寡妇与法官的比喻；你有多坚持？
Text : Luke 路加福音18:1-8
Pr Annie Wong
20 October 2019
Here is a story of persistency pays off!
The inspiring life story of KFC founder Colonel Sanders. He was rejected 1,009 times before finding someone to accept his chicken recipe at the age of 65. The success of KFC is quite a lesson in persistence for all of us.
Introduction 引言:
*The context of the parable - Luke 17:20-37 比喻的上下文—路17:20-37
* “Always to pray and not lose heart” “不住祷告及不灰心”
Disciples were asking when is the coming of God's kingdom and Jesus replied with this parable.
Jesus told this parable in the context of the preceding chapter when the Pharisees asked Him when the kingdom of God would come, to which Jesus replied that it would not come with their careful observation, because the kingdom of God is within them. Jesus knew the disciples would face dark and difficult days ahead. That’s why they ought always to pray and not lose heart. • Always to pray and not lose heart This parable teaches the importance and the necessity of patience, persistence and persevering prayer. Because in our church, in our workplace, in our family and in our nation, “everything rises or falls on prayer!”
I. The Cry of the Widow (vv.3-5b) 寡妇的呼求
V3 her demand
V3 her disadvantage due to her status
V5b her determination
V5b her desperation
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She countered the reluctant judge with determination until she made a nuisance of herself.
II. The Coldness of the Judge (vv.2-5) 法官的冷漠
V2 he was corrupt
V. he was tough, hard and insensitive
V. 4b-5 he was arrogant and conceit
He gave in on the end, due her persistency.
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| Source : http://mybiblestoriesblog.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-unjust-judge.html |
Literally, the judge was worried that the widow would give him a black eye. This is the description for what happens inside Fighting Ring.
III. The Contrast with our Father (vv.6-8a) 我们天父的对比
The key to the hard heart of the unrighteous judge was persistent, perpetual pressure Vs. The key to the loving heart of God is persistent, perpetual prayer.
V8 I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily.
God's timing is not like ours.
God's delays because His ways are not our ways.
Isaiah 55:8-9
Proverbs 3:8
God's delay is to make us grow
IV. The Challenge to Us (v.1; v.8) 我们的挑战
God is not grudging or hard-headed like the judge that must be bribed into answering prayer. God’s ear is open to the cry of His children: “Before they call I will answer; while they are speaking I will hear.” (ESV) Isaiah 65:24 He honors and handles His people’s persistence and petitions (vv.7b-8a) “Will he delay long over them?
I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.” Sometimes prayer is answered immediately, at other times, the answer is delayed.
Pr. Annie shared the story of her dishonest and mischievous Muslim maid who left the house on the pretext of wanting to get married, but came back to steal things from the house when no one was at home. God will not delay in answering His children, the chosen ones, when their motives are right.
The only reason the judge answered and helped the widow was because he was afraid that she would weary him and ruin his reputation with her persistence. He was acting out of his own relief and selfish motive all the way and finally, he granted her request.
But this is never the reason with our loving Father in heaven. He always act out of self-sacrificing love as seen supremely in the cross of Christ and out of wise concern for the well-being of His people. In our perfect mind, prayers might seem delayed when they are not answered immediately and speedily. But God is always on time.
Sometimes we worry so much about our timing that we forget about God’s timing.
“I tell you, He (God) will give justice to them speedily.” (v8)
What does speedily mean? “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” (2 Peter 3:8)
• God promised to deliver His people from bondage in Egypt but 400 long years went by before He raised up Moses, and that only after Moses spent 40 years in the desert after his failure. Speedily by God’s calendar is not speedily by ours!
• God’s Delays are not God’s Denials (1) God delays because His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9; Proverbs 3:5). (2) God’s delay is to make us grow. The Challenge to Us
• Be consistent and persistent in prayer (v.1)
“Ought always to pray and not lose heart”.
“Ought always to pray” = “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thess. 5:17)
“Without ceasing” = “no intermission” “Not to lose heart” = “not to faint” (KJV)
Do you have a problem you have been praying about? Don’t stop praying! Keep praying as God is still working out the answers you’re seeking in His time. God has not given up on you yet! Keep praying and keep trusting despite all the obstacles you face and despite all the signs that say you should just give up. Persevere consistently in prayer like the widow and Hannah. Through your consistence and persistence in prayer, God will answer your prayers and grant you your requests!
Hannah – Persistent in Prayers (1 Samuel 1) “She kept on praying to the Lord.” (1 Samuel 1:12)
Weeping bitterly
1 Samuel 1:13 praying in her heart
V15 poured out her soul
Galations 6:9
(1) Will not God bring about justice? (v.7)
(2) Will he delay long over them? (v.7)
(3) Will the Son of Man find faith on the earth? (v.8)
Don’t stop praying, never give up, but “always pray and don’t lose heart.” “The end of all things is at hand; therefore, keep sane and sober for your prayers.” (1 Peter 4:7)
• Will he find people expressing themselves to the Father in a warm, loving, trusting faith relationship?
• Will be find His people persisting in prayer before the Father over the things that really matter?
• Will you be among God’s people still praying for our church, family, nation? How persistent are you in praying? Will you be the one who is faithfully connecting to God through persistent prayer?
Let us choose to be in the process where we follow Jesus Christ and obey His commands (by praying persistently and faithfully) hence influencing others to do the same.
Let’s keep on praying!
Don’t give up!
Don’t lose heart!
Questions: 思考与分享
1. What is the one key lesson you learn from this parable Luke 18:1-8?
Share your experience of being persistence in something you did, be it a
relationship, work or life issue, what was the outcome? Would you think you have a
different outcome had you pressed on or not?
在路18:1-8比喻中，你主要学到的功课是什么？分享你在人际关系上，工作或生活问
题上坚持的经历，结果如何？如果你没有坚持，你认为结果会不同吗？
2. Why is it important for us to pray unceasingly and not lose heart despite the
outcome. (v.1) 不论结果如何我们仍然要不住祷告，不灰心，为什么这是重要的？
3. How can God’s delay in answering prayers help us in the process of our
discipleship journey? How will that help deepen our relationship with Him and
build our trust in Him?
神延迟回复我们的祈求，这对我们门徒旅程有什么帮助？这如何加深我们与神的关系
及建立我们对祂的信心？
References :-
https://joykidsbiblelessons.wordpress.com/tag/parable/
http://www.freebibleimages.org/photos/persistent-widow/
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