Pray Persistently

November 3, 2024

Matt Nickoson

Pastor Matt encourages the congregation to elevate their prayers beyond personal needs and focus on praying for the lost. He emphasizes the importance of persistent prayer, using Jesus' parable of the persistent widow and a powerful story from Jim Cymbala's book, "Fresh Wind. Fresh Fire," about his daughter's return to faith after years of fervent prayer.

Sermon Notes

If you could request God do one thing for you, what would it be?

Why would it be that?

Mark 10:35-36 NIV

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

Mark 10:37 NIV

They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

The motive of prayer is as important as the prayer itself.

James 4:3 NIV

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

1 Peter 5:7 NIV

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Prayers for God to meet needs are good!

1 Timothy 5:5-6 NIV

The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure (self indulgence) is dead even while she lives.

What if we challenged ourselves to push beyond our own needs in prayer and cry out for the lost?

Mark 10:42-45 NIV

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles Lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man (Jesus) did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus came to serve and give His life.

Luke 18:35-38 NIV

As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.

He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Luke 18:39 NIV

Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Luke 18:40-41 NIV

Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.”

Luke 18:42-43 NIV

Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”

Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

It appears to me, that one prayer brings glory to self and the other brings glory to God.

I want to go to Heaven when I die, and I want to take as many people with me as I can.

So, who are you praying for?

Luke 18:1 NIV

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Luke 18:6-8a NIV

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 them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.”

Luke 18:8b NIV

“However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Romans 8:28 NIV

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

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