Why Praying Is So Hard, and Why
It Hurts To Pray
Luke 18
September 4th 2011 AM
Pastor Craig Ledbetter
I.
Introduction (Psalm 65:2;
145:18)
A.
There is a
God in heaven
1.
Who hears
our prayers
2.
And ANSWERS
our Prayers
B.
But we don’t
get those answers very often
C.
I want to
show you this month why prayers don’t normally get answered, and how to
develop depth and effectiveness to your praying so that they do get
answered!
II.
Background (Luke 18)
A.
This morning
we have an entire chapter to work through to see five battles take place –
five wrestling matches
1.
Each battle
is worth an entire Sunday morning’s study
2.
But I want
to skim through all five, to show you what God is teaching me lately about
prayer
B.
I believe
prayer is never fully mastered in a lifetime. No one but Jesus could ever
just say, I know how to pray
C.
Even though
it is a source of such power and strength for the believer, God has designed
it so that we can never say we finally have it mastered – that we don’t have
to work at praying
D.
It is often
a time of struggle and battles – instead of battling flesh and blood!
E.
Luke chapter
11
1.
Follows
Jesus on His final journey to
2.
He will
encounter five situations that show us how to pray, and why praying is
usually so hard
III.
The Five Battles of Prayer
A.
The
1.
The first
battle we all have is with laziness and flippancy about prayer. If there is
ever any effort involved, or any obstacles in our way, we quit praying!
2.
The first
thing Jesus taught about in chapter 11 was Persistence in our Praying
a.
We want
prayer to be quick and easy
b.
We want to
only have to scratch the surface to find God’s power
c.
We expect to
find God’s help with the smallest of effort on our part
d.
But Jesus
says prayer must be a constant push – a constant effort!
3.
The Parable
a.
A widow has
an adversary – someone trying to ruin her livelihood – possibly take away
her home
b.
Her only
remedy was to go to the courts. This local judge was her ONLY answer, her
only hope to get rid of her adversary!
c.
But the
judge was uninterested in helping her – what a thing!
d.
So, what
should she do?
e.
There was
simply nothing else she could do – except stay on that judge! Jesus said,
this woman stayed at the judge – “her continual coming”
f.
And she
would not let him rest, would not let him alone, would not let him brush her
off – until he looked into her case and got rid of her problem!
4.
The
Principle
a.
Our first
battle we must win is with persistence
b.
We need to
believe that GOD is our only answer
1)
We have
grown up to think quitting is a solution; that work is a dirty word; that
struggle is never worth it
2)
We need to
believe that God will always be enough
3)
And we need
to believe it enough to pray and pray and pray until God acts on our behalf
c.
That is how
all great men and women pray
1)
David –
throughout the Psalms
a)
Prayed all
night; prayed for weeks on end; struggled with God seeming to not care
b)
Yet God DID
care, and David found God to be true to His promises
c)
Psalm 55:17
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will
I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
2)
Jesus! Mark
1:35 And in the morning, rising up a
great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and
there prayed.
3)
Great men
and women don’t usually just pray for 2 minutes and get an answer!
4)
Whenever you
see a short prayer result in a great victory, it will have been because
there was some seriously long praying leading up to it!
5.
When we too
are burdened down with all our cares, worries, fears and troubles, it will
seem that every circumstance of life is stacked against us. We will be
tempted to say, “What’s the use?”, especially after we have prayed and
prayed and prayed about some matter.
6.
Yet, if we
can learn anything from this poor woman, let us learn the lesson that
persistence in prayer pays off in God’s time!
7.
So, keep
praying, despite all the obstacles you face and despite all the signs that
say you should just give up!
a.
What have
you given up praying about?
b.
It is really
a battle with unbelief then. Do we believe that God is our answer? That God
WILL answer? If so, then P.U.S.H. – PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS! He may not
give you want you want, but He will always give you what is best!
B.
The
1.
The next
parable that Jesus taught had two people in it
a.
A Pharisee –
an ultra religious man
b.
A Publican –
a traitorous sinful man – a Jewish tax collector for the Romans
c.
Both came to
the temple to PRAY
d.
They came to
the right place. They both had the right purpose… to pray
2.
Notice the
two attitudes in prayer
a.
Pharisee –
quite pleased with himself – thinks he deserves something
b.
Publican –
quite down on himself – knows he deserves nothing
3.
Only one
person got heard in heaven, and his request was answered!
4.
The other
one didn’t even know he was so lost and so far away from God!
5.
All because
of pride
6.
PRIDE
a.
Is an
unreasonable confidence in one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth,
rank, etc., which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance from others, and
often in contempt of others.
b.
Is the
protection of your life from being real and hurt!
7.
We have such
a battle with our pride – AND IT AFFECTS OUR PRAYING!
a.
We are PROUD
when we won’t forgive things (Lk 17:3-5)
1)
God quickly
forgives… why can’t you?
2)
It is
because you know it will cost YOU to forgive THEM!
3)
If you won’t
forgive people, then God cannot and will not forgive you!
b.
