Parables On Prayer

(Luke 18:1-6 KJV) And {Jesus} spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; [2] Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: [3] And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. [4] And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; [5] Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. [6] And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

Jesus, Though God, Made Prayer A Priority

We studied this morning about our Lord Jesus. He is not just a Man, not just a Teacher. Jesus is God Incarnate, God in the Flesh. Jesus is the manifest Word of God:

(John 1:1-3, 14 KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and THE WORD WAS GOD. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM; and WITHOUT HIM WAS NOT ANYTHING MADE THAT WAS MADE. … [14] And THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

This is a mystery to us that God can become Man. Paul wrote, “God was MANIFEST IN THE FLESH” (1 Timothy 3:16), and “In Jesus dwells ALL THE FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD IN BODY FORM” (1 Colossians 2:9).

God became Man – Perfect Man – to show us how God expects His creation to live. What did Jesus show us? The need to pray.

People in the Church today consider the “Wednesday Prayer Meeting” to be an unnecessary interruption in a busy week. I have seen Christians in this Church get up and leave while prayers are being lifted up to Heaven. According to one survey, “Only 10 percent of Christians aged 18 to 30 pray daily compared to 37 percent of Christians over 50 years old”. When asked “how long do you pray when you pray, most Christians surveyed said less than one minute”.

How did Jesus model praying? After feeding five thousand with five loaves and two fish, the Bible says:

(Matthew 14:23 LSB) {Jesus} sent the crowds away, HE WENT UP ON THE MOUNTAIN BY HIMSELF TO PRAY; and when it was evening, He was there alone.

How long did Jesus pray? (Luke 6:12 LSB) {Jesus} went off to the mountain to pray, and HE WAS SPENDING THE WHOLE NIGHT IN PRAYER TO GOD.

Jesus often “rose early in the morning, while still dark, and went out into a desolate place. There Jesus prayed” (Mark 1:35). The disciples saw Jesus praying so often that they came to Him and asked, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). In the Garden of Gethsemane just before His crucifixion, Jesus asked His disciples to pray with Him. Instead, they went to sleep. But Jesus prayed, asking the Father three times:

(Matthew 26:39 LSB) My Father, IF IT BE POSSIBLE, LET THIS CUP PASS FROM ME; yet not as I will, but as You will.

If God in the flesh needed to pray, why don’t we think that we need to pray? How can we hope to survive as Christians in this devil’s world without prayer?

There is no power with God without prayer. There is no peace in the storms of life without prayer. The safest place to be is in the room with God our Father, and the only way to get there is through prayer. I have heard it said God has only one Son without sin – but NO SONS without suffering. Life is suffering. Life is painful. How did Jesus deal with the stresses of life among men? Through prayer. The Holy Spirit tells us:

(Hebrews 5:7-8 LSB) {Jesus}, in the days of His flesh, OFFERED UP BOTH PRAYERS AND SUPPLICATIONS WITH LOUD CRYING AND TEARS to the One able to save Him from death, and HE WAS HEARD BECAUSE OF HIS REVERENCE. [8] Although He was a Son, HE LEARNED OBEDIENCE FROM THE THINGS WHICH HE SUFFERED.

What Is The Master Teaching Us About Prayer?

(Luke 18:1 KJV) {Jesus} spake a parable unto them [to this end], that MEN OUGHT ALWAYS TO PRAY, and NOT TO FAINT

What is our default position when life is tough, when things do not go our way? How do we respond when we walk “through the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4)? Sadly, most Christians follow the way of the lost. We “FAINT”. The word rendered “FAINT” is the Greek ekkakeō, which means “to fail in heart, to be utterly spiritless, exhausted, or wearied”. Those who do not pray, who do not build a habit of prayer (“pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18), will eventually fall into absolute despair and possible suicide.

Illustrate: When Elijah was threatened by Jezebel (1 Kings 19:2) he did not go to God in prayer, but surrendered to his fears and began to run for his life. Fleeing into the wilderness Elijah became ekkakeō. Only then he prayed a prayer of dejection and despair, saying

(1 Kings 19:4 LSB) It is enough; now, O Yahweh, TAKE MY LIFE, for I AM NOT BETTER THAN MY FATHERS.

