The Trouble with Prayer

Why People Decide Not to Pray

Luke 18:1-8

 

I.         Introduction

 

A.      A real convicting message this morning - something we all need desperately

B.       Jesus spent a lot of time teaching His disciples about how to walk with God - to pray, and lean upon Him for direction and comfort, and safety and the supply of every need!

C.       So he uses an unusual story - a parable that will teach us about prayer

D.      But let me warn you, this is no simple "object lesson." Jesus not only shows us how to pray, but warns us that true prayer has a price tag

 

II.       Background (Luke 18)

 

A.      The Unjust Judge (Luke 18:1,2)

 

1.        Feared not God - no time for God - no moral guidance - no authority above himself - have things changed in 2,000 years?

2.        Regarded (cared) not for people - lived separately from people and their problems. Just a law unto himself

3.        Distant from everybody - didn’t seem to be a very good judge

 

B.       The Widow Woman (Luke 8:3-5)

 

1.        In trouble with some neighbour who had become her adversary (her enemy) - under attack from this adversary

2.        She had no family - no one to lean on, or turn to for help - no govt assistance or programs. She was alone

3.        Concludes that this judge is her only hope!

4.        No solicitor - no money to hire one to speak FOR her.

5.        Decides she is going to have to go to the judge herself and get the answer

6.        But the lesson she learned, and that Jesus teaches is not going to be easy!

 

III.     Message - The Trouble with Prayer (Luke 18:1-8)

 

A.      It Takes Time and Effort

 

1.        Who ever told us that prayer was easy was lying

2.        You can't just push a button and get prayers said for you - web-site prayer pages, and dial-a-prayer

3.        This widow woman, who already had a busy schedule, and no help, was going to have to take the time herself and go meet this judge face to face

4.        Not just a once-off event either. She was going to stay at it until an answer was received - perseverance - tenacity!

5.        This widow woman was not cheap with her time with this judge

 

a.       She invested time each and every day - had a set time she would go to meet this judge and cry-out before him her case

b.       She would go not only during the day, but at night

 

6.        She couldn't turn it over to somebody else to do it for her

 

a.       You can't rely on others to do your praying for you

b.       I believe in praying for one another - but not to the exclusion that only a FEW people end up doing most of the praying! That's laziness

 

 

B.       It Needs a Reason - Not just something to pass the time - a Focus, Goal. We need good reasons to pray

 

1.        This woman had a desperate need - about to lose everything - it focused all her energies on obtaining protection from this judge. It was not an "exercise in futility" - even though the judges of that time were just as unjust as today! This woman set out to petition her only hope! And was out to get an answer!

2.        Our times of prayer have become so shallow - don't really come to God in times of need anymore - just times of griping and defeat and frustration

3.        Ah, but when trouble strikes, let it be a good reason to run to Christ (1 Kings 1:41-53)

 

a.       David was dying - could barely sit up in bed

b.       No king had been chosen to replace him

c.       A young, enterprising man  named Adonijah took advantage of the situation and gathered a bunch of people around him, and declared himself king. People were starting to believe Adonijah was king.

d.       The court came to David and told him about Adonijah

e.       David sat up and declared his son Solomon was the son God had said would be king

f.        Out goes the news

g.       People began to rejoice and sin

h.       Adonijah hears all the commotion and finds out Solomon is the real king, and then runs

 

1)       Not out of the country

2)       But to the Temple, right to the altar of sacrifice

3)       He is praying! Begging God to forgive him, and protect him. Do you know what kings do to their competition? See what Herod did to all the children 2 years old and younger in Bethlehem!

 

i.         There is nothing like a good NEED to get a proud man to pray (Ps 119:67). Next time, realise the troubles your family is experiencing may be to get you all on your knees and maybe somebody saved!

 

4.        David had learned this, and most of the Psalms are him praying in times of need - times of trouble - times of disaster - times of spiritual warfare

5.        Let me balance this out and say, a good reason to pray is just to praise as well! Doesn't have to be only in the bad-times - but like Jesus says, AT ALL TIMES!

6.        That's the trouble with prayer - it won't work without a reason! It has to be more than religious exercise!

 

C.       It Requires Passion (Cf Ps 119:2,10,58,145) - heart energy!

 

1.        This woman is going after this judge with all her heart and energies - will not stop until she has obtained what she needs!

 

a.       Not like children who throw tantrums for what they want

b.       But like a mother who keeps at the doctor until he or she finds a cure for her dying child

 

2.        Most hearts are so far from God - their prayers are only words to impress others around them (Mt 15:8)

3.        We put so much energy into our hobbies, and studies and activities (fishing, sports, and gardening). Yet our energy for God is near zero!

4.        True prayer comes only from the heart, and can include

 

a.       Tears; brokenness; surrender; total dependence - not caring what anyone else thinks

b.       This is how the Centurian, and the Canaanite woman, and Jairus came to Jesus when they asked Him to help their situation at home

 

5.        This world has taught us how to live in the passions of lust and desire for filth and wickedness, and the result is none of us has a passion for God anymore - I mean a passion that loves to just stay and pray, and linger in heaven before the throne of an Almighty Saviour and Friend!

6.        Measure your "passion" next time you pray - see just how long you can stand to pray, and compare it with how long you can stand to watch TV, and sit at a match in the rain during penalty after penalty overtime!

7.        That's the trouble with prayer - it can't work without passion!!!

 

D.      It Demands Faith (Cf Rom 4:14,18-21)

 

1.        Faith is:

 

a.       Confidence in God

b.       Dependence upon God - not having back-up plans

c.       Willing to obey God because you know God will get you through

d.       Abraham was a fatalist - just waiting for God to do what He planned on doing. God has a plan, but waits on our faith to initiate that plan

 

1)       As with salvation - Father forgive… you must ask (Rom 10:13)!

2)       As with joy - the joy is there man! Just draw from it in prayer

 

2.        This woman had visible faith

 

a.       Not just words to her

b.       But her whole life

c.       How "visible" is your faith?

 

1)       Do your kids see it?

2)       Do other people notice it - how about at meal times?

3)       Do people know of you as a person of prayer - or just a go-getter, or a sleeper, or a trouble-maker?

 

3.        Christ invites us to His throne at any and all times of our lives (Heb 4:16)

 

IV.    Conclusion -

 

A.      Jesus reminds us that God is not unjust, but that if a widow woman, with no one helper her, could move the heart of an ungodly judge, then surely anybody in this room could move the heart of God

B.       Someone once said, "Why try and move the world ourselves, when all we need to do is move the Arm that already moves the world?"

C.       The trouble is:

 

1.        It takes time

2.        We need good reasons to pray

3.        We need passion in our prayers - not empty scripted prayers

4.        We must be full of faith and confidence in the One to whom we call

 

D.      If those ingredients are not present, we fail

E.       But if those ingredients are present, we can only win

 

1.        The spiritual battles are real, and deadly

2.        The need is desperate - in our homes and families

3.        The hour is late - we need revival

4.        Some folks may leave here this morning and step off into eternity - with no hope of heaven because they have never repented and trusted Jesus once and for all for forgiveness and salvation