We can fall from grace!  Do not let the false teachings of men give you a false sense of security.  Yes, we do have security in Christ.  Listen to what Peter teaches about those of us who are Christians.

1 Peter 1:5 (ESV)
⁵ Who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

What is the power that Peter is referring to here?  It is the gospel of Christ which is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16).  By it we are guarded against the fiery darts of the devil.  All we have to do is obey it.  Because of the grace of God, we do not have to be perfectly sinless, we just have to live faithfully, walking in the light, and if we sin, repent of it, ask God for forgiveness, and He will be faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7-9).  This is all possible because of the cleansing blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Through Him, our salvation is secure.

Even though God has given us the ability and tools that can keep us from stumbling (Jude 1:24), He will never override our free will.   We can decide to disobey God, at which time we will fall out of His favor (1 Corinthians 10:12; Galatians 5:4; Hebrews 3:12).  All this week we have looked at some things that help us avoid apostasy.  Let us look at one more tool we have at our disposal.

The power of prayer can help us to persevere.  In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus said to Peter, James, and John, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation” (Matthew 26:41).  We are all going to be tempted from time to time.  We know this because, as we have seen all week, the devil is alive and active, and if he had the audacity to tempt our Lord (Matthew 4:1-10), we can be sure he will also tempt us.  Prayer, however, has the power to keep us from entering temptation when it comes upon us, whatever it may be.

Are you in the habit of praying?  If not, start to develop the habit right now.  After you finish this blog, it will be a perfect time to pray.  Prayer is a good way to end your day.  It is also a great way to begin your day.

Psalm 88:13 (ESV)
¹³ But I, O Lord, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you.

There is really never a bad time to pray.  Prayer is especially effective, however, when we make a practice of putting specific time aside, dedicated to that end.  It should be a time when we can be away from all distractions and interruptions and simply pour out our hearts to our heavenly Father.  Jesus referred to this as entering into a closet.

Matthew 6:5–6 (KJV)
⁵ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. ⁶ But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

This is Jesus teaching His disciples how to pray.  While there is nothing wrong with praying publicly (something that Jesus Himself did [John 11:41-42]), private prayers prayed in full assurance of faith are the most powerful and can help us defeat Satan daily.

What a wonderful privilege it is to be able to enter the presence of God through prayer.  While saints could pray in the Old Testament, only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle and be in the presence of God (Hebrews 9:1-7).  Now, all saints have access to the Most Holy Place.

Hebrews 10:19–20 (ESV)
¹⁹Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,

Having this great blessing, we should all be determined to take full advantage of it and pray as often as we can, knowing that it is one of the best ways to avoid apostasy.

Yes, we can fall, but we do not have to, and we won’t, if we use the tools that God has given us to overcome.  Let us all put on the full armor of God and be victorious over the devil.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.