Spiritual Warfare: Part 3 Ephesians 6:18-24 (NKJV) Last week we looked at the spiritual armor that is given to every believer for the battle that we fight daily. There were six pieces of armor that we are to take up and put on: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel shoes, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. Today we look at what some would call the seventh piece of armor prayer. It s what Warren Wiersbe calls the energy that enables the Christian soldier to wear the armor and wield the sword Look at vs.18 with me notice what this seventh piece of the armor is Vs. 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints The seventh piece of the armor is prayer. Without it the armor won t be energized and we won t even have the motivation to put it on, nor the discernment. It is really why prayer can be so difficult. Not only does our flesh fight against it, but so does the enemy. He knows that when we the believer get s on his knees, the victory that Jesus has secured is within reach. Now there is a lot in this one verse and most of our time will be spent in this verse. Notice what Paul says to us concerning prayer; praying always with all prayer. In other words, pray standing, pray sitting, and pray when you re lying down. Pray when you re in bed and can t sleep, pray in the car, pray at work, and pray when you re jogging. Pray when you re walking and when you re on the couch. The idea here is for us to pray. We can make prayer so complicated that we have to be in a certain place or in a particular posture or we have to use eloquent words. Here in one swoop Paul reminds us, there are all kinds of prayers, the key is to be in constant prayer. Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 1
...pray without ceasing 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV) You know we don t see anything recorded where the disciples asked Jesus to educate them on how to teach, how to lead, how to baptize properly, or even how to plant a church. They didn t even ask Jesus how to heal the sick. They did ask Jesus how to pray. Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." Luke 11:1(NKJV) Why prayer??? This verse gives us a clue. They saw Jesus praying, and this was not the only time, when he sent them out to sea he would go up into the hills and pray. When they were still sawing logs by the campfire he would be up early seeking the heart of His Father. I would suggest to you that they saw something in Jesus that intrigued them. An intimacy that He had with his Father and the ability to stay focused on the will of the Father. They knew it was connected to His personal time with his Father. They knew there was something about the prayer life of Jesus that they desperately wanted. I think some of the most attractive people in the body of Christ are people that are given to prayer. Notice the next word that Paul throws out Vs. 18 - praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit We are to pray with supplication. The word supplication in the Greek Greek: Petition or request Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 2
Paul would remind us that one of the solutions to an anxious heart is for us to bring our petitions to the Lord in prayer. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 And then notice it s followed up by the word Spirit. Some commentators believe this is a proof text for what can be called praying in the Spirit, or the gift of tongues. A gift that is given to a believer to help them in the area of prayer. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 1 Corinthians 14:2 (NKJV) Notice unlike some who teach that tongues is a preaching gift. Paul reminds us all that when someone pray s in the Spirit they are not speaking to man, they are speaking to God. That s why it s often called a prayer language. It s in the Spirit he is speaking to the Lord. I use this gift when I run out of words to speak, or when I struggle to say all the right words. My vocabulary is not all that big, so I will pray in the Spirit. I especially use this gift in times of warfare. Paul would speak about this in the book of Romans. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 It s a bummer that the lack of understanding of this gift has brought so much confusion and dissension over the years. Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 3
It s a beautiful gift and when it s used properly and in the right context it can be useful and powerful. Paul even reminds those who have this gift He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 1 Corinthians 14:4 (NKJV) I think that s why Paul said. I wish you all spoke in tongues.., he knew the ability it had to bring edification to one who possessed it. He knew what this gift did for him. When you re in warfare and when you re bringing your petitions before the Lord and you can t find the right words to speak, pray in the spirit. Now notice the next word that Paul uses in relation to prayer Vs. 18 being watchful to this end The word watch and pray is all throughout the scriptures, they really go hand and hand. Remember when Jesus took the three amigos; Peter, James and John with Him as He would make his way to the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus was soon to be crucified, He was going through some serious warfare. And He asked the three to watch and pray. Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, Sit here while I pray. And He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch. He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will. Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words. And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 4
