Still Praying
The Parables of Jesus • Sermon • Submitted
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Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”
6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Main and Plain
Main and Plain
“The main things are the plain things and the plain things are the main things.”
I like that principle and I try to keep it in mind whenever reading the bible.
It certainly apples to our Parable for today.
(Slide)
The main and plain is clearly stated right there in the first verse.
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
“Men” is actually translated “they”, “them” or “disciples” in most modern versions, which is the correct modern meaning.
So in the ESV we read,
English Standard Version Chapter 18
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
(Slide)
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
So we ought always to pray and not lose heart.
Such an introduction implies that we can loose heart and give up praying.
“We ought always to pray and not lose heart”
This implies that we can lose heart
And that we can give up praying.
The Judge and the Widow
The Judge and the Widow
Jesus uses a parable to illustrate the point.
It involves two Characters.
They are interesting choices.
They are interesting choices.
A Judge and A Widow.
They
An Unjust Judge
An Unjust Judge
The Judge
The Judge
(Slide)
saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.
(Slide)
He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.
This judge neither fears God, nor cares for others, or what they think of him.
It is significant that Jesus describes him this way.
Remember Jesus’ answer to the Scribe about the greatest commandement,
(Slide)
And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
This Judge did neither-of those things most important.
He did not love God.
He did not love or care about his neighbour.
(Slide)
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
This Judge neither feared God or man.
And this Judge was in the position of privilege, power and prestige, with the full weight of the authorities behind him.
The Widow
The Widow
Then we have the Widow.
It is an interesting choice.
But if we keep in mind the key lesson, the story presents a situation where it would have been very understandable for one the Widow to give up.
(Slide)
Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’
Cultural Considerations
Cultural Considerations
Luke 18
Jesus use of a Widow is intentional.
Given that they were one of the most vulnerable members of society at this time.
Open to exploitation of various kinds,
(Slide)
who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”
Even now this can happen.
Widows were not necessarily old, given male life expectancy at Jesus time.
Some historians have said, based on the contemporary writings of the time, that the average age of a male was around “Thirty-something”.
In the Widow, we have here represented one of the most insignificant, alone and vulnerable members of society in Jesus time, coming to an uncaring, could not be bothered, narcissistic, just leave me alone, Judge.
To say the odds are stacked against the Widow in a vast under statement.
To say the odds are stacked against her in a vast under statement.
But if we keep in mind the key lesson, the story presents a situation where it would have been very understandable for the Widow to throw up her hands, shake her head in disgust and just give up.
And yet she prevails!
And yet she prevails!.
The Widow Prevails
The Widow Prevails
The Parable presents a situation where it would have been very understandable for the Widow to throw up her hands, shake her head in disgust and just give up.
But what is the point Jesus makes at the beginning?
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
And Jesus
The Parable continues,
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.’ ”
“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ”
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.’ ”
How many times does the widow come to the Judge?
How long is a while?
Why did she not just throw up her hands and give up?
Remember, the point Jesus is making, “We ought always to pray and not give up” or “Still Praying”
The Judges motives for seeing that the Widows get justice are not made very clear.
were purely selfish.
So I can have a quieter life. So she does not “weary me”.
The greek word here for weary has a similar construction to where we get the word, hypnotise.
The reasons and motives for the Judge avenging the widow is not that important in this story.
Rather the point is that we don’t give up, and that God will bring justice for his people .
Rather, what the parable seeks to teach is not why God will bring justice for his people but that he will bring Justice.
The New American Commentary: Luke Comments
What the parable seeks to teach is not why God will bring justice for his people (18:8) but that he will.
The New American Commentary: Luke Comments
What the parable seeks to teach is not why God will bring justice for his people (18:8) but that he will.
The unjust vs the just judge, the widow who the judge does not care about vs those who are God’s very own elect, the selfish motives of the judge vs the selfless act of the Son of Man, the unnecessary delay of the judge vs the speedy, right time (implies some delay) and certain response of the Lord.
God will vindicate His Saints
God will vindicate His Saints
We should always pray and not give up because God will vindicate his Saints.
God will only allow things to do so far.
Prayer Meeting story.
Pastoral Visits
Pastoral Visits
I am learning as a Pastor that we get to see people at the best of times and the very worst of times, and everything in-between.
I have to say this week had some difficult moments.
Norma and I went to see some people who are going through difficult seasons in their lives.
Many are physical health related and others are also mental health related.
Without using names, we went to see a person this week who is in a secure facility. We knew this person was having a bad day, a bad week, a bad month and were warned the person may not see us. We were escorted into the room where we were to meet the person, but the person did not want to see us. On the way out we actually meet the person in the corridor and then came a one way conversation from that person all about the devil this and the devil that. That the devil had basically won. I tried to say something, but it went nowhere. I left feeling totally discouraged and powerless as a Pastor, and that Satan had just “kicked my butt”.
I shared that with Norma and we got back into our car and we prayed.
It is not by accident that this week the theme is “that we should always pray and not lose heart”.
We will go back to see that person. And we will keep going back and we will keep praying.
God is greater than our enemy, that roaring lion, that great seducer, who looks for those at the rear to pick off.
We need to remember who the real enemy is, and that He who is on our side is greater.
do you feel like you are getting kicked
Are you struggling with something in your life? Or someone?
