Elijah & Elisha – A Tale of Two Prophets

Posted on May 17, 2025 by dkoop

You’re invited to our new series:  Elijah & Elisha, A Tale of Two Prophets!

Description:

Elijah and Elisha’s lives teach us the importance of faith, obedience, worship, prayer and mentoring. They also demonstrate the power of servant leadership, humility, and empathy, highlighting the need to serve others rather than seeking service for oneself. Their lives emphasize for us, the importance of taking up the mantle of faith and living out one’s calling authentically.

 Dates     Title                              Scripture                                    Events

May 18 – Becoming a Godly Person (1 Kings 17)

May 25 – Deciding Who to Worship (1 Kings 18)

June 1 – Dealing with Depression (1 Kings 19)

June 8 – Facing Change (2 Kings 2)                                  l
June 15– Seeking Help from God (2 Kings 5)                         Father’s Day

June 22 – Trusting God for the Future (2 Kings 4)

Elijah:

The prophet Elijah is one of the most interesting and colorful people in the Bible, and God used him during an important time in Israel’s history to oppose a wicked king and bring revival to the land. Elijah’s ministry marked the beginning of the end of Baal worship in Israel. Elijah’s life was filled with turmoil. At times he was bold and decisive, and at other times fearful and tentative. He alternately demonstrates victory and defeat, followed by recovery. Elijah knew both the power of God and the depths of depression.

Elijah, a prophet of God whose name means “my God is the Lord,” came from Tishbeh in Gilead, but nothing is known of his family or birth. We first meet Elijah in 1 Kings 17:1 when he suddenly appears to challenge Ahab, an evil king who ruled the northern kingdom from 874 to 853 BC. Elijah prophesies a drought to come upon the whole land as consequence for Ahab’s evil (1 Kings 17:1–7). Warned by God, Elijah hides near the brook of Cherith where he is fed by ravens. As the drought and famine in the land deepen, Elijah meets with a widow in a neighboring country, and, through her obedience to Elijah’s request, God provides food enough for Elijah, the woman, and her son. Miraculously, the widow’s barrel of flour and jar of oil never run out (1 Kings 17:8–16). The lesson for the believer is that, if we walk in fellowship with the Lord and obey Him, we will be open to His will. And when we are in God’s will, He fulfills all of our needs, and His mercy to us never runs short.

We next see Elijah as the central character in a face-off with the prophets of the false god Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:17-40). The prophets of Baal call upon their god all day long to rain fire from heaven to no avail. Then Elijah builds an altar of stones, digs a ditch around it, puts the sacrifice on the top of wood and calls for water to be poured over his sacrifice three times. Elijah calls upon God, and God sends fire down from heaven, burns the sacrifice, the wood, and the stones and licks up the water in the ditch. God proved He was more powerful than false gods. It was then that Elijah and the people killed all of the false prophets of Baal, in compliance with God’s command in Deuteronomy 13:5.

After the great victory over the false prophets, rain once again fell on the land (1 Kings 18:41-46). However, in spite of victory, Elijah entered a period of wavering faith and depression (1 Kings 19:1-18). Ahab had told his wife, Jezebel, of God’s display of power. Rather than turn to God, Jezebel vowed to kill Elijah. Hearing of this, Elijah fled to the wilderness, where he prayed for God to take his life. But God refreshed Elijah with food, drink, and sleep instead. Then Elijah took a forty-day journey to Mount Horeb. There Elijah hid in a cave, still feeling sorry for himself and even confessing his belief that he alone was left of the prophets of God. It is then that the LORD instructed Elijah to stand on the mountain as the LORD passed by. There was a great wind, an earthquake, and then fire, but God was not in any of those. Then came a still, small voice in which Elijah heard God and understood Him. God gave Elijah instructions for what to do next, including anointing Elisha to take his place as prophet and assuring Elijah that there were still 7,000 in Israel who had not bowed to Baal. Elijah obeyed God’s commands. Elisha became Elijah’s assistant for some time, and the two continued to deal with Ahab and Jezebel, as well as Ahab’s son and successor, Ahaziah. Rather than die a natural death, Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:1-11).

John the Baptist’s ministry was marked by “the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17), fulfilling the prophecy of Malachi 4:5–6. James uses Elijah as an example of prayer in James 5:17–18. He says that Elijah “was a human being, even as we are,” yet he prayed that it would not rain, and it did not. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The power of prayer is in God, not in our own human nature.

As was true for Elijah, when we focus on the tumult of life in this world, we can get our eyes off of the LORD and become discouraged. God does display Himself in mighty works of power and judgment such as wind, fire, and earthquakes. But He also relates with us intimately and personally, such as in the quiet whisper. God meets our physical needs, encourages us to examine our own thoughts and behaviors, instructs us in how to proceed, and assures us that we are not alone. When we are attentive to God’s voice and walking in obedience to His Word, we can find encouragement, victory, and reward. Elijah struggled with typical human frailties, yet he was used mightily of God. It may not be through such obviously miraculous displays of might, but, if we are yielded to Him, God can use us powerfully for His kingdom purposes, too.

