January 16, 2022

Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer

Preacher:
Series:
Passage: Luke 18:1-14
Service Type:

Introduction

Does God answer prayer?

Do you pray and seem to have no answer?
Do you wonder how you ought to pray?
Others might ask if there is a need to pray?

Looking at some of Jesus’ teaching on prayer

The 1st parable – addressed to Jesus’ disciples

Don’t be discouraged – continually pray
A motivating parable to pray in difficult days
At the Second Coming – will God’s people be praying of faith

The 2nd parable – addresses particularly the person who is not a Christian

The one who cries out to God for mercy will go home in peace with God

Jesus exemplified prayer in His life
Luke speaks more about Jesus’ prayer life than any other gospel writer

Examples of His baptism, death and ascension
Examples of significant life events couched in prayer
Examples of events in the disciples lives, couched in prayer
Jesus was often in prayer (Luke 5:16)

If we have any doubts about prayer – look to the Lord Jesus
Overview:

The 1st parable
The 2nd parable

The parable of the persistent widow

We should always pray – v1

1 Thess 5 – We are to always pray
We are to pray in difficult days

Don’t be discouraged

The characters

The widow – small and insignificant
The judge – powerful and unjust

He does not regard men or God
He is not bothered about treating fairly

The widow does not give up – such that the judge gives her what she wants – v6

Will God not answer His people?
A great example of perseverance
Examples of those who have persevered
Jesus is encouraging His disciples to pray

God will bring justice – v7

At the Second Coming
Example of David delivered by God
It is often the little people with odds stacked against them – that see a might victory – examples

If you feel small and insignificant – God hears the cries of His people

So much encouragement

The parable of the tax collector

Very challenging – looking at the pharisees (cf Luke 17)

Anyone who trusts in themselves, who looks down at others, who think themselves superior

This parable is very straightforward – two men and two results

A Pharisee:

Stands and prays – probably at the front with others looking at him
Prays within himself
He compares himself better than others
He congratulates himself for his behaviour

A tax collector:

Stands at the back
He is so wracked by sin he cannot lift his eyes to heaven
He beats his breast
He prays a very short prayer

The tax collector was justified (and not the pharisee)

Whoever is lifted up will be humbled and whoever is humbled, God will lift

Application:

Do we expect God to accept us based on what we have done?
Are we self-righteous (like the pharisee) or like the tax collector?
Are we like Simon Peter?
Do we really feel our sin?

This parable reminds us that Jesus came into the world to save not the righteous but sinners

Ps 85:2
Ps 86:15
Ps 103:8-12
Micah 7:18-19

Closing Remarks

Do you realise you are a sinner?
Do you continue to trust in yourself, your good deeds or your religion of works
Confess your sin, turn to Jesus Christ, believe in Him and be forgiven of your sin
Pray, pray, pray