'' Luke 18 : 1 - 8 '' Then Jesus told the disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. '' He said : '' In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' For sometime he refused. But finally he said to himself, ' Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming! ' And the Lord said, '' Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night ? Will he keep putting them off ? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth ? '' ''
In this portion of Scriptures, Jesus teaches us that we should always ''pray'' and not give up. In this context, he tells a parable of a widow who persistently bothered the judge to grant her justice. And the judge, though was an unjust man, finally decides that he will ensure that the widow gets justice, so that she won't wear him out by coming to him. The widow has been so persistent in going to the judge with her plea, to the extent that in order to prevent her from coming to him, the judge decides to grant her request. Now, we need to notice one very very important thing here : Towards the end of the parable Jesus says, ''However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth ?''
Now, you might wonder, what does the widow going to the judge with her plea has to do with faith disappearing from the face of the earth when Jesus returns?
Let us meditate and understand what was Jesus warning us about, through this parable: Here, the woman needs something .That is justice from her adversary. In order to get what she desired she persistently went to the judge and presented her plea. And Jesus specifically pointed out to ''listen to the words of the judge'' :
'' Luke 18 : 4-6 But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' And the Lord said, ''Listen to what the unjust judge says.''
So, what did the judge say: '' because the widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming! '' So, the judge's decision to grant her justice, was purely based on the way the widow was approaching him. And what was the widow's way? - To be persistant in presenting her ''plea'' and never giving up.
Now: In order to get what the widow wanted, did the widow sit at home and repeatedly kept on saying to herself that ''she is receiving what she wants,'' and then go to the judge weekly once, and again ''confess'' before him that ''she is seeing herself receiving justice'' ? Imagine this: Imagine the judge sitting there on a chair, and this woman going and standing in front of him, and confessing ''I will receive my justice, I see that I am receiving my justice, I see that my adversary is being punished,'' and then leaves the place? Doesn't she appear arrogant to the judge? For instance, imagine yourself in the place of the judge and the woman doing this. How will you react? Will you not wonder what on earth is this woman doing, coming in front of you? Will you not turn furious, when, instead of asking you, she is just standing so boldly and confessing, as though your intervention is not needed, and her own words will fetch her all she wants? If the woman doesn't have a conversation with you, and express her agony and her desire and what she wants you to do for her, and express her plea, and honor you as a judge and show reverence for your position as the one who has the power to grant her justice... but just stands before you and ''confesses'' all she wants to happen, and then gives a broad smile and claps before you, believing that ''her confessions'' will bring her what she wanted, and then leaves the place - How does she appear to you ? Will that not look like absolute arrogance?
Perhaps if the judge is gracious, he will allow her to appear for couple of times, expecting her to realise her mistake, and speak with him properly, and tell him what she wants him to do, in the way she ought to - the way prescribed to her. But if she does the same thing repeatedly, will he not get furious and command the guards to throw her out of the court , and ensure that she is never again seen in the premises? Had the widow ever got her justice or answer from the judge, if she had practised this kind of pattern when she went to the judge - ''confessing'' day and night, and going to the judge weekly once and again ''confessing '' before him, that ''she sees that she received her justice, so she has it'' ? Will she not become a laughingstock for her adversaries who might be watching her ? And only an object of wrath for the judge ! Yes ? But why did the judge grant the request of the widow ? Because the widow was going to the judge and ''pleading'' in his presence, persistently.
'' Luke 18 : 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' ''
She came into the presence of the judge with a ''PLEA.''
When we go into the presence of a higher authority, there is certain decorum we need to maintain.
There is a way we should communicate with the authority.
We need to make the choice of words very carefully, when we present ourselves before him.
Because if our words and tone of our communication is not appropriate, it only carries a wrong message to the authority, and chances that we will be only turned down if he is not pleased by the way we are presenting ourselves. And specially, when we need something, there is a way we should present our request.
The ''way'' we express, makes it either ''a request,'' or ''a command,'' or ''a statement,'' or ''a prayer.'' If our request is not presented the way it ought to, then it cannot be called a request.
And when the Judge doesn't receive the request the way He expects it, then forget about approving the request, when He loses his patience, He will appoint guards to ensure that the person doesn't appear before him one more time. And the person will lose further oppurtunity to present his pleas ! Now, Jesus told us this parable of the widow and the judge, to instruct us that we ''Should always PRAY.'' And no-where he mentioned, ''keep speaking what you want and you will get it and this will substitute prayer!''
When we go into the presence of God we need to be careful about how we are presenting ourselves before God. If we stand and just speak, and confess all we want, then we are only being arrogant before God.
If Jesus taught us ''Prayer'' is the way to present our requests, then this is the only way that our requests must go to God.
