To Remain Faithful

Thanks to pastor Jim for this teaching.

Luke 18:1-8

1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 

2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 

3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.' 

4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 

5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.'" 

6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 

7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 

8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" 

The reason for the teaching... 

(Luke 18:1, 8; cf. Genesis 6:2, 5; 19:4-5; Matthew 24:13; 

Luke 17:20-37; 18:8; James 1:27; Revelation 21:7-8)

 

God has ordained persistent prayer as the primary means by which we remain faithful 

as we wait for Christ's return. 

Jesus' return will be evident to everyone because... 

It will be dramatic.

It will be discriminating. 

It will be devastating.

Remaining faithful is difficult because of... 

The delay in Christ's return. 

The disregard for Christ's gospel. 

The deception of godless living

. 

The one who endures to the end will be saved. - Matthew 24: 13

The help that is promised... 

(Luke 18:2-8;cf, Matthew 7:7-11; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 

1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2 Timothy 4:18; Hebrews 4:16; 10:32-39; 

James 1:27; 5:1-11; 1 Peter 1:5; 2 Peter 2:5-9; 3:1-15; 

Revelation 5:8; 6:9-10; 8:3-4)

 

God-at just the right time-will give both grace

 and justice to His children who pray persistently. 

The glory of God's gracious help... 

God graciously set us on alert regarding the danger 

of false faith that doesn't last. 

God graciously determined to include us in the process

of persevering faith. 

God graciously ordained a relationship between our prayers 

and Christ's coming.

 

The question on the table... 

(Luke 18:8; cf, Matthew 6:10; Luke 11:13; 1 Corinthians 16:22; 

Philippians 4:6-7; Revelation 22: 17, 20)

 

When Jesus gets back will He find us-individually and corporately - praying persistently and living faithfully? 

Praying persistently for persevering faith... 

Long for Jesus to come back. 

Let the rejection of the gospel bother you. 

Look at the routines of everyday life through the lens of the coming 

kingdom. 

Pray "as you go" as well as "in the secret place." 

Pray for God's reign in your life and in the world, 

now and forever. 

Pray for both God's help today and our hope tomorrow.