Sermon notes, 2/22/09

[I thought that I had lost these notes, and that is why I am just now posting them.]

Pastor Tray Earnhart, "Justice to His Elect," Luke 18:1-8.

1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (ESV)

Intro.: We live in an instant, impatient culture.

Cross-references: Exodus 2:23ff.; Exodus 14:5-12. The Israelites had an instantaneous mindset, but Moses did not and endured their complaints.

Transition: We should have an enduring prayer: "Thy kingdom come."

2 motivations for endurance:
[Connection to Luke 17, speaking about the coming of God's kingdom.]
1. We MUST pray without losing heart.
a. Delay is to be expected.
b. The passage is related to the biblical idea of continual prayer.
c. As the widow had no where else to go for justice, we have no where else to go for justice.
-> Unlike the judge in the parable, God is perfectly just (Deuteronomy 32:1-4).
2. God has promised to act in justice on behalf of His elect.
a. God will bring justice without unnecessary delay or reluctance.
b. The question is raised whether the elect will be faithful in persistent prayer for the return of Christ.

Challenge: Would we be disappointed if Christ returned today?

Call for response: We must turn to Christ now to flee the judgment that is coming.

[The audio file for this sermon should be available soon HERE.]