(Christian Living Sermon) SW84th 93, Hillside 8/96
Filename: Guarded by Prayer

PRAYER--A GUARD AGAINST FAILURE

INTRODUCTION--

1. When Christ was tempted by the Devil in the wilderness, he used the power of the Scriptures to resist the temptations. Luke 4:1-13
   
2. But when he faced the trial of death, he prayed. Luke 22:39-46 "And he came out, and went, as his custom was, unto the mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed him. 40 And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41 And he was parted from them about a stone's cast; and he kneeled down and prayed, 42 saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43 And there appeared unto him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground. 45 And when he rose up from his prayer, he came unto the disciples, and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, that ye enter not into temptation."
   
   1. This incident is enhanced by Hebrews 5:5-10 "So Christ also glorified not himself to be made a high priest, but he that spake unto him, Thou art my Son, This day have I begotten thee: 6 as he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek. 7 Who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear, 8 though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; 9 and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation; 10 named of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek."
      
   2. Though He intended to pray to guard himself against temptation, he told His disciples to do the same.

LESSON--

1. Trials and temptations come to all of us.
   
   1. It is difficult for young and novice Christians to deal with them.
      
   2. We are blessed, if we endure. James 1:12 "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him."
      
   3. These can be endured by prayer.
      
      1. Jesus instructed His disciples to do this, as we have already seen.
         
      2. He taught His disciples how to pray for this. Matthew 6:13 "And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."
         
      3. But, He also prayed for them in this way.
         
         1. For Peter. Luke 22:31-32 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat: 32 but I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, establish thy brethren."
            
         2. For all the disciples. John 17:15 "I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil one."
            
   4. Following Jesus' example, we can pray for the guarding of others.
      
      1. At the begining of every letter of Paul, he told his readers that he prayed for them always.
         
         1. He prayed to guard them from evil. 2 Corinthians 13:7 "Now we pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is honorable, though we be as reprobate."
            
         2. His co-workers followed his example. Colossians 4:12 "Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, saluteth you, always striving for you in his prayers, that ye may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God."
            
      2. We should follow Paul's example, also. 1 John 5:14-16 "And this is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: 15 and if we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him. 16 If any man see his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: not concerning this do I say that he should make request."
         

         (NOTE: Jeremiah was told not to pray for stubborn Israel. Jeremiah 7:16 20 "Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me; for I will not hear thee. 17 Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18 The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger. 19 Do they provoke me to anger? saith Jehovah; do they not provoke themselves, to the confusion of their own faces? 20 Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, mine anger and my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched."
         

2. With these examples, young people (in fact, all Christians) should pray for the ability to resist temptation.
   
   1. We are assured that "There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13
      
   2. All Christians should develop both methods used by Jesus---the force of the Word, and prayer.
      
   3. Parents and other Christians should join in the prayers of those who are tempted, to guard them from "the evil one."

APPLICATION--

1. If we fail to resist temptation, and fall in sin, Christians have remedies.
   
   1. We have the example of Simon the sorcerer. Acts 8:22-24. Peter said to him, "Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray the Lord, if perhaps the thought of thy heart shall be forgiven thee. 23 For I see that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. 24 And Simon answered and said, Pray ye for me to the Lord, that none of the things which ye have spoken come upon me."
      
   2. Both the guilty and the innocent can pray for forgiveness.
      
      1. For ourselves. 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
         
      2. For others. James 5:16 "Confess therefore your sins one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The supplication of a righteous man availeth much in its working."
         
2. Those who are not yet Christians have different avenue by which to gain forgiveness--belief of the gospel, and obedience to it. Mark 16:15-16