DCLM DAILY MANNA 18 APRIL 2021 – PERSISTENCE PAYS!
TOPIC: Persistence Pays! (DCLM Daily Manna 18 April 2021)
TEXT: Luke 18:1-8
1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
KEY VERSE: “And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.” – (Luke 18:3)
MESSAGE:
A lady in a particular church who invited her neighbour to go to service with her kept count of the times the neighbour refused. It came to 49. She pleasantly mentioned the count to her friend as she issued her fiftieth invitation at the time of a special meeting. At first, the friend declined again but later called and said she would go. “If you are interested enough in me to ask me 50 times to go, I will go with you and see what it is like.” She went and liked what she saw. She returned converted. This would not have been possible had the lady not persisted.
Also See: OPEN HEAVEN 18 APRIL 2021 – DIVINE CONTACT
The story is similar to that of the widow who would not give up on her demand from a judge. She had approached the judge earlier for help in reclaiming a privilege denied her. The judge ignored her. She went repeatedly but the judge did not budge. The woman refused to give up her right to ask. The Bible did not give details of her deprivations, but she wanted “vengeance” seriously enough. Her preferred solution was to demand her rights from this unnamed judge. The longer the widow persisted in making her requests, the more the judge began to see the merit of granting her desires. And what rights did not fetch, her persistence did!
Believers must never grow weary of praying. To pray always is to keep your requests constantly before God as you live for Him dayby day believing that He has answered your prayers. As you pray and live by faith, do not to give up. Initial delay should not discourage you.
We must ask again and again until our joy is full. And it must be noted that as we persist in prayer, we alsogrow in character, faith and love. If an unjust judge would positively respond to constant pressure, how much more will a great and loving God respond to His children?
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Delay is not denial – ask again and again!
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Acts 22-23
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
