Persistence in Prayer: Unlocking God's Provision

 

Summary

Persistence is a powerful force that can lead to provision, and this is a truth that resonates deeply in our spiritual journey. The question I pose to you today is, "How bad do you want it?" Whatever your "it" may be—whether it's a breakthrough in your finances, a new job, or a deeper relationship with God—persistence is key. Just as a child persistently asks until they receive, we too must approach God with the same tenacity. God is not ignoring us; He hears our prayers and is faithful to respond. Jesus illustrates this through the story of a widow who persistently seeks justice from an unjust judge. Despite the judge's indifference, her relentless pursuit eventually leads to her receiving justice. This story teaches us that if persistence can move an unjust man, how much more will it move a righteous God who loves us?

In our lives, we often face situations where we feel overlooked or oppressed, much like the widow. Yet, Jesus encourages us to keep praying, seeking, and trusting, for our persistence in faith is the key to the justice, answers, and breakthroughs we need. Sometimes, God uses unexpected people and circumstances to fulfill His purpose in our lives. Even those who may not like us can be instruments in God's hands to bring about His will. This is a reminder that God's goodness is not dependent on our circumstances or the people around us. He remains faithful and true to His nature, working all things together for our good.

So, I urge you to tap into your inner child, to ask boldly and persistently, knowing that God is a provider, a way maker, and a promise keeper. Keep asking, keep trusting, and keep believing, for your provision is coming through your persistence. God has something special He wants to release in your life, and it is through your unwavering faith and persistence that you will receive it.

Key Takeaways:

- Persistence in prayer is crucial. Just as a child persistently asks until they receive, we must approach God with the same tenacity, knowing that He hears us and is faithful to respond. [05:42]

- The story of the persistent widow teaches us that if persistence can move an unjust man, how much more will it move a righteous God who loves us? Our persistence in faith is the key to the justice, answers, and breakthroughs we need. [13:30]

- God can use unexpected people and circumstances to fulfill His purpose in our lives. Even those who may not like us can be instruments in God's hands to bring about His will. [15:54]

- God's goodness is not dependent on our circumstances or the people around us. He remains faithful and true to His nature, working all things together for our good. [16:32]

- We are encouraged to ask boldly and persistently, knowing that God is a provider, a way maker, and a promise keeper. Our provision is coming through our persistence, and God has something special He wants to release in our lives. [19:54]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:46] - The Question: How Bad Do You Want It?
[05:00] - Persistence Produces Provision
[06:20] - God Hears and Answers
[07:23] - The Story of the Persistent Widow
[08:55] - God's Unchanging Nature
[10:06] - The Widow's Vulnerability
[11:33] - The Power of Persistence
[13:09] - Moving a Righteous God
[14:02] - Unexpected Instruments of Blessing
[15:54] - Trusting God's Purpose
[17:14] - Boldly Asking God
[18:33] - Elevated Faith and Confidence
[20:19] - The Promise of Provision
[21:00] - Prayer and Gratitude
[23:13] - Closing and Invitation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Persistence and Provision

Bible Reading:
1. Luke 18:1-8 (The Parable of the Persistent Widow)
2. 2 Timothy 2:13
3. Romans 8:28

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Observation Questions:

1. In the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8), what characteristics of the widow's actions are highlighted, and how do they relate to the concept of persistence? [06:42]

2. How does the sermon describe God's response to our prayers, and what assurance does it give about His nature? [06:20]

3. What examples from the sermon illustrate how God can use unexpected people or circumstances to fulfill His purpose? [14:58]

4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of asking God with the tenacity of a child? [05:21]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the story of the persistent widow challenge our understanding of justice and persistence in prayer? What does this parable teach about God's character compared to the unjust judge? [13:30]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's goodness is independent of our circumstances or the people around us? How does this align with 2 Timothy 2:13? [08:55]

3. The sermon mentions that God can use people who may not like us to bring about His will. How does this perspective change the way we view difficult relationships or situations? [15:54]

4. How does the sermon encourage believers to approach God with boldness and persistence, and what role does faith play in this process? [19:54]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a situation in your life where you feel overlooked or oppressed. How can you apply the lesson of the persistent widow to continue seeking justice or resolution? [11:33]

2. Identify a specific area in your life where you need a breakthrough. How can you persistently bring this need to God in prayer, and what steps will you take to maintain your faith during this process? [13:48]

3. Think of a time when someone unexpected helped you in a significant way. How can you remain open to God's use of unexpected people or circumstances in your current challenges? [14:58]

4. Consider a relationship or situation where you feel resistance or rejection. How can you trust that God is working all things together for your good, as stated in Romans 8:28? [16:32]

5. How can you cultivate a child-like faith in your prayer life, asking God boldly and persistently for what you need? What specific prayers will you focus on this week? [19:15]

6. Reflect on a time when you felt God was not responding to your prayers. How can the assurance of God's faithfulness, as mentioned in 2 Timothy 2:13, encourage you to keep praying? [06:20]

7. What practical steps can you take to remind yourself of God's promises and His ability to provide, even when circumstances seem unfavorable? [20:19]

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Persistent Prayer
Persistence in prayer is a powerful force that can lead to divine provision. Just as a child persistently asks until they receive, we must approach God with the same tenacity, knowing that He hears us and is faithful to respond. The story of the persistent widow in the Bible illustrates this truth. Despite facing an unjust judge, her relentless pursuit eventually leads to her receiving justice. This story teaches us that if persistence can move an unjust man, how much more will it move a righteous God who loves us? Our persistence in faith is the key to the justice, answers, and breakthroughs we need. [05:42]

Luke 18:1-5 (ESV): "And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, 'In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, "Give me justice against my adversary." For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, "Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming."'"

