January 26, 2014
Morning Service

Luke 18:1-8

 

Today our study concerns that of prayer.  Chapter 18 of Luke.

As we look back at chapter 17 we recognize a very good chapter of teaching on important subjects.

1.       How to react when you are offended. 

2.      When we have done what is required of us to do, consider ourselves unprofitable servants. Attitude.

3.      The ten lepers.  How we should respond to the goodness of God.  Faithfully giving God the glory for His goodness.

4.      Then He closes chapter 17 teaching on His second coming.  A parallel chapter to Matt. 24.                          A WARNING OF “REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE.”

 

So let’s begin chapter 18:

Luk 18:1-14  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 

·         We could stop right here, and never run out of material to teach on. 

·         Jesus taught this by example.  He was always getting secluded, and praying to His Father in Heaven.

·         But let’s look at the example He gives us for praying:

(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. 

·         Or, understand what is being said here.

(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.

·         Jesus is teaching us to be persistent in prayer.  Listen to Him at the beginning of this discourse:  men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

·         This parable is designed to teach us that, though our prayers should long appear to be unanswered, we should persevere, and not grow weary in supplication to God.

·         Paul told the church at Thessalonica to “pray without ceasing.”

·         And 1Ti 2:8  I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

·         Paul was always telling the saints to pray for him, and his work.

·         This is coming from a man that eventually, even though many prayers will be made in his behalf, will die for his faith in Christ.

·         Listen to James’s reasons for praying.

***Jas 5:13-20  Is any among you afflicted? let him pray.

·         AFFLICTED;  By sickness, bereavement, disappointment, persecutions, loss of health or property. The word used here refers to suffering evil of any kind. 

·         I think we can all see that there is always a need to pray.  Pray, without ceasing.

***Is any merry? Let him sing psalms. 

***(14)  Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  (15)  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

 

 

 

Look at the instructions. 

·         The sick should call for the elders of the church.

·         The elders are to pray over the sick, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.

And what will this accomplish? 

·         We trust the Lord for the healing we need.

·         The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

We understand, all that are prayed for in this manner are not healed of their sicknesses.  It is that we have obeyed what is ask of us, and then it is up to God to do the healing, or not to heal.   We pray in His will be done.  The healing is up to God, sometimes He says yes, and sometimes no.  Example of Paul.   In prison, yes.  In death, no.

But, what is always accomplished is the person has their sins forgiven, and are saved, and will be raised up at the resurrection.   Heaven and eternal life are our ultimate goals.

***(16)  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 

·         A time of sharing, and trusting to a special friend that you have great confidence in their prayers.  Everyone needs someone like this in their lives.

Then James gives an example:

***(17)  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.  (18)  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. 

·         Like passions?  He was a great prophet of God, yet clothed in a frail body of flesh.

***(19)  Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;  (20)  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. 

·         Peter said;  1Pe 4:7  But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

THE END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND:   PRETTY SOMBERING THOUGHT.

 

Jesus, Paul, and Peter encourages us to pray.  THEN JESUS ASK:

 

Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? 

·         The truth, that he had been teaching was, that God would deliver his people from their calamities and save them, though he suffered them to be long tried. He asks them here whether, when he came, he should find “this faith,” or a belief of “this truth,” among his followers? Would they be found persevering in prayer, and “believing” that God would yet avenge them; or would they cease to pray “always, and faint?”

·         With this thought in mind, there is one scripture that I have been thinking a lot about lately.  Rev 6:9-10  And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:  (10)  And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

The Scriptures teach us that one day is as a thousand years with the Lord.  However, there is coming a day when these people will be avenged, and receive their rewards. 

 

The wonderful thing about all this is this Scripture;  Heb 11:39-40  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:  (40)  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.