Welcome to part II of “Why We Pray.” In review of Part I, there was two major points. One, the Lord commands us “to pray without ceasing (as discussed in part 1)” and two, it’s through this process plus scripture reading that the Holy Spirit is able to make us more like Jesus.
Sanctification, the process of being set apart unto Holiness, is the word we use to describe the workings of the Holy Spirit in us. It is interesting, as sanctification is forward motion, creation is likewise. Nothing in creation holds still. There are processes that are continually happening, like photosynthesis in trees or plants. If nothing is happening in God’s world of Creation, then it usually means it is ill, dying, or dead. Life has to happen because God is LIFE. Sanctification is that process of life where His Holy Spirit seeks to deepen Himself in us, convicting us of our need for Him. Without His promptings and wrestling, we would have no hope of Eternal Life.
Therefore the word sanctification is a cool word. It sounds holy, “I am being sanctified,” a holier than thou feel to it, but it is just the opposite. Its intended outcome is to make me holy, but getting to that is not easy. It is a never-ending process in which God continually wrestles with my sinful nature. Sanctification exposes the secrets in our heart, things that we feel we have a “right too.” There are things that people repeatedly do that annoy us or make our job more difficult, but do their actions annoy Jesus? I don’t think so. His even temper with the disciples proves He has much patience and Grace with us. However, these situations are as unpleasant as they are part of our classroom in sanctification.
James 1:2-4
Testing of Your Faith
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
The Master uses these situations to see if we can stay focused on being His light. Can “we count it all joy,” or do we lose our cool forgetting that we are His ambassador to that person or in that situation. Pushing our buttons, then stepping on our buttons until we either give up, giving it over to the Lord, or we just walk away from our testimony and insist on our right(s). What the Holy Spirit wants to teach us in these situations is perspective. You or I have not been called to represent our wants, but His. Can we do that even when things don’t seem fair? I don’t think it was fair that the Lord bore my sins or yours, but he did and didn’t complain. He did what the Father asked him to do. Can we do the same?
“Father forgive me for losing my cool. I can not allow this offense to come between You and I, and getting angry breaks my fellowship with You; help me to walk through it with your Grace and perspective. Let your light shine in me, especially in these situations so that my ambassadorship fully and clearly represents the place from which I was sent, and the person who has sent me (we are to live from Heaven to earth, as an ambassador represents his or her country to the people to which they were sent. For we are Christ’s ambassadors 2 Cor 5:20).”
We have a great example of this button pushing process with Mary and Martha.
Luke 10:38-40
Martha and Mary
Now, as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but (only)one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (despite the hardship we may find in this life, nothing can take His presence from us. In fact the greater the trial, the greater is His presence).
Jesus came, and Mary stopped what she was doing. Everything could wait. Her heart hungered to hear the words of the Lord. Martha, on the other hand, derived her sense of self-worth through the action of serving until this action became too overwhelming, at which point she cried out, upset at her sister and feeling that Jesus didn’t care about her. Just the opposite was true. Jesus allowed this button-pushing process to bring Martha to this point to teach her that something more important than serving was here. It could all wait. She needed to develop within her that Jesus was first, period. If Jesus needed to, He could miraculously create a great meal for everyone. Words of Eternal Life always far exceed whatever we are doing. So let’s ask the question, how’s your Bible study? Are your prioritizing it, or are you too busy serving in one fashion or another, from self to others?
Another way to understand this is to use our relationships. When you love someone, you want to spend time with them. It’s something you want to do, and hence the relationship deepens. Unfortunately, on God’s end, He is way more in love with us than we are with Him. Note in scripture how God is always inviting us to know Him. We have verses that say, seek ye first, come now, let us reason together, pray, seek, knock, ask, etc. He is ever inviting us into a relational journey as His sons and daughters. It’s crazy that He seeks us so. We say “he’s got it bad,” when a guy has a hard crush on a girl. God has it bad for us, hence the Cross. We have a cute saying, “to know me is to love me,” and that cannot be any more true than it is for Christ Himself. That’s why He asks us to pray and to seek Him. He loves us and wants us to get to know Him. As we get to know Him more, we too grow more in love with Him as His love for us grows in us.
