Luke chapter 18, if you've ever prayed about a matter so long that you just want to quit praying about it, this message is for you.
If your prayer lacks faithful endurance, this message is for you.
If you talk about it more than you do it, this prayer is for you.
If you ever struggled in praying over something, this message is for you.
If none of that applies to you, this message is for you.
Because you're not honest about your prayer life.
Too hardened to see the struggle.
So regardless, I believe this message is for you.
And me.
It's in Luke chapter 18, beginning in verse 1.
And it says,
And Jesus told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
He said in a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.
And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying,
Give me justice against my adversary.
For a while he refused.
But afterward he said to himself,
Though I neither fear God nor respect man,
Yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I'll give her justice.
So that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.
And the Lord said,
Hear what the unrighteous judge says.
And will not God give justice to his elect who cry to him day and night?
Will he delay long over them?
I tell you, he will give justice to them spedly.
Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes,
will he find faith on earth?
Last week I shared with you a parable that I was preaching from
that I told you would you be difficult.
It was difficult and one that seldom was preached on because of its difficulty.
And some of you told me afterwards that you'd never heard a sermon on that parable.
And if I preach that again in a couple of years, which I probably won't,
but if I did, you'd probably come back to me and say,
I've never heard a sermon on that parable before.
This one is tough too, but for, and for some of the same reason.
So I want to clarify something immediately
so that you know,
and then we can get on to how to apply this to our life.
God's not in this story.
Don't misunderstand me.
See, the story is from God.
And Jesus told the story, but God's not a character in Jesus's story.
The judge in this story is not God.
God's nothing like this judge.
I want to show you that,
and I want to show you the difference between God and this judge
and see why that difference ought to impact our prayer lives.
First thing I want you to see is the nature of God.
The nature of God.
This judge that Jesus describes in this story is godless,
and he's either an egomaniac or a sociopath.
Because Jesus states that he didn't care about God or about people,
and then he knew it about himself as well.
He couldn't care less about this woman's problems,
but she wears him down.
So he acts toward her as he should,
but not because he cares,
and not because he's concerned,
not because he's determined that fairness and justice must reign supreme.
To be honest, he's just tired of her.
It's not worth it to him to not respond.
Who cares anyway?
It's his attitude.
It's the same effort that any child makes when he wants a snack
or she wants a toy.
And the thought is I'll make my parents as miserable as possible
until I get what I want.
I have two girls,
and I'm pretty soft sometimes.
I'm not saying give in to it
because that's a sermon for another day,
but I'm saying this judge said just hush already,
and I'll do it.
And that may sound like a parent from time to time.
But that's this judge.
That's not God.
God expects us to ask.
God tells us to ask.
James chapter 4 verse 2 and 3 says,
you do not have because you do not ask.
You ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly.
The nature of God is nothing like this man's sinful nature.
I'll tell you another difference between God and this judge
is the justice of God.
The justice of God.
There were two kinds of judges in this culture.
There was an orthodox judge in the tradition of Moses.
And there's a wonderful story, true story,
in Exodus chapter 18,
when Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, comes to see Moses.
He makes a visit.
And he sees Moses being pushed and pulled every way
as he tries to adjudicate every conflict
that the people of God had amongst each other.
All of them would come to Moses.
And it literally says that it went from morning until night.
Moses was constantly hearing of these conflicts
and making a judgment on each one.
And Jethro saw it, watched it, and said,
and you got to look deep into Hebrew to see this,
dude, you got to chill.
You're going to wear out.
You can't do this.
You need to develop a court system
that covers small numbers of people.
And then when there's a problem with that,
let them go to the next level.
And if there's a problem with that,
let them go to the next level.
He gave specific instructions,
and Moses followed his advice.
And then only the cases,
the only cases he saw
were those Supreme Court-type cases,
those ones that could not be handled otherwise.
Based upon that system,
there were judges that upheld the law of Moses
and its principles.
But there's another judge
that was common in this day,
and that was an appointed Roman judge.
They were appointed by Rome,
appointed by Herod,
and they worked without pay
from the government.
They made the verdict that they needed to make
in order to make a living.
A good living.
And so,
it's very possibly that kind of judge
that this widow,
who on the other hand has no clout at all,
in that atmosphere,
in that society,
poor and powerless,
typically,
she would be desperate.
And this situation sounds financial,
and she wants or needs someone to pay up.
