Text: Luke 18:1-8

Introduction: Does Jesus honor “Persevering Prayer”? You tell me! Throughout His earthly life, He seemed to emphasize to His followers to be persistent in prayer. In fact, not only did He illustrate this truth in the garden of Gethsemane, but He also demonstrated this principle in that “Golden Prayer” recorded in the seventeenth chapter of the gospel of John. In this passage of Scripture, Luke records the words of Jesus.

1. When the answer does not come immediately, do not GIVE UP! (Luke 18:2, 3)

“2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4And he would not for a while.”

Teaching on prayer in the sermon in the mount (Matt 7:7, 8), Jesus urged His disciples to be consistent in prayer.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

Interesting to note, the verbs “ask, seek, and knock” are all in the present tense…. meaning ask and keep on asking…etc. While it is true, our Father knows our need before we ask, yet He desires for His children to come to Him and depend on Him.

Have you “GIVEN UP” on prayer? Feel like quitting?
Unanswered?
Gotten discouraged?
Confused?

2. When the devil and others who oppose you want you to GIVE IN!

“But afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”

3. When your FAITH in answered PRAYER feels like GIVING OUT, keep praying!

“And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

Conclusion: God answers prayers according to His will, and for His glory. These words should encourage every CHRISTian. Jesus is teaching His disciples, and us, to not GIVE UP PRAYING! But to Keep GIVING OUT!