I like to talk about, is unforgiveness,
bearing grudges, holding things against people.
Now, let's see another promise from the word concerning prayer.
From 1 John 5, verse 14 and 15.
And this is the confidence we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
And if we know he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the positions that we have desired of him.
So, clearly, once again, we can see that ultimately we must believe and exercise faith in God and his word.
Now, another of Jesus' teachings on prayer can be found in Luke chapter 11, verse 5 to 11.
Now, for want of time, I will not read the entire text.
Clearly, from verse 8, we can see that because of the persistence of the individual in question,
he got what he wanted.
Because of his persistence, he will rise and give him as much as he needs.
So, taking this into our context, we can see that from persistence, God will eventually give us what we need.
The key phrase here is, yet, because of his persistence, importunity.
So, clearly, once we are praying and we see that answers may be denied,
that doesn't mean we should give up.
We are mandated to continue praying.
Now, there is the place of fasting in prayer.
Fasting is very important, and this has been touched upon during one of the earlier sessions.
Jesus' life on earth demonstrated the importance of fasting with prayer.
Now, there was a situation where Jesus' disciples could not cast out a demon.
They could not heal one of the individuals with epilepsy.
What did Jesus say here?
So, going to Mark chapter 9, verse 19 and 29, you can see what Jesus,
how Jesus highlighted the importance of fasting.
I'll just read the text briefly.
So, in Mark chapter 9, verse 19,
Jesus said,
So, this is the context.
The disciples had come to Jesus and asked him,
why couldn't we drive out this spirit?
And this was Jesus' answer to them.
He answered and said,
O faithless generation,
how long shall I be with you?
How long shall I bear with you?
Bring him to me.
You can see also from this text that he also spoke about faith.
He perceived the faithlessness of his disciples.
So, skipping to verse 29,
this is Jesus' answer to them after he had driven the demon out.
So, he said to them,
This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.
So, the words of Jesus on this matter,
This kind cannot come out except by prayer and fasting.
Clearly, clearly speaks to us in the sense that
there are some times when we pray,
when we are called to exercise faith and fasting
in order to obtain our answers.
From Scripture, the Old Testament saints fasted.
In the lives of Daniel, David, Nehemiah, Esther,
clearly we can see that they fasted at some point.
Even when we don't see clear answers to problems
or situations that have persisted over years and generations,
we must pray and never give up.
So, we'll go to the third and final portion of the session today.
That's intercessory prayer.
So, we're called to stand in the gap
to intercede on behalf of brethren
as outlined.
And I'll take the text for,
the opening text from Isaiah 59, verse 16.
Okay.
He saw that there was no man
and wondered that there was no intercessor.
Therefore, his own arm brought salvation
and his own righteousness.
It sustained him.
So, the previous verses in this chapter
had highlighted the abundance of evil
in Isaiah's day.
There was no justice.
Further verses show a description of God
clothed in his wrath
with the armor of God.
The Lord was astonished that there was no intercessor.
There was no one ready to plead on behalf of the nation.
Again, the prophet Ezekiel
also spoke about intercession.
In Ezekiel 22, verse 30,
this is what the Lord said.
I sought for a man among them
who would build up the hedge
and stand in the gap before me
for the land
so that I would not destroy it.
But I found none.
Now, from Job 1, verse 10,
we can clearly see that the hedge
that Ezekiel refers to
refers to spiritual,
divine spiritual protection,
where the devil,
when he went before the Lord,
said,
have you not put a hedge around him?
So, clearly,
Satan could see the divine
spiritual protection
around Job and his family.
Again, Ezekiel talks about the hedge
in Ezekiel 13,
verse 4 and 5.
It says,
O Israel,
you prophets are like foxes
in the ruins.
You have not gone up
into the gaps,
nor did you build up the hedge
for the house of Israel
to stand in battle
on the day of the law.
So, what does intercessory prayer do?
It builds up the hedge
and it fills the gaps
in the war.
It's necessary for parents,
for siblings,
to stand in the gap
for their families
and for our communities
and our nation
to build the hedge
and to stand in the gap.
We must wrestle in prayer
for our families,
for our children,
for we are involved
in a daily,
ongoing spiritual battle
and we do not wrestle
against flesh and blood.
Spiritual warfare
is an extensive area
and it's probably
beyond the scope
of our session,
but I'll just touch
on some highlights
from spiritual warfare.
Now, what does
Paul say we wrestle against?
He says we wrestle
against principalities,
powers,
rulers of darkness
of this world,
against spiritual forces
of evil
in heavenly places.
this conflict.
This conflict involves
every believer
bought by the blood
of the Lord Jesus.
There are sometimes
some problems
and challenges
that are purely
not physical
and to seek
a physical solution
to these problems
will not lead
to any success.
we may have tried
many several approaches
and looked
for various solutions.
However,
from scripture,
we're exhorted
to take up
the armor of God
with prayer.
From Ephesians 6,
verse 18,
we must pray
in the spirit
always with all kinds
of prayer
and supplication.
and we're commanded
also to be alert
with all perseverance
and supplication
for all the saints.
So,
we're supposed to pray
for ourselves,
our families,
but then we're also called
to pray for each other.
Practically,
how do we do this?
We're supposed to pray
for the brother
and sister
sitting next to us
at all times.
Now,
I'll talk about
two examples briefly
in want of time
highlighting the conflict.