And there is desperation in what she says.
I mean, she wants somebody,
the original language is very clear about this,
somebody to pay.
And that could be somewhat vindictive,
and it could be somewhat in need.
Quite honestly,
if you get hungry enough,
it's hard to tell the difference.
You just need the matter taken care of.
And so,
she asked again,
and again,
and the judge gives her what she wants,
not for the sake of justice,
but because he does not want to be beat down by the lady.
That's a boxing term there.
It can be interpreted as,
I don't want her to give me a black eye.
I don't want her to make me look bad.
She keeps following me around,
begging me,
and I keep not responding to that.
She could hurt my reputation.
So,
he acted quickly to make her go away.
Not anything to do with justice.
Just make her go away.
Because remember,
he has no fear of God,
nor does he care for people.
He's self-centered,
and he makes the decision for his sake.
So,
don't ever get confused here.
This judge is not God,
and does not represent God,
because God loves us,
and cannot,
we cannot beat him down.
He's not concerned about us beating him down.
We can't give God a black eye.
Neither can anybody else,
by the way.
God's motive is not escape.
God's motive is not to get us to hush,
not giving us what we want,
or not to be intimidated,
or not to be bothered.
God's motive is just.
It's fair.
It's right.
It's his will.
And this godless,
disrespectful Roman judge
did something good for this poor lady.
If she,
if he would do that,
how much more would a loving,
just God do something for us?
I want you to listen to what Christ says
in the Sermon on the Mount,
Matthew chapter 7,
7 through 11,
about making a request to God.
He says,
ask,
and it will be given to you.
Seek,
and you will find.
Knock,
and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks,
receives,
and the one who seeks,
finds,
and to the one who knocks,
it will be opened.
Or which one of you,
if his son asks him for bread,
will give him a stone?
Or if he asks for a fish,
will give him a serpent?
If you then who are evil
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your father,
who is in heaven,
give good gifts to those who ask him?
In other words,
folks,
listen to me.
Bring it to him.
Whatever it is,
he knows what's right.
He'll get it right every time.
You can rest in that
because God is just.
I'll tell you another difference
between this judge and God.
And that is the timing
of God.
At first,
for a time,
this judge refused
to give the lady
her request.
And her persistence
dragged him down
to the point
where he just gave in.
Again,
I want you to know
that that's not how God works.
God wants us to pray.
God wants us to pursue.
And he don't want us
to stop praying.
He is working in us
as we pray.
But he will not be
dragged down
by our prayers.
God moves
when and as
God chooses to move.
And one of the great
difficulties that we have
when we seek the Lord
in prayer
is the timing of God.
We just can't figure it out.
We just can't get it.
Because when we pray
for something,
we want it
and it'd be best
if we have confirmation
immediately.
We want it now.
We want it our way.
But that's not how God works.
God purposely
delays.
His delay
keeps us before him.
His delay
teaches us
patience.
You don't have to,
I don't like when people say
don't pray for patience
because God's going to
whoop you like a dog.
I just don't like
that kind of dog.
It's the fruit of the spirit.
We ought to have it.
I'll just tell you this.
And some,
some of our fruit
and patience
is not that,
not that rosy.
But
I'll just tell you this.
If you'll pray
about matters
consistently before God,
he'll teach you patience.
You don't have to pray for it.
Just pray for the matters
that are burdensome to you
because God's
has a purposeful delay
that teaches us patience.
His,
his delay
matures our faith
because we're trusting him.
God responds on,
on his schedule.
God does not respond
on our schedule.
And we can become
as frustrated
as we want to
and we can yell out
and walk out
in the backyard
and put on a show.
God's timing
is based upon
the will of God
and you can rest in that.
And that's tough
but it's true
for all of us.
But you know what?
It was true for Christ
because
in that difficult time,
the night of his arrest,
he spent that time
with the disciples
in the upper room
and then left there
to go to the Garden
of Gethsemane
on the,
on the night
of his arrest.
Matthew tells us
that he went to pray
with Peter,
James,
and John.
Then after praying
for a time,
he went a little further
to pray.
And I've heard
wonderful sermons
preached on,
you got to go
a little further.
But let me tell you
what that really means.
It means he walked
from here to over there.
That's what that means.
He got away from them
and he went a little
further into the garden.
And then he came
back to them
and he found them
sleeping.
And then he left them
and went back to pray.