Elisha: 

Elisha, whose name means “God is salvation,” was the successor of Elijah in the office of the prophet in Israel (1 Kings 19:16, 19–21; 2 Kings 5:8). He was called to follow Elijah in 1 Kings 19:19, and he spent the next several years as the prophet’s protégé, until Elijah was taken into heaven. At that time, Elisha began his ministry, which lasted about 60 years, spanning the reigns of kings Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Joash.

The initial call of Elisha is instructive. After a mighty display of God’s power against the prophets of Baal and a return of the rain after a long drought, Queen Jezebel sought Elijah’s life. Afraid, the prophet fled. He was refreshed by an angel and prepared for a forty-day journey to Mount Horeb. There, Elijah confessed that he believed himself to be the only faithful prophet remaining. God told Elijah to go back home, anoint Hazael king of Aram, Jehu king of Israel, and Elisha to succeed him as prophet. God said, “Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu” (1 Kings 19:17). He also reassured Elijah that there were 7,000 remaining who had not bowed to Baal.

Elijah obeyed God’s word and found Elisha, who was plowing with a pair of oxen at the time. Elijah put his cloak around Elisha—a sign that Elijah’s responsibilities would fall on Elisha, and Elisha left his oxen and ran after the prophet. Elisha asked only to say goodbye to his family and then would return to Elijah. Elisha went back, slaughtered his oxen and burnt his equipment, gave the meat to the people, then followed Elijah as his servant. Elisha responded to the call immediately. He completely removed himself from his former life—essentially hosting a celebration and leaving himself no option to return to his oxen. Not only did Elisha leave his former life, he became a servant in his new life (1 Kings 19:21).

Elisha seemed to love Elijah like he would a father. He refused to leave Elijah before Elijah was taken into heaven, despite Elijah’s telling Elisha to remain behind. Elijah permitted Elisha to stay with him, and he asked what he could do for his protégé before he left. Elisha requested a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. This was not a greedy request but rather one indicating that Elisha wanted to be considered as Elijah’s son. Elijah told Elisha that, if he saw Elijah when he was taken, then the double portion would be Elisha’s. Elisha did, indeed, see the chariot of fire and horses of fire that separated the men, and he saw Elijah taken to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak and walked to the Jordan River. Elisha struck the water with the cloak, and it divided, just as it had done for Elijah. The other prophets who witnessed this recognized that Elijah’s spirit now rested on Elisha. As God had decreed, Elisha would now be His prophet to the people (2 Kings 2:1–18).

As God had told Elijah on the mountain, it was during Elisha’s ministry that organized Baal worship was eradicated (2 Kings 10:28). In his ministry Elisha traveled widely and served as an adviser to kings, a companion of the common people, and a friend of both Israelites and foreigners.

There are many well-known accounts of Elisha’s service as prophet. He healed the waters of Jericho (2 Kings 2:19–21) and was jeered by youths upon whom he called a curse resulting in their death by mauling bears (2 Kings 2:23–25). He multiplied a widow’s oil (2 Kings 4:1–7). He prophesied a son for a wealthy Shunammite family who hosted him and later resurrected that same son (2 Kings 4:8–37). Elisha also removed poison from a pot of stew (2 Kings 4:38–41) and multiplied twenty barley loaves to feed one hundred men (2 Kings 4:42–44). He cured Naaman of leprosy (2 Kings 5) and made a borrowed ax head float (2 Kings 6:1–7). The miracles Elisha performed are, for the most part, acts of helpfulness and blessing. Others strongly resemble some of the miracles of Christ, such as the multiplying of food (Matthew 16:9–10) and the healing of lepers (Luke 17:11–19).

Elisha offered counsel to the king of Israel. One incident tells of Elisha warning the king about the king of Aram’s movements. When the king of Aram found out it was Elisha foiling his plans, he sought to capture the prophet. When Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, saw the Arameans that had come against them, he was afraid. But Elisha told him not to be afraid because “those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, ‘Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:16–17). One cannot help but recall how Elisha had seen similar chariots of fire when Elijah was taken to heaven. Elisha then prayed for the Arameans to be struck with blindness. Elisha led them to Samaria, the capital of Israel, before asking the Lord to open their eyes. The king of Israel wondered if he should kill the captives, but Elisha counseled him to prepare food for them instead. When they were finished with the feast, the Aramians returned to their master, and Aram ceased raiding Israel. Elisha also prophesied other events of national and international importance regarding Israel and Syria.

