"And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, 'In a certain city, there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, "Give me justice against my adversary." For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, "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."' And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"  Luke 18:1-8

(v.1) A Problem: Losing Heart.

(v.2-5) A Picture: Even bad guys can be bothered into doing good.

“…but persistent prayer was even more stubborn. The persistence of the widow humiliated both the iniquity that was rebelling against God and the boldness that was behaving arrogantly towards human beings…Persistence transformed these two bitter branches, and they bore sweet fruit that was against their nature.”  Ephrem the Syrian

(v.6-8a) The Point: How much more will God grant the persistent prayers of his people! 

“The constant coming of the oppressed widow conquered the unjust judge that did not fear God or have any shame. Even against his will, he granted her request. How will not he who loves mercy and hates iniquity, and who always gives his helping hand to those that love him, accept those who draw near to him day and night and avenge them as his elect?” Cyril of Alexandria “God does not all at once grant assistance to his people, because he chooses to be, as it were, wearied out by prayers…however wretched and despicable may be the condition of those who pray to him, yet if they do not desist… he will at length regard them and relieve their necessities.”  John Calvin

(v.8b) A Challenge: God delights to answer persistent prayer!

“If we have asked of him seven times, we ought to continue until seventy times seven…If we would prevail, we must persist.”  Charles Spurgeon

“No man who lives near to God lives in vain. He may not be conscious of doing anything directly for others; yet his life is putting forth a power and an influence which he understands not. Unknown to himself, he is doing much for God and for his fellow-men. In his retirement, he speaks and is heard, though he knows it not. The witness-bearing of the closet is a thing little understood; but it is not less true on that account.”  Horatius Bonar

Questions for Discussion:

1. How is our persistence in prayer connected to our hearts and “true beliefs” about God? 

2. What is something you have “lost heart” about? Why is persistent prayer for it so difficult for you?

3. Why, do you think, does God choose to be “wearied out by prayers” and work through delay and persistence in answer to our prayers?

4. What are the three categories of things we should pray for? How should we approach them differently? 

5. Share your two “Kingdom prayers” and pray with each other about them.