Ready For Battle Ephesians 6:18-20 The Weapon of All Prayer

 

Call To Worship   Jude 17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.¹⁸ They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions."¹⁹ It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.²⁰ But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.²² And have mercy on those who doubt;²³ save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

False teachers:  focus on small stuff, they cause divisions.

They don't read their Bible's. little understanding or personal knowledge of God.

Godly folk: built up in their holy faith… understand more and more of God's Word.

They pray as the Holy Spirit directs (not as their own emotional whims waver nor as their mouths "name it and claim it" for worldly wealth or power.

They are more concerned about experiencing more and more of the love of God, because they know His love as their personal ongoing experience.

They are people who recognize their sinfulness and value the mercy of God so greatly!  They are keen to lead others to the same Saviour who brought mercy and grace to them. And they recognize that even the worst of people can experience pardon and grace from God and be transformed. They don't try to intimidate them into being better people; because they recognize that God's grace can do all the work.

Law and Grace Reading  Psalm 61

Bible reading Ephesians 6:10-20.

Benediction:  Ephesians 3:20,21

Ephesians 6:10-20   Ready For Battle: Praying In The Spirit.

¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,¹⁹ and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

DMLJ   The Christian Soldier wrote "the Apostle is really repeating in this verse what he has already said in verse 10: 'Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might'. He started with this precept, but he so well knows how we tend to concentrate on the last thing we have heard, that he goes on to tell us about the whole armour of God in detail. He also knows that many a man is likely to say, 'This armour is the one thing that matters', and then to forget that with which the Apostle started; so he brings it in again—'Praying always'. It is in this way that we become 'strong in the Lord and in the power of his might'; 'praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit'. We are utterly dependent upon God and upon the Lord Jesus Christ; and we must realize that if we do not remain in constant contact and communion with God, whatever we may have done by way of putting on the armour will avail us nothing. We must ever maintain this essential intimate relationship with God. Let us never forget that in the Christian life prayer is essential.

The place given to prayer in the New Testament is remarkable.. in the life of our Lord Himself. As the Son of God He possessed marvellous knowledge, and displayed it at times to the amazement of the Pharisees and scribes and others; and yet note the frequency with which He turned aside to pray to God. He would spend a whole night in prayer, He would rise a great while before dawn in order to pray to God and maintain this communion. He found this to be essential to His ministry. And so it is not surprising that He should have taught His people that 'men ought always to pray, and not to faint' (Luke 18:1). It is the only alternative to fainting, it is the only way to avoid fainting. We must always pray, or else we faint.

What is the place of prayer in your life? What prominence does it have in our lives? What part does prayer play in our lives, and how essential is it to us? Do we realize that without it we faint? Do we practise it in the way the Apostle indicates here?

Are you consistent and regular in praying? Do you have a daily time alone with God? Or are you haphazard in your praying, and find yourself drifting into prayerlessness unless a problem or crisis arises? Are you growing in your prayer life? Or do you feel like you have stagnated in your knowledge and practice of prayer? When you pray, do you find that your mind tends to wander? Is praying boring to you—or is it exciting? Is praying an obligation to you, or do you see it as an opportunity for fellowship with God? How many of your prayers are getting answered according to the way you prayed? When was the last time you really felt the presence of God when you were praying, and you were so consumed by His glory you cried and praised Him, and did not want the prayer to end? How often do you find yourself running out of things to say as you pray?

Learn how to "PRAY IN THE SPIRIT."   John 4:24 Jesus said we are to, "…worship God in the Spirit." Gal. 5:16 Paul said we are to, "…live in the Spirit." Gal. 5:25 Paul said we are to, "…walk in the Spirit."

Eph 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Jude 20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.

 

Often we do not Pray in the Spirit. Rather, instead, we Pray in the flesh.

It is a sad commentary on the true spiritual condition of the church and individual Christians today. There is high interest in every activity and event except praying. 

Praying together. Listen to the Lord Jesus in Matthew 18: 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

 

Here in Ephesians 6 there are four marks of praying in the Spirit!

Praying in the Spirit is listening prayer. Lingering prayer. Loving prayer. Labouring prayer.

To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

1. Praying in the Spirit Is Listening Prayer

"praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication."

Remember how the Lord Jesus prayed in the Spirit in the Garden of Gethsemane?  Luke 22:41 And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed,⁴² saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."

Wow.. no name it and claim it here!  No blab it and grab it!  No yelling at God to tell Him what He had to do!  And this was God the Son talking with God the Father!

1 John 5: 14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

We sometimes don't know what to pray for as we ought to pray, and so the Spirit shows us what to pray for. That's prayer in the Spirit: where we listen to the Lord, and the Lord says, "here's what I want you to pray for; here's what I want." It is listening prayer.

Leading a child in prayer.  She hears and repeats what I pray. Now, friend, that's what the Holy Spirit does for us who are grownups, you see. "We know not what we should pray for as we ought." And the Lord says, "Pray for this." I say, "Lord, this is what I want." He says, "Now, pray for that." And He says, "Pray for this." And I say, "Lord, this is what I want." And, you see, He directs our prayers;; He tells us what to pray for. Hallelujah! That's the secret of getting your prayers answered. The prayer that gets to heaven is the prayer that starts in heaven. How wonderful it is to be in the Holy Spirit! For we know not what we ought to pray for, but He knows our weakness and He knows our infirmities. He becomes our helper, and He helps us. And then the Bible says in this verse He also "maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

As the Holy Spirit of God teaches us how to pray sometimes with groanings that cannot even be uttered, oh, I tell you, sometimes, friend, prayer is too heavy for human words. But thank God for the blessed Holy Spirit of God who makes intercession for us when we're in the Spirit, when we're listening to the Lord. It is listening prayer—listening prayer.