He came to them again
and prayed the same thing.
And again
and again
he sought the Father
because
he was about
to sense
and feel
the wrath of God
of all of our sin
that was going to come
upon him that night
and the separation
that he feel
and the sin
that he would bear.
And he struggled
in that
and he went back
to God
the Father
again
and again
and again.
The Apostle Paul
had a thorn
in the flesh.
He said it was
a messenger
of Satan.
And theologians
have tried to figure out
forever
what that messenger
of Satan was.
What was that throne
of
that
not throne
thorn
that thorn
of the flesh.
What was that?
Was it a physical malty?
We know he had a problem
with his sight.
He even spoke of it.
He wrote in large letters
because he couldn't
see very well.
What was it that?
Was it somebody?
What was it
that just
just hung
onto him
so difficult?
He said
I prayed about it
three times
for God
to remove it.
Now
when I read that
I don't believe
that was
three
sentence prayers.
I believe
we're talking about
three seasons
of prayer
when he took
that thing
back to God
again
struggled
with that
in prayer
asking God
to remove it
and God
would not
remove it.
He never did.
He just taught
him that
God's grace
is sufficient
regardless
of the thorns
that we face
regardless
of the messengers
of Satan
that pass
through our lives
whatever they may be.
God's grace
is sufficient.
When Herod
threw Peter
in jail
the church
was earnestly
praying for him
and late
that night
miraculously
God led
Peter
out of the jail
and he went
right to where
that church
was praying
and he knocked
on the door
and a lady
named Rhoda
a servant
came to the door
and looked out
and saw it was Peter
and was so shocked
that she didn't
even let him in
she just ran back
and told the praying
church that he
was out there
and the church
said you're out
of your mind
he's not out there
because we're praying
for him to be released
and when they
opened the door
they were amazed
because in that case
the timing of God
was quick
quicker than they
anticipated
listen my friend
the timing of God
is something that
we'll never
understand
but I'm talking
to some people
this morning
who are going
through some stuff
I know a little bit
here and there
but I don't have
a clue
I've been doing
this long enough
to know
there's a pain
on every pew
in this place
this morning
I don't know
what it is
I don't have to
know what it is
God knows
what it is
and I want
you to know
you can trust
the timing
of the Lord
he's good for it
he can handle it
and he enjoys
the time
that you spend
pursuing him
in the matters
that are heavy
upon your heart
the timing
of God
is something
that we'll
never understand
but we must
trust
I'm going to
tell you
something else
the return
of the Lord
is certain
and it is soon
and it could be
today
we may not
leave this building
it could be
today
or it could be
after we're
all gone
and I don't
mean from the
building
I mean from
life
we don't
know
I'll tell you
it sure don't
look like
that's the
case
but we don't
know when
he'll return
but we do
know
we do know
that he will
and we don't
know when
or how
he'll move
in answering
to our prayers
but I can
promise you
Christ will
return
and Christ
will answer
your prayer
and it will
not be on
your or my
time schedule
but it will
be on time
because God's
always on time
I'll tell you
one more
difference between
this judge and
God
and that is the
motive of God
you know we
worry so much
sometimes about
what people
think of us
we don't talk
about it but we
worry about it
you know do they
really like me
why did they look
at me that way
I think I saw
them in the aisle
in the grocery
store and they
didn't speak
of course I
didn't either
but does that
person look up
to us
do they think
bad of us
Eleanor Roosevelt
said you wouldn't
worry so much
about what other
people think of you
if you realized how
seldom they do
let me tell you
who thinks the
world of you
and who's always
looking out for you
and that's God
Walter Dixon
lived in England
he was walking
home one day
and he passed
the home of an
elderly lady
who had been
forced to take
on a small
child because
of a family
tragedy
her and the
child lived in
that home and
the house was
on fire as
Walter walked
by
the lady
was saved
but Walter
saw the young
boy in an
upstairs window
as the house
was ablaze
there was an
iron pipe
a drainage
pipe that
came down the
side of that
building and
Walter grabbed
onto that pipe
and climbed that
drainage pipe
and rescued the
boy but the
pipe was burning
hot
and when he
brought the
boy back
down
Walter's
hands were
gnawed and
deformed
because of what
he had done for
that boy
several months
later the elderly
lady died
and the community
came around that
little boy
and many of them
wanted to adopt
him and bring him