We are PROUD
when we won’t forsake things – dump things you love that are wrong
1)
It is hard
letting go of things we think are important
2)
But if they
are sinful, then the only reason we are holding onto them is because we
think more of ourselves than of God
8.
One man came
to God FULL, and left with nothing.
9.
The other
man came to God EMPTY, and left with everything!!!
10.
And so the
battle goes on! That is, until we are willing to lose some things (like
pride, and power over people who have hurt you, and the pleasures of sin
that last only a brief season)!
C.
The
1.
This is the
roughest battle I think
2.
This is
where God takes us, that it hurts the most
a.
Into trials.
Into struggles. Into times of loss and defeat
b.
And yet it
is GOD that brings us to such a place!
3.
This is no
longer a parable – it is a real encounter with a man on the road to
a.
A rich man,
a powerful ruler – like a politician, or a prince would be
b.
He
approached Jesus and asked how to get eternal life
1)
Sounds like
a great desire… but…
2)
He did not
want forgiveness that RESULTS in eternal life
3)
He just
wanted to be rich and enjoy it forever – like asking for the fountain of
eternal youth
4)
He just
wanted to live forever!
c.
Jesus told
him some things had to be let go of – his wealth for one
d.
And the man
could not let go
e.
Jesus pulled
at that which was most important to this man on the road to
1)
Jesus told
him to give away what was most important to him – his wealth
2)
If it was
his family, or wife, or job – Jesus would have asked him to let go of them
all
3)
If it was
his weekends with his buddies, or his political power – Jesus would have
asked him to let go of those too!
f.
God never
asks us to be poor! He just asks us to let go of what we think are riches
and important to us!
g.
And it is
only then that He can teach us about real riches, and real wealth
4.
What Jesus
is showing us is this:
a.
There is
usually so much sin, and so much of the world in us that He can never bless
us and use us until that stuff is gone
b.
Until we get
rid of it – let go of it when God pulls
1)
Like pruning
a tree or vegetable plant
2)
It is like
removing dross in silver
c.
So Jesus
starts heating up our lives
1)
He allows us
to go into a furnace of affliction (Ps 66:11; 88:7)
2)
He allows
the devil to strip us down, and humiliate us like he did Job! Job never
prayed so well like he did when he was on that ash heap after losing
everything!!!
5.
Prayer is an
effort to get what we need from God. But most often, God must first take
away what we already grip so tightly, so that he can give us what we need –
even what we want!
6.
What is God
pulling at in your life?
a.
What could
possibly be more important that God in your life?
b.
What could
possibly be more important than the forgiveness of sins?
c.
What is it
that is more important than answered prayer, Christian?
d.
Are any of
you willing to let go of what you have so tight a grip on so that God can
put something far more priceless than anything this world offers?
e.
As long as
you stay in control, and hold onto what God is asking you to release, you
will have only such shallow answers to your prayers
f.
And you will
live a miserable and empty life
g.
I am
learning to let God prune my life as he sees fit!
D.
The
1.
Now Jesus
stops dead in His tracks and gathers His disciples around Him for a serious
talk. That rich man has left, and the disciples need to learn another thing
about what stops us from getting answers to prayer…
2.
He explains
what was coming up in the next few weeks
a.
Heading into
b.
Everything
written about Him in the Old Testament would come to pass
c.
Captured by
the Gentiles (Romans)
d.
Mocked
e.
Spitefully
entreated – shamefully treated
f.
Spitted upon
g.
Scourged
h.
Put to
death!!!
i.
And then 3
days later I will rise up again from death!
3.
Do you think
anyone understood what Jesus was talking about? NO! That was completely the
opposite of what they expected to happen
a.
They
believed Jesus would arrive into
b.
He would do
the same miracles that he had performed in
c.
The people
would be so impressed
d.
That they
would immediately crown Him as the King of Israel
e.
And then
they would all rise up and fight the Romans
f.
And God
would restore
4.
Isn’t it
funny how rarely we accept God’s will for us?
a.
We are
afraid of ever asking God what is HIS will, HIS plan?
b.
I think we
all know deep down it will be just the opposite of what we want it to be
5.
But know
this…
a.
His will is
perfect
b.
Never forget
that!
6.
We can ask
God for anything… but we need to let God know that we will accept whatever
God gives us!
E.
Lastly, The
1.
This is the
last battle in the chapter. Oh, there are plenty more battles we all will
face when we pray, but this is the last one we will look at this morning!
2.
The setting…
a.
As Jesus
approached
b.
A large
crowd surrounded Jesus as he walked towards the town – they all filled the
road with hundreds and hundreds of people
c.
This blind
man started begging all the crowds of people to give him money
1)
He had no
means of making money
2)
His only way
of living was off of the charity of others
3)
And there
were a lot of “others” passing by right at that moment
d.
When no one
helped him, he asked what was going on – what was all the commotion?
e.
A few people
mentioned that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by
f.
It was at
that moment that this blind man changed his request
1)
Up until
that moment, all this man asked for was pennies, and charity from the people
who passed by
2)
But NOW he
turned all his effort on getting a miracle
3)
So he
started yelling for Jesus to give him MERCY! What a request!
g.
The people
tried to shut him up, and quiet him down
h.
