30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 18 1-8 Persistent prayer of faith 11 Let us bring joy to Jesus
📖 Luke 18:1-8
07Sep2020 - *Let us bring joy to Jesus* - _Luke 18:1-8_ - PERSISTENT PRAYER OF FAITH 11 – Bible reading: _I Thessalonians 5:4-6_
_Luke 18:8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"_
God does avenge us speedily but the Lord’s heart is troubled at us. Why is He troubled? He is concerned if He will see faith in us when He returns. To place this differently. What will bring joy to Jesus, when He returns. We will bring joy to Jesus if we have persisted till the very end in prayer and in faith in Him, for *prayer is faith in Jesus*.
We as the church will have to face much ridicule and persecution in the end times. We are seeing this happening in these days. Persecution is not just physical or imprisonment, necessarily. Persecution comes through being pressured to accept the dogmas of the world, to obey the dictates of society, to submit to the view of the majority. The laws of the land are being changed to accommodate the opinion of the powerful and to make us conform. Our children will face these pressures, heavily. If we do not fall in line, then the consequences are severe. All of us are experiencing these issues today.
It is in a time such as this that we must persist in prayer, in faith, in God. _Matthew 24:9-13 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. (10) And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. (11) Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. (12) And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. (13) But he who endures to the end shall be saved. II Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution_
The warning to the church is that the elect will be deceived. Knowing the dangers of the end times, how much more watchful and prayerful we need to be as families and churches. _Matthew 24:24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect._
We are people of the light, let us not allow ourselves to be deceived. _I Thessalonians 5:4-6 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. (5) You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. (6) Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful._
We have the assurance that we are kept by the power of God. We, therefore, rejoice in the Lord in these times, realising that these troubling times are opportunities for us to spend more time in prayer and grow in faith in Him. When He returns, we should be those who bring joy to His heart for we have been people of prayer and people of faith in Him.
_I Peter 1:3-7 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, (5) who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (6) In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, (7) that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,_
*Thought to ponder*
```Would you wish to be counted amongst those who bring joy to Jesus, when He returns? Then persist in prayer, in faith in Him```