2009 Spiritual Warfare Series, Part 9
Ephesians 6:18
The Weapon of Prayer
Tonight
we come to the conclusion of our series on the subject of Spiritual warfare.
A) Tonight we are going to
discuss the most unique weapon in our spiritual arsenal Prayer.
B) So unique that there is
not an equivalent picture of it in the Armor
of the Roman Soldier
1) Recall Paul inspired by
the HS draws from the Armor of the Roman Soldier to describe the Armor of the
believer Symbolic pictures
C) But there is no piece of
the Roman Soldiers armor that Paul could relate to the weapon of Prayer
Prayer
plays a big part in the application of the Armor that God has given us.
A) Tonight do a quick
review describing how the different pieces of the armor function in the
battle
B) Tying in this very
important aspect of Prayer
C) Finish by noting what
Paul says here specifically about prayer.
Read the text
Spiritual
Satan and his Demons
God
wants us to stand and to take ground!
A) I was reading something
today by Ray Stedman made a comment I hadnt thought about before
B) Centered around Peters
confession that Jesus was the Christ the Messiah
C) Jesus responds -
And I also say
to you that you are Peter, and on this rock {Confession} I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not
prevail against it.
We
hear that and we so often focus on the word prevail Hell is not going to be
able to overcome the truth of who Jesus is
A) Which is true but it
ignores the word gates gates are for defending
B) Hell is not going to be
able to stop the spread of the gospel and the building of the Church.
C) My point is the armor
isnt just for being on the defensive
1) We stand and we take
ground in the power of JC and the weapons and armor provided
Attack
comes many forms Doubt Discouragement Distraction
A) First piece of Armor
Belt of truth -
B) Belt of truth is overall
truth found in Scripture
C)
It is about who I am in Christ
D) All the other pieces of
our Armor are connected to truth!
Not
drawing upon Feelings / popular opinion /
A) Girded - ready not
tripped up
B) What keeps me moving
forward not tripped up is knowing the truth
1) Knowing that the absolute
truth of life is found in God and his word
C) Last week we talked about
the Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God
1) Word Specific Rhema -
specific words to the specific situations
D) I am drawing from that
treasure Chest of the truth to call upon the word that speaks to the
situation.
E) Actually speaking that
word -
V.
16 Above all taking the Shield of faith
A) It is by faith that I
apply that word
B) Shield covered the whole
man
1) Trust in Christ His
faithfulness that covers me
C) Faith applies truth
Rhema word
Connection
between Faith and Prayer:
Faith is
reliance on the direct activity of God in human life.
Prayer is the request for that activity; faith
is the expectation that God will do it. Stedman
These two things
link together.
Area
of attack Condemnation:
A) Breastplate of
righteousness - Draw upon the truth that
Jesus makes me righteous
B)
C) Romans 8 No condemnation
D) So I embrace that by
faith and I pray it into my life in that moment
1) Praying calling upon God
to help me stand in that truth.
Area
of attack Confusion! Doubt
A) Not right with God God
is not with me
B) Take out my sword draw
upon that treasure Chest of truth -
Therefore,
having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ,
Confused, anxious, doubting
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.
So
I call upon those truths I take out my sword and in faith speak those
realities again praying them into my life.
A) Lord thank you for the
peace I have in Christ
B) Lord I am giving you this
situation!
So
faith draws upon the truth Breaks out that Rhema word that speaks to the
situation
A) Speaks against the area
to which I am being attacked
B) The word is embraced by
faith It is applied thru Prayer and stood upon by faith
C) That is how we use the
armor
Seven
things this passage teaches us about prayer!
#1 v.18
- Prayer is to be a lifestyle: (praying always)
A) 1Thes 5:17 "pray without ceasing? What does that mean?
C) So
what does it mean? Tickle in the throat
1)
It means to live in constant communion w/ the Lord! Keeping in touch / always
aware of His presence
D) On going conversation:
1)
My prayer life changed dramatically
Set prayer times: - Prayer
days
Praying always
DEVELOPING
A SENSITIVITY TO THE LORDS VOICE
A) Elijah Distinguished the Still small Voice from wind / fire ..