home
one wanted to bring
him home because
they had lost
their own son
and they
wanted to bring
that child
home and
another wanted
to bring him
home because
they had a
farm and
they needed a
good worker
on the farm
and they could
provide a good
living for the
boy it was
a both and
situation
and in the
midst of these
requests Walter
Dixon walked
up and he
just held up his
scarred hands
and he was
granted the
adoption
if you ever
wonder what
Christ thinks
of you
if you ever
wonder what he
thinks of your
request of him
be sure of
something
he loves you
dearly
and his
motive
is his love
he cares so
much about you
that he sent his
only son to die
in your place
John 3 16 and
17 says for God
so loved the
world that he
gave his only
son that whoever
believes in him
should not perish
but have eternal
life for God did
not send his son
into the world to
condemn the world
but in order that
the world might be
saved through him
he loved us so
much
that he stretched
out his arms on a
cruel Roman cross
and had the
equivalent of
railroad ties
hammered into his
hands
and Christ died
for you
and if there's any
doubt about his
motive
you just look at his
hands
and realize the
love
that he has
for you
but I'm thankful
today that I can
tell you that Christ
not only died for
you
Christ lives for
you
as a matter of
fact he's making
intercession for
you
the Holy Spirit
even interprets
our prayers on
our behalf
Romans 8 26 and
27 says the
spirit helps us
in our weakness
have you ever been
weak in prayer
has anybody ever
struggled with
how do I pray
about this
God do I pray
for them to
linger for a
possible healing
or God
do I pray that
they receive their
heavenly reward
their struggles
and we don't know
how to pray
for we don't know
what to pray for
as we ought
and the spirit
himself
intercedes for us
with groanings
too deep
for words
and he who
searches hearts
knows what is
the mind of
the spirit
because the
spirit intercedes
for the saints
according to the
will of God
that means I
don't have to
figure out how
to pray God's
will I just
have to pray and
seek God and the
Holy Spirit knows
my heart
and he will
interpret what
I'm trying to
say and smooth
it out and
bring it before
the father
he will work
in you because
not because you
beg or beat him
down but because
he loves you
don't ever question
the nature of
God
don't ever question
the justice of
God
don't ever
question the
timing of God
or the motive
of God
instead live in
response to
that
how do we
live in response
to that
that's why he
told the parable
pray always
1st Timothy 5
chapter 17
says pray
without ceasing
wow
that's a
statement
ain't it
what that
means is we
live a life
of prayer
it does not
mean that it's
absent from having
a time set
aside just for
prayer when
everything around
us as much as
possible gets
still and we
take time out
of our schedule
and we book it
for the Lord
Jesus and lift
up our prayers
to him
prayer
but it also
means that as
we go along the
way that we're
praying
it means when
we're in the car
by ourself that
we we cut off
the console
we stop worrying
about the telephone
and we just
seek God
it means that when
somebody comes by
and says will you
pray for me
do it
right then
if God
leads you
stop them
and say let's
do it
if you don't
pray for them
right then
so you don't
lie and say I'm
praying for you
and forget about
it
pray for them
and then continue
to pray for them
as a matter of
fact you can just
have an ongoing
conversation with
the Lord at all
times if you'd like
to that's what
praying without
ceasing is
and then
Philippians 4 6
says don't be
anxious about
anything but in
everything
if you think
there's matters
in your life
that's too small
to pray for
you're wrong
if you think
there's two matters
in your life
that's too big
to pray for
they mean too
much to you
you don't want
God's will
you just want
your will
we won't admit
that but I'm
going to tell
you if there is
things like that
everything
let everything
be a matter
of prayer
a prayer
and supplication
with thanksgiving
let your request
be made known
to God
and there's a
passage
that I've
struggled with
over the years
and I've learned
to understand it
and I want you
to as well
because I believe
it'll help you
it's Psalm 37
4
and it says
delight yourself
in the Lord
and he'll give
you the desires
of your heart
so does that
mean
that if I
get happy
with the Lord
he's going to
give me
everything I want
because man
I got a list
no that's not
what it means
it means
if we make
him a priority
in our lives
we spend time
with him
and we delight
in him
and he
becomes the
love of our
life
the joy
that we
experience
God does
a work
in our
heart
he changes
the desires
in which we
have
the things
that have
meant so much
to us in the
past don't mean
as much as
