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
0 Comments
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 1 Sam. 1:10-11 - She, greatly distressed, prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly. She made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head." NASU
I would say, "Okay, for you it would be wrong, but not for someone who doesn't believe like you." In our scripture text today we can see that Hannah prayed to the LORD while in great distress and in her prayer she bargains with God. She says, "If You Will…I will…" My friends that is what we call bargaining. If you do something for me then I will do something for you. She not only bargains with God, He accepts the terms of her bargaining.
It wasn't bad enough she couldn't bear children but she was reminded of her situation constantly by her rival Peninnah, Elkanah's other wife. 1 Sam. 1:6 - Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the LORD had closed her womb. NASU God says, one woman for one man and man tries to improve upon God's plan and says, you can have more than one wife if you want? Now what could ever go wrong with that plan? Two women under the same roof, in the same kitchen, oh I am sure that will work perfectly.
1 Sam. 1:19-20 - And Elkanah had relations with Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her. It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked him of the LORD." NASU Do you have some physical handicap that you would like to have changed? Then ask the Lord. If it is His will He will grant you your petition. Are you being provoked by someone then take it to the Lord? Hannah did and God changed her situation and life. If it is His will He can do the same for you. Have you ever felt that God or life has dealt you a bad hand? Hannah did and she wept bitterly about it. She takes her prayer to God and bargains with Him in it.
Don't bargain with God if you are not serious about keeping your end of the deal. 1 Sam. 1:26-28 - She said, "Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the LORD. "For this boy I prayed, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of Him."So I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there. Think On These: One thing you can give and still keep is your word. A broken promise is something the best glue can't fix. God's promises are like life preservers. They keep the soul from sinking in the sea of trouble. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend. Luke 1:13 & 18 - But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, & your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, & you will give him the name John." … Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years." NASU
He answers prayers with a Yes, No, or Wait a While. He doesn't always answer our prayers immediately. Some times He has us wait for years for the answer as was the case with Zacharias and Elizabeth. I am quite sure when they were much younger than they are in the above passage of scripture they had prayed to God and asked for their lives to be blessed with a child. We can see now that God said, "Okay, but you will have to wait." The hard part is we don't audibly hear God say, "Okay, but you will have to wait." We interpret the waiting time as God having said, "No." We are not told how long they waited. We are told Zach is an old man and Beth is well advanced in years. Usually people pray for children right after they get married when they are young. We know Zacharias isn't 50 years of age because once a priest turned 50 years old he had to retire according to Numbers 8:23-25 - Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 24 "This is what applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall enter to perform service in the work of the tent of meeting. 25 But at the age of fifty years they shall retire from service in the work and not work any more.
There is no doubt this can be frustrating if we allow it to be. The best thing we can do is remember that an all loving Heavenly Father is providing for us. I would like for you to read what Jesus said about our Heavenly Father: Matt 7:7-11 - Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 "Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 "Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! NASU We must remember God answers prayers according to His time table, which is always correct. Your prayer could be answered next week, next month or next year. It all depends on God's time table not ours. I would say Zacharias and Elizabeth are getting their prayer answered that was prayed over 20 to 25 years ago. Think On This: God has never called us to Calm a Storm, but He has called us to be Calm during a Storm. God has never asked us to Walk on Water, but He has asked us to Walk with Him. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend. 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 Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend. |
Archives
December 2023
AuthorGary A Serago. Categories
All
|