Dr. John Hartmann

In this timely message Dr. Hartmann offers strong encouragement to the saints “not to lose heart”. Jesus in Luke 18:1-8 teaches a parable that men ought always to pray and not “lose heart”, a word in Greek that connotes “despair”. The parable tells the story of an unrighteous judge, who did not fear God, nor respect man, and of a persistent widow, who comes again and again asking the judge for legal protection from her opponent. At first the judge refuses to act, but afterwards grants the widow her request, lest by her continual coming “she wear me out”, a Greek word that was used to speak of striking one in the eye or giving one a black eye.

Jesus says: “Hear what the unrighteous judge said”. It is here a case of “how much more”. If the unrighteous judge, who has no fear of God, no concern for justice, and no pity toward the afflicted, grants the request of a persistent petitioner, then how much more will not God, Who does hear the cry of the afflicted, bring justice to His elect people, who cry out to Him day and night for the coming of His kingdom on earth. He will answer them speedily, Jesus say, though He delays long over them. Jesus is saying that God will answer with swift justice when the time comes for the kingdom of the world to become the kingdom of our Lord and His Christ. The parable builds on the immediately preceding context (Luke 17:20-37), in which Jesus speaks about conditions on earth at the time of His return. The eschatological context to which the parable of Luke 18:1-8 applies thus becomes quite apparent at its end, in Jesus’ question: “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth? ” Jesus is talking about the kind of faith displayed by the widow woman, who 1) knew her cause was just, and 2) knew she had no other recourse but to appeal to the judge for justice. God calls His elect to cry to Him day and night for the coming of His kingdom, and in this parable encourages them not to lose heart as they do so. Justice is on its way.

Our study closes with discussion of 4 important matters in which we must not lose heart.

 We must not lose heart ….

1. In offering petitions to God. Passages such as Matthew 7:7-11, Ephesians 6:18, James 4:1-3, and 1 John 5:14-15 apply here. We must incessantly petition God not for what we want but for what He has revealed to be His will
2. In seeking God about situations and personal matters of the soul in which one needs His deliverance. Psalm 40:1-3 and Psalm 107:10-16 apply here.
3. In doing good. Galatians 6:6-10 and Hebrews 6:11-12 apply here.
4. In remaining faithful to the ministry to which the Lord has called each one, individually and collectively. Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:1-5:11 speaks of not losing heart in his ministry as Christ’s apostle, a ministry in which he shares in the fellowship of Christ’s suffering to such a degree that he can say to the church “death works in us, but life in you”. As he carries about in his mortal body the dying of Jesus, the resurrection life of Jesus is ministered to the church, and the powers of darkness defeated. Philippians 3:9-10 and Colossians 1:24-29 apply here as well.

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