Every Sunday is a Memorial Day

“Memorial Day is an official holiday in most states of the United States. It was observed on May 30 until 1971, when for federal employees,, the date was changed to the last Monday in May.
It is also known as Decoration Day.The custom of placing flowers on the graves of the war began on May 5, 1866, in Waterloo, NY, and Waterloo has been recognized by Congress as the official birthplace of Memorial Day. In 1868,
Gen. John A. Logan, then president of the Grand Army of the Republic, declared that May 30th would be a day to decorate with “flowers on the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion.”
After World War I the day was set aside to honor of all the American wars, and the custom was extended to pay homage to deceased relatives and friends, both military and civilian. The most solemn ceremony conducted on Memorial Day
is the placing of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns located in Arlington national Cemetery
....From the Encyclopedia Americana, 1991 edition

Tomorrow we will celebrate this day. Many people see it as just a day off;
a 3 day weekend. But for those who have lost someone because of war or military action, it means much more than a day off.
In fact, every American ought to recognize this day out of his patriotic duty to his country and in honor of those who spilled their blood to make America what she is today--free, strong, and a nation worth fighting for.
Because men & women have died for this country, we have the right to teach God’s word freely. We have the right to live at peace in our own homes.
We have the right to pursue peace, prosperity and happiness.
Thank God for those who died to make us free.
As we prepare to enter into a day to remember those who died for liberty,
it is fitting to remember the one who died to set us free from spiritual tyranny. Jesus fought the armies of Hell that we might have liberty in his holy name.

We celebrate Memorial day once a year to remember those who died for freedom, but every week is a celebration of the Memorial of Christ. What I'd like us to look at today is to parallel our nations Memorial Day with the memorial day of Christ. Because for the Christian, every Sunday is a memorial day. In the church world we physically remember by partaking in Communion.
On Memorial Day we...
1-Mourn the Loss
2-Remember the Lives
3-Are thankful for the Sacrifice

In light of Christ’s battle, let’s examine evidence of our memorial in Him as we recognize the likeness of our celebration of our military.

On Memorial Day we...
1-Mourn the Loss

We remember the loved ones who died, wish they were here and not gone; here to share with us, to hold, to talk to and to see. But because of death, we can not.When people die, we naturally think of the “If Only’s”
“If only I had told him I loved him”;
“If only I had kissed her one last time”;
“If only I hadn’t spoken so harshly”.
We replay those doubts over and over in our minds. but we ultimately know those “If Only’s” would not change a thing.On the Lord’s Memorial Day, we are to examine our responsibility to Him. The Christ-follower must recognize that he is very responsible for His death. (death of Christ) “If only we had not sinned he would not have had to die.” But we are to blame. We must examine ourselves as we meet around his memorial (which is Communion) as if we would stand before a mirror and realize the truth in
...Rom 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
I am the one to blame. I caused all his shame. He was publicly humiliated, beaten, spit upon, treated as a sinner because I am a sinner.
As we mourn the loss of Christ, realize that we are the guilty ones. And know that if there only be one sinner who was lost, He still would have died.
His love is that great.
Matt 18:12-1412
"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?13 And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.14 In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost."

We are that lost sheep and Jesus found us. Mourning the loss is the first thing we must do as we celebrate the memorial of our Lord. This is why Jesus gave us the bread. At communion, the first thing you do with the bread as you partake of this memorial is break it. Whether you physically break it with your hands, you break the body of Christ. Just as our sin broke the physical body of Christ.
The breaking of the bread is symbolic of the breaking of Christ's body.
On Memorial Day we:
1-Mourn the Loss and
2-Remember the Lives

Part of our emotional healing in the process of grief is to remember the lives of the loved one who has passed.The headstones we put on the graves are a testimony of who those people were. As we walk around a cemetery we some remembrances of those who died. Epitaphs I found.
Gone So Soon
Beloved Sons (on a stone of twins who died near the same time)
Dear Parents, Though we will miss you much, we know you rest with God.
Safe in the Arms of Jesus
Faithful Unto Death
Gone But Not Forgotten
A Tender Mother and a Faithful Friend
At Rest
The Lord Is My Shepherd, I Shall Not Want
Life’s Work Well Done She Rests in Peace
Age 64, 7 months, 9 days At Rest

some are more creative:
Under the sod and under the treesLies the body of Jonathan Pease.
He is not here, there's only the pod:Pease shelled out and went to God.

