The Benefits of Fervent and Consistent Prayer Luke 18.1-8

The Benefits of Fervent and Consistent Prayer

Luke 18.1-8

 

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, Give me justice against my adversary. 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?

 

     A young man went to a pharmacy and bought three boxes of candy, one small, one medium and one large. The pharmacist asked why the three sizes? The young man said that he was going to have date that night. If she let him hold her hand, he would give her the small box. If she let him kiss her on the cheek, he would give her the medium box. If she let him kiss her on the lips, he would give her the large box. Later that evening he arrived at her house for dinner with the family. He was asked to pray. His prayer was fervent and lasted for five minutes! Everyone at the table was worn out. His date then said, “I never knew you were such a religious person?” He replied, “You never told me your father was a pharmacist!”  (from “P.U.S.H. Pray Until Something Happens” by Dr. David O. Dykes, SermonCentral.com). Note: I don't often include jokes in my sermons. Read the conclusion to understand why I used one here!

 

     Almost everyone will resort to prayer in a difficult situation. But God’s word teaches us that prayer is much more than that. It is one of the most important parts of our Christian life. Jesus Himself prayed fervently and often and taught His disciples to pray.  Paul, in several places, says that he himself prayed without ceasing, and he urges us to pray in the same way. “Be constant in prayer,” he said to the Romans (12.12). 

 

     Yet all too often our prayers become inconsistent and weak. Our sinful nature leads us away from prayer and from God.  We awake in the morning and turn on the radio or television. We hustle off to work and keep busy there all day. In the evening we are too tired to pray. And this pattern will repeat itself over and over again. It is to overcome this natural tendency that Jesus taught the Parable of the Persistent Widow.  

 

Fervent Prayer

 

     Let’s begin by pointing out the obvious in this story. Jesus compares our prayers to a widow that keeps bothering a bad and uncaring judge until he finally does something about her request.  The words “beat me down” (ESV) here literally mean “strike under the eye," or "to give someone a black eye" (ὑπωπιάζω).  We have an English phrase for this:  “to browbeat.”  Is Jesus saying that we should browbeat God in our prayers?  In a way that is what He is saying. We have other examples of this in the Bible. Jacob, the Bible tells us, literally wrestled with God and would not give up until He blessed him (Genesis 32.26).  Hannah prayed so fervently for a child that Eli the priest thought she was drunk (1 Samual 1.15-16). In the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus was facing the greatest test of faith – the sacrifice of His life on the cross, He prayed so fervently that His sweat fell like “great drops of blood” (Luke 22.44).  God wants us to be fervent in our prayers.

 

     But, really, what does it actually mean to be fervent in prayer?  We can begin by noting what fervent prayer is not.  It is not going through the motions of prayer without thinking about what the words mean. This is what Cain (Genesis 4.3ff) and King Saul (1 Samuel 13.8ff)  seem to have done when they came to worship God. Fervency is to look carefully at two things. It is to look carefully at ourselves and our problems. It is to be honest with our situation.  One of my most often said prayers is this, “Lord, help me to pray. Help me to see myself and my situation in the right way. Keep me from misunderstanding. Keep me from praying for the wrong things.”  The other part of fervency is to look carefully at God. Martin Luther liked to compare our prayers to God to his dog Tölpel.  “Oh, if I could only pray the way this dog watches the meat! All his thoughts are concentrated on the piece of meat. Otherwise he has no thought, wish or hope” (LW 54 p. 37). Prayer is as much about listening to God and concentrating on Him as it is to talk to Him about ourselves. Many people say that they pray all the time with fervency but nothing seems to come of it. That’s probably because they aren’t focusing on God and listening to Him.  When we focus on ourselves and on God in His word, we will be given understanding, comfort and strength. 

 

Consistent Prayer

 

     What about consistency? Jesus said we “ought always to pray and not lose heart” (18.1). The word for “not loose heart” is interesting.  It literally could be translated, “and not give in to what is bad (ἐγκακέω).”  The opposite of fervent prayer is worry and bad thoughts. All of us will sooner or later battle against these. Paul, in his first letter to Timothy talks about the “sound words” of Jesus. When we turn away from these we soon find ourselves struggling with what Paul calls “evil suspicions.” Our mind becomes “depraved” because it is literally “deprived of truth” (1 Timothy 6.4-5).  

 

     Hospitals maintain a positive pressure of purified air to keep bad air out. In the same way we need consistency in prayer to keep the bad thoughts out of our heads.  We need the pure words of God pouring into our minds constantly and the pure words of righteous prayer pouring out. This is not something that can be effective if it is done only intermittantly.  There are many things like this in life. If we take our medicine inconsistently, if we diet or exercise inconsistently, if we try to learn something inconsistently, it just won’t work.  

