Temptation
Victory in spiritual warfare
Introduction
God is your Creator, and you are His creation. He loves you, but He hates sin because sin injures, kills and destroys His creation.
Since no one is immune to temptation and sin, it is important that you understand the deliverance that God offers. You cannot live victoriously in your own strength. Appropriate God's provision for victory.
Ephesians 6:10-11ESV
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Meditation on 1 Corinthians 10:13
1 Corinthians 10:13ESV
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Reflect on 1 Corinthians 10:13:
What is true about every temptation you face?
Who can give you victory when you are tempted?
What can keep temptation from leading to sin?
Does God remove temptation?
What does God do for you?
1. What is the purpose of trials and temptations? (James 1:2-4)
James 1:2-4ESV
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
2. What is a major source of temptation? (James 1:13,14)
James 1:13-14ESV
Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
3. What are three areas of temptation in the world? (1 John 2:15,16)
1 John 2:15-16ESV
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world -- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life -- is not from the Father but is from the world.
4. When the devil tempts you, what is he seeking to do? (1 Peter 5:8)
1 Peter 5:8ESV
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
5. What does God do for you? (2 Thessalonians 3:3)
2 Thessalonians 3:3ESV
But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.
6. What does Hebrews 4:15 tell you about Christ?
Hebrews 4:15ESV
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
7. What are some of the things you can do to keep temptation from leading to sin?
Matthew 6:9,13
Matthew 6:9,13ESV
Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil."
Psalm 119:9,11
Psalm 119:9,11ESV
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
1 John 5:4,5
1 John 5:4-5ESV
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
James 4:7
James 4:7ESV
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Write out 1 Corinthians 10:13 from memory:
Application of 1 Corinthians 10:13
1 Corinthians 10:13ESV
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Apply the promise to your own life:
What is a temptation that frequently overcomes you?
What do you think God's way of escape is?
The Tactics of Temptation
Read Ephesians 6:10-18.
Ephesians 6:10-18ESV
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
New Christians sometimes think life will be free from temptation. But Ephesians 6:12 says, "...We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers..."
Ephesians 6:12ESV
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
We are up against an enemy that has tactics and battle plans. Christians must not go up against an organized enemy in a completely disorganized manner. There are different kinds of temptations and different ways to handle them.
In a battle there are two factors involved. These are power and strategy. Both are important. The Christian must utilize the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. However, even with adequate power, victory is not necessarily assured. You must use the power in the right way at the right time.
For example, let's imagine an admiral on a battle ship with all kinds of power at his disposal. He is attacked by an airplane and gives an order: "Okay, men, throw over the depth charges." He would be defeated! Because depth charges don't do anything against airplanes. They are designed to destroy submarines. His defeat would not be due to a lack of power, but a failure in strategy.
The ultimate source of all evil is Satan. But that doesn't mean that the devil always attacks us personally. It would be like saying that Hitler was behind all German aggression in World War II. That statement is true, but it doesn't mean that Hitler always attacked each G.I. personally. Through his submarines and his German Panzer divisions, Hitler came at us in various ways.
The devil comes at us through three basic channels. In Scripture these are called: the devil, the world, and the flesh. We have a battle on our hands. We must face this evil triad every day. We also want to know where we are vulnerable. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23 we read, "May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Thessalonians 5:23ESV
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The whole man involves the spirit, soul and body. Temptations you have will be in one of these areas.
It is vital for us to be aware of the spiritual warfare we are in. We don't always know where our source of temptation comes from, but the following examples of warfare can help us see the importance of appropriating God's provision for victory over temptation.
Our Warfare -- Three Channels Against Three Areas
- The Devil attacks our Spirit
- The World attacks our Soul
- The Flesh attacks our Body
The Devil
Probably the easiest of the three to understand would be the devil. Scripture teaches that there is one personal supernatural spirit being known as the devil or Satan, and there are many fallen angels known as the devil's angels or demons. Read Zechariah 3:1, Luke 10:18, Acts 26:18, and James 2:19.
Zechariah 3:1ESV
Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
Luke 10:18ESV
And he said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven."
Acts 26:18ESV
to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.
James 2:19ESV
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe -- and shudder!
Man was created to not only be aware of himself, but also to be aware of God! So let's call the spirit the "God-awareness." Man uniquely has a capacity for God. Some temptation is directed right at your relationship with God. When you are tempted to deny God, to deny His goodness, to deny God's Word, or God's faithfulness, these are attacks right at your God-awareness (spirit).
Read Genesis 3:1-8, where the evil one attacks the character of God in his temptation of Eve. Read Luke 22:31-34 and 54-62. This is an example of temptation directed at Peter's relationship with God. Satan is attacking Peter's spirit or God-awareness.
Genesis 3:1-8ESV
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.
Luke 22:31-34ESV
"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." Peter said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death." Jesus said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me."
Luke 22:54-62ESV
Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, "This man also was with him." But he denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know him." And a little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not." And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, "Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean." But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about." And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.
How does one handle direct demonic attack upon the God-awareness? James 4:7 says, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." How does one resist the devil? There is no better way to resist the devil than the way Christ handled a satanic overture. Read Luke 4:1-13. Each time He used the same tactical maneuver. "It is written." "It is written." "It is written." He hit him with the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. He threw Scripture in his teeth. That is the best way to resist the devil.
James 4:7ESV
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Luke 4:1-13ESV
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone.'" And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, "To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'" And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" And Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
We are supposed to resist in the power of the Spirit, but using the Word of God. For instance, if Satan tries to tell a new convert that he is not saved, the best thing to do is have a passage that states categorically that all who believe in Christ have everlasting life. Throw a verse like John 5:24 in the enemy's face. Or if you are tempted to doubt God's goodness, throw the promises of God in the teeth of the devil.
