4 Principles in 2 parables which are almost alike in teaching us about our approach to God in prayer:
1. Purpose of the parables
2. People in the parables
3. Promise of the parables
4. 3 Faith principles
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1. Purpose of the parables
Luke 18:1-8
"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?”
Luke 11:5-8
"And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? 8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs."
Luke 11:9-13
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
There are 5 purposes in the 2 parables:
1.1 Teaching us to pray and not to give up
The widow who did not give up coming to the unjust judge for help despite his reputation of not fearing God or respecting man.
The friend who kept knocking his friend's doors at midnight to borrow some bread.
One through her "continued coming", the other through his "persistent asking".
1.2 Prayer is for everybody
Young and old, you can pray, you ought to pray and you must not give up praying.
A nameless widow, a persistent young man - whether poor or rich, young or old, prayer is available to us as we can read from this parable. No need to be shy with God. God wants all of us of all ages, all professions, all positions to approach Him in prayer. There is no discrimination and no partiality with God.
1.3 Prayer is exciting when it is against the odds
In the first parable, the widow was one person against an institution. Maybe there are people telling her to forget about petitioning the judge as he is known to be selfish and corrupt. He is also lazy and unwilling to dispense justice unless he gets something from her.
Does it remind you of today's political scenario? Does it remind you of a David & Goliah situation?
In the second parable, it is a friend who has chosen to disturb his friend at midnight. An unearthly hour when his friend was getting ready to sleep. That's why the overnight prayer is exciting because it is against the odds. The flow of revelation, dream-like visions and the sharpness and accuracy of the prophetic is most powerful in the middle of the night when all is asleep. Also it is the best time for us to come against demonic strongholds of the mind as there are no distractions of the day, no activities or planned schedules that will make demands of us.
1.4 Prayer is total coverage
With God, prayer is total coverage. There is no such thing that cannot be prayed over or be prayed for. Whether it is for justice or personal needs or relationship problems or physical needs, God hears us when we pray. Big or small, our needs matter to God.
In fact, Luke 11 talks about "asking for bread", "asking for fish" and "asking for egg."
God is encouraging us to ask what is in our heart. He cares for us.
Prayer coverage is total coverage. Pray about everything, pray about anything. Pray without ceasing.
1.5 Prayer the process of our character change
Persistency in prayer builds stamina, perseverance and character change.
When Jacob wrestled with the angel all night, he suffered a physical setback. To me it symbolizes God dealing with our flesh life before He answers our prayers.
Sometimes if He were to answer our prayers now it may do more harm than good to us. God knows us best. For e.g. when praying about that promotion or a better paying job, God may be holding it back for a purpose. Getting it may do us may harm than good. (Share about my promotion that was rejected).
The praying process is essential to build a character change in our lives that matters more than the answers to our prayers.
What do you think is the most important character change that God wants to see in me?
I believe it is the dying to the flesh-life, the dying to selfishness, ego-centricness, covetousness, greed and pride. It is the dying to carnality and anything that smells like rotten flesh to God.
Prayer is also a process of coming face to face with God (Gen 30:30). No other religion in the world gives us this privilege!
2. People in the parables
2 people in each of the parables with a story to tell.
The widow - downtrodden, abused, bullied, slandered, suffered at the hands of "an adversary." There was no way she could help herself. She was up against a system. She was absolutely helpless in dealing with her adversary. She wanted justice. She could only do one thing - "continual coming" before the unjust judge with her request. Putting aside all her discouragement, her doubts and all the nasty things she heard about the judge. There was no way to turn back for her! Don't we all have adversaries in life? Someone particularly irritating, someone who seem to give us so much problems especially someone with whom we have to face 8 hours a day at work! How horrendous! How do we pray for them?
The judge - lazy, rude, corrupt, not doing his job, could not be bothered about administering justice. Represents man who cannot help us. Instead of helping us, the person we approached could even take advantage of us!
The friend @ midnight - concerned about his visitor who came from far. A caring and loving person. A hospitable person. However his kitchen shelves were empty and he needed food for his visitor. To me this person is bold and creative. He is also not afraid to go out and ask for help.
The friend with the provision - friendship is not the criteria for him to help his friend if it is out of his comfort zone. His children are in bed, his door is locked, he did not even bother to go and open the door when his friend knocked on the door. Probably took several loud and incessant knockings before he reluctantly got out of bed to give his friend more than he needs!
What is the main characteristic of the widow and the friend who came knocking at the door? Persistency! Shameless! Boldness!
It is not how good we are, it is not how smart we are, it is not how clever or wise we are, it is our "shameless persistence"!
Luke 11: 8 (NLT) "...he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence"
Luke 11: 8 (NIV)
"I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity, he will surely get up and give you as much as you need."
Luke 11:8 (NASB)
"I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs."
One important Person who concludes the parables and teaches us something about prayer.
Prayer is all about the willingness of God, the generosity of His heart and the "how much more" of the character and nature of God
Luke 18:7-8
"And shall not God avenge his own elect.....Nevertheless when the Son of Man comes shall he really find faith on the earth?"
God is saying "I am ever willing to answer your prayers.....but what about you? Will you be praying when I return to earth one day? I am always ready and willing to do my part....what about you, are you willing to do yours?"
Luke 11:13
"....how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"
Don't misunderstand God!
He is every willing and ever ready to give you the Holy Spirit! Why is the Holy Spirit suddenly mentioned in the parable? It is because God knows that if we have the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we will certainly have the Spirit of Prayer always with us! He is the best gift anyone can ask for. Don't know what to ask? Ask for more and more of the Holy Spirit everyday. He will walk with you and talk with you along life's narrow way!
1.3 Promise in the parables
The 2 parables present to us ONE eternal promise. The loving and gracious nature of our God assures us that:
- He is ready to avenge His elect. Even an unjust judge will relent through persistent prayer. How much more our God who is gracious and just and ever willing to answer our prayers.
- He is ready to give us the Holy Spirit. First thing first. Before God answers our prayers for "things" and "physical stuff" or other "practical needs" that feed our body, God wants to feed our soul. To go deeper in our prayer life, we need the Holy Spirit. He will help us pray as He is the Spirit of Prayer & Intercession.
1.4 3 Dynamics of faith
The parables teaches us 3 dynamics of faith.
Faith is dynamite and is the condition of our hearts that pleases the Holy Spirit. Faith enables the Holy Spirit to work in our lives and to set His on fire for Him.
3 dynamics of active faith:
(i) Faith trusts in God for the answer
(ii) Faith waits on God for the answer
(iii) Faith seeks God for the answer
In telling the parable about the widow, Jesus suddenly ended the parable with the question to his disciples "When the Son of Man comes will He find faith on the earth?"
What has faith to do with prayer? Persistent prayer requires persevering faith.
Persevering faith is an essential ingredient in persistent prayer and is demonstrated as follows:
1. Praying day by day, week by week, month by month
2. Daily walk with God builds perseverance and persistence
3. Pray without ceasing by praying in the Spirit as often as we can
4. Memorizing the scriptures, praying the scriptures
Remember the 10 wise virgins. Prayer is a personal experience. Persevering faith in prayer is a personal character growth and cannot be outsourced to others.
In the corporate world we say that "prayer is in personam or personal to holder"
Your spiritual growth is your personal responsibility.
Your obedience is your personal responsibility.
We cannot obey for you by proxy, we cannot grow your prayer life for you by praying by proxy!
(Quote what Ps said about the fact that we cannot eat for others or drink for others)
