Phil Beach Jr. emphasizes the lessons we can learn from the widow's prayer in 1 Timothy 5, highlighting her trust in God and her commitment to continuous supplication and prayer. He explains that true faith involves reliance on God and perseverance in prayer, contrasting the widow's life with those who live in pleasure, which leads to spiritual deadness. The sermon encourages believers to cultivate a spirit of supplication and to remain steadfast in their relationship with God, avoiding distractions that hinder spiritual growth. Ultimately, Beach calls for a deeper understanding of prayer as a means of pouring oneself out to God, leading to a fruitful spiritual life.

1 Timothy 5, and what we would like to do tonight is by the help of God's grace we'd like to derive some gleanings from the widow's prayer. 1 Timothy 5, Paul here is just giving some instructions to Timothy regarding how to deal with elders and how to deal with widows. And he makes a very, very interesting statement in 1 Timothy 5, verse 5 and 6. And we're just going to look into these two verses tonight and ask God to speak to our hearts that we might derive some instruction and blessing from the widow's prayer. Verse number 5, 1 Timothy chapter 5. Now, she that is a widow in deed and desolate trusteth in God and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. Verse 5, now she that is a widow in deed and desolate trusteth in God. And Paul describes here a widow who is indeed a widow. And I believe that we can learn a few lessons tonight from the widow. First of all, the scripture says that she trusteth in God. This means that she leans upon and relies upon God rather than herself. She relies upon the Lord. She relies upon God. Now, she that is a widow in deed and desolate trusteth in God and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. Now, I believe the Holy Spirit would want us to pray asking God to develop in us these wonderful characteristics that are found in the widow who trusteth in God. Now, one of the first characteristics that we need to pray and ask God to develop in us is this interesting characteristic that describes the widow in prayer such as continueth. Now, at first glance, there's not much impact. But when we look into the word continueth, we are greatly, greatly stirred. The word means to remain with, to continue with, to persevere with. The idea is to have begun with someone and then to remain with them and persevere with them to the end. The widow woman who indeed is a widow is described as one who continueth. Now, Jesus in Luke chapter 22 verse number 28 used the same word. And he was describing his disciples as those who continued with him in his temptation. Meaning those who abided with him and continued with him. The Holy Spirit is described as the one who continues to intercede for us. In Romans chapter 8, the Holy Spirit continues to prevail for us. The Holy Spirit continues to pray and intercede for us according to the will of God. The Bible also speaks of Christ in Hebrews chapter 7 verse number 25. Hebrews chapter 7 verse number 25. The Bible speaks of Christ who ever liveth to make intercession for we who have come to God. So this word continueth is a word that is used to describe the disciples who continued with Jesus. It's a word that is used to describe the Holy Spirit in his continuing to intercede for us. And it's a word also that is used to describe the Lord Jesus Christ in his priestly ministry of ever living to make intercession for us. But now here is the sobering thought. It is a word that is used to describe the widow who is indeed a widow. And when this word is used in relation to the believer, this is what the implication is. By the power of grace divine and the prompting of love divine. To keep in step with the heart of God. To keep in step with the burden of God. And to continue with God in his dealing in your life. Paul said the widow continues. I believe that it would be very advantageous for us as believers to find in Christ that power of continuance. It is not he who starts the race. But rather he who continues and runs lawfully. It is not the Christian who makes a big shout and a big bang. And then down the road fizzles out. Nowhere to be seen. But it's the Christian who starts out with the Holy Spirit and continues with him. During the times when it's dry. When there's nothing in it for myself anymore. Or when there's no visible sign of any hope in the natural. There is where we need to find in the Lord Jesus Christ the power for him to work in us. That continuance. How many have found that one of your greatest struggles is not hearing God. Or necessarily knowing what God is telling you in church. But continuing with God Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. The need of continuance is ever present before us. So may the first divine attribute that we learn from the widow become ours in Christ Jesus. And may we learn continuance. Now, let us see what it is that this widow woman continues in. She continues in supplication and prayer. Now the words supplication and prayer are two different words. And they have two different kinds of meanings. And you'll find that as a believer you will find yourself in supplication and you will find yourself in prayer. And these are two distinct types of ministries that we find ourselves in with two distinct kinds of purposes and results. First of all, the widow woman continues in supplication. Supplication simply means this. Now listen closely. This is very good. You're going to find that you have been involved in supplication probably more than you thought. Supplication simply means a need or a lack which results in an entreaty or in an asking. So the word supplication is that which we ask, that which we petition before God as a direct result of a pressing need or lack that we feel in our life. Now how many have been involved in the ministry of supplication in light of that? Now you see, remember what we're doing now. We're showing you the need for continuance in these things. Oh how wonderful, how wonderful to continue in supplication. You know what that would imply? To continue in supplication would imply that we are forever present or we are forever aware of our present need for God. Therefore we are forever presently