Then He came the third time and said to them, Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand. Mark 14:32-42 In Mark 14: 38 Jesus puts the two together, watch and pray... He even reminds them if you don t, temptation is right around the corner and you re not going to be ready for it when it comes. And do you remember what took place next? Jesus is arrested and Peter takes out his sword and whack s off the ear of the high priest servant. And then Jesus will have to clean up the mess by putting the ear back on, and rebuking Peter for acting out in the flesh. It was not a good day for peter. Prayer would have made all the difference. He would have heard the Father and gotten his heart in tune with heaven with the will of the Father. How many times have we done the same? We didn t pray and so we purchased something that we were not supposed to. We didn t watch and pray and the enemy threw a dart so we did not put up the shield of faith, and it made a mess of our marriage and even made a mockery of our family. We didn t watch and pray and so we laid into our employees with anger. Nehemiah would defeat his enemy by watching and praying. Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night. Nehemiah 4:7-9 (NKJV) It s when we watch and pray that we keep our spiritual senses alive and awake to what the enemy might be throwing our way Notice the next word that Paul applies to prayer Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 5
praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV) This simply means don t give up. It s not that we are trying to get our will done in heaven as much as it is that we are trying to get God s will done on earth. And prayer is part of this process. The early church was given to prayer in this way. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Act 2:42 (NKJV) Prayer was so vital to the apostles and the early church, as the church grew there was a natural pull that started to take place in the church. The apostles started to find themselves struggling to find the time to pray. Specifically the food ministry to the widows was taking a lot of time. So they made some changes... Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." Acts 6:2-4 (NKJV) It s why we put a great emphasis on prayer here at Wildwood. The men gather on Thursdays at 6:00a.m., the women meet for prayer at 8:30a.m. and we also have Sunday night house of prayer. We are intentional about praying for one another, and for the community that we live in. As pastors we take a retreat 3-4 times a year. Instead of brainstorming on how we can do ministry better, we ask the Lord what His desire is? What his plan is? When we started moving toward buying property we prayed and God delivered. When we believed he told us to sell a piece of the property, we prayed and not only did it sell we paid of the rest of the property. When we started seeking the Lord for a building, we prayed and look what he did. And now we are asking the Lord for finances for the sports field for the academy Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 6
that will open in 2015. My wife and I have even started asking the Lord if he would build the new sanctuary, we could use it. The early church prayed and God moved. Wildwood let s be committed to prayer and watch God move....keep on praying until the Spirit stops you or the Father answers you. Warren Wiersbe Something about being persistent that God honors...what a powerful spiritual weapon prayer is. In this spiritual warfare, prayer is often the deciding factor in the spiritual battle. Chuck Smith The last thing we see on prayer is intercession. Notice Vs.18 and supplication for all the saints Vs.19 - and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel Vs.20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. I like this; Paul didn t say, hey send me a few bucks, I could use it. The ministry is costly. Instead he said pray for me, pray that God will give me boldness, pray that God would open doors in a place where there are more doors than I can count Paul is in prison and he could see God s hand in all this, as he had now had a prison ministry, and those who had not yet heard the word were now hearing it. So he asked for intercession, asking the believers in Ephesus to pray that he will speak the gospel with great boldness and clarity. Notice Paul will call himself an ambassador, it s the same thing he called himself in 2 Corinthians. Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 7
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20 It can make all the difference in the world when you see that you re not of this world, that you represent the one who is taking you up and out of here one day that you re just passing through. But while you re passing through you represent the one who created you, redeemed you and is coming back for you. Then Paul will finish up his letter to the church of Ephesus You re ready. Vs. 21-24 But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts. Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. Notice peace, love, faith, and grace, they all come from the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ And flow from those who love him and spend time with him with sincere hearts. A great way to close the letter. We looked at the wealth, the walk, and the warfare, great letter. A great way to finish out 2014. Copyright 2014 Chris Fraley 8