Luke 18:1-8

Luke 18:1-8

1. These verses teach us the great importance of perseverance in prayer.
2. These verses teach us that God has an elect people upon earth, who are under His special care.
3. These verses teach us that true faith will be found very scarce at the end of the world.

"Do we ever feel a secret inclination to hurry our prayers, or shorten our prayers, or become careless about our prayers, or omit our prayers altogether? Let us be sure, when we do, that it is a direct temptation from the devil."

"Election is a truth which should call forth praise and thanksgiving from all true Christians. Except God had chosen and called them, they would never have chosen and called on Him."

"Have we faith ourselves? If we have, let us bless God for it. It is a great thing to believe all the Bible. It is matter for daily thankfulness if we feel our sins, and really trust in Jesus. We may be weak, frail, erring, short-coming sinners. But do we believe? That is the grand question."

Questions:

1. Our passage today encourages us to pray and never give up. Beloved brother or sister, have we, as Ryle asks, ever felt a secret inclination to hurry our prayers, shorten them, become careless about them, or omit them altogether? Knowing the answer, what does it do to our hearts to know that this is a direct temptation from the devil? Will we not commit to pray and never give up by the grace of God?

2. Our passage is one that speaks of God’s electing grace. Ryle points out that true Christians will praise God for this grace, and others will revile it. Does this doctrine bring forth from us praise, or does it produce more controversy and distain?

3. Ryle, again, gives evidence against a postmillennial view that things will be better and then Christ will return. The real question for us is, though we be weak, frail, erring, short-coming Christians, do we believe? And if so, do we give thanks to God for His grace?