Mission: Possible
Radical Faith for Ridiculous Times
“Pray Persistently”
(Luke 18:1-8)
INTRO:
Who knows what this picture is? Yep, you
guessed it – it is my fire pit!
[SHOW PICTURE]
And if you recall, a few months back I taught
you how to pray (from Luke 11) and I used this
fire pit as an example, remember? You’re
saying, “Who could forget!” The point was
that we are to pray with shameless boldness
and persistence! I knew you’d remember the
fire pit? ☺
Today, on day 8 of our 50-Day Adventurer, I
want to share with you why we’re to pray that
way. And we learn the why from a parable
similar to the one in Luke 11, but this one is in
Luke 18. So take your Bible and turn to Luke
©First Family Church 2006
18, and when you get there, put your finger on
the first word in 18:1… “Then”. Got it? Good!
Now put another finger on the word “when” in
18:8. Got it? Great! (We’re doing a finger
version of Twister, eh?)
These two key words will unlock the parable
for us and show us how best to understand our
Lord’s teaching in this odd story about a
widow and a stern judge. Let me explain…
Verse 1 – “Then…”
Looks back to chapter 17:20-37 and the
coming of the kingdom of God. Things will get
worse…it will not be a time of ease or comfort.
So what does he tell the disciples to do?
PRAY! In light of the coming end, PRAY!
Now skip down to 18:8…
Verse 8 – “When…”
 2

He closes this parable with the same theme –
the end of time and his return/coming. See the
phrase “When the Son of Man comes…”? His
question regarding faith is designed to bring us
to a point of evaluation – “Will I be one who is
enduring, watching, and persevering? Will my
faith in God’s eventual justice keep me faithful
and committed?” Again, there is a focus on the
soon-coming end.
And what is between these two key words? A
story that has often been misinterpreted and
taught incorrectly. Let me say at the outset that
this parable is not designed to cast God as the
judge who is bothered by the widow. Instead, it
is a parable that teaches by contrast – if even
human judges eventually right the wrongs and
avenge the mistreated and persecuted, how
much more will God rescue his own at the
right time?! Let me show you what I mean…
~TEACH PARABLE and WORD
MEANINGS~
Here’s the point he is making in the parable:
Persistent prayer is one of the key ways we
find the strength to endure, especially as the
end draws near.
Let’s say it like this:
“Persistent prayer is where I discover God’s
perspective and partnership, which gives me
the strength to endure, especially as the end
draws near.”
ILL –

© First Family Church 2006


Let me break this statement down for a minute
and expand on a couple of principles taught in
the parable:
God’s perspective helps me see through
the trial!
In other words, God’s timetable is the only
timetable that really matters. This is called
perspective. Seeing through the immediate
to the eventual is a mark of maturity and of
one following our Lord as a disciple. It’s
about his timetable, not my schedule.
ILL – What if, while watching the playoffs,
you left in the 6th inning and told your
friends, “Game over!” They would laugh at
you! Why? Because no matter what the
score, the game isn’t over till the 9th inning.
So you hang in there and keep on cheering
knowing that “it ain’t over till it’s over!”
© First Family Church 2006
3
So it is with spiritual perspective – it ain’t
over, Christian! What we see around us
looks bleak, and you may feel maligned,
persecuted, mistreated … but it ain’t over,
brother and sister! Don’t give up!
God’s partnership helps me see who to
trust!
In other words, God’s truth about his
character (trustworthy and dependable) and
my condition (I belong to God) helps me
realize I am not destined for destruction!
God is in control of me and my situation. I
am his chosen one, and he will rescue me –
avenge me – because he promised! His
Word promises a day of reckoning, and we
are waiting and watching for that promised
day! It’s all about his truth, not my feelings.
Paul said 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 that “God
has not appointed us to wrath…” In other
words, his promise is that those who believe

