“The Power of Persistent and Transparent Prayer”
Luke 18:1-17
“Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” – Luke 18:1
Persistent prayer and transparent prayer, these are the important topics of our Luke 18 parables this morning. Remember, the word parable [parabolē], it means to throw alongside [for comparison]. In these parables, therefore, Jesus throws alongside illustrations to teach us two important principles on prayer.
The first parable underscores persistent prayer. It is vital that we continue asking and seeking our Lord in prayer. The woman in the parable is persistent in her petition for justice. What we learn is that we should be persistent in our prayers, and especially in prayers of petition. Keep asking and keep seeking; that is the message.
Unlike the earthly judge who did not fear God, our heavenly Father [who is the Supreme Judge] never tires from hearing our petitions. We need only continue and then trust Him for His will, His way, and His timing. God loves hearing our prayers.
The second parable highlights the importance of transparent prayer. I mean, you are not going to fool God anyway.
Prayer must be transparent and centered in God, not me. And that sometimes is a subtle failure in our prayers because we tend to naturally focus on ourselves.
Notice the “I, I, I, I, I” prayers of the Pharisee. There were five, and they told the tale. His heart was centered on himself, and that was why he was not justified.
The tax collector, however, “would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner.’” [Lk 18:13] Notice, though, his prayer was transparent and directed toward the right Person. It was the tax collector, not the Pharisee, who went away justified.
This parable reveals two different attitudes of prayer: one centered in God; and one centered in me.
Obviously, the former is the One that unlocks the power of effective prayer.
