September – Word of the Month:

“Persistent!”

Luke 18:1-5, NKJV
1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose
heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor
regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him,
saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”
I. The widow woman represents our persistence in our walk with God to
   continue pressing forward in our prayer life and not giving up.
A. What does the word persistent mean spiritually here?
    1. To continue steadfast and firmly planted regarding a certain
        situation or place in life.
     2. It is to have faith that will not relent or quit under any
        circumstance.
     3. It is a life of prayer that does not relinquish its hold on the
        desired answer no matter what.
     4. It is a stance of justice you have chosen to take in life. You might
        get knocked down one day, but you get back up and pursue the
        same justice the next day.
II. The story of this widow woman teaches us a few things about not giving up
in life no matter what your circumstances are.
   A. The unjust judge was reluctant, but his rejection did not stop her from
       continually approaching him.
     1. You might get several rejections before the breakthrough. Don’t
        take it personally, stay persistent and keep pursuing.
   B. She believed that this unjust judge could help her and give her the
       justice she needed and deserved.
     1. You must come to God knowing that without a doubt He can and
        will help you with what you need from Him.

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must
believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
(Hebrews 11:6, NKJV)