“Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart” vs1

One of the reasons my ministry is weak compared to former saints is the lack of prayer. The church does not pray, and neither do I, with the expectancy and dependence on Christ. We go through the motions, our daily lives, and our prayerlessness exposes our unbelief. We rely on the minister - a sound message - but we do not believe God. Lord, deliver us from this unbelief and cause us to trust You.

May we labor together with united prayer for the blessing!

Secondly, here is the question, “Will He find faith on earth?” vs2-8

Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He continue to defer their help? I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

As I look upon Africa, cast into darkness, I remember Europe before the Reformation! A darkened place under Papal delusion. Praying to saints and statues, everything but justification by faith and sovereign free election; it was a religion of man for man, which held man captive!

I look upon the Colonies through the lens of history. The gospel had fallen out of fashion, and it was dead formalism! People went to church as routine, morality was loose, and deism reigned supreme. There was no personal contact with God, but men came - like Edwards and Whitefield - and revived the work. The USA was born as a nation with 1 out of 10 giving a solid gospel profession!

Now, we look at Africa. The charismatic movement swept the land and superstition, greed, and dead formality has strangled us. We see few true conversions!

What shall we do? Despair? Should we say the former years were better [Eccl 7:10]? No. This is a trap: This is of Satan! He tells us it’s too late, and God is not willing - that He’s preparing for the end, and there can be no revival! We must not fall for this delusion. God asks, “Will He find faith on earth?” He always hears faith; it compels Him. We cannot say He won’t work! We must say, “God work,” and look to Him expectantly. Let us unite in prayer.

Thirdly, let us never pray like the Pharisee but always as this Publican [vs9-13].

To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed toward himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’

But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’

1. The Pharisee prayed toward himself. He pointed to himself!

2. The Pharisee prayed that he was not like others - this Muslim, this Fulani terrorist, this child molestor, this rapist - and he was not heard. You won’t be heard because you’re better than someone else!

3. The tax collector prayed, “God be merciful to me the sinner.” Sinners will obtain mercy because they have no merit, no contribution, and no say. They trust Jesus Christ: it is all God’s mercy.

Finally, we will be exalted if we humble ourselves as sinners who can do nothing, if we trust the mercy of God, and if we pray! Vs14