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2 Corinthians 12:7-9 - "…there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me — to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." NASU
God goes on to say that His Grace is sufficient for him. WOW! If one of the Apostle Paul's prayers was given a "No" answer what are the chances that some of our prayers may receive the same answer from God? Many times when we pray we are expecting a "Yes" answer from God and if God answers it with a "No" we have a difficult time excepting His "No" answer. One thing we should remember a "No" answer from God may lead to a more productive life.
He then said "Yes" and opened up doors for me to attend Eastern Christian College in 1979. After that He opened up doors for me to start a 20 year ministry in Glen Burnie and Severn, MD. I have often wondered what might have happened had God said "Yes" to my prayer to attend Ozark Bible College. All the friends I have made in Maryland would have never happened. All the people that I have baptized into Christ would not have happened, at least by me. Let me repeat this - One thing we should remember a "No" answer from God may lead to a more productive life.
He really does give us what we need. All one has to do is think about Jesus Christ and how God gave His Son to make it possible that all of our sins are forgiven. If God has said "No" keep your eyes and ears open for the "Yes" answer that He has coming your way.
God said "No" to David being permitted to build the temple for Him, and God said "No" to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Since God has said "No" to those Bible Greats we shouldn't be too surprised when He says "No" to us. It is what God will do with us after He says "No" that really counts. Think On This: Keep your chin up and your knees down. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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Matt. 6:7-8 - “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." NASU
Jesus says God is our Father. He not only makes that declaration but goes on to inform us our Father knows what we need before we ask Him. We don't have to be like the Gentiles and continue to ask for the same thing over and over again believing the more we ask, God may cave into our many demands. Jesus says we don't have to pray that way because God is our Father and He loves us. He gives us what we need, not what we ask for 1,000 times. As an earthly father, I always had a great feeling within my being when I provided something for my children and especially when I knew it was something they desired. Jesus is telling us God already knows what we need before we even ask Him. This has helped to change my prayer life and me. When I pray for something I very calmly and with faith in God know He will answer this prayer exactly at the right time and the correct way. Barbara Jo and I have a house we are trying to sell in Prescott, AZ. Now I know God knows we are trying to sell it. We have hired a Christian lady to be our agent and we have confidence in her and our God the house will be sold when He wants it to be sold and to the person, He would like to have that house. This passage of scripture gives me an enormous amount of comfort because it says my Heavenly Father already knows my/our needs.
If you are a parent you know what I am talking about because how many times have you provided for your children because of your love. Well, guess what? Our love for our children fails in comparison to God's love for us.
How did He do that? He did it by sending His Son, Jesus, to be born as a human and then 33 years later offer His life as a sacrifice to atone for OUR SINS on the cross at Calvary. God knows what we need and He does see our needs are fulfilled. Christmas season is about God providing for His children what we really need and what we really need is "peace" with Him which we have through Jesus Christ - Romans 5:1 - Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,… Do you want to change your life? Then believe this: your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." Think About This: When we let God guide He will provide. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 - "…for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me — to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." NASU
WOW! The apostle Paul was told "no" by God. What do you think our chances are of hearing a "No" to one of our prayers from God? I find it interesting that when I am asking God for an answer to a specific prayer I want the answer to be "yes" but I have found a "no" answer may lead to a more productive life.
All I needed was my five acres of land to sell. So, I could use the money to help support my family while in college. God said, "No." The college semester started and the land had not sold. Needless to say, I didn't accept the "no" from God like a Christian who trusted God should have. It took a few months for me to come to grips with God's will and let me say this, "I regretted the attitude I had for quite some time." Once I got my attitude adjusted and I was back on track it was no big deal God can still use me as a Christian. I don't have to be a preacher to be used by God.
I filled out and submitted the paperwork and left the rest in God's hands. I can honestly say my emotions were neither up nor down this time. It was whatever God wanted. I did attend Eastern Christian College in 1979 as God said, "Yes." I went from ECC to the First Christian Church of Glen Burnie and served the Lord there for 20 years. As I look back I can say, "God knew exactly what the best course for me was." But for me to get there I had to hear God say, "No." If God has said, "No" to one of your prayer requests please learn from my mistake. Don't get upset with God. Say to yourself "God knows best and I will trust Him with all my heart."
