This document discusses the power of persistent prayer through analyzing a parable from Luke 18:1-8 about a widow seeking justice from an unjust judge. It makes three key points: 1) The parable teaches that believers should always pray and not lose heart. Persistent prayer can help overcome obstacles. 2) The widow faced difficulties as a nameless, manless, and voiceless woman, but God cares for His children and they can freely approach His throne of grace through prayer. 3) When God's chosen people pray persistently like the widow, God will answer quickly. Prayer strengthens faith and is inseparable from being persistent in prayer.

1. Themba Khoza
POWER OF A PERSISTENT PRAYER

2. Power of a persistent prayer
Key Text: Luke 18:1-8
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray an
d not give up.
He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what
people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the
plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear Go
d or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see th
at she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about
justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting th
em off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the So
n of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

3. Power of a persistent prayer
Key Text: Luke 18:1-8
A WIDOW IN THE SIGHT OF A CRUEL JUDGE
(neither feared God or cared about men)
• A nameless Woman
• A man less Woman
• A Voiceless Woman
• A powerless Woman

4. Power of a persistent prayer
A WIDOW IN THE SIGHT OF A CARING GOD
A. Should not be afflicted
Ex 22:22-24
22 "Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. 23 If you do and they cry out
to me, I will certainly hear their cry. NIV
B. Should not be oppressed OR Treated with Violence
Zech 7:10
10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your heart
s do not think evil of each other.'

5. Power of a persistent prayer
THE WIDOW HAD 3 OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME
I. NAMELESS WOMAN: First being a woman she, therefore, had little standing be
fore the law. i.e In the society of the day, women did not go to court.
II. MANLESS WOMAN : Since she was a widow, she had no husband to stand
with her in court.
III. VOICELESS WOMAN: Money talks. She was poor and could not pay a bribe
even if she wanted to. No wonder poor widows did not always get the protection
the law was supposed to afford them!

6. Key Text: Luke 18:1-8 NIV
1.PURPOSE OF THE PARABLE : Luke 18V1 …...they ought to always pray
Patonte (Greek): at all times, evermore adverb: at all events, all seasons
(I) PRAYER LESSON 1: PRAYER CONTRASTS WITH FAINTING
If we don’t pray we faint. (vv:1). If we don’t pray we lose heart.
Prayer lesson 1

7. Key Text: Luke 18:1-8 NIV …they ought to always pray
Prayer Lesson 2
I. THOSE WHO ALWAYS PRAY SURVIVE TIMES OF CRISIS
Daniel 6:10-11 Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to hi
s upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down
on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
II. ALWAYS PRAYING IS VERY BENEFICIAL
III. IN TIMES OF CRISIS THOSE WHO ALWAYS PRAY REALIZE GOD’S INTERVENTION
Daniel 6:20 When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, serva
nt of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from
the lions?” 22. My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions…....

8. Consider the contrasts
1. The woman was a stranger, but we are the children of God, and God cares for His children
(Luke 11:13).
2. The widow had no access to the judge, but God's children have an open access into
His presence
Ephesians 2: 18 Through Him we both have access by one spirit unto the Father.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we
may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
3. When we pray, we can open the Word and claim the many promises of God,
but the widow had no promises that she could claim.
2 Cor 1:20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through
him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.

9. PRAYER LESSON 3
WHEN THE ELECT PRAY GOD ANSWERS.
THE PRAYER OF RIGTHEOUS AVAILETH MUCH….
v.8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man come
s, will he find faith on the earth?”
PRAYER INCREASES OUR FAITH BECAUSE FAITH COMES BY HEARING THE WORD
PRAYER AND PERSISTENT PRAYER ARE INSEPERABLE.