God's grace is not an easy way out.
It is the only way out.

Sin still stings even though we have been given the victory over it. (I Corinthians 15:56)

lust=yearning for rebellion (I John 2:16)

Grace works in two ways
1. It covers us from the punishment of sin.
2. It enables us to keep from sinning anymore.
How does that work?
To walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-18), and not by the flesh (Romans 7:15-24)
We can't do it by trying. These aren't fruits of our labors, but fruits of the Spirit.
You can't keep from sinning on your own, because sin is just too powerful.
As He forgives us, His words are “Go, and sin no more.”

God is about life.
Satan is about death.
The essence of God's gift of life is a baby.


Attacks against helpless infants
1. Exodus 1     attack: Pharaoh
threat: a people     

survivor: Moses
threat to Satan: people of God


2. II Kings 11 attack: Queen Athaliah
threat: control of the kingdom
survivor: Joash
threat to Satan: control of our lives


3. II Kings 16-17 attack: sacrifice of children to idols
threat: lifestyle of the Jews
survivor: remnant of faithful people
threat to Satan: godly lifestyle of believers


4. Matt.2:13-18 attack: Herod
threat: Herod's own destruction
survivor: Jesus
threat to Satan: his own destruction


5. Today attack: Abortion
threat : all of the above
survivor: ???


Michael Card, “The Spirit of the Age”
“Soon all the ones who seemed to die for nothing
Will stand beside the Ancient of Days.
With joy we'll see that infant from the manger,
​Come and crush the spirit of the age.”

Prayer is as vital to our Christian lives as breathing air is to our physical lives.


Things that stifle our prayer life
1. Indifference (vs. 1)
Honest praying will make you feel unpleasant things.


2. Ignorance (vs. 6)
a conscious choice not to know
(Acts 3:17)


3. Inability (vs. 7)

Our enemy will exploit our weaknesses to keep us from praying and serving.
a. physical weakness
b. emotional weakness
c. spiritual weakness

The key to conquering our inability to pray is to never stop praying.
(Romans 8:26)


4. Interference (vs. 10)

If Satan can't get to us from within, he's going to attack us from without.

If you are too busy to spend time with God, you are too busy.