PERSEVERING PRAYER

Dr. Kenneth W. Jones, Pastor, Practical Living Ministry

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Introduction: Review of Study

“You have not because you ask not:” Has prayer become obsolete

in our culture because we can bring things to pass through our

knowledge and processes?

The women pursuing Elijah and Samuel: How far are we willing to

pursue to get our need met?

Prayers, Petition, or Confession

Ask. Seek. Knock vs “Name it and Claim It”- Persistence vs.

“Vendor” mindset

When the answer is unsure or delayed - Trusting in God who says

He is always with us

Praying with your head covered: Casting down imaginations &

keeping the phone line clear

How Jesus prayed – We learn effective prayer from the Master

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Pray and Not Faint3

Separation

Luke 18:1 - ALSO [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that

they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose

heart, and give up).

In order for Prayer to Avail, it must prevail

Jesus Told Them in a Parable

Jesus told them in a parable meaning that

he is making a point through an illustration

(Luke 18:1)

Two points: Pray always and not to grow

weary or give up

The parable is designed to teach us that we

should persevere, and not grow weary in our

supplication to God.

Many “Faith Teachers” tell us that we ought

not to pray for the same thing a second time.

Yet Scripture teaches us otherwise that it is

“the squeaky wheel that gets the grease”

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Keep In Mind, the Opposite of “Persist” is to “Desist” – So P.U.S. H.! Pray Until Something Happens

How Important is Your Need?

Luke 18:5 - Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her,

lest by her continual coming she weary me. (KJV)

Luke 18:5 - Yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will

defend and protect and avenge her, lest she give me intolerable

annoyance and wear me out by her continual coming or at the last she

come and rail on me or assault me or strangle me. (Amplified Version)

She weary me - The word used here, in the original, is that which

was employed to denote the wounds and bruises caused by

“boxers,” who beat each other, and blacken their eyes, and disable

them.

The reason why we have “prayer armor” is because prayer at times

may be a battle for we wrestle not against “flesh and blood.” (Ephesians 6:10-18)

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If Prayer Was Not Meant to be Active

Why do we have to bind the strong man? (Mark 3:27)

before Satan’s domain can be “plundered,” he must be

incapacitated

Why do we have to travail in prayer? (Luke 22:44)

Even Jesus travailed in prayer

Why do we have to cast down imaginations and pull

down strongholds?

Prayer is an act of Vigilance: We are to “Watch and

Pray” (Be alert!)

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Shall God Not Provide For His Elect?

If, therefore, this “wicked man” by persevering

prayer was induced to do justice, how much

more shall God do for His elect and who put

their trust in him.

Do we lose sight that we are God’s Elect? (Col

3:12)

Which cry day and night - This expresses

one striking characteristic of the elect of God;

they pray, and pray constantly.

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Importunity Defined

Luke 11:5-10:

And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him

at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;

6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set

before him? 7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the

door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give

thee.

8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his

friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he

needeth.

9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find;

knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh

receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be

opened.

Importunity: perseverance in a pursuit without regard to time, place or

circumstance. Persistence in the face of all that seems reasonable

and refusing denial

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Prayer in the Offense

Most people see prayer in the Defense

“Brother, please pray for me. The devil is attacking our family.”

While this is wise and we need to respond spiritually and in

prayer to demonic attacks along with trials we face, we should

always be in the offense, praying daily and diligently that the

kingdom of God be fulfilled in our lives

It is said, “The best defense is a strong offense.”

The kingdom of Satan cannot prevail against the kingdom of

God

The church is not in the defense, but in the offense

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The Sky is Falling!

Daniel Perseveres in Prayer

Daniel 10:9-13: Then I heard the sound of his words;

and when I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my

face in a deep sleep, with my face [sunk] to the ground.

10 And behold, a hand touched me, which set me

[unsteadily] upon my knees and upon the palms of my

hands. 11 And [the angel] said to me, O Daniel, you

greatly beloved man, understand the words that I

speak to you and stand upright, for to you I am now

sent. And while he was saying this word to me, I stood

up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, Fear not, Daniel,

for from the first day that you set your mind and heart

to understand and to humble yourself before your God,

your words were heard, and I have come as a

consequence of [and in response to] your words.

13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood

me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief

[of the celestial] princes, came to help me, for I

remained there with the kings of Persia.

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Daniel fasts and

prays for 21 days

Daniel’s Prayer

It was heard from the first day Daniel prayed (Daniel 10:12)

Thy words were heard - In heaven. Daniel’s prayer was heard

even though it was delayed. The reason initially may be

unknown to us, but God eventually revealed to Daniel

This is why Prayer must be offensive: The reason why the

message was delayed was due to satan and nothing else

We are at war against an enemy who steals, kill, and destroys

There may not be a “reason” other than a satanic attack.

