Are You Always Praying?
Good Morning Friends,
In today’s scripture, in preparation for Palm Sunday, we take a look at Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem which is described in all four of the Gospels. And with this story we look at a word picture Paul uses to describe how we are to fight the good fight and to live a lifestyle necessary to win the spiritual war. The image is of a person putting on the armor of God including: the Helmet of Salvation; The Belt of Truth; The Breastplate of Righteousness; Shoes of Peace; Shield of Faith; Sword of the Spirit and finally Prayer. But it is also about being prepared to make a public statement as to who we are. It is important to note that prayer here is not a preparation for battle… it is the battle. Maybe that is how Jesus entered Jerusalem. So, Are You Always Praying?
Scripture: Top of Form
Bottom of Form
7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7 (NRSV)
10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For our* struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16With all of these,* take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:10-20 (NRSV)
11When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2and said to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.” ‘ 4They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5some of the bystanders said to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’ 6They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ 11 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
Mark 11:1-11 (NRSV)
Message: Prayer in the Spirit helps us to gain the right emotional perspective so we can make right choices in the Spiritual battles of life. Without prayer our armor and swords mean nothing. Life is littered with defeated Christians who never discovered how to stand strong against a broken and evil world, how to be properly equipped and more importantly how to pray and encourage others to pray. Jesus must have been modeling how it is supposed to be done as he entered Jerusalem for the Passover. There was no turning back once Jesus proclaimed publicly his role as Messiah. I am sure that most of us would prefer to live on the mountaintops of these spiritual and emotional highs…times when God is moving in powerful ways…times when we have a confidence, passion and excitement of the Spirit that overcomes our resistance to believe. On that first Palm Sunday there must have been that kind of enthusiasm and praise as people were shouting, “Hosanna!” I love those times of sunny days and crisp air but the rain too must have its time. That is the great contrast of Palm Sunday. Even if we keep moving through the valley with the encouragement of others to get to the next mountaintop…at some point we too might be required to pick up a cross. That is when we struggle. That is when we must fight the spiritual battles. Here unbelief cannot be victorious over evil. Unbelief cannot please God. So that is why Jesus the King comes to confront us in our unbelief and in His presence and testing we can become stronger and can rediscover the power of faith, the power of prayer. It is only in the anguish we are brought to our knees in prayer and then raised up with Jesus. It is only when we become aware of our spiritual shortcomings… only when we honestly struggle with powerlessness that faith can grow. As Jesus rode into Jerusalem it should have been clear that this was the story of the King who came as a lowly servant on a donkey, not a prancing steed, not in royal robes, but on the clothes of the poor and humble. Here Jesus Christ comes not to conquer by force but by love and grace. Rejoice because Jesus comes to those who are honest about their doubts and helps us face them so we might grow. Friends, praise but then press on to experience God’s power through greater faith in the trials of life. See and believe to be victorious with Christ.
18Pray that Jesus make a triumphal entry into our hearts. Pray he reigns there with peace and love. Pray we use prayer to untie the knots that bind us. Pray we trust in Jesus. Pray we learn to value those things that He values. Pray we realize that we are most vulnerable when we run away. Pray we realize that we must move from Palm to Passion this coming Sunday. Pray we realize the importance of prayer from both the pulpit and the pew. Pray we practice with our armor on. Pray we prepare to be victorious with Christ.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 