Series: Things Jesus Wants Us To Know
Part 17 - Are You Still Listening To The Lord? He Is Teaching!
INTRO: What is Jesus trying to convey to us in the parables we are going to read today? We need to remember that Jesus did not speak just to hear his voice or receive recognition. Everything He did was done for a reason. He did not flip a coin or haphazardly approach his daily life or his ministry.
Let’s look at the first parable in Luke 18 verses 1-8.
Luke 18:1 - 14
1
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;2
Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:3
And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.4
And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;5
Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.6
And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.7
And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?8
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?9
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:10
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.11
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.12
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.13
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.14
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.Luke gives us a quick estimation of the parable's lesson or message in verse 1.
We need to pray and don't give up.
First, the Lord lays it out…
Men ought to always pray - generic, so women are not excluded
His advice was practiced as well as given - doesn't that work better?
Just in the book of Luke we can find so many instances of prayer by the Lord.
Luke 3:21 - He was praying at His baptism
Luke 5:16 - He withdrew into the wilderness to pray
Luke 6:12 - He went to the mountain to pray
Luke 9:18 - He was praying alone
Luke 9:28 - Again to the mountain - He went to great effort just to get started praying
Luke 10:2 - He called for specific prayers
Luke 11:1 - Appeared to have special places to pray - the disciples were there while He prayed
Luke 18:10 - He did not praise loud, showy, vocal, public prayers
Luke 19:46 - He called the temple "a house of prayer"
Luke 20:47 - He condemned long showy, shallow (Self-centered) prayers
Luke 21:36 - He called again for a prayer-filled life
Luke 22:32 - He shared the fact that He prayed for specific people and their needs
So we can see that Jesus was not just casually mentioning prayer in a tough go get 'em context.
He called for consistent prayer
He conveyed a consistent prayer life Himself for all to see
He challenged them for continual prayer
He counseled them for common simple prayers
He condemned the showy, loud, colorful prayers of religious people in His day (how does he feel about them now?)
He camped out on mountain tops and prayed for critical needs of others
Speaking metaphorically…
He was cramped into His closet and called out to God constantly for His companions and even strangers
Paul had learned this lesson and all the time he called for more and better prayer…
Romans 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
2 Thessalonians 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
Not only did the Lord give us an encouragement to pray, He also called for us to..
Continue in the faith - verse 1 - "…not to faint."
Don't let discouragement hinder us - 1
Don't give up or let up
Don't forget that God answers prayers - 7
Don't forget that God loves us and is much more than willing to help us - compared to an unjust judge - 7
God may not answer on our timetable, but when He does - He acts swiftly - 8
In the second parable we see lessons about prayer, but more is there…
Like the Pharisee…
We can do enough to please and satisfy ourselves - 11
Like the Pharisee…
We can do enough to please and satisfy a set of rules - 12
(At least in our own minds - oops I missed one - ever find a rock in a sack of beans or potatoes? Did you know 100% inspection does not always work?)
James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Like the Pharisee…
We can do enough to "out do" strangers, our neighbor, friend or family members
BUT, if we fail to look to God and His Son we come up short
Really this is sad! - People work hard for the wrong thing. They put into this all kinds of things and fail because they do not trust in the Lord
So, it is not by our works, our alliances, our memberships, but it is our faith in God.
Paul said it well…
Ephesians 2:8 - 10
8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:9
Not of works, lest any man should boast.10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.Jesus showed us here we are justified by our faith in Him, not our good deeds and works. It is not because we feel good about ourselves, it is about Him.
Where is your faith?
What are you trusting in?
Is your plan to get all your good things in your life into a resume that the Lord will have to accept?
Will that work?
Is your plan centered on you and the things you do and did?
Is your plan Biblical or just religious? Is religious enough? Think about this.
Does your plan only sound good? (Is that the requirement?)
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death
Are you trusting in Him?
Gary Marcum - New Beginnings Church 072207am