God is my Father, and I'm His son. Don't you think a son ought to listen to his father? And you know another way that the Bible describes our relationship? As husband and wife. Don't you think that a wife ought to listen to her husband?

Somebody asked a little boy, "What were your daddy's last words?" He said, "He didn't have any. Mama was with him right up to the end."

Well, don't you think that it ought to be more than a one-­sided conversation? Don't you think that there ought to be a listening relationship there? The Bible describes our relationship not only as father and son, husband and wife, but master and servant. Don't you think that the servant ought to listen to know what the boss wants?

Friend, you know, your prayers would be a lot better if rather than giving God instructions, you'd just report for duty, amen? Just say, "Lord, speak: thy servant heareth. You're the master;; I'm the slave. What do you want?" The Bible describes us as friend and friend. Jesus said, "I no longer call you servants. This time, I call you friends." (John 15:15) Friends love to talk and listen. That's what makes a good friend: a good listener, amen?

B. Praying in the Spirit Is Lingering Prayer

"praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication."

"Praying always with all prayer." (Ephesians 6:18) Linger in the presence of the Lord. Many of us never pray in the Spirit, because we don't take time to be holy; we don't linger in the presence of the Lord. Jesus Christ said in John 15, ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (John 15:7,8) Do you know what the word abide means? It means "to dwell permanently." Prayer in the Spirit is lingering prayer—"always…all prayer." Spend much time with the Lord. Linger in His presence, if you would pray in the Spirit. Too many of us run in and out of the presence of God in our prayers, and therefore our prayers don't get answered. Do you know that Jesus said we were to abide in Him just like a branch does to the vine? (John 15:5)

Now, prayer in the Spirit is lingering prayer—just to abide in the Lord Jesus Christ, to stay in Jesus, to walk in Jesus a moment at a time. Too many of us want to use the Lord as a first aid kit. When we get in trouble, we run and take Him down, and say, "O Lord," and that's it, rather than taking time to be holy. "Take time to be holy, Speak oft with thy Lord." It is listening prayer: "Speak, LORD;; for thy servant heareth." (1 Samuel 3:9) It is lingering prayer.

There's an old song, I come to the garden alone, While the dew is still on the roses,

And the voice l hear falling on my ear, The Son of God discloses. And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own. —C. AUSTIN MILES

C. Praying in the Spirit Is Loving Prayer

Eph 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

It is loving prayer. with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." (Ephesians 6:18) Now, underscore that: "all saints." Prayer in the Spirit can never be egocentric; it must be for others. May I suggest that's another reason that many of us don't have power in prayer: most of our prayers are, "Lord, bless me." I, myself, and me are our three favourite words. We're like that girl who prayed, "Lord, you know I'm not selfish. I'm praying for my mother. She'd like to have son-in-law." And that's the way so many of us are.

Now, friend, we can pray for personal needs but not for selfish needs. Do you know the Bible tells us that Job was set free from all the bad that Satan was inflicting on his life, when he prayed for his friends. The Lord told him to pray for his "comforters" who had been a real pain in his neck.  Is someone causing you trouble? Pray for them!  Not against them!  Pray for them!  Prayer in the Spirit is loving prayer: it is for others. When you learn how to give in prayer, friend, you'll learn how to get in prayer.

D. Praying in the Spirit Is Labouring Prayer

Eph 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.  always keep on praying

Remember how the Lord Jesus prayed in the Spirit in the Garden of Gethsemane?  Luke 22:41 And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed,⁴² saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done."⁴³ And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.⁴⁴ And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Notice this word again in verse 12: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers." (Ephesians 6:12) Did you know that prayer is wrestling? Did you know that's what Jacob did when he wrestled with the angel of Yahweh? All night long he wrestled in prayer.

Do you know what Paul said in Romans? "I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, (Romans 15:30) Listen: " strive together with me." Do you know that the word strive together comes from a Greek word that we get the word agony from? The Greeks had an athletic contest they called the agon, and it was the most severe of athletic contests. It's the word we get our word agony from. Can you see a man, a wrestler, as he's wrestling, as he's straining? There's an agony; there's perspiration. He's holding on; he will not let go. According to the Greeks, that was the agon. Now, that's the same word that Paul uses here when he says, "You [agonized] with me in your prayers."

I have always been challenged by one line in the bible that describes one fellow.

Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

Did we in our own strength confide     Our striving would be losing

Were not the right Man on our side    The man of God's own choosing

Dost ask who that may be?  Christ Jesus, it is He

The Lord of hosts, His name From age to age the same   And He must win the battle

Listen. Prayer in the Spirit is sometimes the kind of prayer that Jesus Christ did in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is listening prayer, yes, because the Spirit directs our prayer. It is lingering prayer, because we abide in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is loving prayer, for God wants to intercede through us. And it is laboring prayer: "We wrestle not against flesh and blood." (Ephesians 6:12)

There is a war. There's a battle to be fought. There's a victory to be won.

I'm so glad I know Jesus and I've got a God who says, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." (Jeremiah 33:3) What a privilege to pray!

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

 

With thanks to DMLJ The Christian Soldier and Adrian Rogers sermons on Ephesians.