Seeking Jesus First May 8, 2025
Prayer is meant to be tenacious, persistent, full of faith and expectation. Jesus teaches that, even though God is a loving Father, we are to pray in the same way as approaching an unjust judge. Don't stop believing, asking, expecting until you have received what was promised in The Word of God.
Luke 18:1–8 “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,
saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”
Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.
And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.
Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”
Jesus gave us an outline in The LORD's Prayer that teaches us how to pray. Thanksgiving and worship of who God is, Decree God's Word and Will, Supplication for provision, Forgiveness of ourselves and others, Direction and Deliverance, Thanksgiving, Praise and Adoration.
Jesus continues with the importance of persevering in prayer and tells us not to back away because of timing, but rather take your need to God and don't stop until you receive. He says to ask and keep on asking, seek and keep on seeking, knock and keep on knocking until our need is met.
Lastly, Jesus reminds us that God is not an unjust or unwilling judge. Rather is a Good Father who takes pleasure in blessing His children. Notwithstanding, God's heart towards us does not change the need for us to approach in faith keep on approaching until we receive. This is faith. We do not grow weary in doing well, for we shal reap if we do not faint.
Luke 11:1–13, “Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.”
And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”