Reflection: What is one specific area in your life where you need to persist in prayer, trusting that God hears you and will respond in His perfect timing?


Day 2: Faith Moves the Heart of God
The story of the persistent widow teaches us that if persistence can move an unjust man, how much more will it move a righteous God who loves us? Our persistence in faith is the key to the justice, answers, and breakthroughs we need. Jesus encourages us to keep praying, seeking, and trusting, for our persistence in faith is the key to the justice, answers, and breakthroughs we need. Sometimes, God uses unexpected people and circumstances to fulfill His purpose in our lives. Even those who may not like us can be instruments in God's hands to bring about His will. [13:30]

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV): "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."

Reflection: Consider a situation where you feel overlooked or oppressed. How can you actively choose to trust in God's justice and continue to seek Him in faith?


Day 3: God's Unexpected Instruments
God can use unexpected people and circumstances to fulfill His purpose in our lives. Even those who may not like us can be instruments in God's hands to bring about His will. This is a reminder that God's goodness is not dependent on our circumstances or the people around us. He remains faithful and true to His nature, working all things together for our good. [15:54]

Genesis 50:20 (ESV): "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."

Reflection: Think of a challenging relationship or situation in your life. How might God be using it to fulfill His purpose and bring about good?


Day 4: The Unchanging Nature of God
God's goodness is not dependent on our circumstances or the people around us. He remains faithful and true to His nature, working all things together for our good. This truth encourages us to trust in His unchanging nature, even when life seems uncertain or difficult. We are encouraged to ask boldly and persistently, knowing that God is a provider, a way maker, and a promise keeper. [16:32]

James 1:17 (ESV): "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you doubted God's goodness due to your circumstances. How can you remind yourself of His unchanging nature and faithfulness today?


Day 5: Boldly Asking and Receiving
We are encouraged to ask boldly and persistently, knowing that God is a provider, a way maker, and a promise keeper. Our provision is coming through our persistence, and God has something special He wants to release in our lives. By tapping into our inner child and asking with boldness, we align ourselves with God's promises and open the door to His blessings. [19:54]

Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV): "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."

Reflection: What is one bold request you can bring before God today, trusting in His provision and faithfulness to answer?

Quotes


Persistence produces provision while the majority of us are grown and have to deal with grownup things sometimes we must remember that we must tap into our inner child and Express how badly we want something and based on what we want the only person that can give us the big things is God. [00:05:14]

I don't know if you forgot but I'm here to remind you that the god that we serve the god that we love God our father he hears us. I don't know if you forgot but I'm here to remind you God is not ignoring you he is not dismissing your prayers he is a father who listens who sees and who answers. [00:06:00]

Jesus is telling the disciples a story as he highlights persistence in prayer he tells a story about a widow who needs Justice while dealing with unfavorable people and circumstances in verse two he notes that the antagonist in the story is a judge who neither fears God nor cares about people. [00:06:38]

Despite the judge's stance about his dislike of people petitions over and over again for this judge to Grant favor on her behalf I want to let you know that Jesus is letting us know how much we love the how much love that we have for him everyone does not have the same affection for him. [00:07:09]

This Widow Jesus is illustrating is going through something that only her persistence can change she doesn't have wealth status or influence she ain't got no money to bribe the judge or pull strings to get what she needs all she has is her voice and she refuses to be silent. [00:11:41]

If persistence can move an unjust man how much more will it move a righteous God who loves us Jesus is teaching us that sometimes breakthrough only comes when you refuse to quit so like this Widow keep praying keep seeking yes keep trusting because your persistence in faith is the key to the justice. [00:13:11]

God can use people who don't love him and don't love you to push his purpose forward in your life some of y'all are are so busy being mad at the boss who overlooks you the family member who doubted you or the system that seems to be stocked up against you that you don't even realize that God is setting them up. [00:15:04]

When God has his hands on your life he will make even your enemies contribute to your destiny so don't stop praying Don't Stop Believing don't let a no today make you think God's promise isn't still working because even if they hate you even if they reject you they can't stop God. [00:15:57]

Ask him for that breakthrough your situation might look stuck but God is still making ways out of no way asking for opportunity they might have rejected you the first time but God can open up doors that no man can shut ask him for strength you might feel like quitting H but Isaiah said that they that wait upon the Lord. [00:17:14]

I need somebody in this room to get bold in their faith and they got to have elevated Faith they got to have confidence you've been quiet too long you've been doubting too long you've been waiting for a sign and here is the sign go ahead and ask him ask him for the big things and ask him boldly. [00:18:25]

Keep asking keep trusting because even when people don't mean to bless you God knows how to make them do it anyway won't he do it can't he do it will he do it I stop by here to let you know that your provision is coming through your persistence keep on praying keep on asking never fail. [00:19:44]

God has something special that he wants to release in your life if you stop praying you won't get it if you stop knocking you won't get it but if you open up your mouth and tell God what you want I guarantee you he's going to give you what you ask for he's going to give you what you ask for. [00:20:23]

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Transcript
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