Have you been feeling a stirring in the atmosphere? If your answer is yes, you are not alone. If your answer is no, read and be encouraged by the word of God. 

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One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must keep praying until the answer comes.

“There was a city judge,” he said, “a very godless man who had great contempt for everyone.  A widow of that city came to him frequently to appeal for justice against a man who had harmed her. The judge ignored her for a while, but eventually she got on his nerves.

“‘I fear neither God nor man,’ he said to himself, ‘but this woman bothers me. I’m going to see that she gets justice, for she is wearing me out with her constant coming!’” (Lk 18:1-5 LBT)

We are probably familiar with the parable of the persistent widow who appealed for justice until she got her request. Parables are word pictures that reveal greater truths.

Jesus commends the widow for her persistence. Like the widow, we should be persistent with our prayers. We should not back down or give in until we see the answer. 

The unjust judge is not God in this parable–we know that God is true, faithful, righteous and just. 

Jesus told this parable to illustrate the great power of prayer. The widow’s prayers were persistent and tenacious. She would not back down until justice was served. Because of her grit, she was able to persuade an “unjust” judge, who had no fear of God in his life to render a righteous verdict.

Then the Lord said, “If even an evil judge can be worn down like that, don’t you think that God will surely give justice to his people who plead with him day and night?  Yes! He will answer them quickly! (Lk 18:6-8)

If we, the church, will be persistent in our prayers, we can influence (by our praying)  leaders who are unjust, with no fear of God in their lives. This parable illustrates that perfectly. But then Jesus tells his disciples if an evil judge was persuaded to do justice, won’t God who is a righteous judge give justice to his people who cry out day and night. He then answers, Yes! He will answer them quickly! 

Have you been worn out contending for justice? Have you thought to yourself, the answer is not coming? Don’t give up and don’t give in! The Lord wants you to be persistent in your prayers and pursuit for justice. 

The Prayer Faith Connection

But the question is: When I, the Messiah, return, how many will I find who have faith and are praying?  (Lk 18:8b LBT)

Jesus links the widow’s continual prayers to her faith. Day in and day out she appeared before a judge who ignored her pleas. It does not say how long she would appear before him, but it was enough to wear him out. By the end, the unjust judge couldn’t bear the thought of her bringing her case before him anymore.

It takes outrageous faith to do what she did. The word outrageous can often be used in a negative context. However it also means very bold, unusual, striking, eye-catching, and brazen.

 Outrageous Faith Partners Prayer with Action

 As Jesus was coming near Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the road, begging. When he heard the crowd passing by, he asked, “What is this?”

 “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.  He cried out, “Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!”

The people in front scolded him and told him to be quiet. But he shouted even more loudly, “Son of David! Have mercy on me!”  So Jesus stopped and ordered the blind man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him,  “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Sir,” he answered, “I want to see again.”

Jesus said to him, “Then see! Your faith has made you well.” (Lk 18:35-42)

Picture a man sitting by the wayside. His life has been surrounded by darkness. No vision, oblivious about what’s going on around him, until one fateful day. 

He hears a multitude of voices around him in an uproar. He asks around and finds out that Jesus of Nazareth is passing through his town. He’s heard of this man before. He gives sight to the blind, the deaf can hear, the lame can walk, and the dead are being raised. 

Could this be the Messiah? Is this the answer to my prayers? Can he do for me what he’s done for everyone else? 

He wasn’t about to wait a minute longer to find out. He cries from the top of his lungs in desperation, “Jesus, Son of David, Have mercy on me!”  He was pushed aside and told to shut up, but outrageous faith was about to be put on display. 

He shouted even louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

His faith caught the attention of the Messiah Jesus, who tells him, “Your faith has healed you.”  He received his sight instantly. 

In both of these stories we find two ordinary people, a widow and a blind man. One refused to be denied the justice she was due. One refused to let Jesus just pass him by, while others received their prayers answered. One was ignored day after day, and one sat in complete darkness, completely dependent on others. Both received answers to long-awaited prayers and both refused to be silent. This,  my brothers and sisters, is outrageous faith!

Outrageous faith refuses to be silent and refuses to be denied. Outrageous faith says, “Jesus, do not pass us by! Do not forget that you promised another awakening! Do not forget the promises you spoke to me! Despite how it looks I’m going to worship, praise, and give thanks  for what you’ve done and then I’m going to keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking because I know that you are faithful.”

Outrageous Faith Always Gets A Response 

Blind Bartimaeus’ faith caused Jesus to stop in the midst of a large crowd and demand he be brought to Him (Lk 18:40).

He received his sight.

A Gentile woman refused for her daughter to stay under the possession of evil spirits and Jesus marveled at her faith. Her daughter was delivered  (Mt 15:21-28).

Faith caused a barren woman to cry out in the temple for a child. Her prayers were answered. She gave her son back to God to serve as a priest  (1 Sam 1).

Faith caused a man to wrestle with an angel and say, ” I will not let you go until you bless me.” He received a new name ( Gen 22:24-28).

It’s time for us the church to pray bigger, bolder prayers than we’ve ever dared before. The enemy is using ungodly leaders to push his agenda in our nation. Many of these leaders are brazen in their pursuit of stripping our freedoms, silencing the church, infiltrating the colleges, indoctrinating our children, and fighting to keep the murder of the preborn accessible. They want to wear down the church. They are fearful of a praying church, because a praying church is a powerful church. The church is and always has been the agent through whom God brings revival to the nations.

Like that persistent widow, we are overdue justice in this nation. Like that blind man, we are in dark times. But faith tells me that if we listen closely, we will hear the Lord passing through this nation city by city, looking for those whose faith will cry out, “Jesus! Don’t pass me by!” 

He’s looking for those who will contend in prayer. He’s looking for those who will wrestle with him and win. 

Yes, he wrestled with the angel and won. He wept and pleaded for a blessing from him. There at Bethel he met God face to face, and God spoke to him. (Hos 12:4 NLT)

Are you ready to pray dangerous prayers? Are you ready for outrageous faith? Then pray with me…

Father, 

I humbly come before you, and I thank you. Despite how grim it may look at times, I see a remnant rising up who refuses to be silent. I hear the sounds of worship gatherings around the nation. I hear the sound of prayer gatherings ramping up again. I see leaders who were once aligned with a worldly, ungodly agenda changing their minds. I know that this is you at work through it all. 

Hear my prayer, Do not pass me by Lord. Do not pass this nation by. Remember that we were built on a godly foundation dedicated to your name. Remember that many missionaries who spread the gospel across this world, came from revivals birthed on this soil.

I pray the prayer of Bartimaeus, “Lord, I want to see!”  Give us eyes to see what you are doing in this nation right here and right now.  Lord, let Your justice roll down like a river. We will not stop contending until we see Your justice and will not be silent until we see waves of revival flow through this nation. You are the righteous judge, and You always do what is right. We trust in You and we are in expectation. We praise Your name. We bless Your name. We love You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

And we are sure of this, that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will. And if we really know he is listening when we talk to him and make our requests, then we can be sure that he will answer us. (1 Jn 5:14,15)

For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), and His ears are attentive to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who practice evil [to oppose them, to frustrate, and defeat them]. (1 Pt 3:12 AMPC)

Have you felt discouraged waiting and praying for justice? Share how this article encouraged you. 

Author Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor to listen to her podcast Something To Share.