 

     God tells us in the Third Commandment to make prayer a consistent part of our life.  “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God” (Exodus 20.8-10). David said, “Evening and morning and at noon I will pray and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice” (Psalm 55.17). I would urge you to look at your weekly and daily routines and commit yourself to the priority of prayer. Don’t say, “I’ll worship if it is convenient.” Don’t think, “I’ll meditate on God’s word if I get some extra time.” Install that system of sound words, both those of Jesus in His word and your own in your prayers, and let it run regularly every day.  But, and this is very important, the command to pray consistently is not enough to inspire us! The command is good, but as Jesus said, "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26.41). The inspiration to pray consistently comes from the consistent promises of God. Psalm 91.15 tells us, "He (the one who believes) shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble..." In Isaiah (65.24) God said, "It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear." When Jeremiah was shut up in prison the LORD told him: "Call to Me, and I will answer you... " (33.3). Every week is 168 hours long. A couple of hours of worship each week will always make the other 166 hours much more productive and happy. The same is true for each day. Twenty minutes for meditation and family devotions out our twenty-four hour day will make the rest of the twenty-three hours and forty minutes so much better! God's promises encourage us to maintain consistent times of prayer, and in those prayers God is with us to help us. 

 

Prayers Are Answered with the Cross

 

     Jesus says in the end that justice will be done (v. 8).  We pray because things are wrong. Either something is wrong with us or with others or both.  A little boy was once sent to his room for being naughty. Eventually he asked his mother if he could come out. To appease her a little he said, “I prayed about it.”  His mother said, “Good. God will help you to behave better if you ask Him.”  But the boy replied, “I know that mom, but I also asked God to help you put up with me!”  

 

     God is all about justice. Justice for the stubborn and indifferent is God’s wrath. God fixes the problem by condemning the ones who are bringing it on.  Justice for the repentant is justification.  God fixes the problem by forgiving it and healing it.  For believers the answer to all our prayers begins with the cross.  When I pray, I often pray holding on to this small cross.  I know that every thing I need begins here.  Jesus said that justice will come speedily, and it has come to us in Christ. He takes what is broken and bent and fixes it again. He takes what is sick and heals it. He renews and refreshes what is dead and rotten.  This is no empty promise on His part.  It is the very heart of all truth and reality.  Jesus fulfills the promise of God’s justice in this earth by taking upon Himself all the wrongs of the entire world upon the cross.  There every righteous prayer that has ever been or ever will be uttered has been answered.  The Bible says, "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8.32). There we see the beginning of every thing we need, and we only wait for all the rest of God’s blessings that He will give to us in Christ.  Amen. 

Conclusion

 

     I started this prayer with a little joke, and that's not something I usually do. I don't ever want people to get the impression that I'm not serious about God's word. But in this case I made an exception because I think Jesus is telling a kind of joke in this parable. In this case, though, the joke is not about the word of God or any promises God has made about prayer. The joke is on the devil. I just can't help but think Jesus is telling us a little joke when he portrays this bad judge who "neither feared God or man" being beaten down by a poor widow. The punch line is in these words by the judge: "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." Prayer is no joke. Prayer is powerful, and this parable shows how God's promises regarding prayer turn the devil and all his allies into a joke! Amen. 

Ora et Labora - Change the World

Sermon for Evening Prayer

August 28, 2019

     This morning as I was driving to church, I accidentally had the radio on. I normally do not listen to the new early in the morning because I don’t like to begin my day with “dispatches from the dysfunctional world.” It’s depressing. I’d like to get some productive work done before I have to listen to the griping and complaining. Today, however, I listened a little to two men arguing over gun control and the legalization of drugs. Everyone thinks they can change the world by changing a few external laws. But it is not the laws that usually need changing as much as it is the hearts of all human beings. What I was about to do in the next few minutes (teach 8^thgraders about God and His word) would do more to bring good in the world than most people realize. The same could be said for mowing the lawn, doing the laundry, working ten math problems, memorizing twenty spelling words, going to visit a sick person, stocking store shelves, bandaging a wound, or reading the Bible and praying. 

     There is an old Latin saying, ora et labora, that means “pray and work.” It is often attributed to the Rule of St. Benedict, but the phrase is not actually used there. The idea of a life of prayer and work, however, is very much part of the Rule. Others have also used this phrase even though they don’t have a religious focus. It is the motto of Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, the  Scottish clan Ramsay, and of the city of Toledo, Ohio. You’ll also find the motto on a plaque in honor of Ole Kirk Christiansen, the creator of Legos. 

     Ora et Labora is a great motto for anyone. In the book of Hebrews, chapter thirteen, we find the same basic idea: “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (13.15-16).

