Unlike the Luke Gospel chapter 11 that opened with a special request from the disciples to Jesus to teach them how to pray, Luke 18 opened with Jesus initiating this discussion that bothers on a vital ingredient for a successful prayer life. We will read the text and learn one or two lessons on the subject of prayer.
Like I submitted before the book of Luke more than any other of the remaining gospels highlighted and dwell on Jesus prayer life, how he demonstrated and taught prayer.
"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward, he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cries day and night unto him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:1-8 KJV
The master spoke another parable, which unlike most other parables before, the intent for speaking this parable was defined and declared from the onset. The purpose is to make all men see the need for a consistent and persistent prayer lifestyle!
In the first lecture on prayers in Luke 11 Jesus dwelled more on the contents of our prayer: what are the things to pray and so specifically in that chapter, he began to outline the model contents of what the believer's prayer should constitute. However in Luke 18, the master was harping on the practice of prayer - it has to be consistent and persistent!
PRAYING OR FAINTING?
The first few words of the master are instructive enough, "men ought always to pray and not to faint'. There are few things to deduct from here.
1) We are always supposed to be in a prayer mode and mood! Jesus does not mean that we should always have our knees bent and eyes closed in prayer, but we must always be in the spirit of prayer. Many law enforcement officers always carry a gun with them, even when off duty. There is a sense in which they are never "off duty," but always have a weapon nearby. We are to keep our weapon of prayer always near, knowing that we are never "off duty" as believers!
2) If we are not praying then we are fainting! The master in a manner of speaking must have been referring to the content of Isaiah 40:29-31
"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint"
Isaiah 40:29-31 KJV
In other words, those who do not wait are those who faint. Those who faint are those who lack strength! Proverbs 24:10 tells us, "If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small". Summarily prayer is the source of the believer strength, strength to withstand in the days of adversity, strength to accomplish God's plan and purpose for our lives! Without praying we would be fainting. It comes as no surprise then that when Jesus was facing his last hours on the earth he faced it with supernatural strength garnered from praying in the garden of Gethsemane!
Without praying always we are susceptible to fainting always!
These words from the master are enough to shake off any spiritual lethargy from our lives! This is the end of the parable before it even begins. And then Jesus went on from here to give full details of the parable! And there are a few things to learn from here.
Read full blog post here UNDERSTANDING CHRIST: A Look Through The Book Of Luke - Luke 18
Like I submitted before the book of Luke more than any other of the remaining gospels highlighted and dwell on Jesus prayer life, how he demonstrated and taught prayer.
"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward, he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cries day and night unto him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:1-8 KJV
The master spoke another parable, which unlike most other parables before, the intent for speaking this parable was defined and declared from the onset. The purpose is to make all men see the need for a consistent and persistent prayer lifestyle!
In the first lecture on prayers in Luke 11 Jesus dwelled more on the contents of our prayer: what are the things to pray and so specifically in that chapter, he began to outline the model contents of what the believer's prayer should constitute. However in Luke 18, the master was harping on the practice of prayer - it has to be consistent and persistent!
PRAYING OR FAINTING?
The first few words of the master are instructive enough, "men ought always to pray and not to faint'. There are few things to deduct from here.
1) We are always supposed to be in a prayer mode and mood! Jesus does not mean that we should always have our knees bent and eyes closed in prayer, but we must always be in the spirit of prayer. Many law enforcement officers always carry a gun with them, even when off duty. There is a sense in which they are never "off duty," but always have a weapon nearby. We are to keep our weapon of prayer always near, knowing that we are never "off duty" as believers!
2) If we are not praying then we are fainting! The master in a manner of speaking must have been referring to the content of Isaiah 40:29-31
"He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint"
Isaiah 40:29-31 KJV
In other words, those who do not wait are those who faint. Those who faint are those who lack strength! Proverbs 24:10 tells us, "If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small". Summarily prayer is the source of the believer strength, strength to withstand in the days of adversity, strength to accomplish God's plan and purpose for our lives! Without praying we would be fainting. It comes as no surprise then that when Jesus was facing his last hours on the earth he faced it with supernatural strength garnered from praying in the garden of Gethsemane!
Without praying always we are susceptible to fainting always!
These words from the master are enough to shake off any spiritual lethargy from our lives! This is the end of the parable before it even begins. And then Jesus went on from here to give full details of the parable! And there are a few things to learn from here.
Read full blog post here UNDERSTANDING CHRIST: A Look Through The Book Of Luke - Luke 18