King Jehoash, or Joash, was reigning at the time of Elisha’s death. The king visited Elisha while the prophet was ill and wept over him. Elisha instructed Jehoash to get a bow and arrows and shoot them out the window. When Jehoash did so, Elisha told him this was God’s arrow of victory over Aram. Elisha then told the king to strike the ground with the arrows, but Jehoash stopped after only three times. Elisha was angered. Had Jehoash struck the ground five or six times, he would have completely destroyed Aram but would now only defeat them three times (2 Kings 13:14–19).

Of Elisha’s death, 2 Kings 13:20 simply says, “Elisha died and was buried.” But the passage goes on to talk about Moabite raiders who came to Israel every spring: “Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet” (2 Kings 13:21). It seems that God chose to demonstrate His power through the prophet even after his death.

Jesus spoke of Elisha in Luke 4:27. The people had rejected Jesus in Nazareth and He told them that “no prophet is accepted in his hometown” (Luke 4:24). Jesus said there were many lepers in Israel in Elisha’s time, yet only Naaman, a Syrian, was cured.

A study of the life of Elisha will reveal the prophet’s humility (2 Kings 2:9; 3:11), his obvious love for the people of Israel (2 Kings 8:11—12), and his faithfulness in a lifelong ministry. Elisha was obedient to God’s call, following Elijah eagerly and faithfully. Elisha clearly believed God and trusted Him. Elisha sought after God, and through him God worked powerfully.

www.Upwards.Church

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Sources: https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Elijah.html

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A Parable about Humility – Pharisee & the Tax Collector – Luke 18:9-14

Posted on May 13, 2025 by dkoop

Jesus told this parable because there where those who looked down their noses at others.  Who were proud of their religion, Jesus is fixing to tick them off.

TWO GUYS

“Two men went up to the temple to pray… (vs. 10a)

A good guy and a bad guy.  In Jesus parable about the Pharisee and the tax collector we may be confused about who the bad guy is and who the good guy is.  We are used to the Pharisees being bad people in Jesus’ day, but to the people then they were highly respected men in their community.

  • Good Guy” one a Pharisee…(vs. 10b)

They were religious, people looked up to them.  They kept the religious and moral tone of their society.

  • “Bad Guy” and the other a tax collector (vs. 10c)

Now what about this tax collector, this was a Jew, but one who had collaborated with the Roman government to collect taxes from his own people to give to the Romans.  The Jews resented the Roman military occupation. Romans living in their beloved homeland telling them what to do was more than they could stand.  But to give them hard earned money! Give the Romans money so that they could continue their hated rule, fund their military and ensure further oppression.  This was the worst! To give them money was anathema.  And so for a native individual, a Jew to cooperate with the Romans, take money from his own people and give to this power-hungry brutal government that was controlling them. This was the highest form of a traitor. There was deep resentment for tax collectors.  To make matters worse the Romans allowed people to bid on the job, so the job went to the highest bidder.  The one granted the position of collecting taxes would pay to Rome the amount he bided and could keep the rest. And they had the backing of the Roman military if needed.  Taxes were revenue needed to run the government, so they were important to Rome.  Tax collectors were known crooks and thieves. Extortion was common and accepted.  Think of today a position that is viewed as crooked, maybe it’s the mob, car salesmen, lawyers, or TV evangelists.  For them no question it was the tax collector.  If both of these men were running for office, all of us would vote for the Pharisee.  If both of them were courting your sister you would want her to marry the Pharisee.

They both went to pray.  They “went up to the temple to pray” They went up to pray because Jerusalem was on a hill and the temple was built on the highest hill in Jerusalem. So, if you went to worship you went up.  And the place of worship was the temple.  Going to the temple was like going to church.  People worship, learn, give and pray at the temple. At the temple people could pray anytime but their formal times to pray observed daily in the morning around 9 am and afternoon at 3 pm.  Those listening might expect the Pharisee to pray there, but were probably surprised that Jesus would mention the tax collector praying there.  This is out of place, like a fish out of water.  Today it would be like a drug dealer at church.  I hope we would be glad they are there, but it might be beyond our expectations.

Now what made the one who would have been unanimously proclaimed as the good guy the bad guy?  What were these two doing that made one good and the other bad?  Both had gone to church, both were praying.  Going to church and praying are good right?  Not until we read the Pharisee’s prayer do we begin to get a hint of what made him a bad guy.

TWO PRAYERS

 Pharisee

Here is his prayer…

The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men– robbers, evildoers, adulterers– or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ (vs. 11-12)

He was conceited and arrogant.  He was telling the truth, but he was conceited and arrogant about it.  Look at this.  It says he prayed about HIMSELF. His prayer is about himself- and that is about is far as it traveled.   Do you know some religious people today who think they are it?

