The Answered Prayer: Two Parables That Will Change Your Life

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

Many are concerned with whether or not God has answered their payers. In this sermon, I focus on the answered prayer to help ensure your prayer life.

Introduction

This week, I want to continue to address concerns that some may have when it comes to prayer.  Many are concerned with whether or not God has heard their prayers and if He has answered them.  There is a prayer that God will answer, and there is a prayer that falls on deaf ears. So, let’s focus on the answered the prayer so that we can ensure that our prayers don’t fall on deaf ears.

Worry About Nothing, Pray About Everything

In Luke 18, there are two parables that Jesus taught that helps to shed more light on the subject of prayer that I wish to share with all of you.

In Luke 18:1, we are told that Jesus told the first parable to teach that we should always pray and not lose heart.  In the midst of trouble, we ought to pray about everything and worry about nothing (Phil. 4:3).

From Luke 18:2-5, Jesus shared the Parable of the Persistent Widow.  He spoke of there being a certain judge who didn’t fear God nor regard man living in an unspecified city.  In the same city, Jesus shared that there was a widow who came to the judge, saying, “Get justice for me from my adversary.”

Rather than getting justice for her immediately, the judge wouldn’t budge, which frustrated the widow.  She would repeatedly return, desiring justice, and after a while the judge finally moved as he had grown weary due to her persistence.

Now, the typical response to this parable is to praise the widow for her persistence.  One will say, ‘this is how we must be in our faith and prayers.’  It is certainly true, we certainly must persist in our faith.  We should certainly always pray, never doubting or giving up hope in God.

However, I feel it necessary to say that we must not confuse persistence with diligence when it comes to prayer.  While persistence and diligence may be used synonymously, there is nuance in their meanigns.  To persist, means that one continues stubbornly in spite of trouble and opposition from an adversary.  To be diligent, means that one continues in a steady effort that is thorough and correct.

Don’t Worry About God, Trust in Him

The Parable of the Persistent Widow brings to light a concern that many have with God that Jesus wanted to calm.  To address this concern, we must address why the widow had to be so persistent.  The answer to the ‘why’ is straightforward:  The judge did not move immediately to help the widow.

Now, should we, the true believer, be persistent in our prayers for the same reason the widow had to be persistent with the judge?  

The only reason one would feel it necessary to be persistent in that manner with God would be due to doubt.  One would think or believe that God didn’t hear their prayer.  One would think or believe that God isn’t moving to answer their prayer, or is moving too slow for them.  On these thoughts, Peter expressed that God is not slack (slow) concerning His promise (2 Pet. 3:9).  

When Jesus taught about prayer, He taught that prayer is all about faitth and trust.  Jesus taught that when one prays, they don’t have to pray as the heathens who use many words when they pray to their gods (Matt. 6:8).  The heathens use many words when they pray to their gods because they believe their many words will break through to their gods.

Jesus taught us that we don’t have to use many words because the Lord is already aware of our needs before we pray.  So, when we go before the throne of grace, we can go with boldness and be direct.  In John 15:7-8, Jesus promised that when the faithful believer asks, it will be done for them so that the Lord may be glorified.  

The judge in this parable does not represent God!  Jesus uses the judge in this parable to be in contrast of the Lord.  In Luke 18:7, Jesus asked, “Will God not avenge (do right by) His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?”

God will hear you and He will move for you, but will you trust that He has heard your prayer and answered it?  The true point of this parable is teaching us not to worry about God, but rather, continue by faith.  

We don’t have to beg and plead with God like He’s an unjust judge!  We don’t have to always check in at the throne of grace to see if God is moving for us or not.  The doubter’s prayer, as James said, is a prayer that goes unanswered.  It is the prayer of trust, and faith, that the Lord answers.  So, let us put our fears and doubts of God aside when it comes to praying to Him.

The Unanswered Prayer of the Self-Righteous

Now, in the second parable, Jesus continued to shed light on the answered prayer and the unanswered prayer.  Luke 18:9 tells us that Jesus shared this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others.

Jesus began the parable by telling us about a Pharisee and a tax collector that went to the temple to pray (Luke 18:10).  Now, the characters that Jesus uses in this parable represent two kinds of people.  

A Pharisee was considered a holy man who serves the Lord by being a servant of the people.  As a servant of the people, that would mean a Pharisee should care about and love those whom he served.

On the opposite side of the coin would be the tax collectors.  Tax collectors were despised by the people as the were seen as greedy scammers that defrauded the poor.  This made most of their neighbors view them as wicked men – sinners.