B)
How Im convinced he cultivated a Prayer life w/ God
#2 V.18 We are to Pray w/ all prayer! "Pray w/ all
prayer - supplication"
A)
Different types of prayer mentioned in the Bible:
1)
Pray - conversing w/ God simply talking
2) Supplication - coming to God w/ our needs
3) PETITION - make a request
4) Praise and thanksgiving - express gratitude - worship
5) CONFESSION - confess sins
6) Intercession - praying - making request for others
So #2 - Pray w/
all prayer: don't just - make request - learn to talk w/ God! Realize the power of interceding for others
A)
Moses needed an Aaron and a Hur to hold up his hands
B) Job found out that
interceding for others can bring victory to
his own life
#3 - Pray in the Spirit
A) Common interpretation of
this - pray in tongues! Now I believe praying in the spirit can involve speaking in tongues
B) But don't believe that is
primary interpretation here! Here is Why
Cc)
1st of all turn
C) So if this meant simply to pray in tongues that would mean
that some believers would be under equipped for the
D) The 2nd Reason is that in
the same ch.v.4 Paul explains that the
only person who benefits from tongues is speaker / unless interpretation
E) Now My spirit prays and I am edified! Tongues - speaking to God!
1)
It is gift that enables us to express Worship to God in such a way never could humanly
So
what does it mean to Pray the Spirit I think same thing it means to Walk in
the Spirit Not suggesting walk in tongues
A) To Pray in the spirit is
to pray according to the Spirit
B) It is developing
sensitivity to the spirit / know how to Pray
C) Pray in line w/ the
Spirit of God What is revealed in Scripture I know {According to truth
Prayers
in Scripture: Praying today for CCV
Colossians -
A)
So that you might have a worthy walk that pleases God and is fruitful
B)
Strengthened by Gods glorious power
1)
In order to be patient longsuffering and full of Joy
C) Having hearts full of thankfulness!
Praying
in the spirit is praying according to the word
A)
I am praying in the Spirit when I pray for someone to get saved
There is nothing quite as wonderful as
being led and empowered by the spirit in prayer
A) Your heart is impassioned;
mind is clear; thoughts flow freely and you can literally pray for hours -
seems like moments
B)
Spend time asking the Lord to lead you before beginning your prayer time
This kind of prayer can be a great adventure and faith builder!
Oswald Sanders, former director of the China Inland Mission,
said this in regards to spirit led prayer
"The very fact that God lays a burden of prayer on our hearts
and keeps us praying is evidence that He purposes to grant the answer." Oswald
Sanders
#4
- Pray being watchful
A) Being watchful speaks of
being alert!
Aa) Know what is going on around you/ See what is happening / Aware of
the
B) Nehemiah - people were
victorious because they watched and prayed
C) Bible is filled w/ exhortations to watch
and pray!
D)
Mark 14:38 - In
garden: watch and pray lest you enter into temptation:
spirit willing flesh is weak!
Key to victory over the
flesh - and temptation!
Leads
to #5: Pray with all perseverance!
A) Prayer at times can be work
B) There is a need to keep
praying being persistent
1) Persistence is commended
C) Friend at Midnight Luke
11
D) Keep on asking seeking
knocking
Understand
- when we pray God always answers
3
ways ... Yes, No, or Wait!
A) Waiting part that
perseverance comes in!
B) God is working something
into me!
C) So
I Pray - God
says wait - or doesn't answer - so keep seeking Him (now your
getting the idea Rob)
"Prayer is
not getting man's will done in heaven but God's will done on earth"
D) Put it another way Persevering in prayer is not twisting God's
arm to get our way; but His way of getting His will done in us
1) Teaching us to depend upon Him
Can
you imagine How shallow we would be if God answered all our prayers the moment
we asked
B.)God
would become our Cosmic Genie - our heavenly vending machine: And that's the
only time - see us!
C)
Sad case w/ many today!
Only come when have they have need or something we want
D) God loves us so much
Desires Fellowship - knows what is best for us - Rob haven't seen you in a while - stick around!
#6
Pray for others! Importance of intercession
A) Realize the power of interceding for others
B)
Joshua needed Moses praying on the hill
1)
Moses needed an Aaron and a Hur to hold up his hands
C) Job found out that interceding for others can bring victory to his own life
Lastly #7 Pray for your Pastors - v.19 -
pray for me
A)
Pray for the leadership here at
B) Pray at meals - bless Calvary Chapel