Sunday Oct. 17, 2010...Sermon Text: Luke 18: 1-8

In verse 1 Jesus told in a parable their need to pray always.  In our discussion it was pointed out that prayer is an avenue God has given us to be in relationship with Him...it is by His design.

The parable is about a widow who persistently went to an unrighteous judge for justice, a man who did not fear God or have respect for people.  In our discussion we recognized that we live in a world where we must go to people for fair treatment, who are not fair and good.  However in her persistence, the judge finally gave in and gave her justice. 

Jesus pointed out the difference between putting our faith in men versus God, who is just and fair to his chosen ones.  He said that God will quickly grant justice to them.  Now we must recognize that justice for God must be according to His sense of order and righteousness.  He will quickly put His plan of order for our lives to work when we pray, so we need to be thankful every time we pray, even if we don't see the order that He is bringing to us.  His idea of justice may be different than ours.

This is evidenced in the Psalms 22, where David cries out day and night to God for justice.  "Why have you forsaken me?" he cries, just as Christ did 1,000 years later from the cross.  But in his persistence he acknowledges that God is his only hope...his God in whom he puts his faith.  As Jesus died in the cross He did the same thing as He said, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit."

In verse 8 Jesus closes by saying, "And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"  When we pray, are we praying to God in whom we put all our faith and trust?  If we are praying in doubt, is that a prayer that God will respond to?  Prayer is an act of faith in which we acknowledge and praise God for who He is:  "Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.  In you our ancestors trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them." (Pslam 22: 4)