Does it feel like David vs Goliath? Or the Widow vs the Judge?
Have you prayed, and prayed and prayed, with no avail?
The parable is clear
Jesus parable is clear, “We ought always to pray and not give up”.
Maybe that answer seems too simplistic?
But it is built on the solid foundation of Christ crucified, raised to life, ministering now for us and coming again soon.
That it is the whole point of the conclusion to the parable.
Will He Find Faith on Earth?
Will He Find Faith on Earth?
The unfolding great controversy.
The New American Commentary: Luke Comments
“If the unjust judge yielded to the continuous cries of the widow, who was a stranger, and granted her the vindication she sought (the picture part of the parable), how much more will God, who is just and their loving Father (12:30; 11:2), hear the cries of his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night (the reality part).”
Many of you here today, have suffered under some injustice and as yet without vindication.
Business Trip.
That is why I say God is vindicated in the vindication of His saints.
That is one of the key themes in the Great Controversy.
And shall God not 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?”
Jesus is coming Soon
Jesus is coming Soon
Jesus concludes the parable with
Part of the DNA of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is the proclaimiation that Jesus is coming again soon.
And shall God not 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?”
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 speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
The question Jesus asks is this, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”
Because the charge so often brought against God today, is that He does not care, He does not alleviate the many forms of suffering and injustice in this world.
He just lets such things continue.
He lets the widow keep crying out, time and time again.
And way too often we as believers come up with some prepared answers as to the why, which satisfies no one, least of all ourselves.
What the parable is teaching is not so much why God allows injustice, or even why there is a delay in bringing justice, BUT rather that out heavenly Father will bring Justice, and can we have faith in that promise?
So when we seemingly get kicked, time and time again, for whatever reason, the exhortation to us is to have faith, so that we will pray and not give up.
Bridge over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
Bridge over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
There are some songs that are just timeless.
You hear them played on all kind of radio stations, or on the playlists of different age groups.
They have something in them that strikes a cord, that is multi generational.
When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all
I'm on your side, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I'll take your part, when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
That is exactly what Jesus says to us.
God will vindicate His saints.
God is Vindicated in the Vindication of His Saints
God is Vindicated in the Vindication of His Saints
I end with this statement,
I would like to
God is vindicated in the vindication of His saints.
I am sure most here have heard of, and even read the book by Mrs white, “The Great Controversy”, “between Christ and His Angels, and Satan and His Angels”.
That the great charge against God
It is why we believe the Lord raised up this church, this denomination.
The soon return of Jesus is part of what we call the Three Angela Message.
God is Vindicated in the Vindication of His Saints
God is Vindicated in the Vindication of His Saints
The New American Commentary: Luke Comments
For Luke, as for Jesus, the consummation was a vibrant hope and expectation. Although it may appear to be delayed, Luke (and believers through the centuries) expected that the blessed hope (Titus 2:13) would take place soon. Although chronological time may seem to deny this, in God’s understanding (cf. 2 Pet 3:8) and in faith’s reckoning of time the consummation will always be “soon.”
Jesus puts a limit around His People till the final Vindication
Jesus puts a limit around His People till the final Vindication
Jesus question to us
Jesus question to us
I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Will He find Faith on earth?
Luke
It is the basis for our fundamental belief, No. 8.
Let me read some of that,
Let me ask you,
All humanity is now involved in a great controversy between Christ and Satan regarding the character of God, His law, and His sovereignty over the world and universe. This conflict originated in heaven when a created being, endowed with freedom of choice, due to pride and self-exaltation became Satan, God’s adversary, and led into rebellion a third of the angels.
The Great Controversy between Christ and His Angels, and Satan and His Angels
How is your Prayer life with the Lord?
Are there situations where you are at your wits end?
Even given up?
Satan introduced the spirit of rebellion into this world when he led Adam and Eve into sin. This human sin resulted in the distortion of the image of God in all humanity, the disordering of the created world, and its eventual devastation at the time of the global flood, as presented in the historical account of .
Observed by the whole creation, this world became the arena of the universal conflict, out of which the God of love will ultimately be vindicated. To assist His people in this controversy, Christ sends the Holy Spirit and the loyal angels to guide, protect, and sustain them in the way of salvation.
The roles are almost reversed in the case with us and the Lord. We can be like the Unjust judge.
Our indifference in prayers.
Private prayers and devotion must be where the fire starts. That fire must be kept burning.
So when we pray, we should express our deepest feelings, even our complaints, as we urge God to bring justice.
Praying for our Enemies. Love God, Love People.
God is vindicated in the vindication of His saints.
When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?
There are songs that are just timeless.
You hear them played on all kind of radio stations, or on the playlists of different age groups.
They have something in them that strikes a cord, that is multi generational.
When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all
I'm on your side, when times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I'll take your part, when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
That is exactly what Jesus says to us.
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
He will vindicate His saints.
even now He will put a hedge around us.
And when He comes again, soon, He will raise us up if we have fallen asleep in the Lord.
That is the hope within us.
That is why we should pray and never give up!
when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?
Still Praying
Still Praying
1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
I end with this,
Story of Interviews.
Aimless
Aiming Pray warriors
Vs Aiming Pray warriors
How many times did the Widow need to go the the Judge?
How
God is vindicated in the vindication of His saints.
When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?
“We ought always to pray and not give up”