You Gave Up Too Soon: How Persistent Prayer Changes Everything
Pastor Darryn Scheske | Jesus & The Kingdom | Part 13 | Luke 18:1–8 | July 27, 2025
Caption: You gave up because you thought you were on your own. But God didn’t ghost you. He’s been fighting for you. Change the way you think and let prayer be your first response, and not your last resort. What you do first sets the tone for everything else.
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’ ” Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?” Luke 18:1–8
I’M 55 AND REFLECTING!
The 7 Decades of a Man
“Spills, Drills, Thrills, Bills, Ills, Pills, and Wills” – Richard Needham, Author
“50s are preparation for your 60s, followed by your 70s, your greatest years of trust, influence, and impact.” – Bobb Biehl, Decade by Decade
Never stop learning
Never compare yourself
Never give up!
“65% of Gen Z employees leave their jobs within the first year”
(Work “Unmeaningful” Want “Better pay faster” Not enough “Recognition” feel “Unheard”)
– Source: AbodeHR, Statista
Success is not a destination. Success is,...“Right decisions done repeatedly over time compound success.” – Paul James, Author
1. Knowing my purpose in life
2. Growing to be like Jesus
3. Sowing seeds that make a difference others
99% of success is persistence
"I've been the pastor of one church long enough to be loved, and hated, and loved again!" –Pastor Russ Blowers
DON’T GIVE UP TOO SOON!
Persistence is not giving up on God!
Prayer should be our first response
Not our last resort
One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. Luke 18:1 NLT
Rejoice always! Never stop praying. Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; but apart from me you can do nothing.”
–Jesus, John 15:4-5
1. The Priority of Prayer
“Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to pray to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the enemy resisted me for twenty-one days. Daniel 10:12–13
2. The Place of Prayer
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35
Prayer connects us to God.
Fasting disconnects us from the world
3. The Plan of Prayer
Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Jesus said, “This is how you should pray…” Luke 11:1-2
4. The Person of Prayer
"I want you to know the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit..." 2 Corinthians 13:14
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not accuse, nor will he harbor anger, for he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who revere him. As far as the east is from the west, He has removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who revere Him. (Psalm 103:8-13)
“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth.” –Jesus, John 14:16-17
KEY UPCOMING DATES at Heartland Church
21 Days of Prayer
August 3-23, 2025, M-F 6:00am / Sat 9:00am
Fall Small Groups
Begins September 7, heartlandchurch.com/groups
FLOURISH! Women’s Night with Lisa Harper
Friday, September 12, heartlandchurch.com/womensnight
The WKND Student Conference
October 10-12, heartlandchurch.com/theweekend
At The Movies 2025
Begins Sunday, November 2
Christmas at Heartland
December 22, 23 & 24
21 Days of Prayer & Fasting
January 4-24, 2026, M-F 6:00am / Sat 9:00am
Heartland's 25th Anniversary
February 1, 2026, Fishers Event Center, heartlandchurch.com/celebrate
or Text "25" to 68000