In this parable, Jesus shared the prayers of both of the men, beginning with the Pharisee’s prayer.  The Pharisee prayed, saying, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men – extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess (Luke 18:11-12).”

The flaws of a self-righteous prayer

Does this sound like a prayer that you should pray?  Does this sound like a prayer that anyone who claims to be a child of God should pray?  I hope you don’t answer yes to either of those questions!

On the mount, when Jesus taught the disciples how to pray (Matt. 6:9-13), He never said anything about one glorifying themselves while praying.  Jesus did not teach anyone to pray for wealth or power.  Jesus taught that one should honor and worship the Lord, while desiring God’s will to be done.

The Pharisee prayed with a mindset that goes against Christ’s teachings.  The Pharisee’s prayer did not honor the Lord, nor did it respect Him, even though He gave thanks to God.  The Pharisee’s prayer also lacked mercy, grace, and compassion.  

One shows honor and respect to God with obedience to His word.  According to His word, we are to love not just ourselves, but our neighbors as well.  So, if we are going to bring up our neighbor in prayer, it ought to be out of love, rather than out of conceit.

The Pharisee’s prayer is a self-serving, self-righteous, and narcissistic prayer!  To be clear, it is a prayer done out of disobedience.  Should one expect that such a prayer would be answered by the Lord?

In Isaiah 57:15, God declared that He is with those who are of a contrite heart and a humble spirit.  Of those who have a contrite heart and a humble spirit, God said that He would revive their spirit and heart!  Do you really think that God would even listen to the Pharisee’s prayer?

Turn away from a self-righteous heart

If you are of a self-righteous heart, I implore you today to turn away from your self-righteousness.  You see, such a prayer that comes from the self-righteous mind is a prayer that won’t be answered because God is only with those of a contrite and humble heart.

So, one must turn away from the righteousness that glorifies self, while at the same time, demeans others.  Peter said that one ought to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God so that God may exalt them in due time (1 Pet. 5:6).  Do you believe that the Lord will exalt you in due time?

The Answered Prayer of the Humble

It is with that thought in mind, that we can take a look at Jesus’ telling of the tax collector’s prayer.

Jesus said that when the tax collector prayed, he wouldn’t so much as lift his eyes to heaven!  The tax collector patted his chest and prayed, “God, be merciful to me a sinner (Luke 18:13)!”

This prayer is the prayer of the humble.  The tax collector showed honor, respect, and even fear of the Lord in how he approached the throne of grace.  Let’s be clear, the tax collector approached the throne of grace with a contrite (remorseful) heart!

Now, let’s take notice that the tax collector petitioned the Lord, whereas the Pharisee did not.  The Pharisee’s prayer was prayer of thanksgiving and there is nothing wrong with such a prayer, unless you only glorify yourself while putting down others.  Self-righteous people, those who think themselves perfect, rarely make petition of God as they feel they have no use of the Lord; they have “everything”.

I want to note that the tax collector’s prayer was both simplistic and direct, not use many words (vain repititions).  The tax collector acknowledged he was a sinner, but in this acknowledgment, he approached God knowing that God could help him with his problem.  To be clear, the tax collector, though he may have been a sinner, had faith!

Now, which of the two prayers do you believe God will answer (and you better not say the Pharisee’s prayer)?  

Jesus said that the tax collector went to his home justified rather than the other.  This is to say that the tax collector went home with his prayer being answered by God.  His prayer was answered because his prayer came from a contrite heart!

In Luke 5:31-32, after the Pharisees had confronted Him, Jesus told that He came to save the sick, not those who think themselves to be well already!  The self-righteous can’t be helped, unless they have a change of heart.  As Jesus said, the Lord exalts (elevates) the humble while those who exalt themselves will be humbled (lowered).

God Is Waiting on You

This is a parable which I believe should be read throughout churches and posted in as many places as can be online.  The reason why I say this is because there are so many self-righteous hearts living in the world today who, while professing faith, aren’t near the Lord.  The religion of the self-righteous will fall because it stands in opposition of the Lord.

My word to you today, if you’re concerned about whether or not God has heard and answered your prayer is this:  Don’t worry about God, consider yourself!  God is faithful to His promise, but are you being faithful to Him?

There truly is a right way and a wrong way to approach the throne of grace.  So, you must consider your steps wisely when you go before the throne.  Consider: Am I approaching the throne with doubt in my heart? Consider: Am I being selfish or conceited when I approach God’s throne?  Consider: Am I approaching the throne of grace in humility?

Whether God answers your prayer, I want you to understand, is all dependent on you.