SEARCH THE SCRIPTURE by Pastor Kumuyi of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry for today is here. Digest the word of the lord and pray believing.
ADULT STS LESSON 126:
TOPIC: THE RIGHT ATTITUDE IN PRAYER
MEMORY VERSE: “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other” for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 18:14).
TEXT: Luke 18:1-14
The subject of prayer is not strange to most people. Men everywhere, on different occasions and in diverse ways, reach out to God for help or in search of true fellowship. But not all those who pray have the proper attitude in their approach to God. The wrong attitude in prayer accounts for many difficulties people experience in their bid to receive help from Him. Therefore, Jesus gave some parables with the aim of teaching everyone to pray with the right attitude. Prayer is communion with God; talking or crying to Him for help; seeking His favour or fellowshipping with Him. Prayer involves praise, worship, thanksgiving, intercession and supplication. During prayer, people pour out their hearts and feelings to God, either verbally or mentally (1 Samuel 1:10-17; 7:9). From the two parables of Jesus in the text, we learn the need for right attitude of faith, fervency, importunity and humility in prayer. The first parable of the unjust judge encourages believers to trust God and expect Him to answer their prayers despite seeming delays. The second story of the Pharisee and publican teaches how sinners can receive justification only on the basis of God’s mercy.
THE PERSISTENT WIDOW AND GOD’S PROMISE TO ANSWER PRAYER (Luke 18:1-8; 11:5-13; Isaiah 65:24; Jeremiah 33:3; Matthew 7:7-11; John 14:13,14)
In our text, Jesus pointed out the necessity of faith and importunity in prayer. He used the parable of an unjust judge who was compelled by a widow’s importunate pleading to grant her justice. The key point in the parable is that, if a wicked, unjust and heartless man, who neither feared God nor regarded man, was compelled to grant the petition of a poor widow, then God, who is just and compassionate, can be depended upon to grant the requests of His own people. God has promised to answer the prayers of those who come to him in faith and sincerity. He says, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it” (Jeremiah 33:3; John 14:13, 14). The promises of God should encourage us to pray unceasingly and expect answers from Him. He is always faithful to fulfil His promise (1 Thessalonians 5:24). It is because Christ knows that God is just and faithful that He exhorts that “men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1). He knows that God is always moved with compassion whenever we are going through challenges of life. He says, “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily” (Luke 18:7,8). Though He is ever ready to help in adverse situations of life, He expects us to demonstrate our faith and dependence upon Him through prayer. From the parable of the unjust judge, we learn that God may sometimes allow the answer to our prayers to be delayed. Such divine delays are not intended to discourage or punish us; rather, they are designed for our good and growth in faith (Daniel 10:2,3,12-14; John 11:3-6; James 5:7-11). Also, we must not give up praying or lose hope simply because the answer to our prayer is slow in coming. Rather, we should intensify our petition and patiently wait for God to act. Besides, Jesus hinted at the role of faith in prayer. He said, “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (verse 8). This question, posed by Jesus, should propel each believer to develop his or her faith because importunate praying can only thrive when we have faith that we shall receive what we are waiting on God for. This parable of the persistent widow is the second on importunity in prayer in the book of Luke. He had earlier used the parable of a person who ran to his friend at an odd hour of the night to request provisions to entertain a visiting guest-friend to teach how we should not give up praying until we receive the answer (Luke 11:5-13). This is shown not only by the frequency but increasing tempo of praying that graduates from asking through seeking to knocking. Examples of importunity in prayer abound in the Scripture. The children of Israel continued to march around Jericho wall for seven days without giving up until the walls collapsed. Elijah kept praying for rain even when his servant reported that there was no evidence or sign of clouds upon the sea until the clouds formed and rain fell (Joshua 6:12-16; 1 Kings 18:41- 45). When Jacob prayed at Jabbok that, “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me” (Genesis 32:26), God blessed him. We must persevere in prayer until we receive the fulfilment of God’s promises on salvation, sanctification, fullness of the Holy Spirit, abundant grace, gifts of the Spirit, healing, deliverance, success, protection, material provisions and other blessings for a fulfilled Christian life and ministry. Believers pray to the Father in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ (Matthew 6:6; John 16:23,24). The Scripture enjoins us to pray in faith, with forgiving spirit, in righteousness and obedience (1 Timothy 2:8,9; 1 John 3:22). If we must receive anything from God, persistent prayer of faith is the key that opens the door of His storehouse; for “without faith it is impossible to please him” (Hebrews 11:6).
