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Ephesians 6:13-18…13 Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.[a] 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.[] 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.…18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.…By analogy the lances of prayer fit nicely as Paul continues by saying: ……Roman soldiers carried an assortment of lances.…Long and short lances.…Lances with single head, duel heads and trident lances.…Some were for throwing like spears. …Others were for close quarter combat.…Each lance had it's function and purpose.
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication.
Paul is referring to prayer of all types. For instance, the prayer of intercession, the prayer of faith, the prayer of thanksgiving, the prayer of supplication, the prayer of agreement, the prayer of petition, corporate prayer and of course praying in the Spirit, (or tongues). It is important to understand and keep in mind that prayer, all prayer, is about relationship and not ritual. In the Old Testament, prayer was often compared to sweet incense, showing that our prayer is a personally pleasant experience to God.
1 Tim 2:8…8 In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.
The Hebrew word 'towdah' is used throughout the Old Testament translated as thanksgiving, praise and confession. …The word itself refers to the extending or lifting of hands.
The New Testament word 'aiteo' is translated "I ask or demand." At first glance these concepts of demanding my seem offensive to some, but consider what John 15:7 has to say, …7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask (aiteo, demand or require)for anything you want, and it will be granted!…The concept is one of a covenant, conditional to the first half of the verse. …1 John 5:14…14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.
1 John 5:15…15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.…What is the confidence that we have? And, how do we know what the will of God is? Let’s go back a few verses.
1 John 5:10…10 All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don't believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don't believe what God has testified about his Son.……1 John 5:11 11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
The 'Testemony' he is referring to here is the written Word of God, the Bible! So, what is the confidence that we have? And, how do we know what the will of God is? The will of God is simply what God has already SAID in the Bible through promises and statements of fact! If we know what God said his will was and what he promised us, we can have confidence and boldness to 'aiteo,' ask or demand these things.
The problem is on many levels. Most Christians do not know what God has promised in his word, therefore they do not know God's will and have no confidence to receive what God has for them. …Religious tradition has taught all too many that they are unworthy, and as a result, people are actually afraid to ask for anything, let alone know how to receive from God. …And then we have the ever popular "Suffering doctrine," which is a 'doctrine of devils' designed to keep mankind in sickness, disease, poverty and ignorance, (to the "glory" of Jesus!) ……The Power of Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit
Prayer is an important part of our day-to-day lives. But how often do we think of it in association with the armour of God? Turns out, it’s one of the most vital parts!
Praying Always
God’s armor is comprehensive. In this series we have spent time examining it, from the ideas behind it, to its purpose and application. It is an absolutely essential part of surviving and winning our battle against Satan. However, right on the heels of his description of the armor of God, Paul adds that we should be “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” …Ephesians 6:18…18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.…Is there any significance to this warning appearing immediately after the listing of God’s armour? You bet there is!
No matter how complete the armour…No matter how skilled we may be in the science of war…No matter how courageous we may be…We may be certain that without prayer we shall be defeated.
God alone can give the victory; and when the Christian soldier goes to war armed completely for the spiritual conflict, …If he looks to God in prayer, he may be sure of a triumph”
If we equip ourselves with God’s armour, we must also be determined to keep a steady line of connection with Him. …He is the commander of His spiritual army, and He alone knows how to lead it to victory.
How can we be “praying always”?…Luke 18:1-8…One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 "There was a judge in a certain city," he said, "who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, 'Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.' 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, 'I don't fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'"
6 Then the Lord said, "Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man[a] returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?"
I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. …Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?
Luke wrote that Jesus gave the above parable to teach that “men always ought to pray and not lose heart,” so it serves as a good starting point for understanding what praying always means.
In her quest for justice, the widow never gave up in seeking help from the unjust judge. In our quest for victory, we must never give up in seeking help from our perfect God. …The command to pray always is not to say that we must be in a continuous, unceasing dialogue with God every second of every day. Rather, we must develop a connection to God-one that is maintained through regular prayer, Bible study and a godly lifestyle-that allows us to instantly come before our God in prayer in times of distress and need.
What is supplication?…Philippians 4:6…6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.…The Greek word translated supplication in Ephesians 6:18 and Philippians 4:6 is transliterated deesisand means a petition or a special request of God.
