Perseverance In Prayer
October 30, 2024
Pastor Gordon Cook
Matthew 7:7-11,
Pastor Jim Sevastio reminded us Sunday night the priority of prayer when it comes to living in light of eternity. And Jesus made that a priority. If I ask, “How did he make that a priority?” I think the best way to answer that would be, he made it a priority in two very clear ways: by his doctrine, and by his life. But he gave priority to prayer in light of eternity, in light of his own death and also in light of his resurrection and return in glory. And as far as doctrine, the Sermon on the Mount would be one of the best places to go to see what Jesus taught us about prayer. In Matthew chapter 6, he also gives us a very dense portion of instruction with regard to prayer, both negative and positive. He warns us about false praying, mumbo jumbo kind of hypocritical praying in Matthew 6:5-7, and then he follows it up with very positive instruction as to how to pray, we often call it the Lord's Prayer. Dr. Al Mohler has called it, “The prayer that turned the world upside down.” I think of it this way, it's shaped by four P’s: Praise, hallowed be your name; Provision, give us our daily bread; Pardon, forgive us our trespasses; and then Protection, deliver us from evil.
But Jesus has more to teach us about prayer, and that's where you come to Matthew chapter 7. And here Jesus fires three imperatives or three commands, ask, seek, and knock. Those are an imperative form of verb and it's also an imperfect tense verb, which means it's something that should be continuous. You could translate it, “Keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking.” So he's commanding us, but he's also commanding us to keep on praying. He's really talking about persevering prayer. And again, you could translate it that way, keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking, just keep on keeping on. Then he gives us some promises here to encourage us. The one who asks receives, the one who seeks finds, the one who knocks, it shall be opened. So Jesus teaches us doctrine, he certainly teaches us the priority of prayer, but he also practiced it. You can find at least nine references to his praying in the gospel of Luke alone.
Think of Jesus praying in terms of perseverance. Where would you go for that? I go to two places, the garden and the cross. Hebrews 5 gives us a wonderful summary of Jesus’ prayer life. Here's what Hebrews 5 says, “In the days of his flesh Jesus offered up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears.” Some think that's going right back to the garden, “loud cries and tears.” Let me ask you, what's probably the hardest time for you to pray? Probably when you're in lots of physical pain, or when you're in a high level of emotional distress or anguish. There are times when it's literally hard to walk, right? Because of a physical disability or a physical infirmity, put one foot in front of the other. And sometimes, I'm sure you found it's hard to put one word in front of the other when you're in an extreme amount of stress emotionally or physically. And again, it's good to remember Jesus, a sympathetic high priest tempted in all points like we are. He knew what it was to persevere in prayer when he was suffering; excruciating, emotional, as well as physical pain. The garden. He's sweating drops of blood and three times he finds his disciples sleeping, but he's not sleeping. He perseveres in prayer, in the garden, he doesn't stop praying. Then on the cross he prays at the front end, again at the back end; but right at the front end when he prays, remember that first prayer, “Father, forgive them.” That's imperfect tense. He kept on praying. Father, forgive them. Father, forgive them. Father, forgive them.
So clearly Jesus sets the example of persevering prayer in the garden and on the cross. And our praying should be distinguished by perseverance. We must never give up. It's good to remind us not only is perseverance a duty but it's also a gift. We must persevere, and we will. Every Christian will persevere right to the end, the saint's perseverance. And one great means to persevere is prayer. We could even be praying for persevering grace, “Lord, help us; Lord, keep us; Lord, help me to keep on praying, help me to keep from falling, from backsliding.” No matter how hard life gets, no matter how difficult, no matter how painful, we must persevere in prayer.
Let's also remember in terms of persevering prayer, we should always persevere in giving thanks. We are to always give thanks.
Pastor Gordon Cook
Matthew 7:7-11,
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks the door will be opened. Who among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, we'll give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give you good things to those who ask him!"
Pastor Jim Sevastio reminded us Sunday night the priority of prayer when it comes to living in light of eternity. And Jesus made that a priority. If I ask, “How did he make that a priority?” I think the best way to answer that would be, he made it a priority in two very clear ways: by his doctrine, and by his life. But he gave priority to prayer in light of eternity, in light of his own death and also in light of his resurrection and return in glory. And as far as doctrine, the Sermon on the Mount would be one of the best places to go to see what Jesus taught us about prayer. In Matthew chapter 6, he also gives us a very dense portion of instruction with regard to prayer, both negative and positive. He warns us about false praying, mumbo jumbo kind of hypocritical praying in Matthew 6:5-7, and then he follows it up with very positive instruction as to how to pray, we often call it the Lord's Prayer. Dr. Al Mohler has called it, “The prayer that turned the world upside down.” I think of it this way, it's shaped by four P’s: Praise, hallowed be your name; Provision, give us our daily bread; Pardon, forgive us our trespasses; and then Protection, deliver us from evil.
But Jesus has more to teach us about prayer, and that's where you come to Matthew chapter 7. And here Jesus fires three imperatives or three commands, ask, seek, and knock. Those are an imperative form of verb and it's also an imperfect tense verb, which means it's something that should be continuous. You could translate it, “Keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking.” So he's commanding us, but he's also commanding us to keep on praying. He's really talking about persevering prayer. And again, you could translate it that way, keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking, just keep on keeping on. Then he gives us some promises here to encourage us. The one who asks receives, the one who seeks finds, the one who knocks, it shall be opened. So Jesus teaches us doctrine, he certainly teaches us the priority of prayer, but he also practiced it. You can find at least nine references to his praying in the gospel of Luke alone.
Think of Jesus praying in terms of perseverance. Where would you go for that? I go to two places, the garden and the cross. Hebrews 5 gives us a wonderful summary of Jesus’ prayer life. Here's what Hebrews 5 says, “In the days of his flesh Jesus offered up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears.” Some think that's going right back to the garden, “loud cries and tears.” Let me ask you, what's probably the hardest time for you to pray? Probably when you're in lots of physical pain, or when you're in a high level of emotional distress or anguish. There are times when it's literally hard to walk, right? Because of a physical disability or a physical infirmity, put one foot in front of the other. And sometimes, I'm sure you found it's hard to put one word in front of the other when you're in an extreme amount of stress emotionally or physically. And again, it's good to remember Jesus, a sympathetic high priest tempted in all points like we are. He knew what it was to persevere in prayer when he was suffering; excruciating, emotional, as well as physical pain. The garden. He's sweating drops of blood and three times he finds his disciples sleeping, but he's not sleeping. He perseveres in prayer, in the garden, he doesn't stop praying. Then on the cross he prays at the front end, again at the back end; but right at the front end when he prays, remember that first prayer, “Father, forgive them.” That's imperfect tense. He kept on praying. Father, forgive them. Father, forgive them. Father, forgive them.
So clearly Jesus sets the example of persevering prayer in the garden and on the cross. And our praying should be distinguished by perseverance. We must never give up. It's good to remind us not only is perseverance a duty but it's also a gift. We must persevere, and we will. Every Christian will persevere right to the end, the saint's perseverance. And one great means to persevere is prayer. We could even be praying for persevering grace, “Lord, help us; Lord, keep us; Lord, help me to keep on praying, help me to keep from falling, from backsliding.” No matter how hard life gets, no matter how difficult, no matter how painful, we must persevere in prayer.
Let's also remember in terms of persevering prayer, we should always persevere in giving thanks. We are to always give thanks.
Posted in Pastor Devotional