Gospel Reading

Luke 18:1-8

1 Then Jesus told his disciples a

parable to show them

that they should always pray

and not give up.

2 He said: “In a certain town there

was a judge who neither feared

God nor cared about men.

3And there was a widow in that

town who kept coming to him

with the plea,

‘Grant me justice

against my adversary.’

4“For some time he refused.

But finally he said to himself,

‘Even though I don’t fear God

or care about men,

5 yet because this widow keeps

bothering me, I will see that she gets

justice, so that she won’t eventually

wear me out with her coming! ”

6 And the Lord said,

“Listen to what the unjust judge says.

7 And will not God bring about

justice for his chosen ones,

who cry out to him day and night?

Will he keep putting them off?

8 I tell you, he will see that they

get justice, and quickly. However,

when the Son of Man comes, will

he find faith on the earth?”

Pestering God

Luke 18:1-8

Is Jesus really suggesting that we

Pester God ?

Yep!

Why?

So that it is clear how badly we want itNot to God, to us! If you quit with only one request we didn’t want it

very badly

It helps to clarify what we really need and whyAgain for us!

Questions to ask yourself BEFORE pestering God

• What do you really want?– Often it is a result, not the thing we are asking for

• Do you really want what you are pestering God for?– What are the consequences if you get it?

What if God doesn’t Answer?

• God always answers– It just may not be the answer you want!

• No answer is an answer!– Timing– Harmful to you or someone else

What if God doesn’t Answer?

• You may be praying for the wrong thing– Talk with others about what you are praying– Ask God to show you what you should be

praying for

• Look for the alternatives that God might be offering?– That may give you the same result– You have got to know what you are looking for!

Just Remember

God gets to choose

What would you do if your child begged for something that you know would be harmful to them or someone else?

Implied in the story of the “stone for bread and snake for fish” (Matthew 7:7-12) is that if the child asks for something harmful it will not be granted

If it seems God is not answering your prayer

it is NOT because you are not

Praying Right!

God listens to and responds to

ALL prayers!

How to Pray

Pray intimately

Pray as if you believe God is capable of answering your prayers

Pray for what you needor for what you think others need

How to Pray

Pray oftenPray persistently

Listen to what you are praying for Pray in earnest Let God answer

ListenHear what God says . . . Not what you want

to hear!

How to Pray

Trust God to not allow you to inadvertently harm yourself or others with your prayer

Let God fill you with God’s breath Holy Spirit – Breath of God

Prayer is like breathing,

You don’t stop until you die!

Do it constantly or you will Die!

When you pray . . .

God Does not think you are a

PEST!

God wants us to talk to Him

ALL the TIME!

Jesus Did!

What is this passage really about?

Prayer

What Jesus tells us to do?(The Lord’s Prayer)

Address God intimately not casually not disrespectfully

Acknowledge God’s Holiness. . . His specialness . . . His ability to answer and grant There is no sense asking if we don’t think God can grant it

Ask that God’s rule be established here on earth Basileia ( (Basileia) Reign or Rule, Authority

If God does not have the authority God can do nothing

What Jesus tells us to do?

Ask for the things we needThat which will sustain usForgiveness from those things we have done to

separate us from God and othersFreedom from the need for revenge or the need

to collect on what is owed usNot allowing things to come between us and others

(Great Commandment)

What Jesus tells us to do?

Ask for the things we needProtection from temptation

Not the strength to resist it!

It is Arrogance to think we can resist temptation!

How often?

According to the parable,

Be a Pest!

Why?

So that it is clear how badly we want itNot to God, to us! If you quit with only one request we didn’t want it

very badly

It helps to clarify what we really need and whyAgain for us!

Questions to ask yourself BEFORE pester God

• Do you really want what you are pestering God for?– What are the consequences if you get it?

• What do you really want?– Often it is a result not the thing we are asking for

• What are the alternatives that God might be offering?– That may give you the same result

How often?Communication is key in any relationship

The more communication the more intimate the relationship is assumed to be

The more communication the greater the chance for understanding on both sides

It cannot be by rote

Faith!Believe that God can and will answer prayer

If we can do it God can do it! If we will give our children what is right for them,

you can bet God will!

We need for them to ask so that we know what they want as well as what they need

God gets to choose

What would you do if your child begged for something that you know would be harmful to them or someone else?

Implied in the story of the “stone for bread and snake for fish” (Matthew 7:7-12) is that if the child asks for something harmful it will not be granted

God is Gracious and Generous

Just as we give to our children without them deserving what they are given, God does the same with usGod gives to us because we are God’s children not

because of what we deserve

God gives us what we need . . . if we ask for it

God does not force anything on us!

Pray in Earnest(Matthew 7:7)

Ask – Aiteiote (aietite) - beg you don’t ask frivolously

Seek – Zeeteite (zeeteite) to crave, to require, to demand You don’t look for what you don’t want badly

Knock - Krouete (kroúete) to rap, to pound You want it bad enough to make sure you are heard and

answered

Holy Spirit

In the end what God gives us is the very essence of God Pneuma Hagion -The Breath of God

What we need is for God to be a part of usGod offers it to us but we must accept the gift

How to Pray

Pray intimately

Pray as if you believe God is capable of answering your prayers

Pray for what you needor for what you think others need

How to Pray

Pray oftenPray persistently

Listen to what you are praying for Pray in earnest Let God answer

ListenHear what God says . . . Not what you want

to hear!

How to Pray

Trust God to not allow you to inadvertently harm yourself or others with your prayer

Let God fill you with God’s breath

Some things to remember

God wants us to be in relationship with Him!

You can’t have a relationship if you don’t communicate!

God will give us what we need!

Trust God not to allow us or others to be hurt by our prayers!

Prayer is like breathing,

if you don’t do it regularly

you will Die!