Luke 18:1-8
"Know What's Needed for Prayer"

           "When all else fails, read the directions!"  How often I have remembered those "tongue-in-cheek" words of wisdom only after following them precisely.  A simple task is transformed into an irritating encounter because of my failure to read the directions.  Because of our move, we have discovered that Computer, VCR, TV and phone hookups and controls are better understood after reading the direction book, or the very last resort, phoning our son.
             
           I have my cell phone with me today.  This one is a portable phone, which does not have to be plugged into the wall except to keep its battery powered up – which action I currently seem to forget all the time; however, even after reading the directions I do not understand how to fix the phone so it will answer someone who is calling and allow them to leave a message that I may listen to later when I hear a beeping and realize that I have missed the call.
     
           I wonder how long one must live before certain basic lessons of life begin to be understood and heeded?
 
           This is the way it is with life in general; but is this not also the case with the life of faith?  We often ignore lessons, which are so basic to Christian living, principles, which are so plainly presented in the directions given to us in God’s Word, at least, until "all else fails."
 
           Certainly this is true when it comes to that basic component of discipleship called prayer.  Paul’s directions tell us to "pray without ceasing" (I Thessalonians. 5:17), but frequently we fail to follow God's guidelines.  We fail to pray.  In this Sabbath's Scripture passage before us, I believe, we discover some important things we need to know when we pray.  This is not to say that we have to know these things when we pray, but simply that by knowing them, we are more likely to pray, as we should. Without them, we won't bother to pray.  We will see no reason for prayer.  It will seem to us a waste of time to pray if these needs are not met.
 
           Now, The first thing you and I need when we pray is God.  This fact would seem obvious enough, yet it should not be taken for granted.  Prayer is not likely to happen, unless we have some sense of the reality and nature of the One to whom we pray.
 
           In the parable before us, Jesus told of a widow who had a problem.  We do not know what the problem was.  It really does not matter.  What does matter is that this widow knew the one person who could help her with her problem.  The directions of the society in which she lived said for her to take her particular problem to the judge in her community provided for her.  He was the only one who could respond to her need; so she followed directions and pleaded her cause before the judge.  In the end her need was met.
 
           Prayer assumes that there is ONE who hears us when we call upon him.  It is not a mere speaking to ourselves, but a conversation with ONE who is listening to what we have to say.  Prayer is pointless, and we will not involve ourselves in it, without an awareness of the reality of God, our heavenly Father. Prayer is either one of life's greatest privileges or one of its grandest delusions.  It all depends on the reality of God.
 
           What would you say if I asked, "Do you believe in God?"  I believe that we would all say, "Yes, I believe in God."  Surveys reveal that Americans overwhelmingly respond in the positive when asked that question.
 
           Perhaps a more accurate indicator of our belief in God would be our answer to this question: "Do you pray?"  It is so easy to say that we believe in God, and is not this still to some degree expected of us?  The practice of prayer, however, adds substance to our words and proves them genuine.  To pray while not believing in the existence of God would be foolish.  How much more unthinkable it would seem, however, to truly believe in God and not pray.
 
           Unless, of course, what we believed about God was bad – if we believed him to be a tyrant who did not want to be disturbed.  I don't suppose we would pray.  Also, if our notion of God were that he was too distant or aloof to be reached by our prayers, we would understandably see no sense in praying.
 
           Before we pray, combined with a belief in God's being, I believe, we need second an understanding of God's nature.  What kind of God is he?
 
           In Jesus' story about the persistent widow, he tells of a judge who lives in the same town. He was not a good judge.  Jesus said: "there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people," two factors which would seem to make it impossible for the widow to receive the justice she sought.
 
           Regardless of his shortcomings, though, this judge was the only hope this poor widow had.  So she went to him.  "Grant me justice against my opponent!" she pleaded, but the judge refused.  She would not take no for an answer, and she went back. Time after time, she went back.
 
           Finally, she wore the judge down.  He could tolerate her no longer, so he did the only thing he knew to do to get rid of her.  He granted her request for justice.
 
           What does this tell us about God?  If we "nag" God long enough, he will do what we want him to do - is that it?  No!  I don't think so.  Although we sometimes mistakenly read that into this story, such an interpretation does not coincide with what we learn about God elsewhere in Scripture.
 
           The point of Jesus' comparison of the heavenly Father with this very "earthly" judge is to show the stark contrast between the two.  If this unjust judge who “neither fears God nor cares about people” can be badgered into doing what is right, how much more so a loving and gracious God will do what is right for those who call upon him.  "I tell you,” Jesus says in verse eight, "he (God) will quickly grant justice to them.”
 
           When we pray, we need to understand what God is like.  In another instruction God invites us to call upon him, even to "approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).  God gladly hears from us and moves to meet our need.  This is our heavenly Father's nature.
 
           Such an understanding of God's nature is a necessary ingredient of our Christian life, and there is something else, which we need when we pray.  We need faith!
 
           Or instead of faith, we could speak of needing patience or perseverance or persistence, or endurance; however, these are all aspects of faith.  The truly faithful person is developing that fruit of the Spirit called patience.  And the Bible often makes the connection between faith and perseverance, the first few verses of the letter of James being a prime example.  James writes: "that the testing of your faith develops perseverance" (James 1:3 NIV) or “produces endurance (NRSV).
 
           I believe in our Sabbath passage from Luke the relationship between perseverance (persistence - endurance) and Jesus sets up faith.  The account begins: “Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart” (NRSV) OR “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to teach them that they should always pray and never become discouraged” (GNB) OR  “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” (NIV).  Do we hear the call for perseverance in these words?
 
           Finally, when we come to the end of this passage, we find Jesus asking a most disturbing question:  "And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"  Could it be that Jesus was already seeing among his disciples some signs of giving up rather than keeping the faith?  Is this what motivated these words of encouragement to prayer and perseverance?
 
           Now, let us apply this to us.  If the Son of Man, as Jesus so often referred to himself, returned today, would he find faith in our lives?  I believe a key to answering this question is our prayer life.
 
           Jesus showed us the connection between prayer and faithfulness.  We need faith when we pray; we need to pray in order to persevere in our faith.  I believe, Jesus taught that prayer and the life of faith are bound up together.  They are inseparable.  How is your and my prayer life progressing?
     
     
PRAYER:  Almighty God, we know that you make all things new.  Write your words on our hearts and minds, so that we may live as faithful disciples.  Encounter us in our daily lives, so that we may truly know you.  Forgive us our sins so that we may live holy and just lives before a watching world, we pray in Jesus' Name.  Amen.