When the Pharisee was saying that he was not like the other people:  robbers, evildoers, adulterers, or tax collectors.  He was telling the truth. Pharisees would totally AVOID these people.   Its interesting that when Jesus came the tax collectors, prostitutes and those outcast by the religious was exactly who Jesus hung out with – “For John came neither eating nor drinking, (John was a Nazirite which meant he didn’t drink any wine or cut his hair- this vow is mentioned 11 times in the OT-Numbers 6 explains it) and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, (This means Jesus drank wine) and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.”  Matt 11:18-19

It is not like Jesus to shun people.  If you shun, or loath certain people this is NOT Christ like. All people even those considered the outcast of society felt comfortable around Jesus.  Do people feel comfortable around you – or are you to busy judging them?

How many churches today are the same way, judgmental towards all who are outside their religious circle?  Have you ever been to a church and you felt people judging you, looking down on you, not being friendly?  This is being a modern-day Pharisee.  It’s really easy to point out all the faults of the Pharisees back then, but there are many today who do the same things.

The Pharisee said he fasted twice a week.  He was telling the truth.  Wow, fasting twice a week.  This went far beyond anything the law required.  The only time there was a prescribed fast was on the Day of Atonement. (Lev. 23) A fast was to eat no food from sun down to the next sundown.  Now a religious person would fast once a week. But twice, that was something!

The Pharisee said he gave a tithe of all that he got.  Now listen to that. “All I Get” God says to give a tithe, 10 % of income but only the super religious would tithe on that plus everything they purchased. This meant they would tithe the grain, spices, everything they got. That would be like you, after going to HEB or Wal-Mart.  Taking your groceries, pouring 1/10th of your gallon of milk and bringing it to church to give it to the Lord.  1/10th of your bag of sugar, strawberry jelly, mayonnaise, ketchup and everything you got at HEB and bringing it to church.  The Pharisees would literally do that.  Now that’s religious!  Listen to Jesus addressing Pharisees about this very thing:

Luke 11:42 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. (NIV)

Not that tithing everything is bad.  He said YOU SHOULD HAVE, but to neglect justice and loving God is the bigger problem.

The Pharisee says he gives a tithe of all that he gets.  He is willing to go to all that time and trouble to count out 1/10th of all spices and herbs. He is telling the truth. What a hero to the people.  What an example of religious practice.  What a devotion to the law. You could see why their head may swell.

What about us today? Again we have gone in the opposite direction!  Instead of giving 10% we make excuses, I have heard people say things like, “God loves a cheerful giver, so if you can’t give cheerfully then God doesn’t want us to give” Surveys reveal that less than 2% of US church members give 10% of their income?  So if you give 10% you are surpassing 98% of those playing American religion, the modern-day Pharisee.

Here’s what bothers me if Jesus got on to the Pharisee for doing the RIGHT things with the WRONG attitude.  What about us doing the WRONG things with the WRONG attitude?  God help us.

  We need to do the right thing AND have the right attitude.

The thing about this Pharisee is that is INVENTING things to do be religious. These are not in the law.  It is a comparison game.  Who can do more? Who can be more religious?  They did this and became conceited, arrogant.  Look at me!  Look at what I have done!  Look at my list of religious accomplishments!  Look at my religious resume!

Again, in American Culture we have developed a religion that is a multi-Billion dollar industry.  There have been countless articles about this very thing.  Christianity in America is BIG BUSINESS. They have everything from Christian Candy, “Testa-mints” – a bible verse on a piece of candy.  Have you been duped by thinking if you participate in this market or these activities you are religious or WORSE, right before God?

The only true Christian culture is that which you will find in cross culturally (Christians in China, Mexico, Kazakhstan etc,) or in heaven things like love joy, peace, generosity etc.  These are what we should strive for.

So, we have become modern Pharisees proud of our religion.

Let’s look at the…

  • Tax Collector

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’  (vs.13)

Look at the tax collector’s posture.  Three things that show he was humble without even looking at his words.  First, he was standing some distance away from the temple, aware that he was unworthy of approaching the place of God’s presence.

Second, he was unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven. You know how it looks to be ashamed. Like a little dog that knows he has done something wrong and is cowering down.  This suggests that the tax collector was aware and ashamed of his sins, unlike the Pharisee who had no awareness of his personal sin.  He thought he was a good guy.  Third that tax collector was beating his breast with his fist, which was a symbol of grief and sorrow in that society and many societies.  Grief and sorrow over his sin.  So before we even read his words we see from his actions alone that this is a striking portrait of humble repentance.

The tax collector’s prayer is: ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’     I think we read over this so fast we don’t understand what is happening here.  This word mercy, we use mercy flippantly.   “Have mercy,” or “Oh Mercy” There was a game that we would play as boys, where we would grab the opponents hands and it was a strength contest, the one that could out twist and overpower the weaker one would win.  When the pain got to be too much for the looser he would cry out “Mercy” Which means OK or stop, or you win.  The man is saying to God “You win!, I loose!”