On the 22nd of June - Jonathan Fiddle - Went out of tune

In a Georgia cemetery: "I told you I was sick!"

In a cemetary in England: Remember man, as you walk by,
As you are now, so once was I, As I am now, so shall you be,
Remember this and follow me.
- To which someone replied by writing on the tombstome:
To follow you I'll not consent, Until I know which way you went.

All of these messages tell us a little about the one who is buried under that headstone. Likewise the epitaph that Jesus left tells us something about him. Inscribed on just about every communion table I have ever seen are the words found in
1 Cor 11:24
"and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."

What must we remember about Jesus?

His amazing sacrifice on the cross ofcourse – that is what communion
always refers to – but I believe Jesus would like us to go further, to look prior to the cross, in......
how He lived and what he taught through His life. That requires us to dig a little deeper, to open our Bible's and study. He set a glowing example of how to live in love. Going to the cross was the ultimate sacrifice of love. Our life should reflect that love. (mirrors)
The bread that we first have broken is a reminder of the body of Christ. We are vividly reminded each time we observe this memorial that we are a part of the body of Christ. We reflect Christ.
When we physically eat this bread it becomes a part of our body. Our body uses this bread for our nourishment. But Jesus doesn’t only want us just to be physically nurtured as we meet around the table but he also wants us to be spiritually edified.
This remembering is not simply the recalling of historical facts, it’s a participation in spiritual realities. At the Lord’s Table (communion) we don’t walk around the monument and admire it. We have fellowship with a living Savior as our hearts reach out by faith.
If we approach this memorial in the proper attitude we will experience spiritual growth. Just as our physical body grows when fed properly. It is a faith growing exercise.(in taking of the bread, we remember his sacrifice of love, and we are a part of it, let's take it now)
On Memorial Day we
1-Mourn the Loss
2-Remember the Lives
3-(remember their sacrifice) Are Thankful for the Sacrifice

ILLUSTRATION from “Stories from the Heart”
It was a few weeks before Christmas 1917. The beautiful snowy landscapes of Europe were blackened by war.The trenches on one side held the Germans and on the other side the trenches were filled with Americans. It was World War I. The exchange of gunshots was intense. Separating them was a very narrow strip of no-man’s-land. A young German soldier attempting to cross that no-man’s-land had been shot and had become entangled in the barbed wire. He cried out in anguish, then in pain he continued to whimper.Between the shells all the Americans in that sector could hear him scream. When one American soldier could stand it no longer, he crawled to that German soldier. When the Americans realized what he was doing they stopped firing, but the Germans continued. Then a German officer realized what the young American was doing and he ordered his men to cease firing. Now there was a weird silence across the no-man’s-land. On his stomach, the American made his way to that German soldier and disentangled him. He stood up with the German in his arms, walked straight to the German trenches and placed him in the waiting arms of his comrades. Having done so, he turned and started back to the American trenches.Suddenly there was a hand on his shoulder that spun him around. There stood a German officer who had won the Iron Cross, the highest German honor for bravery. He jerked it from his own uniform and placed it on the American, who walked back to the American trenches. When he was safely in the trenches, they resumed the insanity of war!

That German soldier was thankful for that American soldiers sacrifice.
All the heroic acts done on the battlefields through history have made our country what it is today. We are free. We are wealthy and we are respected around the world..
I am proud to be an American and I have the luxuries of this country because men & women have died to give me that opportunity.
In the same way, the price Jesus paid afforded us salvation. We have the promise of salvation and we did nothing to afford this luxury. For this we must be thankful. This is why Jesus gave us the cup.
1 Cor 11:2525
" In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."