So in review, this is the foundation of part 1, though much more was said. Here is one of many verses that captures this passionate, relationship-oriented God of ours. Why is this important to know? When you understand His heart, then the willingness to sacrifice, surrender, obey and follow is much more readily done.
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
In Part 2, we want to go back to the garden, then to Peter’s denial of the Lord; did Peter have to sin? In other words, was he predestined to deny the Lord, was the task ahead of him too great for him? And then do we, as Peter, faced with equal taunting challenges, have to succumb as well? Or said differently, are we predisposed to sinning, is God’s Grace not sufficient? Jesus gave Peter a command which indicates that Peter had another choice. First, though, let’s define sin. The Bible uses two words for sin, transgression, and iniquity. In Psalm 51, David is confessing his sin with Bathsheba, and he uses both these words.
Psalms 51:3-5
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Iniquity and transgression are words used to describe sin. As we study both these words, we learn that they describe “missing the mark,” which is the generic definition for sin found in the word harmatia. Its root definition comes from archery, where the archer pulls the bow but misses the mark, the bull’s eye. However, these two words are vastly different in describing the mode or the reason for the sin. David uses “iniquity” as the plight of our fallen nature; we are sinners from birth. We, by nature, will fail. Fail in patience, fail in kindness, fail in forgiving, we will not have the right emotions and often have to “settle down.” All aspects of our fallen nature. However, “transgression” speaks of a will, a choice to sin, and David uses that word to describe his sexual relationship with Bathsheba, a married woman.
Psalms 51:1-5
Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God
TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID, WHEN NATHAN THE PROPHET WENT TO HIM, AFTER HE HAD GONE IN TO BATHSHEBA
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy, blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight
so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Iniquity practiced leads to transgression, though people will use terminology such as, “I just fell into it,” as if they had no choice. By so saying, they are indicating they were more a victim than a person exercising free will. However, this is not true. Like the saying, “if you stand for nothing, you will fall for everything.” So was Peter “predisposed” to give in to his carnal nature, or did he simply not take the escape route provided for him? And if it’s true for Peter, could it also be true for us? Again the question is not whether God can use our failure for good because we know He can and does, but did he or do we have to sin? What does God’s Word say?
1 Corinthians 10:12-14
Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Where was Peter’s way of escape? This next statement should utterly and completely testify to the importance of prayer. Let’s go to the garden where Jesus had His final words with His disciples.
Matthew 26:37-41
And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch( pray) with me.” And going a little farther, he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may NOT ENTER into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Luke’s account is found in 22:39-46
And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in (great) agony, he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may NOT ENTER into temptation ( there are two words for agony, both are filled with much emotion and fear. One trembles and runs, the other trembles in the face of the issue yet continues on to the end, hence the great drops of blood. His wrestling with taking the sins of the world upon him was beyond his humanness, thus needing strengthening from the angel. My words can not even do justice to what our Lord experienced).
So we know the rest of the story; the disciples feared and fled. Peter followed to see what would happen to Jesus but in so doing exposed himself to a sin that he had no power or Grace to overcome, for he had not prayed. Understanding that as cruel as Christ’s crucifixion was, it was ordained by God, and Peter could not stop it but needed to accept it. By not heeding or accepting Christ’s words, Peter ended up denying knowing Jesus 3 times. Only John followed Jesus to the Cross. How important is prayer? How seriously do you take your walk with Christ? Prayer to the spirit man is as important as the air we breathe, as the water we drink. Without prayer, our lives would be powerless.
So how is your walk with Christ? Are you overcoming life’s trials or being defeated by them? The world is changing, and the last thing we want is to be a weak Believer. If it becomes illegal to be a Christian, will you stand for your faith? The agenda of the left is aggressive against our faith, but it’s not necessarily right versus left but a spiritual blinding of the eyes and heart that encompasses both groups. Personal rights and our freedom to choose seem to be eroding as legislation is being enacted, taking away more freedoms. Prayer needs to become a focus and a refuge of strength. Here’s one of David’s prayers.
Psalms 5:1-3
Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my groaning.
Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God,
for to you do I pray. O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning, I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.
