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Luke 18 verses 1to 8 – It is all about Jesus and the lady who bothers the judge – and she is persistent – and she is relentless.

Jesus invites his disciples to pray – but we must never think we can have a good Prayer Time. What does God think if it?

One of the hardest things in the whole world. That is why so few people pray.

Reading and studying and remembering and obeying the Bible is hard. Prayer is harder. Watching television - talking with people - singing praise songs - all of these are particularly easy compared with praying.

Yet, praying is so central and so vital. Jesus Christ is telling His disciples here to pray, and to go on praying. They are never to lose heart. They must never give in when it comes to prayer.

When it comes to prayer we are not even to consider saying – what is the point of it all? What is the purpose? What is the meaning of all this praying?

As we consider the prayers we have prayed over these past months - we have seen some results - some consequences - things have happened. But we are also very much aware of other prayers - as sincere and real and serious - and these remain a question - a battle ground as we await an answer - some kind of reply which we can understand.

Wherever you are at this present time – whatever you are doing – take time – make time to pray.

Jesus has been talking about the Kingdom. Jesus has been warning us not to run all over the place looking here and there for signs of the kingdom - signs which will never be seen - signs which are not related to the kingdom. We are not to look for blessings where there are no blessings.

Jesus has been teaching us regarding his coming again - his coming back - and Jesus has been speaking about the deteriorating condition of the world – check it out. Read the previous verses in Luke’s Gospel.

It is at this point that Jesus speaks about how vital and important it is that disciples continue to pray.

Do not give up - do not give in – or allow people to write you off. Do not even consider these as possibilities.

Why do some people seem to get on better than others? In prayer?

Why do some people appear to get right through to God? Right through? And others don't?

It can be answered by these words in our verses here - Persistence and Perseverance .

To teach this, Jesus told a parable - "to show the disciples that they should always pray and not give up". Now if Jesus has to teach these disciples these lessons - that indicates that he realised that some might just feel like giving up.

Whatever you are good at - I am sure you find that easier than praying.

Jesus says - There was a judge - he was not a godly man - he didn't care for people. Is there anything we can learn from such a man? Should we just discard such a man as having nothing to teach us spiritually? That is not Jesus' attitude. Jesus sees something in this situation from which we can learn - even from this hard cold uncaring Judge.

(Perhaps we should take time to give God thanks that our courts are basically free from corruption in this land – within our legal system, in comparison with so many other lands today. In Jesus’ day, you could slip something to the Judge so that he would decide in your favour.)

Now there was a widow who kept coming to this Judge - and asking him to look at her case – and sort out what was wrong. She had no money to bribe the corrupt judge. She had only one weapon - Persistence . The judge could not be bothered - there was nothing in it for him – materially speaking. Why should he look at this woman's grievance? She had been wronged - so what?

But she Persevered - she nagged away - it was all she could do. She went on and on at him. She became a bit of a pest. She pestered him. She persisted. She persevered. She kept coming with her request. She was holding on – refusing to give up. She was relentless.

This unjust judge said - She is wearing me out - I'll look at her case, if only for peace. I can't be bothered with her, and she keeps bothering me.

Now Jesus says - "Listen to what the unjust judge says." If this is how a cold uncaring judge can be persuaded to pay attention, will not God bring about justice for His Chosen Ones, who cry out to Him day and night?

Will God keep putting you off? I tell you - He will see they get justice and get it quickly. Our God is a good Judge - He is fair - He is just. He is keen to do what is right for us - and He is open to hear and answer our prayers - IF WE PERSIST .

As far as prayer is concerned - we are to be like the woman. We are to go on pleading with the Father - even in times of pain and suffering and persecution - even when we think He is not dealing with our requests - even when we think it is all a bit of a waste of time - even when we think we are getting nowhere.

The widow was in the right. We have to make sure we are praying properly. We have to ensure our prayers are right prayers - and that our requests are valid.

Jesus teaches us that it is right to go on praying - day and night - looking to God to bring about justice. "God - look at my case and act."

Then Jesus says - However, when the Son of Man comes will He find faith on the earth? When I come again – when I return – will I find many who are faithfully continuing to pray?

Will we be found faithful? Or, will we have ceased praying?

How many will have given up, and gone away? How many will have stopped praying when Jesus returns? Jesus indicates that this will actually happen! That is what Jesus is meaning.

Prayer is putting a demand on what has been promised. You promise to do something with a child – and you think they are going to forget – and they come and say to us – but you promised.

God – it is Sunday – I am going out to preach and teach – Lord God, be with me – be near me – use me – I promised to do that – I will be there.

Somebody asks you – will put in a word for me with ‘the man upstairs’ – strange language – no! – do it yourself! – do you think HE will listen to me? – Yes! – do it yourself! Anyway, you may not like what I might say anyway.

You realise you have been overwhelmed with His love – with His power – with His glory – with His grace – and suddenly you sense you are out of depth with the presence of God. The eyes of the Lord are open to the righteous and His ear is open to their prayer. All this is real – more real than those whose aim and purpose is to destroy the Church of Jesus Christ.

There is a move to stop Prayers at the Opening of the House of Commons each day. What I would love to see is Keir Starmer and the Cabinet standing there with their hands lifted up, worshipping God, and calling upon God for mercy and help, through Jesus Christ.

“Lord God Almighty – Loving Father – as we bow before You we acknowledge this to be a battle. Help us – help us to grow and develop and mature, in prayer – fellowshipping with You – and talking with You about things and situations and people that matter – we pray in Jesus’ Name.” Amen.

"Voice of Inspiration" from Andy Castro

Twas Anything but Silent