But he had a
priority, and he was NOT going to miss this opportunity
i.
In just a
few moments, if this blind man didn’t act swiftly, Jesus would be gone!
j.
Jesus stops,
and personally calls for this blind man to be brought to Him
k.
And it is
then that this blind man…
1)
Ignores
asking for money – THAT would be stupid!
2)
He ignores
asking for popularity – he has been ignored most of his life!
3)
He ignores
asking for a job placement
4)
He wants
what is most important – to SEE! He wants Jesus to fix what is wrong with
him!!!
3.
The idea is
this:
a.
What petty
things do you pray about?
b.
What little
needs do you bring before heaven’s throne?
c.
If Jesus
were actually stopped and focused just on what your next words are… what
would those words be?
4.
Start to
pray like this blind man did!
a.
Forget all
the flowery words
b.
Forget about
buttering God up
c.
He wants to
meet your need
d.
But He waits
for you to realise your need and to only want IT!
5.
THE most
important thing to ask God for is His mercy on your lost and condemned soul!
It is called SALVATION from hell!
IV.
Application and Challenge
A.
There is a God in heaven!
1.
Who hears
our prayers
2.
And ANSWERS
our Prayers
3.
But we don’t
get those answers very often
B.
Praying
never comes easy! There are usually a load of struggles in every time of
prayer
C.
Five
wrestling matches that we are failing at
1.
The Struggle With Persistence
(Lk 18:1-8)
a.
We want
prayer to be quick and easy
b.
We want to
only have to scratch the surface to find God’s power
c.
We expect to
find God’s help with the smallest of effort on our part
d.
But Jesus
says prayer must be a constant push – a constant effort!
e.
We have
grown up to think quitting is a solution; that work is a dirty word; that
struggle is never worth it
f.
We need to
believe that God will always be enough
g.
And we need
to believe it enough to pray and pray and pray until God acts on our behalf
h.
So, keep
praying, despite all the obstacles you face and despite all the signs that
say you should just give up!
i.
What have
you given up praying about?
j.
It is really
a battle with unbelief then. Do we believe that God is our answer? That God
WILL answer? If so, then P.U.S.H. – PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS! He may not
give you want you want, but He will always give you what is best!
2.
The Struggle With Pride
(Lk 18:9-14) – really is a hard fight
a.
There are
usually two attitudes in prayer
1)
Pharisee –
quite pleased with himself – thinking you deserve God’s blessing
2)
Publican –
quite down on himself – knowing you only deserve death and hell
b.
PRIDE is an
unreasonable confidence in one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth,
rank, etc., which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance from others, and
often in contempt of others.
c.
PRIDE is the
protection of your life from being real and hurt!
d.
Stop
allowing your pride affect your PRAYING!
1)
Be quick to
forgive things (Lk 17:3-5).
a)
God quickly
forgives… why can’t you?
b)
If you won’t
forgive people, then God cannot and will not forgive you!
2)
Start
forsaking things – whatever is holding you back from obeying God
3.
The Struggle With Pruning
(Luke 18:18-24)
a.
There is
usually so much sin, and so much of the world in us that He can never bless
us and use us until that stuff is gone
b.
Until we get
rid of it – let go of it when God pulls
1)
Like pruning
a tree or vegetable plant
2)
It is like
removing dross in silver- through heat and pressure
c.
Prayer is an
effort to get what we need from God. But most often, God must first take
away what we already grip so tightly, so that he can give us what we need –
even what we want!
d.
God pulled
at that which was most important to this man on the road to
e.
God is
probably pulling at loads of things that are worthless to be holding onto
f.
And it is
only then that He can teach us about real riches, and real wealth
g.
What is God
pulling at in your life?
1)
What could
possibly be more important that God in your life?
2)
What could
possibly be more important than the forgiveness of sins?
3)
What is it
that is more important than answered prayer, Christian?
4)
Are any of
you willing to let go of what you have so tight a grip on so that God can
put something far more priceless than anything this world offers?
5)
As long as
you stay in control, and hold onto what God is asking you to release, you
will have only such shallow answers to your prayers
6)
And you will
live a miserable and empty life
7)
I am
learning to let God prune my life as he sees fit!
4.
The Struggle With God’s Plan
(Lk 18:31-34) With His Will
a.
Isn’t it
funny how rarely we accept God’s will for us?
b.
But know
this… His will is perfect
c.
We can ask
God for anything… but we need to let God know that we will accept whatever
God gives us!
5.
Lastly, The Struggle With
Priorities (Lk 18:35-43)
a.
What petty
things do you pray about?
b.
What little
needs do you bring before heaven’s throne?
c.
If Jesus
were actually stopped and focused just on what your next words are… what
would those words be?
d.
Start to
pray like this blind man did!
1)
Forget all
the flowery words
2)
Forget about
buttering God up
3)
He wants to
meet your need
4)
But He waits
for you to realise your need and to only want IT!
e.
THE most
important thing to ask God for is His mercy on your lost and condemned soul!
It is called SALVATION from hell!
6.
Every
struggle is worth it, because God still hears, and waits to answer the
serious soul!