When we drink the juice, we remember our forgiveness. It is the blood of Jesus that He spilt in order to clean our hearts from sin.The old hymn I sang as kid in children's church says it best:
“What can wash away my sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can make me whole again, nothing but the blood of Jesus”

Heb 9:13-14 The writer explains to us what Christ's sacrifice did for us in this new covenant.
"The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.
How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!"

When we believe and accept what Christ did for us on the cross. We are cleansed, we have forgiveness of our sins, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit and the promise of eternal life.
3 unmerited gifts given to you. All we have to do is believe and become a Christ follower and the grace of God is poured out onto you. Now that is something to be thankful for!
When we drink the juice, we remember our forgiveness and salvation. Let us drink.

I hope that after today’s message you will have a greater understanding of what it means to spend time around the Memorial of Christ.
The Communion Table.
1-Mourn the loss of the body of Christ and examine our responsibility to it as you break the bread.
2-Remember the life of Jesus as you compare your life with his. Eat the bread and realize that you are one with his body.
3-Be thankful for His sacrifice because it is through His that we are saved; partake of the cup and be thankful for His sacrifice that offered your forgiveness.
This Memorial Day, remember your Savior and His Memorial.
Perhaps the Memorial we observed today is unfamiliar to you.
Maybe you are outside of Christ. You can have the forgiveness that is
promised to all and claimed by few.

Can You Hear Me Now? - Take Action!

“When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there. And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was. Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.” Mark 6:53-56


read vs. 56 again – people just wanted to touch Jesus and they believed they would be healed, “...and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment.” This wasn't unusual for Christ. Do you remember the woman who had been bleeding for 12 yrs. who wanted to just touch Jesus. It's in Matthew 9

“And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well." But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour.” Matthew 9:20-22

Reach out to Jesus Christ. Reach out and grab a hold of the bottom of garment! Seriously, purposefully, completely focused that if you can take a hold of the just a small piece of His garment you WILL be heard. You will recieve from God. Look at our 2 stories again, look at the last sentences, Mark 6:56: “And as many as touched Him were made well.” and Matthew 9:22: “And the woman was made well from that hour.”

It comes down to doing your part, and believing in FAITH that God is bigger than whatever is going on inside of you or around you. Do you believe that?, do you believe that God is bigger than the enemy! Do you? Do you say in your head, even aloud to other people that God can and will restore you to perfect health, or restore my finances, or job, or family, and ... and deliver you from the enemy! Or do just the opposite thoughts and sayings come out from within.
Listen, I believe this is for you. You have to do your part. This is your battle! The good news or better yet the best news is that God is on your side.

“My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand” John 10:29
“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

Those promises apply to you . No one can snatch you away (name) from our Father's hand! Do you see the TRUTH! Do you know what that means, you can't be taken away, so then don't let the enemy trick you away! Don't be deceived! “but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.” James 1:14
(In last weeks message, we had to pray for Protection – daily request – put on armor – to go into the battlefield – OUR DAY - the battlefield begins when our head rises from our pillow until we lay it back down at night and sleep)
This isn't someone else's battle – it's yours. Don't wait around for someone else to pray – YOU PRAY!
YOU REACH OUT! Stand up in Christ Jesus who is standing up for you! He is waiting for you to do your part. This is the challenge –DO YOUR PART!
Remember His words, they are for you, “
Look one more time at what happened:
“...immediately the people recognized Him, 55ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was . 56Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.”The people recognized & ran to HimThey carried out and laid their sick before HimThey begged HimThey reached out to touch HimThen after they did their part -“as many as touched Him were made well.”

