Read this carefully: Luke 18:1-8 "Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge *said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
That last verse keeps coming to mind when I consider many so-called churches today. When I consider the words of Jesus, I think I can see what He meant!
I see where churches everywhere struggle in getting people together to pray. Why is that? Why isn't it like the idea of this passage? "Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,"
Essentially it appears that our prayers ought to be like breathing. Constant and continuous. Look at other passages. The great difficulty in casting out a demon. "But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." Matthew 17:21
I think we all to often give up when we don't see an answer to prayer in a time frame that, at least for us, is 'reasonable'.
I am guilty of it for sure. Our microwave responses we expect hurt our walk with God. I look at how my life has been in the last 7 years and it certainly has been interesting. Something I think I prayed about way back then...has come around only in the last 6 months. God's timing in response to a prayer. We are in a hurry. He isn't.
Life with God is an eternal communion. We begin it here on Earth and will indeed continue it in His presence throughout eternity.
Bear one another's burdens...that passage comes to mind too.
In all of these...it reminds me of what we should be doing. People who say they don't need to be in Church to worship God miss this important part. How can you help bear one another's burdens if you aren't there? How can you know what the burdens are if people don't share? How can that be worked out if people aren't praying in faith?
Will He find the faith?
I have come to understand the truth that churches flourish for only two reasons. Either because they are doing what God wants or what Satan wants.
I have seen both. Experienced both. Have been to churches where there's no mistaking that the Spirit of God was there.
Have been to others that were so shallow and hollow that everything wasn't real. No desire to truly preach and teach the Bible. They were there to entertain. Give everyone bowls of sugary cereal and send them on their way. Compromises permeated the establishment. Not calling sin sin. Tolerance for sin. No conviction.
Churches where they don't try to do more for the Kingdom. When asked they balk at the notion of adding services. It's too difficult to organize. Have seen so-called Churches where the preacher is no more than a hired hand. The very kind that Jesus warned about. They sell books from the pulpit! You need their books to get through the service! Sold in the lobby.
Will He find the faith?
Jesus says people will accumulate for themselves teachers who will tell them what they want to hear. Not teachers who tell them what they need to hear.
People want to be told they are good enough. That their ok. That nothing needs to be changed in their lives. That they can take it easy and be prosperous!
Sorry Charley...doesn't work that way. Being a Christian hurts. People will hurt you, circumstances will hurt you. Life isn't a bowl of cherries. Your life as it is, isn't ok. The work of the Spirit is to teach you all things. To work at transforming us into being more like Christ.
Many will say on the day of Judgement...we did this in your name and that in your name...Jesus will say depart from Me for I never knew you.
Will He find the faith in you?
Is Jesus really living in you?
Are you in a Bible preaching, Bible believing church? Does it truly teach the Bible? Or is it a Spiritual pick-me-up on whatever days you may go?
You may shrug this off now, but realize that in the here and now you can do something about it. In front of Jesus there's no time left.
You should be challenged by those you go to church with. You should be supporting them and being supported by them. In prayer and praise.
Will Jesus find the faith?
Praying should be continuous. When we have a thought of a need, or pain or desire, share it immediately with Our Savior. He's there, so why not?
Prayer should indeed be continuous but not repetitious. Don't drone out the exact same things every day in the context that it's just words. It's different if you're praying FOR something or someone. But words for words sake isn't it.
Mean it.
Will Jesus find the faith?
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