Pray Until Something Happens
Luke 18:1-8
Luke 18:1–5 (ESV)
And he 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 will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’""
1. Prayer is Meant to be Continual
Luke 18:2–4 (ESV)
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.'
Luke 18:4–5 (ESV)
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 will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’”
2. Continual Prayer is Meant to be a Cry
Luke 18:6–7 (ESV)
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?
Psalm 130:1–2a (ESV)
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice!
Psalm 5:2 (ESV)
Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.
Psalm 34:17 (ESV)
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
“The best style of prayer is that which cannot be called anything
else but a cry.” - Charles Spurgeon
3. The Cry of Prayer is Meant to Come with Answers & Cultivate Faith
Luke 18:7–8 (ESV)
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?”
Revelation 5:8 (ESV)
And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Luke 18:8b (ESV)
Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?