Here it is : God's Game plan for battle -
Recognize Him (Lord of all, Soveriegn) – relationship
v. 54 “...the people recognized Him”
in Gen. 3 God comes a walking in the garden He created in the cool of the evening b/c He desired the company of those He made. The indication from the text is this was a regular event, a routine in their daily lives. At the end of the day He came to hang out with Adam and Eve. They were connected, His hand filled the imprint on each of them. This is how it is meant to be between the Creator and the created – time together cultivating friendship.
Run after Him – this is worship,
v.55 “...wherever they heard He was”
This is an all out search for God. Wherever He is – I'm going full throttle – I'm going all out after God. It is a burning desire inside. It cannot be quenched by anything or anyone other than God.
I'm gonna Go after God with a passion.
Yahoo Groups site: 'FOCUSmontrose' - files link:
God Online: Stlye vs. Substance http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FOCUSmontrose/files/GOD%20on-line/
Relinquish (lay)your problems before Him –
v56 “...they laid the sick in the marketplaces...”
Give it up! There's nothing too Big He can't handle, nothing too small He doesn't care about. What are you holding onto? (sickness, finances, job or career, oppression, ect..) Let go! “But I can handle it, it's not that big of a deal” Let it go! Give it to God!
This is also an emptying out of ourselves. We can be some self-centered people.When we relinquish all, it is consecrating everything to God - there is nothing in between you and God.
Request of Him(beg),
v56 “...and begged Him...” for us is to ask, ask for our healing, finances restored, marriage restored,mean it! Get fired up! Be passionate!
Let Go and Let God!
This is also an in-filling of the Holy Spirit. After we have emptied ourselves of US - we ask God to fill us up with HIM.
Reach out to touch Him – believe in faith
v56 “...that they might just touch the hem of His garment.”
This is an action step. We need to take action! To do our part.
This also means to reach out and touch others.
In being in relationship with Father God, in running after Him, in emptying ourselves out, and being filled with His Spirit – a transformation begins to take place. Our heart comes in line with His – we are aligned with God Almighty,
we are walking in the Spirit.
We become consumed with the cause of the King and the Kingdom. That cause is to reach out to as many people as we can in the time we have here on this earth – Acts 17:26 our time here is set on purpose.
To reach out to others is reaching out to touch God – you are touching God.

review: Recognize Him, Run after Him, Relinquish, Request, then Reach out to touch Him.Then after you do your part -“as many as touched Him were made well.”

“Prayer is the best wireless connection”

Can You Hear Me Now? - The Process of being Heard

How many of you have had trouble communicating? (if married you should have your hand way high) It doesn't really matter who it is – w/ people we have a hard time communicating. We can be saying the words right, pronouncing properly, have our syllable count correct, actual sounds coming out of our mouths, but there's just no way we'll be heard, IF there is not the right attitude and right approach in the communication process.
So what I want to do today is deal w/ the attitude & approach we need to be heard by God.
So I'd like us to walk out what are the right attitudes that we can come to the communication process w/ in terms of our relationship w/ God so that we can be heard b/c He wants to hear us.

1st off - “’When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.’” Matthew 6:5
They weren't all-together real, a little fake, a little hypocritical.
First attitude to bring to the table in our communication w/ God is we must
BE REAL. The 1st thing about prayer is, 'don't try to impress' – like Pharisees – who would look up to heaven in a crowd and shake & wave hands and get louder and louder. Have you ever seen anything like that? “Look at me - how spiritual I am” God wants us to be ourselves – we cant impress Him like that – He knows our thoughts and hearts already – so be real.
BE RELAXED - “’But when you pray go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.’” Matthew 6:6
Be by yourself, remove obstacles, remove distractions – solitude.
Top reasons why people say they don't pray more:
1.Time – we spend a lot of time TV/ computer/ activities
2.No place to go – take a walk, in drive or sit in car, 'Susanna Wesley had 19 kids – put apron over head.
If it's important, you find the time – you make it a priority – you make it happen – none of us are that busy or that burdened.
BE REVEALING - “’Don't recite the same prayer over and over as the heathen do, who think prayers are answered only by repeating them again and again. Remember, your Father knows exactly what you need before you ask Him!’” Matthew 6:7-8
Just talk – it's a convo. between 2 people who love each other. (when I talk to Cathleen I dont say, – 'Oh thou most honored of women, shall thee bless thy withest the car keys”) Often time people change their tone, their wording, get louder or softer... just a convo. between friends.

It all starts w/ the right attitude – now let's take a look at the approach -
“Jesus said, ‘This is how you should pray’” Matthew 6:9
Notice here that Jesus says how to pray, not what to pray. This is not an actual prayer to recite word for word. It's known as the Lord's Prayer. How many of you have this memorized? This is sort of a schematic, an outline, a guide.

