Deceptive Powerless Prayers

I have many conversations with people telling them about the true gospel of God.  The doctrine that actually conforms to godliness.  Sadly, many of the responses are:

• That isn't what God says
• God can't do that
• We can't be perfect
• We will always have sin

I will then ask then how they think it is okay to still live a life a sin.  The typical response is "I don't want to sin, it is something that we battle.  I pray everyday for God to help me overcome the sin in my life."

Now think about that statement.  They acknowledge they do not want to sin, they want to be changed, they appeal to God to help them ... BUT in their heart they deny that God can remove all sin and set them free.  Out of guilt they pray to God for deliverance, but in their heart they deny the truth and power of God when they say God cannot make you perfect.

Fundamentally, many people do not understand the sin is what lives in the heart.  It is due to the wicked/evil heart that everyone is born with.  No where in the word of God does God say He is only willing to:

• Give you part of a good heart
• Cleanse only some unrighteousness from you
• Make you half a good tree and half a bad tree
• Only remove some darkness, and give you some light
• Only remove some leaven (yeast), but leave some behind

The reason why so many people desperately want to be changed, but CANNOT be changed; is because they don't have faith in what God says he wants to do.  Many people don't know why Jesus died for them.

Reflect on the passages from 1st Peter below and see if these resonate with the gospel that you believe in:

1Pe 1:14-16, 14 As obedient children, no longer conforming to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

1Pe 1:22  22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,

1Pe 2:1 Therefore, put aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,

1Pe 2:5  5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1Pe 2:11-12  11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1Pe 2:15-16  15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.

1Pe 2:19-23 19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. 21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;

• This is YOUR example and YOUR purpose.  Do you follow in the same example?

1Pe 2:24  and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. 

• Not everyone had died to sin.  Until you die to sin, you cannot live in the newness of life.  Listen to the episode on Romans 6 on what it means to be dead and freed from sin and now a slave to righteousness by the power of God.

1Pe 3:8-12 8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For "He who would love life And see good days, must keep his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. 11 He must turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil."

1Pe 4:1-2  Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,  so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

• Have you followed the example of Christ.  Do you still sin or have you stopped.  This is referring to YOU!  No longer living the old man, but now by the Spirit according to the will of God!

1Pe 4:15-1  15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

• If you are still a sinner, if you don't suffer according to the will of God; then you are in trouble.

​- Sam
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