Learning to Prayer with Power
Week of 6/4/2017
June 4, 2017 • Pastor Steve Pope
Sermon Meditation for Sunday, June 4th Learning to Pray with Power Part 7: Deliverance from Sin! Matthew 6:13; Matt. 4:1-11 C.S. lewis’ classic, The Screwtape Letters, was published in 1942. It is written from the perspective of a “lead demon” training a lesser demonic spirit in the skills of enticement which lead Christians into sin. The most important lesson imparted to the “newbie demon” was to remain unnoticed by their victims for as long as possible, working from the shadows. Keith Green wrote a powerful song in the 70’s called “Satan’s Boast.” The lyrics are from the perspective of Satan, “the Evil One,” who prefers to remain unnoticed by the church, working his destructive plans primarily from the shadows. Our church needs to take this warfare seriously, recognizing that we have a very real enemy. The reality of Satan’s destructive forces is becoming more painfully real in today’s America. Here is a sample of the lyrics; “Oh, my job keeps getting easier As time keeps slipping away I can imitate your brightest light And make your night look just like day I put some truth in every lie To tickle itching ears You know I'm drawing people just like flies 'Cause they like what they hear I'm gaining power by the hour They're falling by the score You know, it's getting very simple now 'Cause no one believe in me anymore” The Bible not only exposes an actual enemy named Satan, it also warns us to be alert to the lies he uses to entice believers away from Jesus. The Lord’s Prayer instructs us specifically to pray for guardianship from “the Evil One.” Join us this Sunday as we learn to pray more powerfully as Jesus taught His disciples; “And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” Don’t let the Evil One’s schemes keep you away from worship this Sunday! Pastor Steve
Week of 5/28/2017
May 28, 2017 • Pastor Steve Pope
Matthew 6:11 and 18:21-35 C.S. lewis’ classic, The Screwtape Letters, was published in 1942. It is written from the perspective of a “lead demon” training a lesser demonic spirit in the skills of enticement which lead Christians into sin. The most important lesson imparted to the “newbie demon” was to remain unnoticed by their victims for as long as possible, working from the shadows. Keith Green wrote a powerful song in the 70’s called “Satan’s Boast.” The lyrics are from the perspective of Satan, “the Evil One,” who prefers to remain unnoticed by the church, working his destructive plans primarily from the shadows. Our church needs to take this warfare seriously, recognizing that we have a very real enemy. The reality of Satan’s destructive forces is becoming more painfully real in today’s America. Here is a sample of the lyrics; “Oh, my job keeps getting easier As time keeps slipping away I can imitate your brightest light And make your night look just like day I put some truth in every lie To tickle itching ears You know I'm drawing people just like flies 'Cause they like what they hear I'm gaining power by the hour They're falling by the score You know, it's getting very simple now 'Cause no one believe in me anymore” The Bible not only exposes an actual enemy named Satan, it also warns us to be alert to the lies he uses to entice believers away from Jesus. The Lord’s Prayer instructs us specifically to pray for guardianship from “the Evil One.” Join us this Sunday as we learn to pray more powerfully as Jesus taught His disciples; “And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” Don’t let the Evil One’s schemes keep you away from worship this Sunday!
