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
​

​Genesis 32:24-30 -Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until day-break. When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob's thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him.  Then he said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking." But he said, " I will not let you go unless you bless me."  So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob."  He said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked him and said, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And he blessed him there. So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, " I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved." NASU 

• A Theophany Happened Here 

A theophany is the visible appearance of God to a human and that is exactly what we have here. We have God appearing as a man and wrestling with Jacob. God has to cover Himself in this way or His very appearance would result in whoever sees Him dying.
 
Exodus 33:20 - But He said, "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!" 

• A Wrestling Match Happened Here 

I like how The Message has translated verse 28 - The man said, "But no longer. Your name is no longer Jacob. From now on it's Israel (God-Wrestler; you've wrestled with God and you've come through." (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
 
Jacob was the God-wrestler. We likewise need to be God-wrestlers. There is only one catch it is going to hurt. You don't wrestle with God without learning something of great importance and suffering comes along with this match.
 
What I have found and generally not immediately but sometimes weeks, months or years later while remembering this wrestling match with God you will be able to recall some very valuable life lessons. 

• A Blessing Will Be Coming 

One thing I noticed about Jacob was he had to endure some suffering before he received the blessing. God touched him and his hip was immediately dislocated. However, he didn't let go. He didn't quit. In fact, he states, "I will not let go unless you bless me."
 
It might surprise you how much pain you can endure before you receive a blessing. 

• What Was The Blessing 

What exactly was the blessing?
 
His name was changed from Jacob, which means supplanter, to Israel, which means he will rule as God. Jacob reaped what he sowed as his Uncle Laban will teach him all about taking what doesn't belong to you.
If you recall the story 20 years earlier Jacob had deceived his father, Isaac, and stole Esau's birthright. Esau said he was going to kill Jacob. So Jacob fled to his uncle Laban's house and had been there for 20 years.
 
He is now on his way back home and he is going to meet his brother Esau. The night before they meet God meets with Jacob and they have their famous all-night wrestling match.
 
The mistake he made 20 years ago is now just that in the past. He will have a fresh start with a new name, a new relationship with his brother, Esau and with his God. 

• What About You? 

Are you looking for a blessing from God?
 
Well, you might have to wrestle Him all-night long. Please remember this, Jacob endured the pain before he received the blessing.
 
Stay in there!
 
Don't Give Up!
 
Wait On The Blessing!
 
Always remember we are under construction and God isn't finished with us yet.
 
He has a blessing for you. All you have to do is be like Jacob and don't let go until God gives you the blessing.
 
Think About This:
 
God Still Speaks To Those Who Will Take Time To Listen.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago
 
Minister of God's Word

​Luke 24:1-5 - But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living One among the dead? NASU 

• Honey, I Can't Find My… 

I don't know how many times I've said to Barb, "Honey, I can't find my… have you seen it?"  I was looking in the wrong places for my coat, hat, keys, glasses or whatever. In our text today the women were looking in the wrong place for Jesus. 

• The Tomb Was Empty 

They can thank the good Lord Jesus was not where they were looking. He was no longer in the tomb or grave. He had been resurrected back to life.
 
Every week as I partake of the Lord's Supper I am able to give thanks for my sins being forgiven but in order for that to have happened Jesus had to be resurrected back to life.
 
He warned the disciples what was going to happen in Mark 8th, 9th, and 10th chapters. He told them He would be killed and rise again. Therefore, He had to be resurrected or He would have been a liar, a false prophet.
 
Yes, the women were looking for Jesus but He was not in the tomb. He was alive. 

• The Next Time 

When you can't find something the next time use that situation as an opportunity to look up to the heavens and say thanks to God for resurrecting Jesus from the tomb.
 
In fact, you don't have to wait until you can't find something, do it now. Stop! Look up! And say, "Thanks to God for the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ." 

• Because of His Death and Resurrection 

The importance of our baptism or immersion into Christ hinges on this symbolism. Jesus died and was buried in a tomb. In order for us to be like Jesus symbolically, we are to die to sin and be buried in a watery grave (baptism/immersion) and be raised out of that watery grave, which is symbolic of our resurrection.
 
The apostle Paul said it this way: Romans 6:4-5 - Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,…
 
If you have not symbolically died to sin and been baptized in that watery grave please consider doing it today. If you need someone to assist you contact me I will be glad to help you.
 
