The Efficacy of Prayer - Part 3

Persistent Praying

Luke 18:1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.

1 Thess. 5:17-18 Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you

I.THE CHARACTER AND NATURE OF GOD (HIS WAY)

     A.God is holy and good
     B.God is righteous and just:
        1…In these, He is also holy and good
        2…He will not allow evil to continue…Ps. 37
        3…He will avenge His own – as He says it, “speedily”…Luke 18:8
    C.God is omniscient and knows the heart of every man
    D.God is patient and long-suffering, not willing that any should perish…2 Peter
    E.The observation of the way of God is that He is in no hurry to act; He always acts with holy righteousness, justice, mercy and grace to accomplish His will…and it WILL be accomplished. A day is as a thousand years with out God, and the reverse is also true.

II.LEARNING TO LIVE WITH GOD

    A.Impatience with God never works! Pray a week, a month, a year or 10 years!
    B.God’s advice to us – we will either trust Him or we won’t – it is a faith issue
        1…God will work His own plan – without our counsel! Rom. 11:34; 1 Cor. 2;16; Eph 1:11
He works all things after the counsel of His own perfect will, ‘commit thy way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.’
        2…God advises us not to fret - Psalm 37
        3…When one puts off a habit he MUST put on another to have lasting change see
Luke 18:6-8; Rev. 6:9-11
          a.Put off personal vengeance
          b.Put off fretting (see last post on Stress Praying)
          c.Remembering the way of the Lord is not in our time but in His time and that He will avenge His children: put on persistent, intentional, continuous prayer
        4…Pray without ceasing and do not lose heart – 1 Thess. 5:117; Col. 4:2
          a.Keep it fresh as if it was the first time you were asking it
          b.Keep it alive with expectant faith
          c.Keep it intense with earnest desire for its answer…crying is OK!
        3.Remember to give thanks in all things: 1 Thess. 5:18; Col. 4:2…be vigilant!
    C.Jesus’ solemn words of concern: “…when the Son of Man comes will He find faith on the earth?” – Luke 18:8
        1…Will people follow the Lord or become more and more self-willed?….”Hagarizing”?
        2…Will people practice patient trust or will they fill their own desires by taking matters into their own hands?

Beloved Brethren, therefore, keep on keeping on....in prayer...1 John 5:14...that we may know we can pray in confidence that he hears every believer's prayer, if we ask in the center of His will!