THE PROUD PHARISEES AND HINDRANCES TO PRAYER (Luke 18:9-14; 16:15; Proverbs 30:12; 21:13; 28:9; Psalm 66:18; Zechariah 7:13; Matthew 6:5-8; Mark 11:25,26; James 4:3)
Christ’s second parable in the text is about “two men” – a Pharisee and a publican – who went to the temple to pray. The decision of both to pray and their choice of the temple as venue are good but receiving answer is determined by the attitude of the petitioner. The prayer of the Pharisee was of no effect but the prayer of the Publican was answered. In this story, Jesus showed us some reasons seemingly good and long prayers are sometimes unanswered. The Pharisees prided themselves as religious people; they exalted themselves, trusted in their own piety and despised others. They practised ostentation in religion and felt they were better than other persons in devotion to God. However, they were shallow and insincere, full of hypocrisy and self-conceit. They had so much evil in their personal lives but they covered up their dirty inner life with outward show of piety. For this reason, Jesus called them “whited sepulchres” or decorated graves, which appear beautiful on the outside but are full of dead men’s bone’s (Matthew 23:27,28). On the other hand, Publicans were notorious sinners. They were Jews who, for the sake of financial reward and opportunity to extort and amass wealth, defied the wrath of their fellow countrymen to work for the colonial Roman authorities as tax collectors. They did not pretend to be religious or righteous. They were conscious of their sinful nature and were open about it. Both the religious Pharisees and the profligate Publicans needed God’s salvation before they could have part in God’s kingdom. They needed to have faith, pray and call on God before they could be justified. They were similar insomuch as all men have sinned and come short of the glory of God. There was no difference between the Pharisee and the Publican until they began to pray. The Pharisee held on to his religious hypocrisy, self- righteousness, boasting, pride and contempt of others. But the publican humbled himself, confessed and renounced his sin, pleaded for mercy and put all his hope of justification in God. The publican was justified rather than the Pharisee. God hates all forms of self- exaltation, pride and hypocrisy. No matter how fervent, frequent, importunate and well-phrased our prayers may be, they will not be answered unless we have the right attitude. The reasons many people pray and d” not receive answers include: insincerity, self-righteousness, pride, ostentation and contempt of others, hypocritical lifestyle, unbelief or doubt, secret sin, stubbornness, neglect of mercy to the poor, contempt of God’s word, selfish motive, unforgiving spirit, and a critical attitude (Mark 11:25,26). Whenever our prayers seem to be hindered, we should examine our lives, repent of any sin discovered and make restitution, where necessary (1 John 3:21,22). Note however, that sometimes believers’ prayers are not answered exactly the way they expect because such legitimate requests are not in agreement with God’s will for our lives. Paul’s request for the removal of his thorn in the flesh was turned down,but God gave him a more satisfying answer (2 Corinthians 12:8,9).
THE PENITENT PUBLICAN AND CONDITIONS FOR ANSWERED PRAYER (Luke 18:13,14; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalms 34:18; 138:6; 17:1; Jeremiah 29:13; Mark 11:24; 9:23; John 14:13,14; 16:23-27; James 5:16; 1 John 3:22).
From the parable of the Pharisee and the publican, we observe that there are certain conditions we must fulfil in order to have our prayers answered. The publican was justified because he prayed to God in genuine repentance and faith. Even though he was a sinner, he obtained mercy and pardon from God. In a similar way, we can receive whatever we desire from God through prayer only if we can fulfil the conditions. Many people erroneously think that God will hear and answer their prayers because they pray long, assume a particular posture or shout. Some even think that once they join fasting with prayer or go to pray in some special locations, they will automatically receive answers. But the story of the Pharisee and publican shows that this Is not always true. The Pharisee fasted at least, twice a week or one hundred and four days in a year. He prayed right in the temple, and he stood up to pray. In spite of all these, his prayer was turned down. What are the conditions for prayers to be answered by God? One, there must be genuine contrition, humility and repentance (2 Chronicles 7:14). Two, a believer must be sincere and wholehearted in making the requests (Psalm 17:1; Jeremiah 29:13). Three, he or she must pray with faith, without doubting (Mark 11:24; 9:23; James 1:6). Four, the request must conform to God’s will (1 John 5:14; Matthew 26:42; James 5:16). Five, he or she must constantly obey God (1 John 3:22). Six, there must be perseverance and patience (Luke 18:1). Six, all prayer must be directed to God the Father in the name of Jesus and empowered by the Holy Ghost (John 14:13,14; 16:23-27).
Questions for review:
1. What is prayer?
2. Mention some lessons on prayer from the parable of the unjust judge.
3. How are the Pharisees different from the Publicans?
4. Mention hindrances to receiving answers to prayer.
5. What are the conditions for effective praying?
6. Why should you pray always?
7. What are the right attitudes in prayer?