1st: Begin by EXPRESSING my love for and to God (PRAISE)
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” Matthew 6:9

Begin prayer by expressing your love towards God – for God. Say,
“I'm here right now b/c I want to focus on you and you alone.” If I go into my quiet time focused strictly on me and my needs I'm gonna leave depressed. That's why a lot of human convo. is off b/c we come into convo. just thinking about what we can get out of it.
Jesus tells us Begin w/ God in mind – not yourself.

Kinds of Praise:

ADORATION
(Praising God for who He is, His character)
What are some characteristics of God?
Start w/ those or something similar – what prompts in your mind?

THANKSGIVING
(Praising God for what He has done)
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” Psalm 100:4
Write down right now some thing you know you are thankful for that God provided or has done in your life. (diff. for everyone)
It's easy to remember what to be thankful for and just as easy to forget – so it's good to spend time giving thanx.

2nd: COMMIT to God’s will and PURPOSE for my life (PURPOSE)
“Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:10
Do you think there's some good stuff happening in Heaven? Pray for that here ,for God's will on Earth. We're still focusing on God – we need to be at the place where we say, “You're God & I'm not.” We are making a commitment to God's plan & purpose for our lives - each day – in all areas:
Pray for God's will to be done…
In my life
In my family
In my church
Among my friends
In my city

Here's what we can do, ask God, “Where is my character not like yours?” Then the next step is to commit to do or to improve in whatever area our character lacks. Where it's not like God's.
Write some down now:
“Offer yourself as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer.” Romans 12:2
Where ever I'm out of alignment – get it straight. You know how to tell? I see there's too much Joe and not enough God

3rd: ASK God to PROVIDE for my needs (PROVISION)
“Give us today our daily bread” Matthew 6:11
What needs can we pray for? All of them. There's nothing too big that He cant handle, & nothing too small he doesn't care about.
“God will supply all of my needs from His riches in glory because of what Christ Jesus has done for us.” Philippians 4:19
“Since God did not spare even his own son for us but gave him up for us, won't he also surely give us everything else?” Romans 8:32
Hardest thing for God was to die on the cross for all humanity –
He can handle what you've got.
There seems no way out – It seems far too big – It appears to be too late – we feel the despair, it's no problem for the Almighty God – just give it to Him in the right attitude and approach.
“You do not have because you don't ask of God.” James 4:2(be spec.)
Wishing and hoping for it is not the same as asking.
“Don't worry about anything but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6
Why petition if He already knows?
We are declaring our dependence upon Him.
It's submitting, remember to His will – that's a good place to be. So often we try to figure it out on our own – Take it to God.
Jot down some personal needs & other categories:
Personal needs
Family needs
Financial needs
Career needs
Physical needs
Emotional needs

4th: ASK God to FORGIVE my sins (PARDON)
“Forgive us our debts (trespasses, sins)” Matthew 6:12

Steps to forgiveness

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal EVERY SIN in my life
“Examine me, O God, and know my mind; test me, and discover my
thoughts. Find out if there is any evil in me.” Psalm 139
Be quiet, listen. Here's the neat thing - if quiet before Him He will reveal. Reveal what? What is Sin? To know the right thing to do and not do it. James 4:17 – Ask God that '?'
Confess each sin SPECIFICALLY
We often do the broad sweep confession right? Be specific – call them out individually – maybe write them out.
“You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up. Then God will show mercy to you.” Proverbs 28:13
Make RESTITUTION to others when necessary
“When you remember your brother has something against you, go at
once to make peace with him, then come back and offer your gift to
God.” Matthew 5:23-24
(In Family - “God I dot want to do that – she started it) This is what is so cool about quit time (prayer time) Yeah He hears you and reveals
By faith ACCEPT God's forgiveness
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our
sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Once you've gone thru the process of confession – if you still feel guilty, that's not God. That's Satan condemning – God says, once you ask for forgiveness, it's GONE!