are guaranteed deliverance from eternal
punishment. We have God’s word on it – we
will be rescued!
So seeing life from Gods perspective and
knowing I am partnered with God keeps me in
the ballgame!
And that’s the point of the parable! Remember
18:1? Keep in mind the whole goal of the
parable – to encourage us to “not give up!”
When justice seems short, persecution long, as
things grow worse and worse, praying helps us
“not give up!”
Look at these verses that exhort to pray, all of
which are in the context of end times/pressure
to give up…
Matthew 26:40-41
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into
temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is
weak.”
© First Family Church 2006
4
1 Thessalonians 5:17
“Pray continually.”
1 Peter 4:7
“The end of all things is near. Therefore, be
clear minded and self controlled so that you
can pray.”
Have you ever wanted to give up? I have! In
fact, giving up is what most people do when
things don’t go like they want right away.
Think about it – If they don’t get their way
right away, they go away!☺ Sad, eh? But that
is not the attitude of true disciples – we don’t
give up! Why? Because we can pray! And in
praying we discover God’s perspective and
partnership, and that keep us from giving up!

ACTION POINT: The action point this week
is simple:
Find time daily to get alone with God in
prayer. Ask specifically for his perspective.
Cling to his truth. Hold on to his partnership as
his child. Simply put, talk to your Father
everyday!
Before you leave for work
At every meal
Before you go to bed
As you drive
Tucking in your kids
Special prayer meetings with co-
workers/friends at lunchtime
Your first response to stressful situations
Pray, Christian brother and sister, pray!
APPLICATION/ILL – Can I be very
transparent with you for a bit about prayer and
© First Family Church 2006
5
the temptation to give up? While I’ve not
struggled with quitting or giving up, I have
experienced a bit of frustration regarding two
very important things to the life of FFC: our
search for a full-time worship leader and our
search for a part-time Elem. Min. Dir. Let me
explain…
Our Worship Leader Search is, in my
estimation, the single most important growth
step for us. It will make a huge difference in
our front door ministry. So the right person
matters! For a while it was going a little
slow…but we kept praying; believing;
looking! And if you remember, we asked you
to pray as well! Then God began to surface
some men who are, from what we have
gathered so far, the kind of person we are
looking for. We kept praying, and God kept
confirming. And now we come to the place
where we need you to pray even more. Why?
In the next few months you’ll get to see some

of the guys…why? FFC matters…the kingdom
matters! People encountering God matters!
However, our Elem. Min. Director search has
not gone quite like we thought. Still, we pray!
We need you to pray! God has the answer and
will meet our needs…our job is to first pray!
You see, kids matter…families matter. So we
keep praying and looking. The person right for
the opportunity is out there…is it you? Do you
know them? Pray! The times demand that our
church do all we can to help families and equip
parents!
So you know what I’ve been doing? Spending
more time getting God’s perspective and
partnership! I’ve been trying to do just what
the hymn says to do…enjoy a “Sweet Hour of
Prayer!” That’s right – as the pressure
increases, so should my prayers. Listen to
these words from the writer of this old song…
© First Family Church 2006
6
Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
That calls me from a world a care.
And bids me at my Father’s throne,
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief
My soul has often found relief.
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare,
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer.
OPT #1: What about you? What is one thing
we can partner with you about in prayer –
persistent prayer? While Josh and the band
play, take 45 seconds and write it on your card,
then bring it up here to the front and lay it
down…pray while you’re here with one of our
Elders or Deacons, then leave it at the altar.
We’ll collect them and pray all week as well.
Got your card? Your pen? Let’s pray and ask
God to lead in this time of prayer.
 7

OPT #2: What about you? What is one thing

you’d really like someone to pray persistently
about? Here’s what I’m asking you to do –
take 45 seconds and share with someone near
you, using your cards to write down their one
request. Pray together, then I’ll finish our time
together by closing in prayer. As you leave,
turn those all in and we’ll start praying
persistently together for the many requests!

Ready? Set? Pray!

© First Family Church 2006