     If we want to change the world, I would suggest we all start by devoting ourselves to prayer and work. But the key is that we do it “by Him.” All of us are a mixed bag of good and evil. But in Jesus we find the true fix for evil in the forgiveness of sins. With that renewal of our lives by faith, every day is a new opportunity to pray and work. This is the pattern we also see in Jesus, who rose early in the morning to pray (Mark 1.35), and who said, “We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9.4).  Amen.

Responding to Wickedness with Trust, Prayer & Proclamation

I've spoken before of the rising tide of evil in our world. It is something that we observe and that Scripture has promised will happen (2 Timothy 3.1-5). Scripture also tells us that God punishes wickedness and will do so ultimately in the end. In Genesis 19 God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness. This destruction was a great test of faith both for Abraham and for his nephew Lot. Reading about that can be discouraging and disheartening to us as it was to them. Looking around at today's increasing immorality, hatred and violence can also be discouraging. Sadly, we can say with Ethan, "For what futility have You created all the children of men?" (Psalm 89.47). 

The world that lies under the deception of Satan (1 John 5.19) misunderstands the source of this evil and therefore responds incorrectly. Some blame ignorance and say that better education will be the cure. Some blame poverty and say the redistribution of wealth will be the cure. Some think that the good guys just need to shoot all the bad guys in order to overcome evil. Truthful education, fair economics and just temporal punishments can help resist and contain evil in the world. But these things cannot overcome evil. Evil can only be overcome by the one who taught us to pray: "Deliver us from evil." Jesus defeated evil with righteousness when He resisted Satan's temptations (Matthew 4.1-11), and when He gave His life as a ransom for those who would seek God's forgiveness from their own evil (Mark 10.45).

Now we can see the best response to wickedness: First, we trust in God who alone can overcome wickedness - first in our own hearts and then in the world. Second, we pray for God to deliver us and this world from evil just as Jesus taught us. We pray fervently for the wicked as Abraham prayed fervently for Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18.22-33). It is important to pray for all those who are blinded by the Evil One that they might be brought to repentance and faith in Christ. Thirdly, God has put us here to proclaim the truth of evil and the truth of forgiveness and salvation in Jesus. What happens after that is in God's hands. He will see all things to their proper end. 

Sermon from July 24, 2016 "From Gomorrah to Golgotha"

Hymn:  "Rise to Arms! With Prayer Employ You"

Rise! To arms! With prayer employ you,

O Christians, lest the foe destroy you;

For Satan has designed your fall.

Wield God’s Word, the weapon glorious;

Against all foes be thus victorious.

God will set you above them all.

Fear not the hordes of hell,

Here is Emmanuel.

Hail the Savior!

The strong foes yield

To Christ, our shield,

And we, the victors, hold the field.

Cast afar this world’s vain pleasure

And boldly strive for heav’nly treasure.

Be steadfast in the Savior’s might.

Trust the Lord, who stands beside you,

For Jesus from all harm will hide you.

By faith you conquer in the fight.

Take courage, weary soul!

Look forward to the goal!

Joy awaits you.

The race well run,

Your long war won,

Your crown shines splendid as the sun.

Wisely fight, for time is fleeting;

The hours of grace are fast retreating;

Short, short is this our earthly way.

When the Lord the dead will waken

And sinners all by fear are shaken,

The saints with joy will greet that day.

Praise God, our triumph’s sure.

We need not long endure

Scorn and trial.

Our Savior King

His own will bring

To that great glory which we sing.

Text: Wilhelm E. Arends, 1677–1721; tr. John M. Sloan, b. 1835, alt. WACHET AUF

Tune: Philipp Nicolai, 1556–1608 P M

Text and tune: Public domain

A Prayer for Spiritual Healing

In at least four places the New Testament teaches us about the inner struggle between the soul and the sinful flesh. Paul calls it a war in Galatians five. In Romans seven he describes the agony Christians experience when "the good that I will to do I do not do..." Peter warns us of the "fleshly lusts that war against the soul." James also reminds us that "the Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously..."

Above all of this there are spiritual attacks that come from outside of us either through evil spirits or through those under the control of those same spirits. It is inevitable that the Christian will suffer spiritual wounds, either self-inflicted or otherwise.

From time to time I feel great spiritual pain over things I have said or haven't said; things I've done or haven't done. The pain just doesn't go away. The word "Satan" means "accuser," and that is exactly what he does. He makes me feel the pain of deep spiritual wounds. Sometimes it seems to me that my soul has been bitten, and there is a venom that lingers on and on. I am just sick, spiritually sick.

God knows this, and in His love He not only explains what is happening, He also heals these wounds to the soul. Isaiah foretold that Jesus would bring healing through "his stripes." Malachi, the last Hebrew prophet, also said of Jesus, "The Sun of righteousness will arise with healing in His wings." Both Jesus and His apostles healed people who were "tormented by unclean spirits."

