Title: Restoration of Faith / Luke 18:1-8
Content Restoration of faith / Luke 18:1-8
1. Will the world find faith when the Son of Man comes? Verse 8
There are so many things to see on the streets of the city. However, people who like to see cars only see cars on roads with many attractions. The person sees only cars. Moreover, when I see a car I like, I am delighted by admiring that it is not my car. Likewise, in the eyes of a person who loves mountains, they see mountains. In this way, people rejoice when they see what they like. But there is something Jesus wants to see too. That is faith. Jesus is looking for people of faith because he likes to see faith. And when he sees a person who has faith, Jesus likes it, is pleased with it, and admires it. That is why Jesus said, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith in the world?” (verse 8). Therefore, we must show our faith in Jesus.
2. Faith with a deep desire in the heart: verses 1-3
So, what kind of faith is Jesus looking for? Through parables, Jesus made it clear about the specific faith He was looking for. The story Jesus told is about a lonely woman. A lonely woman had an unfortunate experience. This woman, who had suffered injustice, did not give up or fall into despair because there was nothing she could do. Instead, he went to the judge of the city in which he lived, told him of his injustice, and begged, “Release my resentment against my enemies.” But Jesus said he wanted to see the same faith this woman showed.
It is easy to misunderstand this verse if we read it incorrectly. The woman went to the judge and begged, “Release my wrath against my enemies.” Why is revenge the faith Jesus wants? I have a question. In this story, “settling my resentment against my enemies” does not mean living with a grudge against the person who harmed or troubled us. Belief is deeply connected with the desire we have in our hearts. In other words, faith is going to God with earnest wishes in your heart. Just as this woman went to the judge with an earnest wish in her heart, it is faith that comes to God with a desperate wish in our hearts.
Faith just wish it could be like this! I don't think it is. Faith is not just having a vaguely hoped-for dream. Just as a lonely woman went to a judge with a desperate wish to avenge her enemies, so faith is to go to God with a desperate wish in her heart. Faith is going to God with the earnest desire you have in your heart. It is not about human greed or greed, but with the earnest desire of God.
The lonely woman, the main character of the text, had no strength or power. Also, this woman had no family or friends to help her solve the problem. It looked like he had nothing, but he had faith to go to God, who is the judge of all mankind, with an earnest wish in his heart. We too must have this kind of faith that Jesus is looking for. We must become those who have concrete and earnest wishes in our hearts because of God the Holy Spirit.
3. Hanging Faith: Verses 3-8
The lonely woman went to the judge with her wish, but she did not give up even though he did not grant her wish. The judge was not a righteous man, so he did not help the woman who had no money and no power, but the woman did not give up and kept going and begging for her wish to be granted. The judge eventually changed his mind and settled the woman's problem.
Through this woman's story, we can see that the faith Jesus is looking for is a faith that does not give up and persistently asks God. Jesus is looking for a faith that does not give up and persists, not a faith that stops after praying once or twice. Jacob also held onto God and clinged to the end to receive God's blessing at the river Jabbok. God honored Jacob's faith in the flock. In the same way, God wants us to have a stinking faith. Those who truly believe and trust in God are swarming with God. On the other hand, those who do not fully believe in God's power will never shun God with their own desires. They believe in God, but even those who believe to a certain extent can't fight God. Because they don't have enough confidence in God to swear by God. However, those who really believe in God as God are convinced that God is alive and have no doubts, so they continue until God gives them to them.
We can swarm with God because God is our heavenly Father. God is not an unjust judge, but a good Father. Therefore, we can use our flocks with peace of mind to our good Heavenly Father. Just as children flock to their fathers and mothers, God is our Father, so we can pray in groups. In this way, God is looking for faith that we pray for, and when He sees such faith, He answers our earnest prayers.
question and share
◎ God wants us to come forward with earnest wishes. Let's share what each of us and our families have in mind these days.
◎ God honors the faith that devotes itself with earnest wishes. Let's trust in God our Heavenly Father and pray to God to make our wishes come true.
◎ The faithful God answers our earnest prayers. Until God answers, let's not give up and pray earnestly and become victorious.