The Art of Asking Part 2 Persistence in Prayer

“When the Son of Man comes will he find faith on the earth?”.  Luke 18:8.

What do you think Jesus was referring to when he asks this question?  For some the answer would include being faithful to all the religious activities such as going to church and Bible study.  Others might take it literally and confess their faith in Jesus as their savior.   Their hope would be that when He returns their faith in Him would be strong on that day.  But the immediate context of the verse is in reference to a parable from Jesus to encourage his disciples to always pray and not give up.

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. ² He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. ³ And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

⁴ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, ⁵ yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”

⁶ And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. ⁷ And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? ⁸ I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”  Luke 18:1-8.

When it comes to our premise about is the art to asking there are some principles that we can glean from this scripture passage.

1.    We are presenting our request to a loving Father God who is bent toward answering the request of his children.  He is not an unrighteous judge.  He is not aloof.  He is not uncaring.  He is not detached from our need.  He is not unwilling to answer our request.  Jesus says that God wants to answer and answer quickly.  This starting point of knowing that God cares encourages us to continue to ask.

2.   Persistence in prayer is expected.  Jesus knew that we have a tendency to give up too quickly when it comes to prayer. Many times if the answer is slow in coming, we assume that God does not want to help in “this situation”.  So we stop asking. BUT Jesus is telling us to continue to present our request.

3.   God is the judge…you are not.  The word justice is used 4 times in this parable.  Another Greek meaning for the word is “legal counsel”.  In other words, God will make sure that there is a covering and protection against the adversary.  If you have already determined how to address the problem…you are not letting God bring his counsel into the situation.  You are acting as judge and wanting God to enforce your verdict.

a.    A widow had no one to represent her in society if she had no family.  She was totally vulnerable to whomever desired to take advantage of her. Having the judge make a decision to cover her need was no small action.  She now had protection.

b.    Allowing God to be the judge covers our vulnerability.  Fear wants to dominate us by revealing our weak spots.  God as judge covers, shields, defends those areas that we are uncappable of defending.

4.   This passage limits our request in asking for justice from our adversary.  Other passages of scriptures are going to reveal what specific requests we can bring before the Lord. Don’t tell God that he has to meet your request just because you continue to ask…make sure that what you are asking for is in agreement with God’s will and desire.  James says that we do not receive our request because we ask wrongly wanting to spend it on our own passions.  James 4:3

5.   Finally this persistent prayer must be linked with faith.  Repetition is only part of the equation as is persistence.  But Jesus linked faith to the parable.  Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.  Add appropriate scriptures to your continuous prayers before the Lord.

a.    For example, you might be in need of a job to provide for your family.  Matthew 6 reveals that God knows our physical needs for clothing, food, and housing.  We are instructed not to worry, but seek the kingdom of God first.

b.    So your prayer before the Lord might go like this. “Father, I am scared and worried.  Forgive me for not trusting fully in you to provide for my needs.  Your word says not to worry, and I am struggling with that right now.  As best as I know how, I am seeking you and all that your kingdom has.  Please help me find the right job for my family.  Your word in Matthew says that you will provide for those basic needs if we seek you first.  Thank you that you care intimately about my fears and cares.  Today, I trust that you are moving situations in my behalf.  To you belongs all of the glory. In Jesus name, Amen.

c.    Faith is expressed in words and revealed in actions.  Your prayer should include that trust in God to meet your need.  God is pleased by faith and rewards those who come to him in faith.

The art of asking would include persistence.  Don’t give up to quickly on your request.  It would also include faith.  Faith reveals our vulnerability and insufficiency to bring out the result of our prayer.  We are in need and it is fully appropriate to ask God to help meet our need.  See if you can make a list of answered prayers in which you prayed repeatedly and how did God answer them.  Faith grows stronger through the testimony of God’s involvement in our affairs.  David saw God’s hand in helping with the lion and the bear…now he was ready for Goliath.

Mix faith in your persistent prayers toward a loving Father God…he is waiting for you to ask.

Next we will look at some biblical people who “asked” God for things.