Illustrate: When Moses was at Kadesh and the people rebelled (Numbers 20:1-8) he and Aaron went to God in prayer. God told them to speak to the rock, and water would come out. As Moses stood before the rock he became ekkakeō, and rather than praying and doing as God said he struck the rock … and lost the Promised Land.

Illustrate: But when Nehemiah, the cupbearer of King Artaxerxes I, king of Persia, heard how destroyed Jerusalem was, what did he do? The Bible says:

(Nehemiah 1:4 LSB) … when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I WAS FASTING AND PRAYING BEFORE THE GOD OF HEAVEN.

Nehemiah did not become ekkakeō. He took the burden to God our Father. Nehemiah knew that there was nothing he could do to fix Jerusalem, but he also knew that “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27). Meeting with the King the next day God opened the heart of Artaxerxes, who in turn funded a rescue mission headed by Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem.

Jesus said “MEN OUGHT ALWAYS TO PRAY, and NOT TO FAINT”. What did He mean by “MEN OUGHT ALWAYS {pantote} TO PRAY”? Some have read this passage and said that prayer should then be a series of meaningless chants or repetition. No, this is not prayer. Jesus said:

(Matthew 6:7-8 LSB) … when you are praying, DO NOT USE MEANINGLESS REPETITION as the Gentiles do, for THEY SUPPOSE THAT THEY WILL BE HEARD FOR THEIR MANY WORDS. [8] Therefore, do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

God does not want you to use a rosary, to use memorized by rote prayers, saying these things over and over again. “Pray without ceasing” means to be in a constant state of willingness and openness to prayer.

We should not allow ourselves to get into a state of ekkakeō. We should always be in a spirit of readiness to pray – and to seek opportunities to pray.

When Moses was leading Israel to the Promised Land, he prayed “God, if You will not go with me, please do not take us there” (Exodus 33:15). The Christian should be like this. We should keep our hand on the hilt of the prayer sword, ever ready to draw it at a moment’s notice. We should be praying and praising God as we walk through our daily lives. We praise God for His mercy daily. The Apostle said:

(2 Corinthians 4:1 KJV) Therefore seeing we have this ministry, AS WE HAVE RECEIVED MERCY, we FAINT (ekkakeō) not

It was only by staying in constant contact with God that the Apostles withstood the darkness, and brought the Light of Christ into the bleakest of places. When Paul received the thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan sent to attack him (2 Corinthians 12:7), he prayed THREE TIMES that that thorn be removed. God answered his prayer simply:

2 Corinthians 12:9 … MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR THEE: for MY STRENGTH is MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS.

We should, like Paul, pray over our trials until we receive an answer from God. If it be God’s will that our suffering not be alleviated, if this is His will, we should know and understand that His answer is from His loving heart. C.H. Spurgeon wrote:

“Daniel prayed with his windows opened daily and at regular intervals. (King David wrote) “Seven times a day do I praise Thee because of Thy righteous judgments” (Psalm 119:164). David declared that at, “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice. (Psalm 55:17)” We should pray at the birth, and pray at the funeral. We should pray when our soul is glad within us by reason of abundant mercy, and we should pray when our soul draws nigh unto the gates of death by reason of heaviness. We should pray in all transactions, whether secular or religious. Prayer should sanctify everything.”

Jesus Uses A Lesser To Greater Comparison
For Prayer

(Luke 18:2-3 KJV) Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: [3] And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, AVENGE ME OF MINE ADVERSARY.

Jesus often used lesser to greater illustrations to make His point. Our Heavenly Father loves us, and delights to hear our prayers. “The PRAYER OF THE RIGHTEOUS is God’s delight” (Proverbs 15:8). “God HEARS THE PRAYERS OF THE RIGHTEOUS” (Proverbs 15:29). Jesus doesn’t use God the Father in this illustration, but a godless and hateful man of power, a Judge whose job it was to protect the inhabitants of his city. This man got in office by deceit, by lies, and once in office his true colors showed. He is like many politicians we have today who “love Jesus” while on the campaign trail, but once in office they are godless. This man had no fear of God. He had no working conscience. Like those the Apostle condemned, this man delighted in …

(1 Timothy 4:1-2 CSB) … deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, [2] through the hypocrisy of liars WHOSE CONSCIENCES ARE SEARED.