David heard God say, "No" to being permitted to build the Temple. Jesus heard God say, "No" in the Garden of Gethsemane. Since all of these Bible Greats have heard God say, "No" don't be surprised if God says "No" to some of our prayers. It is what He will do with you after He says, "No" that counts. Oh, by the way, God sold my five acres of land four weeks after the OBC semester started in 1978. Think About This: Keep Your Chin Up and Your Knees Down. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Your Life Will Be Different When You Pray This Prayer
Luke 22:40 - When He arrived at the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." NASU The Prayer That Changes Things We have all been informed to pray this prayer. This isn't the first time we see this command as we read our Bibles. It is also found in Matt. 6:9-13 and is a part of what is known as the model prayer: Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name….13 'And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. NASU This is a very interesting command. If we pray it we may never know the temptations that we were able to avoid. Think about it. We pray not to enter into temptation and the Lord answers our prayers and we don't enter into temptation. How are we going to know what temptation(s) we avoided? I guess when we get to heaven and we are informed do you remember praying for temptations to be avoided? Yes, well here is the temptation that was coming to make your life miserable but you avoided it because of your prayer. WOW! You see Prayer changes things and there really is no way we would ever be able to know to what extent until we get to heaven. Temptations Are Strong Before you and I ever sin we are tempted. We must remember the temptation is NOT the SIN. It is only when we allow the temptation to defeat us that we will enter into sin. Again, temptation is not the sin. It is only an avenue that will lead to sin if we allow it. You and I both know certain temptations have defeated us. They were stronger opponents than we thought. Some temptations have no effect on this person but totally devastates another. No alcoholic, or drug addict ever thought their first temptation to try the substance they are abusing was going to lead them where they are now. Imagine if they would have been praying, "Lord, may I never enter into that specific temptation." I think we all know there are some temptations going to come our way, but when they come if we have prayed to overcome them we will be the victors and not the losers. You know the temptations that defeat you. So pray for those temptations specifically to be avoided. Temptations Defeat The Disciples Jesus is in the Garden before His crucifixion and He tells His disciples "to pray that they may not enter into temptation." We know they don't pray. They go to sleep and then the temptations come their way. We will see Peter shortly denying three times he even knows Jesus. While the other disciples run for their lives. You Can Defeat Your Temptations I believe we can defeat our temptations. I also believe they will be easier to defeat if we have prayed as the Lord has told us. Lord, lead me not into temptation and please deliver me from the evil I will encounter. Think on These: A person falls into temptation because he is unwilling to stand up against it. By yielding to temptation one may lose in a moment what it took a lifetime to acquire. When you flee from temptation DO NOT leave a forwarding address. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Daniel 10:12-13 - Then he said to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia." NASU
When we pray it would behoove us to remember our prayers were heard and the answer is on the way, but there is a spiritual war going on between God and the devil. The devil tries to inhibit our prayers from being answered. The devil is hoping we will believe God doesn't care about us. Nothing could be further from the truth. God cares about us and we must never forget that truth no matter how hard the evil one tries to deceive us.
The apostle Paul informs us about the spiritual war which is going on that we cannot see: Ephesians 6:11-14- Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH… Notice where this fight is taking place, it is taking place in the heavenly places, exactly where Gabriel was fighting the prince of Persia and his help comes from the archangel Michael. You will also notice the very first piece of the Armor of God we are to put on is TRUTH. It is my belief there is a prince of the USA and he fights God's angel when they are on their way to answer our prayers. So don't give up on your prayers and in my beliefs it doesn't hurt to pray for the angel who is bringing the answer to our prayers since we know he may have to fight to get here with the answer.
The devil was trying desperately to get Daniel to lose faith in God, but it never happened. The devil will try to get us to lose faith in God. I implore you not to let this happen. As Paul says, we are to stand firm. 1 Corinthians 1:9 - God is faithful… Paul doesn't lie, God is Faithful my friends. Think About These: The tragedy of our day is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer. When life knocks you to your knees, you are in the perfect position to pray. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
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