But there is more.  The Greek word hilaskomai. It’s only used twice in the Bible. It’s a very interesting word. Now bear with me on some of his theological jargon, He is saying: “Can I receive atonement/propitiation?” “Can I be extended your grace, your pardon? “Can I be saved?” “Can I have the sacrificial substitution of the sacrifices (happening at the temple at that time) apply to me now?”

TWO ATTITUDES

  • Pride

We see a lot of pride in the Pharisees prayer.  We see a lot of pride in the way the religious act today.  Looking down on others, thinking our way of doing religion is the only way.   Pride is a serious problem.  God hates pride.  It separates us from other people and it separates us from God.

“I hate pride and arrogance, Proverbs 8:13

Those are very strong words.  There are very few things that God comes out and says “I hate”, and pride is one of them.     Here is an interesting bit of trivia.  What was Satan’s downfall?  It was pride. Look at Ezekiel 28:14-17, about Satan.

“You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.  You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub.  Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you . (NIV)

 I don’t know of anyone who wants for God to oppose them.  People want to be blessed by God.  We say, “God Bless you” If you want God to oppose you just be proud and conceited.

James 4:6 and I Peter 5:5 quote from Proverbs 3:34 Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (NIV)

If you want opposition from God, be prideful.

 Humility

“He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.”  Psalm 25:9

 “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:10

—F. B. Meyer

I used to think, that God’s gifts were on shelves

                               one

                     above

          another

and the taller we grow, The easier we can reach them.

Now I find, that God’s gifts are on shelves

one

                     beneath

                               another

and the lower we stoop, The more we get.

This is so true.  Up is down in God’s economy. Today we have a baptism, as the person goes DOWN into the water, they are lifted up God grows them.   As a person goes down to the children’s classes to teach, serve and help, God lifts them up.  As a person leads a connect group, God lifts them and grows them up.  As we go down into our pockets and wallets to give God grows us.  As we go down to Mexico, Guatemala, the Philippines, India, or Africa on our mission trips God lifts us up as we serve.

We need to do the right thing AND have the right attitude.

Now what Jesus said probably shocked his listeners.

TWO OUTCOMES:

“I tell you that this man,(tax collector) rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  (vs. 14)

Instead of the Pharisee being complimented as an example of what they should do.  Jesus announced that the tax collector was justified!   To be justified means: “to be declared just by God” God is the one who justifies, not the individual. The Pharisee was justifying himself not God.

  • Unjust in God’s Eyes  (the Pharisee
  • Just in God’s Eyes  (the tax collector)

The Pharisee had confidence in himself and his accomplishments.  He is patting himself on the back not seeking the Lord. This is a major problem today that we have.  Our pride.  People won’t come to Christ because they are too proud to admit their need for him.  Too proud to say they have sinned.  It is much easier to point the finger at someone who is worse and compare.  If you say you are a sinner, people say well, I’m not as bad as so and so.  They are not the comparison!  God is the comparison!   When you stand before God his standard is not Adolf Hitler or Charles Manson.  God’s standard is perfection.  It’s like someone on trial for stealing a car.  What if he were to say, well your honor I never raped anyone, I never molested children, I never murdered.  What would the judge say?  “Well guy, that is real nice, But You are not on trial for those things you are on trial for stealing!” The same is true for each of us all of us have done wrong in God’s eyes.  Quit comparing.  Because you can always find someone worse than you, that is not the point.  The point is you need be humble.

Jesus announced that the tax collector was justified! Using churchy language of today, you could say it was the tax collector that went home saved.  You will never experience salvation, forgiveness, mercy or God until you become humble, and broken over your sin.  Then you will experience all God has to offer.

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A Parable about Prayer- Unjust Judge & Widow – Luke 18:1-8

Posted on May 12, 2025 by dkoop

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.  (vs. 1)

Luke tells us upfront what the point of this parable is!

TIPS FOR MY PRAYER LIFE

  • I should always pray

Is it possible to always pray?   What is meant is to be in the spirit of prayer or the habit of prayer, the dependency of prayer. Pray often, pray regularly, and pray habitually.

When the English were awaiting the attack of the Spanish Armada in the 1500’s those in the watchtowers were ready for the first sign of the enemy with signal fires to warn everyone.  The wood was piled, the wood was dry, the fire to light it was always lit, and everything was ready to blaze the warning signal at the appointed moment.  None of this “wait we need to build a fire!”  Prayer is spontaneous like lighting the fire, no pause to leave your business or unplug from the world, not time to go to your prayer closet, get on your knees, fold your hands, and close your eyes. There are times for that but sometimes prayers need to be sent quickly, silently, urgently. If your fixing to go over a cliff in your car, you don’t have time to get on your knees or fold your hands, its time to pray.  If someone asks you to pray for them why not do it right then. Either silently in your mind or right there with them.  That way you won’t lie and say you will and then forget.  God has dealt with me on this very thing in the past.  When people ask me to pray for them, I often pray for them right then or I may forget.  Always pray, anywhere, any time.