His conscience was dead from sin. He cared nothing for God. And caring nothing for God, he “neither regarded man”. He didn’t care about his charges, his city. He cared about his paycheck. He cared about his comfort. But this wicked judge used his position for his benefit, and for none other.

Then a widow came to him, to his court.

This lonely woman had no son, no daughter, no husband to protect her. She just had the Law. But the Law had abandoned her. In Jesus’ day there were scribes and Pharisees who:

Mark 12:40 (AP) DEVOUR WIDOWS HOUSES while pretending to be prayer warriors

God commanded His people “You shall not afflict a widow, or an orphan” (Exodus 22:22). Yet wickedness creeps in where people do not pray and seek God’s face. This widow lost everything, and now some religious people were looking to rob her of her home. So she has no avenger, no one to count on.

Except a wicked and godless Judge.

The woman shows up in his courtroom one day. “Avenge me of my adversary”. God has said that He “visits the widows in their affliction” (James 1:27). Step in, Judge. Stop the seizure of my property. Help me out. The Judge looks at her and says,

(Luke 18:3-4 KJV) … she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. [4] And HE WOULD NOT FOR A WHILE

“I WILL NOT HELP YOU”. Perhaps the Judge was complicit in the attacks on the widow. Perhaps a friend of his was taking advantage of her, robbing her of her last penny. “Get out of my court!”. And he had the bailiff throw her out.

(Luke 18:4-5 KJV) And {The Judge} WOULD NOT FOR A WHILE: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; [5] Yet BECAUSE THIS WIDOW TROUBLETH ME, I will avenge her, lest BY HER CONTINUAL COMING SHE WEARY ME.

The next day court was in session, here comes the widow. She waits her turn, and when called on repeats, “Avenge me of mine adversary”. Do your job. Take care of the citizens under your care. But the Judge neither fears God nor cares about people. “Toss her out, Bailiff! I ruled on this yesterday! Lock the courthouse doors. I’m tired of this.” When the day is over, and the Judge heads out, who do you think is standing on the courthouse steps? The widow. Her plea, “Avenge me of mine adversary”. Do your job. The Judge hurries home, and the woman follows him, crying out “Avenge me of mine adversary”. He gets home, and slams the door shut in her face. All night long she stands in the street, crying out “Avenge me of mine adversary”. This man is a monster. He knows he is a monster, and doesn’t care. He even brags on how bad he is, saying “I fear not God, nor regard man”. And day after day the widow will not relent. Then one day the Judge says,

Luke 18:5 BECAUSE THIS WIDOW TROUBLETH ME, I will avenge her, lest BY HER CONTINUAL COMING SHE WEARY {hypōpiazō} ME

Word Study: This corrupt Judge would not hear this widow until she persisted. She had no where else to go, and demanded that the Judge do his job. What is amusing about what the Judge says is found in the word “WEARY”. This is the Greek hypōpiazō, which means “to beat with a belt or a fist until it is black and blue, bruised and spotted”. What the Judge was saying is “This woman has WHIPPED me with her pleas. I don’t care about God. I really don’t care about her. But if she keeps coming, I’m going to be black and blue!”

If the widow could change the heart of the godless Judge with her persistent pleas, then God the Father Who loves us will hear us much more readily. The widow was a stranger to the Judge. We are children of the Heavenly Father.

Jesus said:

(Luke 18:6-8 KJV) … the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. [7] And SHALL NOT GOD AVENGE HIS OWN ELECT, which CRY DAY AND NIGHT UNTO HIM, though He bear long with them? [8] I tell you that HE WILL AVENGE THEM SPEEDILY.

Word Study: The godless Judge had to be forced to do what he did, and he was forced by prayers. But our Heavenly Father loves us. We are “HIS OWN ELECT”. The word “ELECT” is the Greek eklektos, which means “those who are chosen, who are appointed”. God died for us on the Cross. God the Son took our sins on Himself, and invited us into His Kingdom. God made a way for us who had no way. And when we received the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, we were adopted into His family. When the widow pled with the godless Judge, she provoked him, angered him, inconvenienced him, and infuriated him. But when God’s children cry out to Him, He is pleased and not provoked. God hears us when we pray. The prayers of God’s children are ever before Him. When John was allowed to look into Heaven, what did he see?

