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• Rev 21:8 • 8 But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part (shall be) in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death. • ASV Mahanaim = "two camps" Prov 16:7 • 7 When a man's ways please the LORD, • He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. Phil 4:6-7 • 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. • 2 Kings 6:14-18 • 14 Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" • 16 So he answered,"Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, "Strike this people, I pray, with blindness." And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. • St. Augustine comments on this episode, saying: • [Why did Jacob wrestle with Him ? Because “the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11: • 12), Why did he wrestle ? In order to take Him by labor; as whatever we get after strife, we hold to it more strongly]. And he also says: [The man defeated the angel; yet the conqueror persists on holding the angel until He blesses him. What a great mystery ! • The defeated blesses the conqueror ! He was defeated, because He chose that, to appear weak in His flesh form, although in His greatness, He was strong; “For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God” (2 Corinthians 13: 4). • And as said by St. Clement of Alexandria: [The new name was presented to him for the new people]; as though this gift was not granted to Jacob personally, but to the whole people of God, as a sign of their spiritual strife. A model of Prayers • Here is a • thankful acknowledgment of former undeserved favors; • a humble confession of unworthiness; • a plain statement of his fears and distress; • a full reference of the whole affair to the Lord, • and resting all his hopes on him. • Jacob kept his ground; though the struggle continued long, this did not shake his faith, nor silence his prayer. He will have a blessing, and had rather have all his bones put out of joint than go away without one. • • • • • • • Hos 12:3-4 3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, And in his strength he struggled with God. 4 Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; He wept, and sought favor from Him. He found Him in Bethel, And there He spoke to us — Prayers of Tears • • • • • • • Song 6:5 5 Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome Luke 7:41-48 41 "There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have rightly judged." 44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." 48 Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." Humble Prayers • Matt 15:25-28 • 25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" • 26 But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." • 27 And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." • 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour. Persistence Prayers • Luke 18:1-8 • Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying,'Get justice for me from my adversary.' 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'" • 6 Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" • Mark 10:46-52 • Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you." 50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. 51 So Jesus answered and said to him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" The blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." 52 Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. • • • • • • • Eph 4:22-24 • 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. 2 Cor 4:16 • Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day • NKJV • Rom 8:4-8 • 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. • NKJV • It is well when men’s religion makes them generous, free-hearted, and openhanded.