  • I should never give up.

The second, purpose is to teach not give up.  One of Winston Churchill’s speeches consisted of 5 words.  Never, Never, Never give up!

How many times have we asked of God and then we don’t get because we didn’t wait long enough.  We knock a time or two at God’s door and then go our way.  When I was in Junior high there was this devious prank some boys would play. (Ok I would play it too). We would knock at someone’s door or ring the doorbell and then we would run away thinking it was the funniest thing ever.  Too many of our prayers are that way.  We knock for a time or two and then run away.  We want the response on OUR SCHEDULE AND TIME TABLE.  We stop.  No persistence.  In our fast food, microwave, cable modem society we want it done yesterday.  When we say jump we want them asking how high on the way up.  God is not on our timetable.

WHAT DO I HAVE?  WHAT DO I NEED?

Niki’s likes to read fiction, he favorite author is Karen Kingsbury and she told me that Kingsbury has about 10 characters in each story, well unlike a John Gresham novel or Karen Kingsbury story that has a long list of characters to keep up with, this parable of Jesus has only two characters.  Short, simple and sweet: a judge and a widow.

He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men.  (vs. 2)

The judge.  He is described by Jesus in verse 2 who “neither feared God nor cared about men“ Usually those two things go together. You have to be careful not to read too much into the story but you get the idea by this description we know he had no morals no scruples, took bribes. The judge was corrupt, unjust, devoid of all good character, the very opposite of God. He was as warm and loving as an ice cube.  When asked why he didn’t send his mother a birthday card he probably said, “Its not that I forgot its just that I didn’t care.”  Tell him about what Gods’ word says, he scoffs, tell him what is right and wrong he laughs.  In his eyes he didn’t serve the law the law served him.  Like Judge Roy Bean in the frontier days, this man was the law.

 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’  (vs. 3)

The Widow.  Widows show up a lot in Jesus teachings.  Jesus was moved by the plight of widows and taught against anyone who would take advantage of them.  Men dominated the world at that time.  A woman without a man’s support and protection was vulnerable.  If she was a widow she was at the mercy of others.  So very likely she was being bullied, taken advantage of many ways.

Why so persistent?  Since her husband died, he left her a little plot of land, all they had, but a cruel neighbor was looking with greedy eyes upon that little plot and has now taken it.  She is with out sufficient food for her little ones, they are crying for food.  Oh if their father were alive he would have never let this happen!  Now their creditors are about to come and take away her children and sell them into bondage in order to get their money.  It happened.  “No” she says, I have one chance! I can go to the judge and petition my case.  I know he could care less. I know I have nothing to offer him, nothing, no bribe, nothing.   But I have made up my mind I shall never rest until he hears me. He may throw me in jail.  He may have me killed but I have nowhere else to go.  I am reduced to the point of prison or death now anyway.  I have nothing to lose.

The widow had nothing but the judge, How about us?  What do we have?  Today we have other places to turn besides God and we may not pray hard because we have an ace in the hole, we have savings, we have lawyers, we have a bag a tricks. Often God will show us that we need him as well.  If not now then some point in your life you will have to depend on God.   Prayer is not a just a religious game it is a lifeline, a dependency.

  • When I depend on me I get what I can provide. When I depend on God I get what he can provide.
  • What am I depending on?

Often we have to depend on God when every other resource is tapped or empty, then we pray hard.  What is an area of your life that you feel you have absolutely no protection or support apart from God’s protection and support?  Every time I ride on an airplane, I pray because we are going fast and high, every time I go on a long trip in the car, I pray.  I pray for my kids because I can only give them so much and then they have to make their own decisions.  There will be times when I can’t always watch them, so I pray, I pray for their future, their spouses.  For many of us we have to pray for people’s spiritual condition.  Maybe you are praying for a spouse or family member to know Christ.

In talking about prayer I am not excusing us from doing the right things. I am not condoning laziness.  We must work and we must pray.  It is easy to get into extremes.  We work hard and leave God out, or we pray and leave work out and do nothing.  I love what one person has said,   “Work as if it all depends on you AND pray as if it all depends on God.”  This is biblical!  The widow did both, she worked hard and she depended on the judge.    *For our church to grow we must work hard: practice our music, print the bulletins, maintain our buildings and grounds, prepare the kids crafts, refreshments and lessons, plan ahead, mail out mailers, invite our friends, put out signs, maintain our website, do videos, If they don’t happen, we will stop growing  BUT, we must pray too, it’s both!  I must admit sometimes as a pastor I get caught up in work and I don’t pray as hard or as persistent as I should.   We encourage hard work, and we encourage prayer.

