MEMORISE:

 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. Luke 18:5

 READ:  Luke 18:1-8

 1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

 MESSAGE:

 A few years ago, I told some Pastors that God answers all prayers. Some of them were shocked and I could see it on their faces. In The Redeemed Christian Church of God, when the Pastor in charge of a Parish cannot solve a problem, he escalates it to the Pastor in charge of the area. If the problem continues to defy all solution, it will continue to be passed up the chain of command until it reaches the General Overseer. Now, who does the General Overseer take the problem to? There is no one I can run to but Jesus Himself. I not only run to Him; I stay with Him in the place of prayer until the problem is solved. If you would pray persistently, soon your testimony would also be “God answers all prayers”. John 16:24 says:

            "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."

 Some people unknowingly stop praying just before their breakthrough. Why do people stop? Perhaps they think they are disturbing God. Is it not God Himself who said we should ask that our joy may be full? ls it not Jesus Himself who told the story of the widow and the wicked judge in today's Bible reading Why then should you stop praying when your prayer has not yet been answered? In my early years as a Minister, there were prayers I made for many years before I saw answers. I prayed for fifteen years so that I would be able to heal the sick by mere waving of the hand. I did not stop praying after a few years, I persisted and received my answer. What is that long-awaited desire of yours for which you have stopped praying? It is time to start praying again, that your joy may be full.

 You may wonder why God can't just answer you after praying once or twice. Well, He is sovereign. He will choose when to answer you. Also, some requests do not yield result with 'two-minute' prayers. You have to press in the spirit to be able to shift such things in the physical. Some other times, God may be using that situation to build your faith (1 Peter 1:7). Whatever the case, don't get weary when you don't receive answers immediately; keep praying.

 God promised In Matthew 7:7-8 that when you ask you will receive, when you seek you shall find and when you knock, doors will be opened unto you.

 Persist in prayer until He answers. He is a prayer answering God.

 KEY POINT:

 Don’t stop asking until your joy is full.

 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Deuteronomy 11-13

  HYMN 12: IN CHRIST ALONE.

  1. 

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light, my strength, my song

This cornerstone, this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My comforter, my all in all

Here in the love of Christ I stand.

  2. 

In Christ alone who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

Till on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live.

  3. 

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

 4.  

No guilt in life, no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.