WHEN YOU PRAY PT8: DONT FAINT

Pastor Maurice B. Breaux Thursday Night Bible Study

Luke 18:1-8 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; (2) Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: (3) And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. (4) And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; (5) Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. (6) And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. (7) And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? (8) I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? When dealing with the subject of prayer, the issue of waiting is a sensitive issue. For some, waiting is a very difficult thing to do; for others waiting is a very frustrating process and for some, waiting makes a person feel helpless, immobile, or even paralyzed. When a person understands the purpose of waiting, that person will experience the fellowship of prayer. Why do we wait? Why does God make us wait longer for some things? Wait to wait is to remain inactive or to remain in one place while expecting something; remain ready and available for use.

Psalm 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

Jesus speaks a parable. A parable is an earthly illustration with a heavenly meaning. In the text, Jesus gives the thesis of the parable before He gives the parable. His thesis is, That men ought always to pray, and not to faint. He sets the tone for the illustration or the picture He is about to paint. He wants the disciples to understand the persistence in praying. Jesus addressed that we should pray on all occasions and all the time. IMPORTANT: We should pray as long as we need Jesus. You will never suffer from bring persistent in your prayers. Quite the opposite when you pray, somehow, you gain strength.

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. The Importance on Waiting on the Lord: Waiting on the Lord produces strength; thats why waiting on the Lord will never result in fainting. A person that faints is a person that gave up a person that gave up is a person that stopped praying. In the original language the word faint literally means give up. If you are at the point of giving up, pray longer, pray harder, praypraypraypray. Just because you havent gotten the answer yet doesnt give you the right to give up on God. James 1:3 (NIV) because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:3 (NL) For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 1 Corinthians 9:24 (NL) Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 27:13-14 I would have fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. (14) Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.