5th: PRAY for other people (PEOPLE)
“As we also have forgiven our debtors (those who have trespassed or sinned against us)” Matthew 6:12
“Pray much for others; plead for God's mercy upon them, give thanks for all he is going to do for them.” 1 Timothy 2:1
An important part of prayer is to remember that God is working in and thru the lives of the people you associate with, or live around, or are near. If there's someone you've been praying for a long time & dot see any evidence of God working (2 wks. Ago - "passionate, persistant prayer") and you want to give up and say “forget it, prayer doesn't work, I'm just wasting my breath”
Be assured God is working – you just cant see it.
Keep praying until one of three things change: either God has changed me –
the situation – or person, so keep praying!
How do I pray for others? Look at the prayers of Paul.
What should you pray for these others – write down a couple.

6th: REQUEST spiritual protection from God (PROTECTION)
“And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.”
Matthew 6:13
For those who have claimed Christ – those who are Christ-followers – everyday we face a battle, Satan is real, the devil is real – He wants to defeat us thru temptation and fear. If I spend time daily w/ God praying for protection – putting on the spiritual armor – when walking out onto the battlefield (which is our 'day') – it makes me aware of the evil I will encounter, that will come my way. If we're not aware we often get caught in a trap, in a snare. But if you ask the Lord to make you aware of it – if you ask for His protection, your mind is ready & you wont go down the wrong path as easy.

This is just an outline we can use – do it daily. This is the only way we can communicate w/God. He has a # of ways, Bible, Holy Spirit w/in us, and more. So hang out w/ Him daily. This is a guideline HOW

Can You Hear Me Now? - Passionate, Persistent Prayer

Quite often in moments of pain or fear we cry out to God & often the ? Becomes, “Can God hear me? Does He even hear me? Or we have been praying for something for quite some time & still we have not yet seen any tangible answer & again we ask, Can He even hear me? Does He hear me? Yeah He does.

Some ask, “If I dont get an answer to my prayer should I keep going or should I stop? My guess this morning is that some of you if not all of you are praying or have in the past been praying (and maybe stopped) for someone or something for an extremely long time.

Singles say, I have been praying for a God-loving person to form a relationship with for a long time – some that are married may be going through rough stretch in marriage & thinking about calling it quits – others have been praying to get pregnant, been trying, & trying, and praying and praying – others have been praying for a healing (self or someone) – others for a turn around in their career or develop a career – been praying and praying and praying & wonder if you've really been heard. Jesus told this story in Luke 18

"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judgewho 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 some time 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!' " vs.1-5

2 kinds of stories in the Bible – stories that have to do with contrast and stories of comparison. Stories of comparison say “this is what God is like"

then there are stories of contrast – This story in Luke 18 is a story of contrast – God our Father in heaven is not like this judge.The point is this: If a man who really doesnt care a whole lot about you will help you out – how much MORE will your loving Father God in heaven want to help you out with your wants and needs. - “Then Jesus used this story to teach his followers that they should alwayspray and never give up.” Luke 18:1

Alternatives in Life

PRAY or GIVE UP

You get the choice (isnt God cool – it's up to you) you can pray or give up. When the job is not all it's cracked up to be – when your marriage appears to be on the rocks – doing everything known to humanity to have a baby, desiring a healing, you name it When push comes to shove you get 2 Alternatives – pray or give up. If life is beating you up, God wants to answer your prayers. The ? Then is “Why should I be persistent in my praying?'

Praying without Ceasing!

1.Persistent praying HELPS me to FOCUS on God

“Go to the Lord for help and worship him continually.”Psalm 105:4

When I pray for something over and over and over again it's not to remind God – He doesnt need reminding. It's to remind ME of who the source of all blessing is & God wants me to see Him and Him alone as that source. (Its not a blackmail thing – like the judge in our story)So that God will say, “OK, Ok enough” He wants us to recognize that He is the source – cause when it comes to pain, and hurt, and problems we'll go to everyone else, we'll look to our spouse, sibling, family, friend, counseling, even the government. God says, I want you to look to Me.