entreating God and petitioning God for more of himself. Boy that's a blessed state to be in. So supplication is that which we ask of God which is the direct result of a conscious need that we have been made aware of through the ministry of the word and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Is supplication developing in your life? Is supplication becoming more and more part of your prayer life? May I suggest this evening that a healthy, spiritual, on fire Christian is one who is becoming daily acquainted with the ministry of supplication before God. It has been one of the marks of all the men and women of old who have touched God's heart and who have done anything of worth for God in his kingdom that they were regularly acquainted with the ministry of supplication before God. George Mueller, great man of God who believed God for hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of orphans, feeding them on a daily basis. He was well acquainted with supplication. He spent many hours in prayer, entreating God because of his increased awareness of a need that he had. Secondly, we find that not only does this widow persevere and continue in supplication but she continues in prayer. Now the word prayer in the Greek simply has the connotation of a pouring out into something. A pouring out into something. So this term basically then suggests the believers pouring out of himself and his heart and his affections, pouring himself out into God. Draw nigh unto God and God will what? Draw nigh unto you. Listen. Pour yourself out into God. Listen. And God will pour himself out into you. Hey that's a pretty good exchange. I give God what I am and he gives me what he is. Well my Lord, that's a bargain if I've ever seen one. He says, cast your cares upon me and I'll give you my peace that passes all human understanding. He says, cast your worry upon me and I'll give you faith that moves mountains. Boy, that's a deal. Now remember, the main objective here is the continuing, starting out with Christ, in step with the Holy Spirit as he works the prayer of supplication in us. As he works the general prayer of pouring ourselves out into God. It's not he that starteth out, but it's he that continues and allows this work to be perfected in their life. Now, we have dealt with the positive aspect of this scripture and in closing, to close this little teaching, we can't neglect the latter part of Paul's teaching here. The widow trusts in God and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. An important lesson that we can learn from the widow is the great hindrance. The great hindrance in following the widow's prayer and the widow's importunity before God is to live in pleasure. To live in pleasure. Listen, listen closely. To live in pleasure is a sure, guaranteed way of falling short of God's will for your life in regard to continuing in supplication and prayer. Now, the Greek word liveth in pleasure. This is what it means. To live in pleasure luxuriously and deliciously with the further implication of waste and more waste. I'll read that again. Now, remember, Paul's saying, here's the widow who continues in supplication and prayer day and night. But here is a sure hindrance to following the widow's example. To live in pleasure. To live in luxury and deliciously with the further implication of waste and more waste. The idea is like the prodigal son. Also, in James chapter 5, verse 5. James chapter 5. Ye have lived in pleasure. Same Greek word that Paul used to describe the pleasure that certain widows were living in that was certainly cutting them off from pleasing God. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth and been wanton. Ye have nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter. So, possibly James here interprets what it is to live in pleasure in a most accurate way. Ye have nourished your hearts. To live in pleasure is to live with nothing but self in view and never considering the life to come and the Lord and what pleases Him. To live in pleasure is to live luxuriously and deliciously with the further implication of waste. The fullness of the prodigal lifestyle. Luke chapter 21. Jesus speaking. Luke chapter 21. Verses 34 through 36. Jesus keenly aware, beloved, of how subtle it is to fall into the snare of living in pleasure warns His disciples. And take heed to yourselves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of this life. And so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore and pray always. There you go. Continue in prayer and supplication. That ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass. And to stand before the Son of Man. May the Holy Spirit instill within us a desire to follow the example of the widow. Listen. She trusteth. She continues. And she allows God to develop in her the ministry of supplication and prayer. But he that liveth in pleasure is dead while she lives. The idea there is whoever lives in pleasure is fruitless before God. Dead as far as usefulness to the Holy Spirit. So as God continues this great work in our midst. Beware of living in pleasure. And ask God to nourish your spirit. Be content with such things as ye have. And seek first God's kingdom. And he'll give you everything you need. Amen. God bless. Does anyone have anything else they'd like to add? It's quarter after eight. Anybody else? Of course, we'll gather up our equipment and we can spend some time in fellowship. Father, thank you for the presence of thy majesty here tonight, Lord. Lord, I thank you for the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for the songs of joy that we sang. The songs of praise. And now, Lord, I pray that you'll take the word of God. And write it upon our hearts. Help us, Lord, by your power to desire to follow the example of the widow. And to learn how to trust in you. And continue with you in your dealings in our life. That the result might be true, spiritual, genuine, cultivated, fertile, fruitful supplication and prayer. Ever coming from our inner man reaching your heart. Keep us, deliver us, protect us from the snare and hindrance of living in pleasure. Lest we become dead, unfruitful, and unproductive. We commit ourselves into your hands. And trust in you tonight. For Jesus' honor. Hallelujah. Amen. And amen.