Think About This:
 
People always get in trouble when they think they can handle their lives without God.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago
 
Minister of God's Word

Mark 12:41-44 -And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the multitude were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. And calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on."  NASB 

• Two Types Of Givers 

The first type of giver Jesus saw were those who gave from their "abundance or surplus".  There were rich people worshipping God in Jesus' day exactly like there are rich people worshipping God today.
 
There have been rich and poor people worshipping God for a really long time. We can go back to Abraham and see he was very wealthy and he worshipped God. King David was likewise very wealthy and he worshipped God.
 
I can say this and please don't think I am bragging, but I am a very wealthy person. I have travelled to many foreign countries, I have seen the living conditions of hundreds of thousands of people and their houses can't be compared to mine.
 
I have electricity, lights, running water, a bed, a shower, a tub, a toilet, a stove, a microwave and all of these inside my house and I could continue to add to this list. I have a front door that locks so robbers and wild animals can't enter.
 
I believe my travels have helped me to be thankful to God. I am a giver but I must confess I give out of my abundance or surplus to God. 

• Second Type of Giver 

The second type of giver Jesus saw was the woman who gave from her "poverty". She gave all she owned, Jesus said.
 
The closest I came to this example was in 1976 when I went to a little country church to preach my very first sermon. My wife asked me that morning if I thought they would pay me. I told her I really didn't know. She said, "We only have 11 cents to our names."
 
I preached that morning and was given a check for $35.00. I informed the elder I could not accept money for that message. I signed the back of the check and gave it back to him.
 
I believe God was watching and He said, "Oh no, no one out gives me. The Boilermakers Union hall called me back to work the very next week and my first paycheck was for over $350 after taxes.
 
I remember looking at that check and then looking up to heaven and saying thanks and no one can out give God. 

• What Type Of Giver Are You? 

I would say for the most part most of the givers in the USA give from their abundance rather than giving from their poverty.
 
I really believe the most important thing for us to remember when we give is this:
 
2 Corin. 9:7 - Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
 
When we give we need to have the right attitude. We need to give cheerfully. Whether you give from your abundance or you give from your poverty do so with a cheerful attitude.
 
Think About This:
 
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago
 
Minister of God's Word

​2 Kings 20:4-6 - Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, " I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD.  "I will add fifteen years to your life,…"  NASU 

• Hezekiah Was Given 15 More Years 

This story starts out with the prophet Isaiah informing King Hezekiah he needs to put his house in order because God says he is going to die. Hezekiah immediately goes to the Lord in prayer and asks for his life to be spared.
 
Isaiah had not even gotten out of the middle court when God says to go back and tell Hezekiah I have heard his prayer and seen his tears and here is my answer, "I will heal you. …I will add 15 years to your life…" 

• He Now Knows 

Hezekiah now knows he is going to die in 15 years.
 
How would you manage your life if you knew you only had 15 years to live? Would you consider that knowledge a blessing or a curse?
 
How would you manage your life with that knowledge?
 
Hezekiah knows he only has 15 years.
 
Would you break your time remaining down into segments? Would you have your life broken into five segments of 3 years each or 3 segments of 5 years each or would it be 15 segments of 1 year each? 

• Was It A Blessing Or A Curse? 

Hezekiah asked to be healed. He didn't want to die. He didn't want to go to Abraham's bosom. My understanding of Abraham's bosom at this time it would have been better for Hezekiah to die and go there.
 
Luke 16:25 - But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here,...'
 
Abraham's bosom was a place where your spirit went after you died during the Old Testament dispensation. We don't know a lot about this place but we know this much you would not suffer there. It was better to go there than to go to the lower part of Hades where the rich man went and was in torment.
 
I would imagine as time runs on and Hezekiah grows ever closer to his 15th year he woke up every day like we do, is today going to be the day we die?
 
My advice would be as you grow older and every day closer to departing and being with Christ just let it happen. Instead of praying for God to spare your life pray for God's Will to be done with you.
 
If He gives you more years to live then make them count for Him and His Kingdom. If He doesn't give you more time and He calls your spirit home I really don't believe you will complain about being in heaven.
 
Here is what the apostle Paul had to say about going to heaven: "But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.  (Philippians 1:23-24)
 
Your being here on earth may be beneficial for others but going to Heaven will surely be the greatest blessing you will ever receive.
 
Think About This:
 
What Heaven Is Going To Be Like:
 
Revel. 22:5 - And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever. 

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago
 
Minister of God's Word