“Your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that youneed these things, and He will give them to you if you giveHim first place in your life and live as he wants you to.” Matthew 6:32-33

He already knows my needs before I even ask Him.

Stormie Omartian - "God knows your every thought and desire, but He responds to your prayes."

2.Persistent praying CLARIFIES my request

A delayed answer gives me time to kinda clarify what I really do need. Most of our prayers are pretty vague until a problem occurs. “Oh God do nice things for me” Waiting on an answer can help define our prayers & make them more specific. The more specific we are (I believe) the quicker the response from God. “I (God) will test them as gold is tested. Then they will pray and I will answer them.” Zechariah 13:9

A DELAY is not a DENIAL! God is saying, Not yet.

A delay separates a DEEP longing from a mere WISH!

If I cant pray about it more than once it must not be that big of a deal.

Let's get honest here – think about this, If you got every prayer answered instantly, would it be a good thing or a bad thing?

3.Persistent praying PREPARES me for the answer

It gets me ready. A little secret here – God usually wants to answer your prayer even better than what you're praying. He wants to answer in a greater way that we are asking. I think way to often we pull the ripcord and bail out to quick on issues & situations were praying for, because we dont receive a fast enough answer. We jump to our own hasty decisions. (emotions get involved) It may even be a good idea, but not a God idea. So what God may be wanting to do (I know in my life) is He's wanting to change me first before the circumstances.

Bumper sticker: Prayer Changes things – true – but prayer changes me in the process. God says, Im gonna give you an answer but 1st I want you to change your outlook or approach to this.

“Now, glory be to God, who by his mighty power atwork within us, is able to do far more than we wouldever dare to ask or even dream of...infinitely beyond ourhighest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.” Ephesians 3:20

Prayer is not a tug-of-war where you are pleading with God, “Oh please do this, oh please do that” - God wants to do it already but sometimes He's waiting for something way bigger than we could imagine. He says, Think of the biggest dream you can think of & I can top that. So often He's waiting on US. When His answer comes – it is truly a miracle

“If a child asks his father for bread will he be given a stoneinstead? If he asks for fish will he be given a poisonous snake? Ofcourse not! If you...know how to give good gifts to your children,won’t your Father in heaven even more certainly give good gifts tothose who ask Him for them?” Matthew 7:9-11

4.Persistent praying STRENGTHENS my faith

Faith is like a muscle – it develops when we stretch it, when we work it out. And what persistent praying does is it's a faith building exercise. Waiting is a test of faith. How long can you wait? Waiting can develop your faith – strengthen your faith. It is a mark of maturity. God is greater than any pain or any problem in my life – He is soverign – He has it all under control.

“We must not become tired of doing good. We willreceive our harvest of eternal life at the right time. We must not give up!” Galatians 6:9

receive: it is a certainity. The Bible is full of examples of people who had to wait, to hang in there, in order to see God act – to keep on keeping on until they saw God do His thing.

“...when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8 What is God saying?

The LENGTH of my persistence is EVIDENCE of my faith

The SIZE of my prayers determines the SIZE of my GOD

little things = little God – med. = med. God – BIG = BIG GOD

Faith and prayer go together.I want you to think about right now something you've been praying for – for a long time. Get that in your mind. Now as you think about that look at this outline (go over points)

Verizon "Can you hear me Now?" Commercial: We go to great lengths to be able to connect w/ another human being – just another human. BUT how often do we give up when it comes to talking to the Almighty God. To what lengths do we go?

How do we pray persistently:

“I tell you, continue to ask, and God will give to you.Continue to search, and you will find. Continue toknock, and the door will open for you.” Luke 11:9

God is saying, keep asking.

Has anyone here ever been to someones elses house before? Do you knock once and leave? No... we knock for a while - we're persistent, we think there might be some surrounding circumstances keeping them from the door... bathroom?

How many other circumstances are out there that we know nothing about that God is factoring into our requests. Keep on asking, searching, knocking

The Question: How QUICKLY do I GIVE UP when I don’t get an answer?

When I feel like giving up, don’t DESPAIR turn toPRAYER!