(Revelation 5:8 LSB) And when {Jesus} had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp and GOLDEN BOWLS FULL OF INCENSE, WHICH ARE THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS.

Incense is a fragrant thing that, when burned, brings a beautiful perfume into the room. The prayers of the saints, of God’s children, is like incense. It’s kind of like those air fresheners you hear people have today, like Febreeze®. Who is it that “smells” the smoke of the incense? We are told in:

(Revelation 8:4 LSB) And the smoke of the incense went up with the prayers of the saints, out of the angel’s hand, BEFORE GOD.

God the Father loves to hear our prayers. And our prayers do not need to be long. The widow’s request – made in public – was simple and to the point. “Avenge me of mine adversary”. Just five words!

Private prayer can be continuous, but public prayer should be short and to the point. The woman stated her case succinctly, and stayed on point until her request was answered. The woman did not give the Judge reasons to answer her request. She did not refer to herself as better than her adversary. She just asked, “Avenge me of mine adversary”. In like manner, we need to approach our Heavenly Father knowing we deserve nothing, but also knowing that He is infinitely loving and will do that which is best for us. Jesus ends this parable with:

(Luke 18:8 KJV) I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless WHEN THE SON OF MAN COMETH, SHALL HE FIND FAITH ON THE EARTH?

Jesus defined faith by persistent prayer. It’s not by showy prayer that we please God. It is by persistent prayer that faith grows. Jesus follows this parable with another concerning two men.

Are You A Lost Pharisee, Or A Saved Publican?

(Luke 18:9-14 KJV) And he spake this parable unto certain which TRUSTED IN THEMSELVES THAT THEY WERE RIGHTEOUS, AND DESPISED OTHERS: [10] Two men went up into the temple TO PRAY; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. [11] The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. [12] I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. [13] And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. [14] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

This parable is very much connected with the parable of the godless Judge. Faith persists in prayer, seeking God’s face. But there a fake faith, a Pharisee’s faith. It looks good. It’s all dressed up. It’s religion, one of the most awful things on the planet earth. Jesus hated religion. It was religious people who hindered Him, and who fought against the spreading of the Gospel. It was religious people who falsely accused Jesus, and turned Him over to the politicians to be crucified. Notice how religion prays:

The Pharisee stood and prayed thus WITH HIMSELF

The religious do not pray to God. They pray to idols. They pray to themselves. They don’t care about God’s Kingdom, but about their own exaltation. Religious people glorify themselves, and seek applause. They are all about spreading how great they are, not how good God is. Notice how religion’s prayer opens:

God, I thank Thee

Religion does not come with repentance, nor does it come with the Grace of God. Religion does not speak to God but god. It is self sufficient, and needs nothing but applause. What does religion thank God for? Grace? No!

I thank thee, that I am NOT AS OTHER MEN ARE, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican

Oh, how it sickens me to see self righteous preachers decry others, saying how good they themselves are, mocking the broken. I have heard preachers set unrealistic standards of religious holier than thou nonsense. Brothers, we are all broken!

Religion will not REPENT, will not BEND the knee to God – but it will BRAG and BOAST.

I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Religion does the easy things. But religion does not love. Religion does not love the enemy, nor does it love its neighbor. Why? Because religion is not of faith, but of foolishness. But Beloved, how did the elect of God pray? Did he stand up and crow like a rooster with a red comb? No, here’s what the elect look like. Here’s how a sinner saved by Grace prays.

the publican, standing afar off, would NOT LIFT UP SO MUCH AS HIS EYES UNTO HEAVEN, but SMOTE upon his breast, saying, GOD BE MERCIFUL TO ME A SINNER.

The saved person, the elect Child of God is humble in prayer. And notice that his public prayer is full of repentance, short, and to the point. “GOD BE MERCIFUL TO ME A SINNER”. I’m broken. What I want more than anything else is to be part of Your kingdom, O Lord. I want to walk with You, to talk with You, to be in your Presence every single day I live on this earth. Jesus asked, and tied His question to His Second Coming:

Will there be faith on the earth when I, the Son of man, return?

Will there? Will there be faith in America when Jesus returns? Or will America be like those nations that rejected God, nations like the Amorites, the Hittites, the Philistines, the Edomites, the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Midianites, the Amalekites, the Assyrians and Babylonians? We will not last as a nation if we do not get serious about prayer. Amen.