An Active Prayer Life
Luke 22:40
40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
In the book of Luke Christ is teaching us why we have problems in our lives.There is a reason why you are in the rut you’re in. There is a reason your bills are all past due. Your children are running wild and you have allowed them to take over your house. For some, it seems the whole world is against you. You stand in dismay as people who use to be your friends, now alienate you. It is all because you have no prayer life.
When Jesus got to the Mount of Olives, He told the disciples to PRAY that they enter not into temptation. Not that they may not be tempted. Because you will be tempted. But pray so that you enter not into that thing which you are being tempted of.
See when you pray, prayer strengthens you. It’s like your force field. Your protection.
Luke 22:43 says And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. See prayer gives you strength so that you can go on, and it gives you an active prayer life that keeps you from sinning. What’s is amazing about it, is that angles become present during your prayers.
The bible said that after Jesus had prayed in agony, (with pain, hurt, meaningfulness,) the bible said in verse 45; He returned and found the disciples sleeping for sorrow. In other words they found themselves feeling depressed, in grief, or sadness, and they slept instead of praying. We don’t know why they felt like this, it may have been because Jesus made them wait instead of going with him. Maybe they were worried. But often times in our lives we find ourselves at a crossroad and instead of praying for God to fix our problems, we shun our acknowledgement of the problem, trying to shake it off, or just go to sleep, hoping this will fix our predicament. Too often we as christians sin against God because instead of praying to Him and confessing our sins, we let sleeping dogs lie and do nothing and then find ourselves in a constant downhill spiral that ultimately leads to destruction.
But Jesus ask the disciples in Luke 22:46 And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. In Others words this is no time to sleep, you need to be praying. No time to be worrying about who is doing what to you. Pray! No time to be wondering about this or that, Pray! With all that’s going on in the world today we need an active prayer life.
The bible says in James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
And the way to come near to Him is through prayer and repentance. And when we do that Christ will hear us.
Prayer produces fruits.
* It was because the Hebrew boys had an active prayer life that when they were thrown into the fiery furnace, they were accompanied by the Lord and was not harmed. It was because Daniel prayed 3 times a day and would not bow down or sleep on God, that the Lord closed the lions mouths. It was Joshua’s prayers and obedience to God in Joshua 6;4 that caused the walls of Jericho to fall.
Prayer definitely changes things. It will keep you if you want to be kept. He is just a cell Phone , landline, a hollar, or in our case, a prayer away. Prayer keep sickness at bay and it heals all our diseases.
Prayer causes you to be bless and those you pray for.
Now let me show you how to receive your blessings and promises from God.
Matthew 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Prayer is not a show for you to compete with others. Nor is it for fashion or fame, but if you will get away about a stone’s throw from others, go down to your secret place and tell God all about it, He will definitely work out for you.
Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
Jesus said there is a way to pray. He said He will award you in the open. People will know you have an active prayer life when they see your joy, health, and spiritual relationship with God. Never judge a bless person by materialistic things, He rains on the unjust as well as the just. But watchful and faithful spiritually that others may see your good works that come from an active prayer life.
In Matthew vs 8 Jesus says the Heavenly Father already knows what you have need of. But in order to get what you need you have to pray. Even though he already knows , He still wants you to enquire of Him.
Tired of school shootings? Pray!
Tired of your husband cheating? Pray!
Tired of your Children doing drugs? Pray!
Tired of your Job ? Pray!
Tired of having just enough and you want more than enough? Pray!
Tired of your wife neglecting you? Pray!
Tired of rumors and lies? Pray!
Sometime you may pray and it seems nothing is changing, but something is...you! You are becoming stronger, wiser, better, and able to take that which couldn’t before.
Whatever the problem maybe, pray. We must get back to praying to the Father. The church don't’ need more members. We don’t need more programs. Church don’t need more money, for the Earth is the Lord and the fulness thereof. But what we need is prayer. The Bible says seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these other things will be added to you. With fasting and praying is how we get Christ attention.
Remember pray, and until next time, This is Rev. Howard Lewis with NROP Ministries.
Have a bless day!
Rev. Howard Lewis with NROP Ministries.