John 5:24ESV
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
To handle this kind of temptation you need to know your Bible. That is why memorizing Scripture is so important. David said, "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psalm 119:11). The more you hide God's Word in your heart, studying and mastering it, the more you will be prepared to deal effectively with this type of temptation.
Psalm 119:11ESV
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
The World
The second channel through which the enemy can attack is the world. The kind of world we are talking about is the one mentioned in 1 John 2:15, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." Or Romans 12:2 states, "Be not conformed to this world..." This kind of world means the world of unsaved men and the society, culture, and value systems that they have established. The most subtle kinds of temptations are from this channel -- the world! Most of the time when you are tempted by the world, you are not tempted to do anything illegal or nasty; yet, it is devastating to your spiritual welfare.
1 John 2:15ESV
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Romans 12:2ESV
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
For example, a young couple is very zealous for the Lord and then suddenly stops attending church. They purchased a new home and are now so busy landscaping it they have no time for God. They actually love the house more than they love God. That is sin, and that is idolatry! The most difficult type of temptation comes from the world.
The word soul as used in a specialized sense, in contrast to the Spirit, means essentially, the self-awareness. With the capacity that you have to say "I," you are aware of yourself in relationship to your environment. Many temptations are directed right at your self-awareness because of this thing called pride or ego! Read Genesis 13:1-18. This is an example of the world attacking the ego of Lot, who was concerned with personal gain.
Genesis 13:1-18ESV
So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb. Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the LORD. And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land. Then Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left." And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD. The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you." So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.
How do I handle this type of temptation? What does the Bible say to do about it? Read Matthew 6:19-34. Probably this type -- the world attacking the soul -- will be the most prominent over the period of your life span. This is particularly true in our materialistic society. Suppose as a woman you find yourself enamored with the latest fashions. It becomes an inordinate passion that's ever on your mind. Clothes! Clothes! Clothes! Or a fellow gets car fever. Cars! Cars! Cars! How do we handle it?
Matthew 6:19-34ESV
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."
In 1 John 2:15 we read, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." If you begin to let your love for God grow cold, then the world will slip into the vacuum. So, if you find yourself loving the world inordinately, that is a symptom of a deeper problem. Don't fight the symptom; let the symptom warn you of the real problem, and your real problem is that something has happened to your love for God.
Check out your devotional life. Get alone with Him and start really having a time with Him. Get that love back where it ought to be and the whole problem will disappear. Because if you love Him as you ought to love Him, you won't be loving this world. The more you love Him, the less important the things of this world will become to you. It is absolutely crucial in maintaining a successful Christian life to take time every day to communicate with Him through personal Bible study and prayer. So when tempted with the world, check out your devotional life.
The Flesh
The final channel of temptation is the flesh. The kind of flesh we are talking about is the kind referred to in Galatians 5:17, "For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please." The flesh is my enemy. Read chapters six, seven, and eight of the book of Romans.
Galatians 5:17ESV
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
Between the spirit, soul and body, the easiest to understand is the body. That is the material you: the meat, the bones, the eyeballs. Some temptations are directed right at the biological drives of the body, such as sex or eating. A Christian is constantly tempted to misuse and misdirect these biological drives that God has given us.
Read Genesis 39. This is an example where Joseph's appetites of the body were under attack. In 2 Samuel 11:1-4 is an example of David under attack.
Genesis 39ESV
Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field. So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And after a time his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, "Lie with me." But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her. But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me." But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house. And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, she called to the men of her household and said to them, "See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. And as soon as he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried out, he left his garment beside me and fled and got out of the house." Then she laid up his garment by her until his master came home, and she told him the same story, saying, "The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to laugh at me. But as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment beside me and fled out of the house." As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, "This is the way your servant treated me," his anger was kindled. And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph's charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed.
2 Samuel 11:1-4ESV
In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, "Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house.
The temptation of illicit sex is a big issue in our culture. Suppose a college student and his date realize they are getting tempted. They decide how they will handle it. That evening they are going to gather algae off the rocks at the beach for their biology class. If they get tempted down there on that lonely beach, they have already decided they will kneel down right on the spot and pray and ask God to help them fight this thing. Now that sounds pious, but that's quite reckless! That's like sticking your head in the lion's mouth and asking God to help it not bite you.
Look at 2 Timothy 2:22, "Flee... youthful lusts." Or, 1 Corinthians 6:18, "Flee fornication." That's the tactic to use: You are never told to fight but to flee! Joseph is a good example of this in Genesis 39. When Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him, did Joseph suggest they kneel by the couch and pray about it? No! He ran!
2 Timothy 2:22ESV
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
1 Corinthians 6:18ESV
Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.
There are different ways to run. Dates at places with lots of lights and lots of people is one way of running. If a secretary bats her eyelashes at her boss and suggests they meet back at the office that evening to catch up on work, the man can invite his mother-in-law to accompany him to the office. That's fleeing! If you have an appetite for doughnuts, don't stand there looking at them; don't even drive close to the doughnut shop.
Summary
When tempted by the devil in the area of your God-awareness, resist with the Word. When tempted by the world in the area of your ego, check out your devotional love for Him. That's where the real problem lies. When tempted by the flesh, in the biological drives of the body, run, baby, run! Needless to say, all of these tactical maneuvers must be carried out by utilizing the power of the indwelling Spirit.
Temptation / Area
- Devil -- Spirit
- World -- Soul (ego)
- Flesh -- Body
Biblical Example / Strategy
- Genesis 3:1-8 -- Resist with the Word (James 4:7)
- Genesis 13:1-18 -- Check out love life (1 John 2:15)
- Genesis 39 -- Flee (2 Timothy 2:22)
Read Ephesians 6:10-18 again!
Ephesians 6:10-18ESV
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,