What role does the Spirit play in a Christian’s prayers?…Since we don’t always know how to pray as we should, if we have the Spirit in us and are led by that Spirit …Acts 2:38…38 Peter replied, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.…Romans 8:14…14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children[a] of God.…Romans 8:26-27…26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers[a] in harmony with God's own will.…Paul says “the Spirit” will make intercession for us. This means that although we do not always know exactly what we should be praying for, God knows our hearts by living in us …John 17:23…23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.…Through His Spirit working in us, He has intimate knowledge of our hearts and minds. He understands us and will always work things out for the best in the long run …Romans 8:28…28 And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.……Who or what should we be praying about?
Matthew 6:9-13…In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. …Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
In what has become known as the “Lord’s prayer,” Jesus Christ lays out for us a framework for praying to God. …It is not a strict, inflexible format to which we must adhere every time we come before God…Matthew 6:7…7 "When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.……We should rather have an excellent checklist of things we do need to take the time to pray about. We should be praying on a regular basis for, among other things, God’s will to be done, our needs to be taken care of, the forgiveness of our sins and deliverance from Satan.
Matthew 7:7-8…7 "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Luke 21:36…36 Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man."
Along with praying for others, it is vital to also pray for ourselves. …Our lives are filled with reminders that we can’t make it on our own. …It would be inconceivable to refrain from asking God for the help we so desperately require.
Our God stands ready to provide us with the strength, wisdom and courage we need to stand against our enemy, but He wants us first to come before Him and ask for it. Will we?
When Jesus prayed fervently before His crucifixion, He knew what He wanted to happen. But He always remembered that His Father was in charge and had the eternal best interests of everyone in mind. It is important for us to pray for God’s will to be done too.…Matthew 26:39…39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine."
Ephesians 6:18-20…18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God's mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God's ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.
The ministers of God’s Church, on whom falls the bulk of His work, are just as human as the rest of us. They, too, are subject to exhaustion, sickness and heartache. …They, too, can-and at times, will-fall short of the high mark God has set for us. Also, they can face difficult trials (Paul spent time in prison for obeying God) and many challenging decisions in doing God’s work. …Paul was particularly concerned that God would continue to give him the courage, opportunities and clarity to boldly preach God’s truth even at the risk of suffering or death.
As this is the case, we should be sure to keep God’s servants in our prayers-and not only His ministers, but all His people. We are in this battle together, and prayer is one of the most effective ways we can support each other, care for each other and fulfil the God-inspired command given to us in …Philippians 2:4.… 4 Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.…How often do you pray? …Throughout the Bible, we see repeated examples of people who prayed regularly. …Daniel, an Israelite taken captive to Babylon, made sure to pray three times a day …Daniel 6:10…10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.…The author of Psalm 119 seems to have prayed seven times each day …Psalm 119:164…164 I will praise you seven times a day because all your regulations are just.…While there are no set numbers for how often or how long we should pray, we should be sure to give God adequate time on a regular basis.
If you don’t already, set aside time each day to talk to God, don’t put it off or delay it; make the time to talk to your Creator. …If we fail to establish a steady, well-founded relationship with God, …we will not be in the proper mind-set to be praying always-nor will we be in the proper mind-set to win our spiritual war.
Conclusion
Now it's time for you to put on the whole armour of God.
Envision that you take each piece of the armour and put it on.
Repeat this then every morning…I put on:…The belt of truth…The breastplate of righteousness…Shoes of the preparation of the gospel of peace;…Above all, I take the shield of faith, wherewith I will have the power to quench every fiery darts the devil fires my way.
I take the helmet of salvation …I take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…I take the lances of Prayer which is all types of prayer and supplication in the Spirit,
Now I have the power to withstand evil, and take my stand as a soldier in the army of the Almighty God.
My duty and assignment is to stand in the gap shoulder to shoulder with the other soldiers of the Lord as He places me. …Resisting every attack of the devil. …Holding the ground, refusing to be moved, healing the oppressed and destroying every work of the devil.
Remember to put this armour on each and every day, and like the credit card commercial says, "Don't leave home without it!"
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