When we obey the instruction the way it is given, it is then that we show that we have faith. If we don't follow the instruction, as it is given by the ''Author and Finisher of our Faith,'' Jesus, the Christ, then we are void of Faith. Because He who writes our Faith, will write it only when we follow the instruction ''as is given'' by Him - that is, ''PRAY.'' He will not write Faith on any other principle or law which He never taught. If we follow our own patterns, and invent new laws and say we have faith, then we are only deceiving ourselves. And we are only making God furious, by our arrogant attitudes, when each time we go and stand and ''confess'' all we want, and then give a broad smile, clap and leave the place, thinking, ''I am confessing it, and I see they are coming to me, so I will receive it.'' This shows you are keeping faith ''in your own words,'' in the presence of God. And you believe that your own words will get all you need.
'' Amos 6 : 11 - 12 For the Lord has given the command, and he will smash the great house into pieces and the small house into bits. Do horses run on the rocky crags ? Does one plow there with oxen ? But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness...''
We will be turning justice into poison and fruit of righteousness into bitterness...
Because we are turning the grace of God that is guaranteed when we pray, abiding by Christ, into His wrath, by standing and just confessing and leaving His presence, arrogantly. When God thinks its enough of it, He will give the command, and never again you will be able to come into His presence !
'' Hosea 5 : 4 -7 Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; Israel's arrogance testifies against them; the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin, Judah also stumbles with them. When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord, they will not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them. They are unfaithful to the Lord;''
And when those practising wrong doctrines, when they see something is stopping them from God, for sure, they will start ''invoking the name of the Lord'' to accomplish their purpose - as they were taught - and it will only make it even worser when the demons jump on them and ask them back, 'who are you using the Lord's name without having the Lord in you?' like they did to the seven sons of Sceva!
( Pls Refer Message: ''Sons of Sceva who invoked the Lord's name'' )
Word of God clearly says : '' 1 Corinthians 4 : 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. ''
Then how can anyone say that by speaking out words repeatedly, calling them ''confessions,'' will fetch the answer from God ?
'' Galatians 2 : 19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live in the body but Christ lives in me. ''
When we die to the Law, its Christ who lives in us. That is, the word of God.
'' Galatians 2 : 20 The life I live in the body , I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing! ''
When we are setting aside Christ's teaching, we are setting aside Jesus Christ. And when we are setting aside Jesus Christ, we are only setting aside, the grace of God. And are trying to be justified by some strange principles and laws (of confessions) which Jesus never taught.
'' 1 Timothy 4 : 1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. ''
Doesn't this make it crystal clear that ''confessions'' is a doctrine taught by demons, aiming to snatch away God's people from the grace of God ?
'' Galatians 1 : 7-9 Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned !'' '' Romans 10 : 17 Consequently faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the WORD of CHRIST. ''
Faith comes ---> from hearing the message ---> through the word of Christ.
So,
Faith is directly proportionate to the WORD OF CHRIST.
If the message you hear is not Through the Word of Christ, then what is coming is NO Faith at all ! And the word of Christ is:
'' Luke 18 : 1 Then Jesus told the disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. '' '' Luke 21 : 36 Be always on the watch and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man '' '' Mark 11 : 22 - 26 '' Have faith in God, '' Jesus answered. '' I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ' Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will done for him.Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. ''
Now do we all understand why Jesus said towards the end of the parable:
'' Luke 18 : 8 However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth ? '' These words of Jesus are manifesting in a full measure, through this doctrine called ''confessions.''
These doctrines are only taking God's people out of the boundaries of the grace of God, which is by faith in Christ Jesus - the faith that comes by hearing the message through the Word of Christ.
'' 1 Corinthians 2 : 4, 5 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. ''
So, our Faith must rest on God's power.
'' 1 Corinthains 1 : 22 - 24 Jews demand miraculous signs, and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified : a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ''
For all the children who are called by God, Christ ( Word of God ) is the Power and Wisdom of God. Let us not cause hindrances in the way of God's people, from reaching the Throne of Grace, by pouring out '' human wisdom '' while preaching the gospel, because once human wisdom interferes, then we are only emptying the power of the cross of Christ.
'' 1 Corinthians 1 : 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize , but to preach the gospel -- not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. ''
'' Hebrews 5:14 -16 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are -- yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. ''
Let us read these Scriptures and take warning from them, and humbly seek the Lord, the way we ought to:
'' Hosea 5 : 7 - 15 They are unfaithful to the Lord; they give birth to illegitimate children. Now their New Moon festivals will devour them and their fields. Sound the trumpet in Gibeah,the horn in Ramah. Raise the battle cry in Beth Aven , lead on, O Benjamin. Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of reckoning. Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain.
Judah's leaders are like those who move boundary stones. I will pour out my wrath on them like a flood of water.
Ephraim is oppressed, trampled in judgment, intent on pursuing idols. I am like a moth to Ephraim like rot to the people of Judah. When Ephraim saw his sickness and Judah his sores, then Ephraim turned to Assyria, and sent to the great king for help. But he is not able to cure you, not able to heal your sores. For I will be like a lion to Ephraim like a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them. Then I will go back to my place until they admit their guilt. And they will seek my face; in their misery they will earnestly seek me. ''
God bless You.
