Are you a Pastors wife, Missionaries wife, assistant Pastors wife? The author of the book I'm using here, was a Preachers daughter and she is now a Pastors wife. So as we look at this lesson it can be applied to our lives as wives and mom also. I just really liked how Mrs Schaap used this from the perspective as a preachers daughter.
Avenge me of my Adversary, Luke 18:7 "And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them." Read Luke 18:1-8
As the author and myself studied Luke chapter 18, it was really neat to see how clear the information was on how we can handle our adversaries. Through the book and my own studies I'll share some of what was learned:
1. When you are being attacked by an adversary, stay in an attitude of prayer at all times.
Luke 18:1b "men ought always to pray, and not to faint." This isn't saying we are to pray 24/7 what it means is to be in an attitude of prayer. When the adversary is attacking we need to pray and have the attitude of prayer through the rough times, the hard times, even when we're on the mountain top we need to have the attitude of prayer and not running to God in prayer just because we're in trouble. You need to have a "closet" for prayer a specific time each day that you are going to pray. Then "pray without ceasing" throughout your day.
Don't think I'm some outstanding Christians who prays all the time and knows alot. I'm really not, I'm human just like you. I have my days where I'm like why pray it won't do any good. When in reality if I, you, have the right attitude and stay in the right attitude of prayer. It will make it alot harder for our adversary the devil to attack. He'll try YES but we'll have the power of prayer and Jesus on our side.
2. Do not allow yourself to become weary of Satan's attacks.
Luke 18:1 warns us "not to faint"
What does faint mean: to lose courage or hope; to lose purpose or enthusiasm; to lose brightness.
Luke 18 is telling us we don't need to lose these things.
How do we avoid fainting go back to point 1 PRAY!
3. Realize that when God does avenge you, it will often be brought about by someone whom you least expect God to use.
The woman our lesson is about was avenged by the judge. She was avenged by the judge and he didn't fear God, he hadn't been convicted of anything particular. God can avenge us through the unsaved just as he used the judge in the Bible.
4. Do not seek to clear your reputation or to make others respect you.
Keep in mind that our responsibility is to serve God and to study his word and Pray! Here are those 3 things again Serve God! Study his word! Pray! WOW!!! I do believe that part of having a meek and quiet spirit definitely revolves around serving, the Bible and Prayer.
5. Trouble God with your hurt.
trouble - to disturb, pester and stir up
When we look at Luke 18 the woman wouldn't leave the judge alone. She "pestered" him, troubled him! This is what we are to do to God when we have a problem. "pester" him that you need him you need him to help. Or Pester/trouble the Lord over a need. Trouble the Lord over the salvation of a Loved one! For 25 yrs my husband did this very thing over the salvation of his Dad and Mom....God listened and "avenged" him by allowing his Mom and Dad to finally on Feb 28, 2010 see the need of their salvation and my husband had the wonderful privilege of leading them both to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. What was the avenger in this case? Cancer! Yes, my mother in law had cancer and it brought her around to realizing knowing where you'll spend eternity was a necessity. So through the cancer, much prayer and a son who troubled God for over 20 yrs she was saved!
6. Seek out the whole truth of God.
The author mentioned that because of her adversaries she turned more to God and her Bible! Again we see that the Bible is where we need to turn!
7. Realize that God bears long with those who are being attacked.
bear - refraining from power
another meaning of bear is support!
God may avenge us but he will also support us! God is there for us when we are being attacked.
8. Realize that we all really have only one adversary and that's SATAN!!
One day God will avenge our one and ONLY real enemy - the Devil. His just "payment" is coming.
As Christians we need to stay in the Bible, Serve the Lord faithfully and Pray!
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