Grace, mercy, and peace, from GOD the FATHER and CHRIST JESUS our LORD.
Pray in the HOLY SPIRIT, before you read this, that the LORD JESUS might grant you spiritual discernment.
See I Corinthians 12 concerning:
diversities of gifts, word of wisdom, word of knowledge; that you would read this text by the same SPIRIT in which it is written; the HOLY SPIRIT of the LORD JESUS CHRIST.
For an example of the HOLY SPIRIT being a shepherd that sometimes forbids, and other times leads, see:
Acts 16:6
...forbidden of the Holy Ghost... the Spirit suffered them not.
vs.
Luke 4:1
And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost...was led by the Spirit
HOLY SPIRIT said, yea?
Then let us begin:
Sanctification:
1. the action of making or declaring something holy
2. the action or process of being freed from sin or purified
This ongoing battle between JESUS and Satan is now manifest, even to the casual believer. We are in a spiritual war. Despite the fact that the war is spiritual, we are also engaged in this struggle in the natural realm. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit because the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
I Corinthians 2
Remember the words of JESUS regarding the matter of the spirit and the natural realm; God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 4:24
The conflict of the ages, that the living generation of the Body of CHRIST finds ourselves in, is detailed in the Book Of Daniel:
In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.
Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days:
Daniel 10
The attack of Satan is commensurate to your anointing. Small level of anointing; small level of persecution (to annoy) and attack. Conversely, greater anointing; greater level of persecution and attack. GOD will cause for situations to constantly arise in which the predestinated believer (Romans 8:28-32) has no choice but to constantly pray and constantly fast, thereby; constantly communing with the LORD JESUS.
Jesus taught a parable to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. (Luke 18) See how fainting is contrasted with not praying always. GOD is orchestrating situations in this natural life for HIS children “always to pray,” love the SPIRIT life, and hate the natural.
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:26
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Matthew 10:39
Yeshua teaches: Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Luke 22
Again, apparently we (the anointed) are desired of by Satan and will be sifted (to separate out) if we don’t pray. Moreover, we have been commanded by our MASTER to strengthen our brethren but that can only be accomplished by praying for them, that their faith fail not. (Now enter intercessory prayer) In the SPIRIT we hear CHRIST’s teachings;
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
John 13:15-16
Let us not be ambiguous. James 5:16 is precise and concise when he says; pray one for another.
Understand, if the children of GOD do not pray always; we will be burned. Review Matthew 13:30;
Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
JESUS prayed that Peter would not be given over to Satan as an answer to Satan’s prayer (desire) to sift him out. If we are sifted out, (out of the bride, out of the BODY OF CHRIST) we are tares. Subsequently, we will be burned (eternal damnation in Hell.) JESUS’ doctrines, in short, are thus; to avoid being lost, burned, sifted out; we have to ALWAYS PRAY!
We have grossly underestimated the amount of communication and communion with GOD that is necessary to not faint and be sifted out. What does the Bible not say? It does not say men ought always to perform religious practices; it says men ought ALWAYS TO PRAY. I told you to pray in the HOLY SPIRIT before you read this! GOD is convicting and HE will not repent or be restrained.
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Matthew 15:14
You might have a work life, family life, marriage life or religious life; but
DO YOU HAVE A PRAYER LIFE?
But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand made all these things? Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
Acts 7
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 4:24
behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Luke 17:21
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Matthew 10:39
ALWAYS TO PRAY. Always means always. Always does not mean; sometimes. Always does not mean; Tuesdays. Always does not mean; when you feel like it. Always does not mean; my wife is getting serious about prayer; she’ll see to that. Always does not mean; occasionally. Always does not mean; just on the Sabbath. Always means always.
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.
Matthew 6
ALWAYS TO PRAY does not mean; when I get done entertaining and pacifying myself with the devices and distractions of Satan: unGodly and unnecessary phone calls, sports, social media, television, movies, and gatherings; religious, family or any other type; that might really be an excuse to not commune with GOD.
ALWAYS MEANS ALWAYS! When is it enough? When will we have our fill of the world? How many souls have to go to Hell before we plead with GOD without ceasing? How many people have to die of disease and violence, go to prison, commit unGodly atrocities in and around our families and in this world before we lay prostrate before the LORD and cry; JESUS, thou son of David, have mercy? I repent! LORD, save us! Save us before it’s too late! We perish! We are drowning in the depths of debauchery, depravity and at best; we wallow in religious lukewarmness!
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked
The Revelation Of The LORD JESUS CHRIST 3:15-17
Moreover, Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
II Corinthians 6:17
And again, Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Matthew 15:14
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Matthew 10:39
DO YOU PRAY TO JESUS?
YESHUA JESUS desires above all else; obedience and intimacy.
Obedience:
Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
John 15:14
Intimacy:
1. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Revelations 3:20
2. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.
John 10:27-30
The enemy has been given an allotment of resources to buffet the body of CHRIST, for a time. In spite of this, review the beginnings of the Job experience. Satan had to pray (put forth requests, entreatments) to GOD on: how exactly, when, where, and how long he could torture the “upright man.” Let us be encouraged by the victories of Mordecai and Esther; attained by prayer and fasting. These GODLY bulwarks were holy examples and ensamples! Sometimes the pray-er is a suffer-er; but for such a time as this...if I perish, I perish.
Esther 4
Also, review I Peter 5:10, in reference to the garnered results of; prayer, fasting, sanctification, and suffering for the cause of CHRIST, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. Moreover, If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.
II Timothy 2:12
Marriage and family seems to have become Satan’s preeminent personal project. No matter. We mean to fight by: prayer, fasting, consecration, and sanctification. I remember that married-family man and man of GOD, Job, when he said, Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.
Job 13:15
Let us recall these words, For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through GOD to the pulling down of strongholds.
II Corinthians 10:4
Also, Howbeit, this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Matthew 17:21
Be encouraged and remember this power verse; Finally, my brethren, be strong in the LORD and in the POWER of HIS MIGHT.
Ephesians 6:10
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the SPIRIT,
a servant of JESUS CHRIST