Persistence in Prayer

MEMORY VERSE: “Every one that asketh receiveth; and that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall opened.” —Luke 11:10

LUKE 11:11-13

GOD is the great King, or Ruler of the universe: all-wise and all-powerful; but in this lesson on prayer Jesus presents him as our Heavenly Father who is willing and happy to give good gifts to his children. A natural father, so far as he deems it wise, will give to his children the things for which they ask. No proper parent will substitute evil things, or things of no value, for the good things desired by his children; and this is true of our Heavenly Father.

This lesson of prayer is for the special benefit of the Lord’s consecrated people. Indeed, all the admonitions of the New Testament are directed toward this class. They were not written for the benefit of anyone who might, in a time of trouble, decide to seek the Lord for help. Thus, in applying the lesson of prayer here set forth. Jesus said, “If ye then, being, evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” No worldly person, nor an unbeliever, would petition the Heavenly Father for the Holy Spirit. But Jesus’ faithful followers do pray for an infilling of the Spirit, and all that this implies of spiritual blessings.

Indeed, the chief burden of every true Christian’s prayer will be for spiritual blessings—divine guidance in doing God’s will; strength to endure the trials which God in his wisdom and love might deem to be good for them as new creatures in Christ Jesus; and a greater fruitage of the Holy Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, kindness, etc. Praying for the Holy Spirit implies all these spiritual blessings which can be ours only if we are filled with the Spirit.

LUKE 18:1-8

The Parable of the Importunate Widow sets forth another important fact concerning Christian prayers. The intent of the parable is expressed in verse 1, which reads, “He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men [that is, Christians] ought always to pray, and not to faint.”

The parable speaks of a judge “which feared not God, neither regarded man.” “And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.” But the judge ignored the widow for a while, and then concluded that “because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”

We are not to take from this that our Heavenly Father becomes wearied over the prayers of his consecrated people. This is not the lesson of the parable. It is, rather, that we should be constant and persistent in prayer; knowing that if our prayers are in harmony with our Heavenly Father’s will they will be answered in his due time, and when it is best for us.

Verse 7 reads, “Shall not God become weary of their pleadings and answer their prayers just to be rid of them as did the “judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man.” God listens patiently and lovingly, until the time his wisdom decides it is best for a prayer to be answered, and then he sets in motion the necessary agencies to bring about the answer.

Verse 8 reads, “I tell you that he [God) will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” The speedy answer here “mentioned might well seem to be long-delayed to the one who is praying, but not so to God. But even though God has been answering the prayers of his faithful people throughout the age, it has not seemed so to the less faithful, and many of these have lost faith, so that at the time of Christ’s return there is little true faith left in the earth.

It is true, as stated in our memory verse, that every consecrated seeker after God’s blessings is rewarded. God has always supplied their spiritual needs.

QUESTIONS

For what do consecrated Christians mostly pray?

What is the main lesson taught in the Parable of the Importunate Widow?

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