In Daniel chapter 10,
we can see where
Daniel was fasting
and praying
to learn more
about
God's plan
for Israel.
Now,
let's see what
the angel told him
in chapter 3
that
your words were heard
from the first day
you started to pray.
However,
Daniel did not receive
the answer
until after 21 days.
Why didn't Daniel
receive the answer?
The angel prince
of the Persian kingdom
resisted the angel
who was sent
with the message
to Daniel
for 21 days.
So,
this clearly
demonstrates
that there was
spiritual warfare
ongoing.
however,
Daniel persisted
in prayer
and fasted
for 21 days
and eventually
received a revelation
concerning God's people.
This shows
the need
for persistence
in prayer.
And again,
in 2nd Kings
chapter 6,
the king
of Syria
was hunting
down Elisha
and eventually
surrounded him
around the city
of Dothan.
Now,
Elijah's servants,
all Elijah's servants
could see
was the Syrian troops
that were surrounding
the city.
However,
Elisha
was,
Elisha's eyes
were opened
to the spiritual
conflict
ongoing
around him.
and he prayed
that
his servants'
eyes
would be opened
and God
opened the
servants'
eyes
to see
the chariots
of fires
and angelic
warriors
that were
surrounding
Elisha.
I'll also
mention
two Old Testament
heroes
whose lives
demonstrated
powerful
prevailing
prayer.
There are
numerous
examples
in Scripture.
However,
I'll delve
into the
lives
of
Elijah
and
Nehemiah.
One of the
key verses
in the life
of Elijah
is
James 5
16-18
where it
demonstrates
Elijah's
persistence
prayer.
This is one
of my
favorite verses
in the Bible.
The text
reads,
The effective
fervent
prayer of a
righteous man
availeth much.
Elijah was
a man
subject to
like passions
as we
are,
and he
prayed
earnestly
that it
might not
rain,
and it
rained not
on the
earth by
the space
of three
years and
six months.
And he
prayed again,
and the
heaven gave
rain,
and the
earth brought
forth her
fruit.
However,
note that
in 1 Kings
chapter 18,
it required
one prayer
from Elijah
for fire
to consume
the sacrifice.
However,
he sent
his servant
to look
towards the
sea a
total of
seven times.
During this
time,
the Bible
tells us
that he
cast himself
down on
the ground
and put
his face
between his
knees.
This is
certainly
the push
of prayer
before the
living God.
Now,
let's see
that it
was only
after the
seventh time
that his
servant
came to
him and
said,
Behold,
there arises
a little
cloud out
of the sea
like a
man's
hand.
This
later
developed
into
black
storm
clouds
and
wind
leading
to
rain.
We see
that Elijah
was persistent
and fervent
in prayer.
He simply
did not
give up
after the
third or
fourth time.
Nehemiah
was also
a man
of prayer
and action.
On hearing
of the sad
and desperate
state of
the remnant
and the
state of
Jerusalem,
he wept,
mourned,
and fasted
for several
days and
interceded
for the
people of
Israel in
Nehemiah
chapter 1.
At the
end of the
chapter,
he asked
for favor
in the
sight of
the king.
In
chapter 2,
we see
him standing
before the
king,
the king
noticing his
sad appearance
and realizing
that there
was something
going on in
the heart
of Nehemiah.
what do
we see
Nehemiah
doing?
We see
him praying
to God
whilst in
the presence
of the
king,
when he
was asked
about his
personal
request.
We then
see the
mighty hand
of God
immediately
at work.
For think
about it,
which cup
bearer
would stand
before a
king and
be elevated
to a
governorship
if not
for the
mighty power
of God
which accompanied
his prayer?
In
later chapters,
you see
that Nehemiah
encountered
intense
opposition
from his
enemies
when building
the wall.
In
chapter 4,
verses 1
to 5,
we see
the fiery
darts of
the enemy
which were
held by
Sanbalat
and Tobias.
What was
Nehemiah's
response?
Was it
to engage
in a verbal
slanging
match or
physical
conflict?
No.
He prayed
to God
in verse
4 and
was heard.
In
chapter 15,
verse 15,
we can see
that God
brought their
counsel to
naught.
We can
see that
he prayed
to God
for strength
for the
work in
chapters 6
verse 9.
Jesus
commands us
on several
occasions to
watch and
to pray
always.
Paul also
exhorts us
in Colossians
4 verse 2
to continue
in prayer
and watch
in the same
with thanksgiving.
Thus,
we must be
persistent
and prevail
in prayer.
Again,
we must
intercede for
our families,
our brethren,
the church,
our nation,
and the
world.
Amen.
Let's
pray.
Amen.
Heavenly Father,
we thank you
for your word
to us this
morning.
We pray
that whatever
was planted
in our hearts
will be watered
and spring
forth.
I pray
that you
cause us
to be persistent
and to prevail
in prayer.
I pray
that you
grant us
the grace
and the strength
not to lose
heart,
but to pray
continually.
I also
pray that you
also help
us to be
continually
aware
of the
spiritual
battle
that we
face
that will
appropriate
the armor
of God
always
and to be
strong in
you and
in the
power of
your might.
We thank
you and
bless you
Father for
answered
prayer
and for
the opportunity
to share
your word
this morning.
In Jesus'
name we
pray.
Amen.
A cave.
Amen.
Thanks, Precious.
Thank you.
That's cool.
Yep.
Okay.
Pshh!