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Presented September 24, 2006

PRAYING WITHOUT CEASING

Tonight, our ongoing study of prayer will deal with the need for persistence in our prayers.  WE want to look at passages, parables and examples of persistence in prayer with the hope it will move us pray frequently.

I.                     Passages the call for continued prayer

a.        1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 – Pray without ceasing.  The idea of this text is that prayer is a regular part of your life.  It means that we do not abandon it as we live our lives day by day.  This describes one who is continually in a condition so that they can pray.  And they DO PRAY frequently – often during the day.

b.       Ephesians 6:18 – praying always, a part of the gospel armor.

c.        Colossians 4:2 – Continue earnestly in prayer.  The Word Study Dictionary of the N.T. describes the word continue used in this text as “to endure, to tarry, remain somewhere…used metaphorically of steadfastness and faithfulness in the outgoings of the Christian life, especially in prayer”
Louw & Nida say of this word it means, “to continue to do something with intense effort, with the possible implication of despite difficulty – ‘to devote oneself to, to keep on, to persist in’”
The word is used in at least 5 passages dealing with prayer (Acts 1:14, 2:42, 6:4, Romans 12:12 & here)

d.       Romans 12:12 – Continuing steadfastly in prayer

e.        1 Peter 4:7 – Be serious and watchful in your prayers

II.                   Two parables of Jesus

a.        Luke 11:5-8, a friend who comes at midnight.  When Jesus was asked to teach his disciples how to pray, He began with a model prayer similar to that we read about in Matthew 6:8-13 (E.g. the Lord’s Prayer).  Following this He tells this parable about a desperate friend whose persistence causes his neighbor to take extreme measures to answer his request.  After this, Jesus makes His point noting that if we ask of God He will give to us (not everything we want), but He will answer our prayers. (9-13)

b.       In Luke 18:1-8, the parable of the persistent widow.  Note how this parable begins.  Jesus emphasizes that we should not quit praying until our prayer is answered.  He speaks of a woman who had been taken advantage of but cries to a judge for vengeance.  The judge is somewhat corrupt, but because of her persistence he hears her and judges rightly for her.  NOTE: God is NOT wicked, like the judge.  He is as just as he can be.  But he will avenge those who cry to Him night and day, “though He bears long with them.  And in reality, it will be done “speedily.”

III.                 Examples of prayer

a.        The early church – Acts 1:14 continued in prayer,  Acts 2:42, even after the church was established they “continued steadfastly in … prayer”
Acts 6:4 – even the apostles, in doing their work early on gave themselves “continually to prayer” (6:4)

b.       Jesus Himself – He was always praying. 
Luke 5:16 tells us He OFTEN withdrew Himself into the wilderness to pray.
We read of Him praying in the morning (Mark 1:35)
Matthew 14:22-23, he often sent His disciples and the crowds away so He could pray in private. 
Luke 6:12 tells us, as He was preparing to appoint apostles He prayed all night. 
Luke 21:36 – He taught His disciples to “pray always” that they be counted worthy.
Consider Mark 1:35.  Note the context beginning in 1:21-34 where we read about a VERY BUSY day in His life.  I imagine He had many days like this.  But NOTE that in spite of all He did, He arose early to pray!

c.        Paul – virtually every epistle of Paul mentions prayer in form or another. 
He continually prayed for everyone.  Romans 1:9-10, Philippians 1:4, 2 Thess. 1:11, 1 Thess. 3:10, “night and day praying”

d.       Daniel – prayed often.  In fact we are told he prayed 3 times a day (Daniel 6:10)

e.        Cornelius – Acts 10:2

f.         Elijah was a man of prayer – James 5:17-18,

g.       Abraham – called upon the Lord – Genesis 12:7 & 8, 13:18, 22:9.
What does sacrifice have to do with prayer? Like the sacrifices of Abraham, prayer is sent up to God to show that we praise and love Him –
Twice a day, Exodus 30:7-9 tells us Aaron was to burn incense to God.  It was to offered on the altar in the tabernacle which stood before the veil that was before the Ark of the Covenant.  "Aaron shall burn on it sweet incense every morning; when he tends the lamps, he shall burn incense on it.  And when Aaron lights the lamps at twilight, he shall burn incense on it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.”
Hebrews 13:15 – prayer is a fruit of our lips.  Here it is described as a sacrifice.
Revelation 5:8 – “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”
Psalm 141:2 where David says, “Let my prayer come before you as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”

IV.                 What about Matthew 6:7 and using vain repetitions? 
Repetition is not condemned.  Jesus on the same occasion (in the Garden) prayed 3 times the same prayer.  2 Corinthians 12:8 – Paul pleaded with the Lord 3 times that the thorn in his flesh be removed.  It is EMPTY word that Jesus condemned.  Praying just to be heard (Luke 18:10-14).

We have heard the saying before, “7 days without prayer makes one WEAK!”  We must continually remind ourselves of that fact.  I ask, HOW OFTEN do you pray?  How many times a day?  Do we pray before meals?  What about when we first arise?  Before we go to bed?  When brethren covet our prayers, do we acknowledge them?  Are we living our lives where we can continually seek Him in prayer?  Do we find ourselves in places and doing things where we are ASHAMED to pray to Him?  If prayer is to have its intended effect in our lives – it must be offered often and consistently.  How is your prayer life?