This is when a Christian begins to understand all those past teachers in the church who kept talking about how sweet the Gospel is. At first we believe it because it is true. But eventually we realize it as we experience the pain of the sinful flesh and of evil spirits. We know how true these words are: "There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin sick soul."

So I pray:

Dear God, Holy and Gracious God,

I am so sorry that I acted foolishly. I opened a door and let temptation in. I wasn't paying attention. I drifted into that no-man's-land where nothing good can come. Forgive me for Jesus' sake. Have mercy on me, a sinner.

I know You still love me. I know that You are still patient with me. I know I don't deserve it. I believe that You forgive me. I believe that for Christ's suffering and death You take away my sin. I appreciate that in my baptism, in all the promises of Your word, and in body and blood of Christ... for the forgiveness of sin.

Dear God, for Jesus' sake, please heal me and help me. Help me learn from my mistakes. Help me grow through this adversity. Make me wiser for the future.

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Immanuel Prayer

O Lord Jesus, my Immanuel*
When I am guilty, Be with me and forgive me.
When I am frustrated, Be with me and give me peace.
When I am confused, Be with me and make we wise.
When I am afraid, Be with me and make me brave.
When I am proud, Be with me and give me Your humility.
When I am sad, Be with me and comfort me.
When I am tired, Be with me and give me rest for body and soul.
When I am in danger, Be with me and save me.
When I am hurt, Be with me and heal my wounds.
When I am tempted, Be with me and keep me faithful.
When I am tested, Be with me and make me strong.
When I am spiritually attacked, Be with me, protect me.
Make Your home with me through Your word. Amen.

*Immanuel means "God with us" in Hebrew.
(Picture: Dan Schutte)

It's All About Thine!

Protestants who attend a Catholic mass for the first time are often surprised by the abrupt ending of the Lord's Prayer often used in the Catholic Church: "...Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen."

What happened to "For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever Amen" they wonder?

The earliest Greek manuscripts of the New Testament do not have this traditional ending. The ending comes along later in varying forms. One manuscript ends the prayer with "For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit forever. Amen."

The traditional ending is found in the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. John was famous pastor in the early church who died in A.D. 407. Some think the ending was adapted from 1 Chronicles 29.11, "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all."

Whatever it's origin, this liturgical ending to the Lord's Prayer proclaims a vitally important truth: It's all about Thine! God's relationship with us began and continues because of His love toward us. In the end it is always about Him... His kingdom, power and glory!"

Psalm 115 says it so well: "Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth."

New Year's Eve Prayer

Eternal God and Lord of All, not a second passes that You aren’t aware of us and deeply concerned about us. You created this world and placed us in it. Through Jesus Christ, Your Son, You called us to eternal life.

Though our earthly life may be short and troubled… though it might be long and full of satisfaction and happiness… We give thanks for each and every day and for every opportunity that we have had to live by faith. Thank You for every good and noble work, for every expression of love, and for every declaration of truth that the world has witnessed from us. Forgive us for every mistep and transgression that has reflected badly on You and has hurt those around us. Renew us again in Jesus that we might again be lights in the world as another year begins.

Heavenly Father, hear the cries the rise up from this troubled globe. We pray for the sick, the hungry, the lonely, the confused, those struggling in doubt, the sad and sorrowing souls drowning in despair. Come to them through Your Spirit’s word and drive away the effects of sin that tire and torment.

Restrain the evil-doers in Your will, and bring the full number of those whom You have chosen into the kingdom of Your grace. Guide our nation’s leaders that their governing may reflect the peace, justice, and righteousness of the child born Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.
Protect all who serve in our armed forces and are far away from home. We especially remember Joe Rincker in Kuwait, Chris Mentz, Brian Schiller & Jim Petersen in Iraq, and Jim Pfaff in Kyrgyzstan.

Help us continue living by grace. Help us to forget the past year’s sorrows, cherish its joys and blessings. Perpare us for all tha awaits in the future that with wisdom we might approach every challenge and opportunity.

We know that no man knows the time of Christ’s return, but that He called us to watch and pray. Lord, keep us ready, serving at our posts until the trumpet may sound. And then take us to join the wedding feast that has been prepared.

Hear us in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayer for the 2008 Elections

Lord of all nations, bless our country especially in the upcoming election. Bring us leaders who will enact and enforce laws that protect and prosper all human beings. We pray for the protection and preservation of the unborn, the aged, the handicapped, and the sick. We pray for economic justice that those who work and invest may receive the fruit of their labors. We pray for educational opportunity that each person may grow in wisdom and skill. We pray for the continued freedom to believe and worship according to conscience. We pray for citizens who will take responsibility for themselves and their neighbors. We pray for the punishment, restraint, and rehabilitation of criminals and for protection against the enemies of freedom. Bless this country and grant that each one of us would be a part of that blessing by living according to Your will. In Jesus' name. Amen.