<p class="s40">TITLE:  THE POWER OF A PRAYING CHURCH: PERSISTENCE IN PRAYER ​</p>
<p class="s42"><span class="s38"><span class="bumpedFont20">TEXT: </span></span><span class="s38"><span class="bumpedFont20">LUKE 11:5-8, LUKE 18:1-8</span></span></p>
<p class="s42"><span class="s38"><span class="bumpedFont20">INTRODUCTION</span></span></p>

<div class="s45"><span class="s43">A. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">What does, “Take your burdens to the Lord and leave them there.” really mean?</span></span></div>
<div class="s45"><span class="s43">B. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">Am I showing lack of faith when I pray for a particular situation more than once?</span></span></div>
<div class="s48"><span class="s43">C. </span><span class="s38"><span class="bumpedFont20">Acts 11:9, 10, </span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">“</span></span><span class="s46"><span class="bumpedFont20">9 </span></span><span class="s47"><span class="bumpedFont20">And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. </span></span><span class="s46"><span class="bumpedFont20">10 </span></span><span class="s47"><span class="bumpedFont20">For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. </span></span></div>
<p class="s49"><span class="s47"><span class="bumpedFont20">And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.</span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">”</span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">  (NLT) </span></span>​</p>

<div class="s45"><span class="s43">D. </span><span class="s38"><span class="bumpedFont20">Acts 18:1,</span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20"> “[</span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">We</span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">]</span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20"> should always pray and never give up</span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">” (NLT)</span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">  </span></span>​</div>
<p class="s42"><span class="s38"><span class="bumpedFont20">A </span></span><span class="s38"><span class="bumpedFont20">KNOCK AT MIDNIGHT  (Luke 11:5-8) </span></span></p>

<div class="s48"><span class="s50">A. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">A request is made from a friend at midnight</span></span></div>
<div class="s51"><span class="s50">1. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">The request is denied – “Do not bother me…”</span></span></div>
<div class="s51"><span class="s50">2. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">However, he knew that his friend had what he needed</span></span></div>
<div class="s51"><span class="s50">3. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">His persistence revealed how bad</span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">ly</span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20"> he really desired the food</span></span></div>
<div class="s52"><span class="s50">4. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">Ultimately, persistence wins over friendship</span></span></div>
<div class="s48"><span class="s50">B. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">Lesson</span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">  </span></span>​</div>
<div class="s51"><span class="s50">1. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">We should persist in prayer with God </span></span></div>
<div class="s51"><span class="s50">2. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">I know that God has what I need</span></span></div>
<div class="s51"><span class="s50">3. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">My persistence reveals how bad</span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">ly</span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20"> I desire </span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">that for </span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">what I am pra</span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">ying</span></span></div>
<div class="s51"><span class="s50">4. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">If a friend will respond because of the persistence of a friend, certainly God will respond to His children who are persistent in prayer</span></span></div>
<div class="s51"><span class="s50">5. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">Good News:  God is not offended, and will respond at midnight…</span></span></div>
<div class="s52"><span class="s50">6. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">Even Better News:  Jesus is my friend</span></span></div>
<p class="s42"><span class="s38"><span class="bumpedFont20">A</span></span> <span class="s38"><span class="bumpedFont20">CALL FOR JUSTICE</span></span><span class="s38"><span class="bumpedFont20">  (Luke 18:1-8)</span></span></p>

<div class="s48"><span class="s50">A. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">A request is made from a widow to a judge who neither feared God nor cared about the people  </span></span>​</div>
<div class="s51"><span class="s50">1. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">The request for justice was denied</span></span></div>
<div class="s51"><span class="s50">2. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">However, she knew that was the place where she could find justice</span></span></div>
<div class="s51"><span class="s50">3. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">Her persistence revealed how badly she really desired justice</span></span></div>
<div class="s52"><span class="s50">4. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">Ultimately, persistence wins over </span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">care and concern</span></span></div>
<div class="s48"><span class="s50">B. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">Lesson</span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">  </span></span>​</div>
<div class="s51"><span class="s50">1. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">We should persist in prayer with God </span></span></div>
<div class="s51"><span class="s50">2. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">I know that God </span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">stands on the side of justice</span></span></div>
<div class="s51"><span class="s50">3. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">My persistence reveals how bad</span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">ly</span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20"> I desire </span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">that for </span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">what I am pra</span></span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">ying</span></span></div>
<div class="s51"><span class="s50">4. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">If an uncaring judge will respond favorably to a persistent widow, certainly God will respond to His children who are persistent in prayer</span></span></div>
<div class="s51"><span class="s50">5. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">Good News:  God will grant justice to His chosen ones who cry out day and night…</span></span></div>
<div class="s52"><span class="s50">6. </span><span class="s44"><span class="bumpedFont20">Even Better News:  Jesus cares</span></span></div>
<p class="s53"><span class="s38"><span class="bumpedFont20">CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK</span></span><span class="s38"><span class="bumpedFont20">:</span></span></p>
<p class="s53"><span class="s38"><span class="bumpedFont20">I WILL COMMIT TO </span></span><span class="s38"><span class="bumpedFont20">PERSISTENT</span></span><span class="s38"><span class="bumpedFont20"> PRAYER</span></span></p>
<p class="s53"><span class="s54"><span class="bumpedFont15">WORK FOR THE WEEK</span></span></p>