Spiritual Warfare

Prayers are Precious to GodRevelation 5.8:And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Psalm 141.2:May my prayer be counted as incense before Thee; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.

PRAYER IS WORSHIP

Scripture ends in prayer:

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Prayer“Prayer is not informing God of one’s needs but expressing

one’s confidence in Him.”

“The purpose of prayer is not merely to bring good to people

but to bring glory to God.”

“Prayer is based on the revelation of the nature and attributes

of God.”

Prayer, ISBE

Psalm 9.10:And those who know Thy name will put their trust in Thee; For Thou, O LORD, hast not forsaken those who seek Thee.

Prayer

2 Corinthians 12.7-9:And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me--to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Prayer is more about peace as the result of trusting God than it is about

the answer.

Petition…

is a plea or request made to a person who has the power and

authority to grant it.

Esther petitioned Ahasuerus

Abigail petitioned David

Hannah petitioned God

the Church petitioned God, Acts 4.24-30

Petition expresses honor and fear to the one being petitioned.

Prayer and Petition

Philippians 4.6-7: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 comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

it’s about the peace…

Prayer keeps us in close relationship to God.

An appetite for prayer is as essential as an appetite for the word.

Paul’s Four Main Points

• Pray at all times and for everything

• Petition God for fellow believers

• Be attentive, alert, and persevere in doing so

• Pray always in the Spirit

Pray at all times and for everything!This is not a prayer that arises on occasion of an attack.

The armor described is full battle dress; we are engaged continuously.Thus, our attitude of prayerfulness is continuous.

This doesn’t mean that we are praying non-stop. It means we are constantly aware of the full-time engagement and alert to the

continual, prayerful attitude the battle necessitates.

Pray at all times and for everything!

Acts 1.14:These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Acts 10.2 (speaking of Cornelius):…a devout man, and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people, and prayed to God continually.

Pray at all times and for everything!

Romans 12.12:…rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,

Colossians 4.2:Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving…

1Thessalonians 5.17-18:Pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Jesus, and the early church demonstrated a life-style of prayer.

Petition for Fellow Believers w/Perseverance

Ephesians 1.15-19:For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you, and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.

We arm ourselves individually, but the battle is corporate.

Petition for Fellow Believers w/Perseverance

Ephesians 3.16-19:…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;

and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God.

Petition for Fellow Believers w/Perseverance

“Intercession is the present ministry of Christ at the right hand

of God on mankind’s behalf and is perhaps the greatest

expression of love on the part of Christians for one another.” Prayer, ISBE

Pray in the Spirit

Means:

In communion with the Spirit

As one filled with the Spirit (present context)

directed and led by the Spirit

in harmony with His work specified in Ephesians

What is the Spirit’s Work?

The Spirit’s work in Ephesians can be summed up in one word:

UNITY

Ephesians 4.1-3:I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Praying in the Spirit Imitates the Spirit’s Work

Ephesians 1.13:In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise…

Ephesians 2.18:…for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

Ephesians 2.22:…in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

Praying in the Spirit Imitates the Spirit’s Work

Ephesians 3.5:…which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit…

Ephesians 3.16:…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man…

Ephesians 4.3:…being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Praying in the Spirit Imitates the Spirit’s Work

Ephesians 4.4:There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling…

Ephesians 4.30:And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Ephesians 5.18:And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit…

Ephesians 6.17:And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Jesus Prayed for This Same Unity

John 17.20-23:“I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that You sent Me.

And the glory which You have given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one;

I in them, and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that You sent Me, and love them, even as You love Me.

The LORD Desires Our Prayers

“[If] My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray…”

Yahweh

“For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”

Yahweh

THE ARMOR IS OURS. PRAYER IS HOW WE MAKE USE OF IT.

“Be strong in the LORD and in the strength of His might!”