Panic, Crisis, and Faith (2)

              Panic, Crisis, and Faith
Luke 18.1-8 October 22, 1989
Thousands of people found themselves in the pattern of panic, crisis,
and faith this past week. Panic, is Lori all right? Crisis: the upper
layer of the freeway has fallen! Faith: God, help me through this.
I. This is a story about a woman who is a first rate pest.
A. The story says she is a widow. Widows in the NT period were
at the mercy of a merciless system. She has a grievance, she
is seeking justice.
B. The judge in this story is a person who would have fit well
into the G a y lo rd scandals in Chicago's judiciary system. He
had no regard for God, nor for people. He really didn't care
what God thought and had no concern for popular opinion.
C. But this woman keeps coming. Every afternoon she goes to
people's court to plead her case. When he leaves work, she
meets Mm on the street. She goes to his home and waits at
his gate. For his own personal comfort he gives her request.
What a pest!
D. I f an insensitive judge would do something like this for his
own comfort, what about God? Do you not think that God
answers prayer?
1. Jesus always points to our little selves to God's great self.
I f a father does not give stones to his children for bread,
don't you think your father in heaven is at least equal to
that?
2. I f someone is pesky long enough do you not eventually give
in? Which of you would not at least do this?
E. I wonder, says Jesus when the Son of Man comes whether he
will find faith on the earth. You are getting a little panicky.
II. Panic, Prayer and faith. Words and action.
A. Panic -
1. One man bragged:" I only worry about two things-whether
I'm sick or well. I f I'm well I've got nothing to worry
about. And if I'm sick I've only got two things to worry
about-whether I get better, or whether I die. I f I die, I've
only got two things to worry about- whether I go to
heaven, or whether I go to hell. I f I got to heaven, I've
got nothing to worry about. And if I go to hell, I'll be
so busy greeting my friends I won't have time to worry!
So why worry?
2. Karl Wallenda lived on top of the world. The a e r ia ls
thrilled crowds with his daring stunts on the high wire
before that fateful day in 1978 when his show ended.
Wallenda plunged 75 feet to his death before an audience
of thousands in San Juan, Puerto Rico. What happened?
His widow explained that Karl had never been one to know
fear. Self-confidence marked his style until he started
worrying. Little details of safety preoccupied his mind.
He checked and double-checked the tightrope to make
certain that everything was secure. This was a different
Karl. I For the first time, instead o f putting his energies
into walking the wire, he concentrated on not falling.
1