Daniel was unaware of satan’s scheme, yet he

prevailed: This is where faith comes in

The angel was withstood by satan – The angel was “opposed”

by satan

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What Am I Saying?

Some of you may be struggling today with issues and trials that you

don’t even know why you are going through what you are going

through and it appears that the end is not in sight.

You must believe that God has not forgotten you and that you are

His elect and beloved. He will see you through and give you victory

There is an enemy that will do all he can to opposed and withstand

against the hand of God in your life

Stop “Reactive Prayers.” Go on the offense! Claim what is your as

a child of the king. Pray fervently, diligently, daily, and faithfully.

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Most Importantly

Share the Blessing: Tell

others about the goodness of

God

Tell others about it so that

their faith can be encouraged

and strengthened

Prayer with Thanksgiving:

Add a little praise daily,

rejoicing in the God that is

more than enough

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The Kingdom Suffers Violence

Matthew 11:12 - And from the days of John the Baptist

until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and

the violent take it by force.

The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it

by force: Jesus' reference to violence refers to both the intensity of

spiritual warfare surrounding the ministry of Jesus and His herald,

and also to the intensity required to persevere in following God and

His kingdom. (Guzik)

Praying with faith and expectancy in a manner that reaches the

throne room of God

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Prayer in the Defense15

Lord, I need you to help me get my rent money together by the first of the month. I’m in a bind financially, and if you can just help me get some funds so I can go on the church trip to Las Vegas, I would really appreciate it.

Also, deal with these people stressing me out at work! I need favor!

I’ll send him his income tax rebate check early and he’ll stop praying.

Satan

Struggling Saint

We Advance through

“The Gates of Hell” which

represents

Satan’s Hierarchy of Power

The World’s System

and its Influence

seeks to Control or

Prevent our

Advancement

The Gates of

Hell Cannot

Prevail

Advancing

Kingdom

Principles

The People of

God:

The Church

No Society or kingdom

can advance its culture

or its kingdom without

WAR

Satanic CultureGod’s Culture Worldly Culture

Pri

nci

pa

litie

sP

ow

ers

Da

rkn

ess

Lack of Unity of Command

Advancing the Kingdom

Through prayer, faith,

and perseverance

Advances

Faith, Patience and

Perseverance Through faith, we place our trust and confidence in God’s Word and

because we believe that God’s word is true, we can persevere

through many trials and tribulations until we see our need fulfill

Hebrews 10:36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you

will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has

promised. (NLT)

While reference is made here towards a heavenly reward, it is

important that we endure and persevere and not give up trusting

that God will do what He says He would do.

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Encouragement

1 Peter 5:7 - Casting the whole of your

care [all your anxieties, all your worries,

all your concerns, once and for all] on

Him, for He cares for you affectionately

and cares about you watchfully.

Casting: “Throw it away from you.”

Psalms 37:25 - I have been young and

now am old, yet have I not seen the

[uncompromisingly] righteous forsaken

or their seed begging bread.

God cares for you – Be

Encouraged

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Our List For Why Prayer is Not

Working

When we don’t see our prayers being answered we

begin to go through our list of why we are not receiving

the answer:

Sin in my life: (John 9:31) or punishment for my sins (Romans

8:1)

In a rebellious state (Proverbs 1:22-33; Deut 1:45))

Not enough faith (Hebrews 11:6)

Generational sins: sins passed down (John 9:2)

Maybe I am not asking for the right thing, in the right way, at the

right time (James 4:2,3)

Hindered by “negative confessions” (Proverbs 6:2)

Maybe God doesn’t want me to have it (Psalms 84:11)

God is punishing me for my slothfulness, sinful past, poor

decisions, etc. (2nd Samuel 12: 7-17)

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While there may be biblical and spiritual legitimacy to why our prayers are being hindered, we must not rule out other principles found in God’s Word

Scriptures

John 9:31: We know that God does not hear sinners, but if anyone is God-

fearing and does His will, He hears him.

1st Peter 3:12: For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears

are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do

evil. (KJV)

James 4:2,3: Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot

obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and

receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Proverbs 6:2: Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken

with the words of thy mouth.

Psalms 84:11: For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give

grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk

uprightly.

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Practical Living Ministry

Practical Living Ministry exists to assist individuals,

groups, and organizations to operate to their full God-

given ability by sharing life changing principles for

spiritual growth and development.

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