30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 18 1-8 Persistent prayer of faith 08 The concerns of God’s heart
📖 Luke 18:1-8
04Sep2020 - *The concerns of God’s heart* - Luke 18:1-8_ - PERSISTENT PRAYER OF FAITH 8 – Bible reading: _Ezekiel 22:23-31_
_Luke 18:4-5 For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, (5) yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' "_
We saw yesterday who our God is, contrasted against the judge, who avenged the cause of the widow only because she was vexing him. _Luke 18:7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them?_
Jesus shares for us another similar story. _Luke 11:5-8 And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; (6) for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; (7) and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'? (8) I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs._
In both illustrations, the need was met only because of the persistence of the one in need and also because of the frustration of the one, who was meeting the need. The matter was urgent in the mind for the widow and for the friend but what is it that needs to be urgent with us for which we must persist before God?
We have already considered that we must ask God for the Holy Spirit for He, the Holy Spirit, reveals the mind of God to us and also enables us to pray as we ought. There are other blessings that God longs for us to desire after and ask of Him. We should desire to abide in His word _John 15:7_, we should desire to bear much fruit _John 15:16_, we should seek to delight in the Lord _Psalm 37:4_, we should desire God’s wisdom _James 1:5_ and many more such wonderful blessings.
I wish to focus on one specific passion that must fill our hearts, for which we must persist with God.
_Ezekiel 9:4 and the LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it." Psalm 119:136 Rivers of water run down from my eyes, Because men do not keep Your law._
Are we those who sigh and cry over the abominations that are being committed in our cultures and are we seeking God’s healing on our land?
King Josiah was one such person, who was deeply troubled by the evil that was being committed by the people and he pleaded with God for His mercy and forgiveness. _II Kings 22:13 "Go, inquire of the LORD for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the LORD that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us."_
This was God’s response to King Josiah’s heart cry. _II Kings 22:19 because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you," says the LORD._
The Lord longs for those who will persist in prayer for the things that are uppermost in the heart of God.
_Ezekiel 22:23-31 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, (24) “Son of man, say to her: 'You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.' (25) The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. (26) Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. (27) Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. (28) Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' when the LORD had not spoken. (29) The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. (30) So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. (31) Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads," says the Lord GOD._
God sought for a man to stand in the gap before Him for the land but there was no one.
What are you persisting for in prayer before the Lord? Is it for those things that are causing pain to the heart of God or is it for your own legitimate needs, just as the widow or the friend seeking for bread?
*Thought to ponder*
```” Father, with trembling, I desire to be one, who will stand in the gap before you, for the land”.```