HOW TO PRAY EFFECTIVELY

Why was the widow successful?  It wasn’t her many words or her superior eloquence.  She only spoke 6 words.  “Grant me justice from my adversary.” No plea about her widowhood or about her children, lack of food and resources, just  “Grant me justice from my adversary.” Her success did not depend on the power of her rhetoric but her persistence.  The power of a prayer does Not rest on the eloquence of its words. Some people think that the more words the better, the longer the better.  I’m sure we have all been in places and someone prays and they go on and on and on.  And then we wonder what they said.

  • I don’t have to use MANY words

You see many words only impress those around you they don’t impress God.  God knows true sincerity and fancy talk.  Listen to what Jesus says

“And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.”  Matthew 6:7

Charles Haddon Spurgeon says that “verbiage is not better in prayer. Too many words are cumbersome to prayer.”  He says, “When you pray in public as a rule the shorter the better.”

  • I don’t have to use BEAUTIFUL words

Spurgeon compares words in prayer to feathers.  What will put wings to your prayers?  He says,

“The prayers that reach heaven are like the eagle’s feathers with strong, and intense desire behind them.  It is not the peacocks, although very beautiful and elaborate feathers, but that will get you nowhere.”  Charles Haddon Spurgeon

  • I do have to be PERSISTENT

Why was the widow successful.  Listen to the words of the judge.

“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men,       yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!'”  (vs. 4-5)

I think it’s easy to read over this to quickly and miss the point.  The judge’s words are strong.  This word bother means to cause trouble, to make him work, cause him labor with intense trouble.  She was a stack if bricks on his chest, a monkey on his back.  Not a small nuisance.  Niki tells me that growing up her younger brother would pester her and badger her to the point of driving her crazy, insanity. Niki’s brother Chad, he loves to tease and harass people.  She would tell her mom, “Mom Chad’s pestering me” and mom’s response was, “Just ignore him.”  Niki says trying to ignore Chad is like trying to ignore a broken leg. You can’t do it.  Chad cannot be ignored.  He doesn’t give up.  He is a youth minister now.  He is being repaid for his childhood either that or we should feel sorry for his kids.  If he prays the way he pesters, His prayers will be answered.  This widow was this way to the judge.  Nothing you could ignore.  I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!'” (NIV)

The Greek word here means literally to blacken the eyes.

(hupopiazo-) 1) physically to beat black and blue, to strike so as to cause bruises   2) metaphorically:  to give one intolerable annoyance; to wear one out  3) that part of the face that is under the eyes because of tiredness and weariness.  Do you see the picture?  This man who fears NO ONE, not God and no man, fears this woman.   She wore him out.  She got on his last nerve.  She caused him to turn gray or to turn bald as he pulls his last hair out.

Why was the widow successful?  It was her persistence.  We don’t know how long she pestered this judge.  2 week 2 months 2 years.  We don’t know if she bursts in court room 10 times a day, follows him home begging, knocks at his door at home, yells at him from his window at home. Camps on his lawn, follows him to work.  It could be, but the point is she is persistent to the point of wearing him out wearing him down. Do you persist in your prayers to the Lord?  Not that you wear out God or bother him but are you persistent?

  • Am I persistent in my prayers?

Do you remember something that you wanted as a child for a birthday or Christmas?  Do you remember asking and begging and pestering your parents for this?    I remember when I was of driving age; I thought I had to have a Camaro.  Every time possible for a year, I would say, I want a Camaro, I would tell my dad which ones I liked.  Every one I saw, which ones were for sale, showing him newspaper ads, auto trader.  Guess what, it worked.  Christmas my junior year, there was a Camaro in the driveway, my dad also got me a loan through the bank but I didn’t care, I had a Camaro.   My father loved me so he listened to what I asked for.

Our heavenly father will hear as well.

GOD WILL HEAR

And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.

          And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

          I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. (vs. 6-8)

This parable is in an IF –THEN form.

  • IF this judge who is unjust will hear the widow’s case (that he cares nothing about) only because of persistence, THEN how much more will God who is just and loving will hear his children (that he does care about) when they are persistent.  

I guess God is like us as parents.  When Kaleb and Noel were younger, they would often see something and want it.  We can’t give them everything they lay their eyes on, its not good for them for one and for two, 3 minutes later they forgot what they were asking for and are now asking for something else.  Have you ever bought something for your kids that they had to have only to find the next day they didn’t want it. Or never played with it again?  It’s frustrating because it seems they didn’t really what it.  We learn to listen to repeated requests.  If they see something they want, we’ll say when your birthday come or for Christmas.   If they keep asking for it then its something they really care about. If they never ask again, probably wasn’t that big of a deal.  AND when they get it at Christmas or Birthday and they had to wait for it, it means a lot more.  When we ask it shows how much we care.  If we ask once and then forget about it is it that important?  God wants to see some desire, some persistence.  Its shows us what is important to us and when we do get something we have been praying for for a while, it means more.

