Prayer Through Trial Introduction We have an innate desire inside of us to want to shy back from things that make us uncomfortable. We are beings, that don't like to be uncomfortable. In this same way we run away when times get hard, is the same way some people view there prayer life. One of our greatest temptations as Christians is to stay silent with God or distracted when we encounter issues/trials. One of the greatest reason why this exist is the fear of disappointment. We become convinced that God will not do anything about the very thing we undergo. 1. Jesus Tempted Through Trial A. Mathew 4 paints one of the best pictures of Jesus under pressure outside the cross. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. M atthew 4 :1-2 B. Jesus obviously had a big test before him, He was extremely hungry. His dilemma was that he had no effort in of himself to do anything. He was completely and utterly helpless.
C. The only thing Jesus had going for himself, was the power that he carried in his tongue(jesus- The Word). D. Jesus could have wasted His speech, His words, on the problem at hand. The lack of food, the heat of the desert, and even the dangers of the wild could have given Jesus a reason to speak a negative thing. And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." M atthew 4 : 3 E. Even Satan knew the power that he had with his mouth. We see this in the fact that satan tells Him to use His mouth to speak. Satan wanted Him to better His circumstances in his own power. The problem with this is that Jesus would have done so out of communion(conversation)(prayer) with God. F. The biggest problem with this picture is not the lack of food. It's the fact that satan was trying to converse(pray) with Jesus. G. Why would the tempter come to Jesus in this kind of context? Because He wants to steal our confession (prayer). Our confession (prayer life) is meant to be given to God. 2. Jesus confession/prayer
But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" M atthew 4 : 4 A. What Jesus was saying is that the very conversation that He had with God, that would be the thing that he would do. What proceeds from Gods mouth speaks of dialogue, speaks of intimacy. The secret of the wilderness is listening to every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. B. Real victory in the wilderness is when your able keep a healthy dialogue going with the Holy Spirit. The intentional focus on God repels satan lies or temptations. Point, if your not focus on God, your focus will be on the temper.... "Pray that you may not enter into temptation." L uke 22:40 Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." M atthew 26:41 C. God has already made a way for us to endure and overcome. We have a supernatural component in us called the spirit who is always willing to overcome. Our spirit does not yield to our circumstances whether good or bad. If we could
somehow connect to what our spirit wants in the mist of our wilderness, we will learn to walk in victory. From the fruit of a man's mouth he enjoys good, But the desire of the treacherous is violence. P roverbs 13: 2 D. What we say/confess directly effects our present and future situations. If we pray to God we will enter into hope producing faith to overcome. However if we grumble, complain and accuse we forfeit Gods ability to partner in breakthrough. God is after the confession of our hope without wavering. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; H ebrews 10:23 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. P hilippians 4 :6-7 E. Our confession is not based upon our own merits and our ability to do. Our confession is based on Gods ability to never disappoint. God can not be unfaithful. God has never experience a lack to follow through.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. H ebrews 4 :14 3. Confession/prayer unto victory A. What God is trying to teach His people in this our is to trust Him. One of the ways in which he prepares/matures the church is by developing confidence or trust inside our hearts. We have to be a people who confess or talk to God no matter valley high/low. We should never hide our prayers to God. I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD... P salms 32: 5 B. Worries, anxiety, and fears are the fruit of a lack of confession or dialogue with God. For I confess my iniquity; I am full of anxiety because of my sin. P salms 38:18. C. We are to from a fruitful prayer life, consider testing as a means of advancement. The term " keep moving forward" is what the Holy Spirit encourages us with as we learn endurance. Gods ultimate purpose is that we lack in nothing that is good.
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. J ames 1 :2-4 D. To some extent endurance is actually the means to which you enter into the kingdom. It's implied that many tribulations will come, but this is only a means to full victory...."through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." A cts 14:22 E. If we pray to God when we are in dry/hard seasons we prove our love and trust in Him. God is not looking for convenient faith or religion. He is looking for those who will learn maturity in what they overcome through a heart that prays.