they used to
the stuff
that we feel
like we've
got to have
we don't have
to have it
like we used
to
he may give
us an insight
about something
that
that we a lot
of times
don't have
until we buy
it
and we start
paying on it
and then go
wow
I guess I had
to have this
after all
God gives us
an insight
into those
things
changes the
way our
heart works
changes the
desires of
our heart
and so when we
delight ourselves
in him he gives
us the desires
of our heart
because the
desires of our
heart is to
have more
of him
that's what
transformation
is about
that's what
sanctification
is about
being made
more like
him
that's what
happens
when we
spend time
in prayer
bringing everything
before him
and delighting
in him
he'll do a
transformation
in you
but only
if you seek
him praying
always
Martin Luther
the 16th
century German
theologian
said prayer
should be
brief
frequent
and intense
and Jesus
said you
ought to
pray
so pray
always
and lastly
believe
always
don't lose
heart
he gave
this parable
so that we
would not
lose heart
even when
you're weary
seek the
face of God
for the will
of God
in the name
of Christ
he told us
this story
so that we
ought not
to lose
heart
my friend
that's what
living by
faith is
living by
faith is
not giving
up
it's trusting
the Lord
when you don't
see his hand
at work
it's trusting
the Lord
when things
don't seem
just
and don't
seem right
it's trusting
the Lord
with his will
what is best
and relying
upon him
John tells
us in
1 John 5
14
and this
is the
confidence
that we
have toward
him
that if
we ask
anything
according
to his
will
he hears
us
we ought
always
to pray
and not
lose heart
I titled
this sermon
don't stop
if there's
a matter
on your
heart
that you're
taking
before the
Lord
and you're
struggling
with it
because you
don't seem
to get an
answer to
that
don't stop
praying
don't stop
just keep
bringing it
back to him
you need it
he enjoys
the time
with you
don't stop
and if
your life
is not
marked
by seeking
the face
of God
in prayer
well then
start
today
quit worrying
about all
this stuff
and give
it to God
prayer is not
about getting
your will
done in
heaven
it's about
turning your
will over
to him
and watching
his will
work in
you
that's what
it is
and it's a
transformation
process
it's a
growing process
and you don't
pick up on
that with
every episode
that comes
along in
your life
but if
you'll seek
God in
prayer about
those matters
you'll see
the difference
some of you
need to come
to this altar
today and
give something
to God
you've been
holding on
to it
you've been
worried about
it
and you're
not letting
go of
it
some of
you are
weary
there's
matters in
your life
there's a
thorn in
your flesh
there's a
messenger of
Satan
there's some
garbage going
on somewhere
that you don't
want anything
to deal with
and you're
struggling with
that
and God
says pray
always
believe
always
I'm going
to tell you
he's at
work
I thank
God he's
at work
in us
I thank
God he's
at work
in you
seek the
face of
God today
with every
head bowed
and every
eye closed
it is my
greatest burden
that someone
may hear my
preaching and
never have
received the
Lord Jesus
Christ as a
personal Lord
Savior
and if that's
your case
today I want
you to know
that today's
the day of
salvation
he'll save
you he'll
change you
from where
you are
don't try to
clean up
before you
come to
Christ you'll
never be able
to do it
you'll never
will you
come as you
are and
he'll make
you everything
you need to
be
love to guide
you in that
we're going to
stand and sing
in just a moment
you just come
you come and
say I want to
give my heart
and life to the
Lord Jesus Christ
we'd love to
guide you in that
process maybe
you're here this
morning and
there's a burden
upon your
heart burden
you want
somebody else to
pray with you
about or a
burden that you
just need to lay
at this altar
before the Lord
that's what it's
for no reluctance
let's just be
concerned about
what God would
have maybe God's
leading you to
make a private
decision public
maybe you've
given your
heart and life
to the Lord
Jesus but
you've never
been baptized
as a believer
you've never
publicly
acknowledged your
faith before
him let us
lead you through
that process
maybe you're
here this
morning and
you're struggling
with
you're struggling
with God
leading you to
be a part of
this church
you'd like to
talk to us
about that
we'd love to
have that
conversation with
you I
encourage you
today whatever
God's telling
you to do
don't do
anything less
you don't have
to do anything
more than that
but if God's
telling you to
do something
you'll be
obedient and
follow him
Lord Jesus
thank you for
your word
thank you for
your love
thank you for
what you show
us help us to
live in response
to it oh God
I pray in
Jesus precious
name amen
stand together