Luke
18:2 Saying, There was in a city a
judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
Luke 18:3 And there was a widow in that city; and she
came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
Luke
18:4 And he would not for a while: but
afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
Luke
18:5 Yet because this widow troubleth
me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
Luke
18:6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust
judge saith.
Luke
18:7 And shall not God avenge his own
elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Luke
18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them
speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Faint: to be utterly spiritless, to
be wearied out, exhausted; weak; languid; inclined to swoon.
Our Lord gives us an illustration
story concerning the widow and the unjust judge; it is important to note; that
the one who finally gave in to a woman’s requests, was one who did not love, or
even care for her or anyone but himself; as unlike our heavenly Father as anything. She just kept asking; which is what the word
pray means. Ask. She had a need, it was
urgent, it was very important to her, and she knew this judge had the authority
to avenge her of her adversary, and was determined to persuade him to do so. She could have quit asking after the first negative
response, but she would not have had her need met. She would not take no for an answer. She did
not grow weary, she did not lose spirit, she did not quit; and this is [in her
instance], the only reason she got her request.
Now we have a heavenly Father, Who
loved us enough to give us His only begotten Son, to pay the debt we deserve
for our sins; and if we’ve trusted Jesus as Saviour, we’ve become His
child. And so after this story
illustration; Jesus follows it with the verse. Luke 18:7
And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto
him, though he bear long with them?
Why do Believers faint?
Why do we lose spirit, or give up?
1. Some faint, because they do not
have faith.
Luke
18:7 And shall not God avenge his own
elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Luke 18:8
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son
of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Faith is conviction of a truth; it
Believing, it is trusting and having confidence. Do we not have enough faith to pray for a
week, a month, a year, a decade? God
loves us, and wants to answer our prayers.
But He’ll often test our faith, He’ll test our persistence in the area
of prayer. A faith that faints after
just a little while is not the faith of a prayer warrior. We have a promise from God: Matthew 21: 22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in
prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Do you believe enough to keep praying?
2. Sometimes folks faint because of a
lack of desire.
Mark
11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What
things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye
shall have them.
Real desire makes a difference. If we have a need, we should pray for it. And
if we really desire our Lord to provide, and to answer prayer, we will not
faint, and become faithless, and discouraged after a short time; we will do as
we are instructed in vs. 1; ought always to pray, and not to faint. Praying for a lost relative or acquaintance may take years to receive the answer for which we
are praying. But we will be very glad we did not give up, and say good bye to
them at their funeral, knowing they died without Christ.
Galatians
6:9 And let us not be weary in well
doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Without a doubt, prayer is well doing; and the word of God
says we shall reap! IF! We faint not.
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