Our Continual Coming In Prayer
Or
His Finding Faith On The Earth
Sunday March 20, 2022
Scripture To Consider:
“Then Jesus spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying, ‘There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 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 awhile; 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, yet by her continual coming she weary me.”’”
“Then the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall not God 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?’” Luke 18.1-8
Something To Consider:
Jesus said, “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.” How many times has that scene played itself out over and over again in every city, of every nation, and in every corner of the world? It is a sad and sorry city, state, or country, that allows evil judges to rule who have no fear of God and no respect for humankind.
But even a lowly widow moved this unjust judge to rule in her favor because of her persistence, because of her continual coming to him over and over again. In like manner, Jesus admonishes us to never lose heart over any matter, situation, or circumstance that is beyond our control. Quite the contrary, we are to persist in prayer by our continual coming to the throne of grace through prayer, that we might find help in our time of need.
King David, the Psalmist and poet of Israel, proclaimed in prayer to God in Psalm 86.6-7; “Give ear [or listen], O LORD, to my prayer; and attend to [or respond to] the voice of my supplications [prayers]. In the day of my trouble [or day of my need] I will call upon You, for You will answer me.” How often do we lift up our voices unto the Lord in a form of prayer for our daily needs? How else will we get our needs met or find help in our time of trouble and difficulty?
Yes, it is true, God does answer knee mail, in the form of prayer prayed by the righteous. But, we sometimes attempt to argue or disagree with God when His answer is not always yes! Sometimes His answer to our continual coming in prayer may be no, if no is the best answer according to His will for that particular season of our lives.
Something Else To Consider:
Prayer is an act of faith on our part. Our continual coming to God in prayer is an exercise of our faith. On the other hand, our not continuing to come to God in prayer is a manifestation of our lack of faith or lack of our trust in God. As I typed those words, I was forced to pause a moment in order to ask God for forgiveness for my lack of faith and lack of trust at times by my not continually coming to Him in prayer more often.
We must regularly remind ourselves of what the writer of Hebrews 11.6 stated; “But without faith it is impossible to please Him [God], for he [or she] who comes to God must believe that He [God] is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Therefore, God rewards those who continually come to Him by faith in and through prayer.
God delights in rewarding His people for faithfully coming to Him. Why then do we so often hesitate in our coming? Solomon, King David’s son, wrote in Proverbs 15.29; “The LORD is far from the wicked. But He hears the prayer of the righteous.” This biblical principle is so very important for us to understand. For when a politician, religious leader, or public figure, whose life exemplifies evil and pure wickedness, stands and proclaims they are praying for this person or for this family, or for this or that situation; the biblical truth is that God is far from them and that He does not hear their prayers.
And yet, that tailor-made millstone may fit our own necks if we are living lives of practicing iniquity while playing the part of a hypocrite. Yes. God responds to the faithful individual’s prayer and their continual coming further proves their faithfulness. The Lord spoke through the Old Testament prophet in Jeremiah 33.3, by admonishing; “Call unto Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” That alone should encourage us to come more often to the throne of grace in prayer!
Something More To Consider:
Our continual coming to God in prayer is encouraged by many writers within the bible. James, the step brother of Jesus, writing to the early scattered church, gave much encouragement by declaring in James 5.16; “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man [or woman] avails much.” This alone should teach us whether a man, woman, boy, or girl, that our continual coming to God in prayer helps to establish and grow our faith.
Our continual coming to God on behalf of the needs of ourselves and others is also pleasing to God. Therefore, upon Jesus Christ’s second coming to earth, let it be our faith, however strong or weak, great or small, let it be our active and fruitful faith that Jesus finds.
According to Jesus, in Luke 16.10; “He [or she] who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he [or she] who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.” How are we doing in our being faithful in what is least? It is a proving ground for eternity!
A Few Final Words:
At the actual time of my writing this lesson of a lifetime, the 2020 senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump was in its third day. As I read and write the words of Jesus from Luke 16.10, I have to ask myself; why then do so many of our unjust leaders keep getting voted into office over and over again?
Sometimes, I am tempted to lose heart or to cry out with disgust and request for a moment, for someone to stop this earthly merry-go-round, so I can get off! And then I am faithfully reminded by the Holy Spirit, the three times repeated words of Jesus; “He [or she] who endures to the end shall be saved.” And my heart’s desire is to faithfully endure unto the end of my life and or to endure to the end of this age. And so I must, and so I will!
Therefore, the practice of our praying often is a spiritual instrument used by God to fashion our faith. Therefore, let us always be found in a posture of prayer rather than a place of losing heart. For according to Jesus, “I tell you that He [God the Father] will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes [in His second coming], will He really find faith on the earth?”
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, help us to establish our prayer life in order that our faith in You and Your Son may be exercised and stretched. Help us to be found always looking unto Jesus, both author and finisher of our faith. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 