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A Parable about My Neighbor-The Good Samaritan- Luke 10

Posted on May 6, 2025 by dkoop

Who is my neighbor?  That’s a good question!  It was asked of Jesus by an expert in Old Testament law.  Unfortunately, this question and revealed the lawyer’s real motive (to test Jesus) and his profound ignorance about central issues of the faith—eternal life and the basic command to love one’s neighbor. 

10:25 This expert in religious law was a man who had made it his business to know and understand the details of the Jewish religion. He had studied the Scriptures (the Old Testament—the Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets). He also knew all the traditions. The fact that this man wanted to test Jesus does not necessarily indicate hostility. He wanted to know what he had to do to receive eternal life.

10:26-28 This expert in the law obviously would have known the law of Moses. In his answer, he quoted from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. He correctly understood that the law demanded total devotion to God and love for one’s neighbor. To love God in this way is to fulfill completely all the commandments regarding one’s “vertical” relationship. But another command from the law says to love your neighbor. This refers to “horizontal” relationships—among people. A person cannot maintain a good vertical relationship with God without also caring for his or her neighbor. The word “neighbor” refers to fellow human beings in general.

The expert in the law had it right. Jesus explained that people only needed to obey these commands; in doing so, they would fulfill all the rest of them. But with these abrupt words, Jesus was subtly making the point that no one can obey these commands. Do this and you will live sounds simple—in reality, however, those commands are impossible to keep in our human strength alone. This would be the lifestyle of Kingdom people—but they would not have to “do” it in order to be saved. Instead, they would be saved and then enabled by the Holy Spirit to obey these impossible demands. Jesus would show this to the man in the following story.

10:29 The expert in the law would not leave the encounter there. He wanted to justify his actions. It is unclear if he wanted to justify the question he had asked by asking the teacher to delve deeper into the topic, or whether he wanted Jesus to give an answer that he could then say he had fulfilled. He may have been attempting to pin down and limit the law’s demand, thereby limiting his responsibility. So he pressed Jesus further, “And who is my neighbor?”

10:30 Jesus answered this legal expert by telling a story. The rest of his listeners could easily picture this Jewish man who was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. The distance was about seventeen miles on a road that was notoriously dangerous because it curved through rocky and desolate terrain with many hiding places for bandits. As the listeners may have anticipated, the man in this story, who was traveling alone, was attacked and left half dead.

10:31-32 Jesus told a story about three different people, also traveling alone on this road. This priest served in the Temple and probably offered sacrifices. The Temple assistant also served in the Temple. Both of these servants of God saw the man lying there, but both passed by without helping. Perhaps it was concern over defilement, for a Jew would become “unclean” if he came into contact with a dead body. This would render him unable to worship. The man on the road may have appeared dead, so they did not want to risk defilement if there was nothing they could do. Either way, they deliberately refused to help.

10:33-35 The next person to come along was a despised Samaritan. Jews hated Samaritans, so when Jesus introduced this Samaritan man into the story, the Jewish listeners would not have expected him to help a Jewish man. But in great detail, Jesus described all that the Samaritan did for this man. This Samaritan is pictured as understanding what it meant to help someone in need, to be a neighbor, regardless of racial tensions.

LIFE APPLICATION – GENEROSITY

In this story, the Samaritan was extremely generous, and Jesus highlighted his helpful actions.  Generosity inspired by God does more than what’s expected.  Extend yourself. When you see a job to do, go overboard. Do it to show just an ounce of what God’s care for you is like. Do it with all the joy God has put in your heart.

10:36-37 Having finished the story, Jesus asked the expert in the law who had been a neighbor to the wounded man. The legal expert had no choice but to answer that the one who showed him mercy—the Samaritan—had been the true “neighbor.” The Samaritan traveler and the Jewish man were far apart in distance and spiritual heritage, but the Samaritan had loved his neighbor far better than the hurt man’s own religious leaders. Jesus said that the legal expert had answered correctly and should go and do the same. Jesus taught that love is shown by action, that it must not be limited by its object, and that at times it is costly.

What is Jesus Teaching us?

  • Scripture, says “Love my Neighbor as Myself”
  • My Neighbor Includes Those Different than Me.
  • Loving My Neighbor, will Cost Me.

I have found that I cannot love the way Jesus asks me to love without Him.  My love runs low and runs out.  I must depend on Jesus in my life to love.  The first fruit of the Spirit is  “love” Galatians 5:22.  With Christ in my life and yours, and with the Holy Spirit producing love as a by product of this relationship;  this is the only way to “love your neighbor as yourself”

 www.Upwards.Church

Message Audio/Video and Outline: https://upwards.church/leander-campus/watch-now-message-videos

Watch Messages: YouTube-Upwards Church

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Read Along Daily Bible Reading: YouVersion (https://www.bible.com/organizations/370f8a6e-16bc-464f-8c43-0b7623fd2952)

Sources: Life Application Bible Commentary, Life Application Concise New Testament Commentary,  Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible – Commentary, Preaching the Word

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