Tag: Prayer

“What does it look like to Resist the Devil?”

Date: 11-09-14

Text: — James 4:7-10 — 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.  [NIV84]

The Big Idea:  “But with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

My Thoughts: 

The battle belongs to the Lord, and the human spirit is very willing to let Him have this battle, but the flesh is miserably weak to put up a fight.(Remember the sleepy apostles?) We softly drift into a deep slumbering sleep as the evil one whispers worldly lullabies that numb our souls to the war he is waging against us…. Sounds pretty grim, especially when I put it in such terms, but is this how we resist the devil?

Lifestyle worshipers, whether we resolve never to fall to a particular temptation or determine never to do “that” again, our flesh cannot stand against the wiles of the wicked one. Sounds hopeless? Not really, because “… greater is He that is in [us] than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4b KJV). For we “are from God and have overcome them” (1 John 4:4a NIV84). We do not stand in our strength, but in His. We do not stand in our armor, but His. We do not stand by our cunning but by His Grace. “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” (1 Cor. 10:13 ESV).  Did you catch that? “The Way of Escape”!

Brothers & Sisters, no matter how we describe what it looks like to resist the devil, one thing is very certain: We must flee to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Way of Escape from any temptation that has “overtaken” us.  So, what does it look like to resist the devil? What does it look like to flee to the Lord Jesus Christ? Care to share?

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

— Matthew 26:41 (NIV)

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.

—Ephesians 4:25-27 (NIV84)

 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

—2 Corinthians 2:10-11 (NKJV)

Lord Jesus Christ, I put You on as my Heavenly Armor: my Helmet of Salvation, my Breastplate of Righteousness, my Belt of Truth, my Shoes of the preparation of the Gospel of Peace, my Shield of Faith, my Sword Wielder and my Breath of Prayer. As You empower me to flee the evil desires of my youth, continue transforming me into Your likeness with ever increasing glory. In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike

“Just Like Elijah?”

Date: 10-30-14

Text: — James 5:13 — 17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. [NIV84]

The Big Idea: James is looking passed the great acts of a prophet of God to the humble servant He called and empowered.

My Thoughts: 

Perhaps you are like me when I first read v. 17, “…a man just like us.” I read it with a little incredulity in my voice. “Yeah, right!?!” I could not imagine me on Mt. Carmel dueling the prophets of Ba’al. I could not imagine me standing up against the King and Queen of the realm…, let alone stopping or starting the rain….

Lifestyle worshipers, do you think that James is looking passed the great acts of a prophet of God to the humble servant He called and empowered? James saw a man who was afraid (1 Kings 19:3); a man who got depressed (1 Kings 19:4-5); and a man who felt he was all alone in the struggle against evil (1 Kings 19:10). Can you related to such a man as this? I know I can….

But to stop & start the rain? If the Lord is empowering me, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13 NKJV). So if not the rain, then maybe some smaller mountains can be moved. What do you think? As we finish our last day of Heartwork today, maybe taking that next step of courage to spend ourselves a little bit more today is just the first step in moving ‘the mountain’.  Your thoughts?

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

— John 14:12-14 (ESV)

If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.

—John 15:7-8 (NIV84)

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

—2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV84)

Lord Jesus Christ, make my Life a prayer to You. I know it is You Who makes my prayers effective. As I pray what the Holy Spirit prompts to pray, may I joyfully anticipate Your fulfilling these promptings In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike

“When Do You Pray?

Date: 10-28-14

Text: — James 5:13 —  Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. [NIV84]

The Big Idea: Pray when we are in trouble, and praise when we are filled with cheer.

My Thoughts: 

So when do you pray? When times are tough? Or is it like you’ve got the wind knocked out of you? Sucking for any air to enter your lungs?

Sometimes when we are in trouble, it is like having the wind knocked out of us, and, yet James exhorts us to pray when we are in trouble, and praise when we are filled with cheer. Sounds like to me he’s got the bases covered.

But when it comes to getting the wind knocked out of you and no prayer comes at all, I have found that it is best to have them put their knees to their chest and blow out first. This seems to break the vacuum seal on your lungs and relaxes the diaphragm. Then they are able to inhale more readily. Now others may have found better techniques, but in the spiritual life I haven’t found a better way….

Lifestyle worshipers, first we draw our knees to our chest (literally or figuratively) in a posture of  prayer and then “exhale,” confessing any lack of faith or doubts in the Lord’s abilities to deliver us from our ‘trouble’.  Then, once I am ‘breathing’ properly, I can sing songs of praise. Have you found this technique helpful when you pray in times of trouble? Your thoughts?

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one.

— John 17:15 (NIV84)

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them. —Psalm  34:4-7 (NIV84)

But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of Your favor; in Your great love, O God, answer me with Your sure salvation. Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters.

—Psalm 69:13-14 (NIV84)

Lord Jesus Christ, make my Life a prayer to You. Let my mouth praise You when I am filled with cheer and joy, and call to You in my times of trouble. Keep me devoted to prayer. In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike