FAITH CAPSULE: Prayer is a way to stay away from temptation. 

Luke 22 

Every engagement with Satan is temptation enablement. 
It happened that the day the serpent was able to engage Eve, the temptation to eat the fruit of the tree amid the garden became a manifestation in her life. 
Eve ate against the command of God to become disobedient to God.
Disobedience to God is like a flight from God, to become distanced from the presence of God.
With sin, no one can reach God.
Judas Iscariot engaged Satan. 
Luke 22:3-6 records, “Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So, he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad and agreed to give him money. So, he promised and sought the opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.”  The temptation will come with disobedience. 
Disobedience to God is the evidence of betraying God. 
Temptation is the key that opens the door to all kinds of sin. 
Jesus emphasized that prayer is a way to stay away from temptation. 
The Bible states, “Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (Luke 22:39-40) 
Sleeping in the place of praying will be an avenue of temptation. 
When Jesus was praying, the disciples were sleeping. 
Jesus was praying earnestly, but the disciples were sleeping with sorrow. 
At the time the disciples were sleeping, Jesus approached them and said, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray lest you enter into temptation.” (Luke 22:46) 
Jesus must have seen what was about to happen when He came to speak to the disciples about their sleeping in the place of being awake. 
Luke 22:47-48 records, “And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 
Judas, the one Satan had gained entrance, sold out his Lord and Savior cheaply. 
Is there any way you have been selling Jesus out consciously or unconsciously? 
When Jesus woke them up from sleeping, they entered a situation that caused them to scatter in an attempt to save their life. 
When Jesus woke them up from sleeping, not praying, Peter wanted to strike instead of him to allow Jesus to speak to the situation.  
Peter struck to cut the ear of the servant of the high priest.
Jesus responded by speaking to the situation. 
With temptation in the place of prayer, one will deny and sell Jesus. Engage unceasing prayer to disallow temptation.

Prayer for today: Ask to be strengthened on the prayer altar.