The disobedience shown by Adam, the first man, subjected humanity under the

rule of sin. This world lies within the clutches of the evil one. (Humanity

is trapped under the rule of satan). From the beginning, satan had been a

murderer of man and puts him through various forms of temptation. He prevents

man from receiving the blessings of God. Therefore man has to undergo various

troubles, sorrows, loss, disease and agony. At the same time, as Jesus Christ

the last Adam humbled Himself to the point of death, a way has been paved

for His generation to inherit the blessings of God.

The children of God who aspire to dissociate themselves from the world of the

evil one and enter into the world of the just Judge are put to trouble by

sinful men, satan and his retinue and encounter various forms of temptations.

However the counseling Lord who loves us paves the way for us to escape from

such temptations. Glory be to Him forever and ever, Amen.

A saint says: 'Once unexpectedly I was confronted with a distressful

situation. I was greatly troubled in my mind about having to face that

situation the next day. The Holy Spirit who comforts me always, reminded me

that 'those who love the scriptures shall prosper' , and I began to meditate

on the Holy Scriptures. Obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit, I read Psalms. 141.

Calling the Lord in his distress, king David says: 'Let the righteous

smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an

excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be

in their calamities' (Psalms. 141:5). Reading further I found, 'I pour out my

complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble' (Psalms. 142:2).

The righteous men who love me and correct my mistakes keep watch over me,

holding themselves accountable for my soul. They are also human beings. Jesus

Christ who came in flesh also went through temptation and suffered. Those

righteous men who lead me are also subjected to the pain and distress that I

suffer. Shall I not pray for them? I shall pray for them first and then I

shall pour out my heart before Him and declare before Him my trouble. I who

pray for the salvation of my family shall first pray that their families be

saved. I who pray for the welfare of my children, shall first pray for the

welfare of their children. I who pray that my needs be fulfilled shall first

pray for the fulfillment of their needs. I who pray for my spiritual growth,

shall first pray for the spiritual growth of them. If my spirit is in

consonance with theirs', I shall be able to sense their burden in my spirit.

Therefore I shall bear their burden and sorrow and pray for them in their

troubles'.

'Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her; Rejoice

for joy with her all you who mourn for her' (Isaiah 66:10). Those who thus

pray for the righteous men who lead them shall certainly not lose their

reward (Matt 10:40-42). Those who receive the men of God receive God

Himself. What one does for them, is done for God. Jesus Christ too has said

that whoever gives to one of them only a cup of water, shall by no means lose

his reward (Matt 10:40-42, 25:34-40).

Prophet Elijah also suffered when famine struck the land because of failure

of rain. Such as it is written, 'No temptation has overtaken you except such

as is common to man; but God is faithful ... with the temptation, He will

also make the way of escape' (I Cor 10:13). God did provide a way out for

prophet Elijah also. Obeying God's counsel, he went to Zarephath. There he

met a widow. She was going through difficult times. All she had was a handful

of flour and a little oil in a jar and nothing else. Elijah told her to go

and make a small cake from it and bring it to him first and afterward make

some for herself and her son. That woman obeyed him. The hunger of the man of

God was satisfied. Till the famine ended and prosperity again returned to the

land, her bin of flour was not used up nor did the jar of oil run dry (I Kings 17:7-16).

Therefore, you children of God! before praying for us, let us first pray for

the righteous men who strike us and reprove us for our sakes, so that our

prayers are heard by the Lord. 'The Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed

for his friends' (Job 42:10).

In a related revelation, 'A man tries to lift a huge load. Initially he finds

it difficult, but hearing the shouts of encouragement from his friends around

him, he manages to lift the load'. If that load had been beyond his

strength, however hard others may try to encourage him, he may not succeed in

lifting that load. At the same time, to lift something within his ability, he

needs encouragement from others. 'No temptation has overtaken you except such

as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be

tempted beyond your capacity; but with the temptation will also make the way

of escape, so that you may be able to bear it' (I Cor 10:13)(NKJV).

To overcome a temptation within one's strength, the prayers of other saints

are necessary. Therefore 'let each of you look out not only for his own

interests, but also for the interests of others' (Phil. 2:4)(NKJV). Therefore

pray for the saints bearing one another's burden. You will escape from

temptation.

'Brethren, pray for us' (I Thes. 5:25).