The Simplicity of Prayer - Convergence and Waiting on God to Answer

The Simplicity of Prayer – Convergence of Men and God’s Answer

1          I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

The preeminence of pray is in Jesus’ witness to the importance of praying.  In Luke 18, Jesus gives one of the most riveting examples of perseverance in prayer leaving no question of His support of the preeminence of prayer to face a hostile world in which God’s people need to have patient endurance.

Luke 18:1-8

1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;  2  Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:  3  And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.  4  And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;  5  Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.  6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.  7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?  8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (KJV)

This passage teaches us that we are disciples tasked with waiting for deliverance.  We are not good at this. 

Why does God “bear long” making us wait?  Does he watch us suffer with satisfaction?  Are we only mice in a maze for his Divine Sovereignty?

The most obvious explanation is that God is not ready to move “the cloud.”  He is preparing circumstances in order to answer our prayers.  As creator, God placed man in a world of time, space, and matter.  This creative necessity brought Self-imposed limitations on God’s actions.  This does not make him any less sovereign, omnipotent, or omniscient.  God may and can overrule these Self-imposed limitations, we call these events miracles.  But in most recorded events in the Bible, He does not overrule with miracles.

God willingly acts according to man’s world of limitations.  Because of this, God appears to move slowly when executing actions, because convergence of men and events must occur for Him to accomplish His will.  He moves men to the convergence of His will according to their environment of time, space, and matter.

An example of God overruling and suspending Self-imposed limitations is the miracle of tongues on the Day of Pentecost.  The disciples did not have time to learn the languages needed at Pentecost.  Therefore, God miraculously gave tongues so the message would be available at that crucial point of convergence of nations, events, and men.  God’s plan for the Gospel will never be thwarted by man’s inability and limitations.

The greatest example of God converging His will according man’s limitations was the birth of His Son.  Galatians calls this the fullness of time.

Galatians 4:4

4 But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

All the world had to be prepared through the earthly nation of Israel.  It was Israel with all of its history, ceremony, and laws that would give the platform from which Christ would save the world.  Each event of Christ’s birth and life had to be according to the prophecies of the Old Testament

The Roman Empire had to be on earth to provide for the crucifixion and unity to spread the message.  They unified a disjointed world.  They provided the law to put Christ to death.  They built the Roman roads over which the great disciples of the gospel traveled.  They provided the catalyst for Joseph and Mary to go to Bethlehem.

Mary had to be born and become of age so she could be overshadowed by the Holy Spirit – God overruling limitations – and be the vessel for the body of Christ.

The birth of Christ is one of the greatest convergences of all the plans of God.  This was done so the message of Christ could be heard, propagated, and understood by all men.

God does everything in His own timing.  Titus 1:2

Titus 1:3 (KJV 1900)

3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

Nothing can thwart his will, and no one can say to him, “What doest Thou”?

The Simplicity of Prayer - It must be our foundation for being faithful

The Simplicity of Prayer – It must be first for the waiting disciple 

1          I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

The preeminence of pray is in Jesus’ witness to the importance of praying.  In Luke 18, Jesus gives one of the most riveting examples of perseverance in prayer leaving no question of His support of the preeminence of prayer to face a hostile world in which God’s people need to have patient endurance.

Luke 18:1-8

1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;  2  Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:  3  And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.  4  And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;  5  Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.  6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.  7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?  8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (KJV)

This passage teaches us that we are disciples tasked with waiting for deliverance.  We are not good at this. 

In verse 6, Christ commands us to hear the unjust judge.  We are to hear with the intent of giving heed to his words.  Although, this is a story and not an event; none-the-less, there is a message from the unjust judge’s actions, attitudes, and words.  We are to listen with the intention of deciphering the message around this character created by Christ. 

The clear message of the unjust judge is that no matter how alone we may think ourselves, God will not forsake us.  There is a day when God will answer all who think him silent, aloof, unconcerned, reticent, or unwilling to vindicate those who cry unto him, day and night.  Prayer born out of faith, that God is closer than our trouble, will maintain and sustain us.  The prayer of faith will always connect us even when we feel disconnected.

There will never be a time that the patience of God will negate his commitment to the vindication of His people.  The convergence of His will for men, events, and time is as certain as our troubles.  God help us to pray.

The issue is can we demonstrate faith during this convergence time.  Can we express faith as God works in a world of Self-imposed constraints of time and affairs of men?  Will we faint?  When He returns will we be so neutralized by our doubts, fears, and weakness that He will not find us holding to the faith once delivered to the saints.  May we be found faithful, no matter the circumstances.

Hebrews 11:7 (KJV 1900)

7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

The convergence of Noah’s time frame was overwhelming.  Years passed as Noah built and waited for God to vindicate his faith.  Faith said go on, yet Noah’s human wisdom said he was foolish.  Although he was buffeted from all oppositions to his faith, he remained firm.  Literally, God found faith on earth in Noah amidst the greatest evil of men.  When God’s will converged Noah was vindicated. 

Psalm 27:13–14

13 I had fainted, unless I had believed; To see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD: Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: Wait, I say, on the LORD.

The Simplicity of Prayer - It must be pursued

The Simplicity of Prayer – It must be first for the waiting disciple

1          I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

The preeminence of pray is in Jesus’ witness to the importance of praying.  In Luke 18, Jesus gives one of the most riveting examples of perseverance in prayer leaving no question of His support of the preeminence of prayer to face a hostile world in which God’s people need to have patient endurance.

Luke 18:1-8

1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;  2  Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:  3  And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.  4  And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;  5  Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.  6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.  7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?  8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (KJV)

This passage teaches us that we are disciples tasked with waiting for deliverance.  We are not good at this. 

The imagery in this passage is based upon the words “troubleth” and “weary.”  The judge admits that the woman is troubling him.  In other words, she is causing such a distraction from his peaceful existence that she is an irritation which he does not need.  Her very existence and persistence is overwhelmingly unappreciated and impacting his life negatively.

The second word “weary” comes from two Greek words meaning “under the eye,” or “to hit under the eye.”  She is so persistent that her assault on him is like one who causes a black eye as a result of the assault.  The annoyance of her life is so compelling that it is like being struck in the face in a physical fight resulting in the face reflecting the action.  Her struggle with him was so forceful that she troubled, possibly even, changing his countenance or making him “weary” looking.

The prominent thought of this passage is believer’s relentless struggle with God through prayer.  It is not based on God’s lack of care for the believer.  It is not because God wants to weary us.  It is because he knows our sin nature.  We do not appreciate what we do not strive to attain or maintain.  His greatest love is shown in His demand that we pray for our substance exercising faith.  This great struggle keeps us close to Him and fleeing the devil.

The struggle is simple, but so faith demanding.  God wants our best and achieves it by giving us a spiritual struggle which has physical implications.  We struggle in constant prayer.  We struggle by specific prayer.  We struggle by physical prayer.  We struggle by faith-filled prayer.  This struggle with God keeps the believer faithful while waiting for the Master’s return.  “PRAY WITHOUT CEASING” is our struggle for God’s immense storehouse of wisdom, guidance, strength, and care in an uncaring world.

Jacob became Israel through the great struggle with God.  It is compelling that Jacob’s desire for blessing is also the lament of Esau when Jacob stole the blessing from Isaac. 

Genesis 32:24–28 (KJV 1900)

24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.