There was a Christian band in my twenties that sang Psalm 5 and a lead lyric was “In the morning you will hear my prayer Oh Lord.” There is something about setting time aside prior to work, school, etc., where you come before the Lord, acknowledge Him, and seek His Presence. If you wait till the day gets going, it’s like you are playing catch up. Leaving home with your armor on and a full tank of gas (“Holy Spirit Premium”) is how one stays victorious. Peter failed because he failed to pray. Let that sink in. We are to put on the armor of the Spirit. Read Ephesians 6 and the commentaries on the armor so you can receive the benefit of the teaching.
Psalms 5:7-8
But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.
Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies;
make your way straight before me. Amen (a great prayer).
I love these words of David, all of them. Acknowledge God’s love regardless of what the day looks like. Holy Reverence, as I approach my Loving Dad. In full confidence of His care. I love what Proverbs 3:5-12 says;
Proverbs 3:5-12
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
My son, do not despise the LORD’S discipline or be weary of his reproof,
for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.
**Crisis brings us into a deeper relationship with the Lord and shows us our need for Him as we need to dig deeper to overcome the fear, challenges, bad news, and seemly the bad events that happen to us, etc. We need to see that God is still bigger and able and willing to keep His promises. And because He is, we can have hope in the crisis and find that His hope can sustain us through it, and without Him, we are in despair – no different than others.
I wonder if being a Christian today carried a death sentence, as it has in the past, how many of us would fall away? Or what if the penalty was a jail sentence or meager employment? IS THERE A POINT THAT WE WOULD DENY HIM? I sincerely hope not. We cannot trade the pain of today for tomorrow’s Eternity. Sometimes drastic actions from others or the government illicit in us a do-or-die faith, emergency type faith, and we stand our ground. However, what if it’s not drastic but gradual bleeding from white to grey, and before long, black does not look so bad. Can we maintain and EXCEL in a society that ever so persuasively sells values and ideals that are contrary to our faith? Most of the time, the hero in us is not needed as much as the athlete that daily wakes up and seeks to exceed yesterday’s goal.
We have issues in our society that the scriptures are very clear on. Infidelity, homosexuality, fornication, drunkenness, dishonesty, etc., Galatians 5 list’s the works of the flesh.
Galatians 5:17-21
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity( homosexuality), sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do(practice) such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
“I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
People really dislike being told what to do when it comes to moral issues, “everyone does what they feel is right in their own eyes.” Yet what kind of God would the Lord be if upon going to Heaven He said, “I’m so sorry, you did not live a righteous enough life to come here.” And we said, “You never told me, and in reply, He said, I’m sorry about that too.” How would you feel? I know I would feel like I was never given a chance to decide, that my Eternal Destiny was decided without me. I would feel cheated. Thankfully that is not even close; from Jesus’ prophesied birth to His purpose, to the Cross, to the disciples who continued in Christ’s message, to the Bible that teaches and instructs us in His ways, God has done everything to give us an opportunity to know Him. There will not be one person on judgment day that can say anything against Him. Therefore it is imperative that when our lifestyle doesn’t line up with scripture that instead of getting angry as if God does not love us, or that the Bible is not relevant, that we see it from God’s view, “for God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosesoever would believe in Him
“and repent of their ways” would not perish but have everlasting life ( John 3:16). The “do not do” in scripture is no different than a parent telling their children to not play in the street, or swim without supervision, etc.. The commands are given to protect us, so we flourish and given from a heart of love.
What did Joshua say to the nation of Israel as he retired from his post as Israel’s leader, ”
Joshua 24:14-15
“Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
This is the path forward regardless of what tragedies befall us. Will you choose it?
Father God,
How many times have you been blamed for our tragedies, yet these tragedies or failures of ours are not your doing. We ignore Your command to pray and read Your Word and hence do not have the power to stand, as Peter did not have it and denied You. You also have taught us that satan is the ruler of this planet, and he comes to “steal, kill and destroy,” so his hand is clearly seen in the tragedies that are ever-present, but so unlike satan You have come to give us life and an Eternal Hope. Thank you for your Word, that if read insulates and protects us from the enemy’s lies and deceitful ways helping us to stand as your ambassador. Amen.
Thank You for being such a Good and Faithful Father,
We love You. :)
Arthur Navarrette