Download THE BELIEVER`S BATTLE PLAN – PART 4

THE BELIEVER’S BATTLE PLAN – PART 4
EPHESIANS 6:10-18
In our text Paul has written about the battle Christians fight, the enemy we face, and the
armor we wear. Now the scripture reminds us to pray on the battlefield. God has not only
provided our armor and our weapon, the sword of the Spirit, but He has set up prayer as the
means of communication by which we stay in touch with headquarters. Warren Wiersbe
identified three main ideas in this passage on spiritual warfare: 1) the enemy (Satan); 2) the
equipment (the whole armor of God); and 3) the energy (prayer).
Soldiers must have supplies and they need guidance. Prayer is staying in contact with
headquarters and receiving supplies and direction (“intelligence”) from our Commander-inChief. In John Bunyan’s story, The Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian had a weapon called “all
prayer.” He was told that when all else failed, this weapon would enable him to defeat every
enemy that would attack him.
The Frequency of Prayer:
Ephesians 6:18 says, “praying always.” Our prayer must be constant because our battle is
constant. In verse 12, Paul uses the word “wrestle” in the present tense which indicates a
continuing action. Because the battle is constant, there is a constant need to pray. We cannot
afford to stop praying, and thankfully God will never stop hearing prayer.
In the Old Testament there were special times assigned for prayer:
•
Psalms 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he
shall hear my voice.
•
Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house;
and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees
three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
But in the New Testament with the coming of Christ and the Holy Spirit a new dimension was
added to prayer:
•
Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray,
and not to faint.
•
Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.
•
Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.
•
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
•
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
Every circumstance in life, good or bad, is an opportunity to pray.
•
When we are blessed, thank God
•
When we are tempted, ask God for help to overcome
•
When we have sinned, confess it and ask God to forgive
•
When we meet an unbeliever, ask God to use our witness
The Forms of Prayer:
Paul used the phrase “all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Eph. 6:18). Prayers take
many forms. The word “prayer” is a general word that includes all kinds of requests, and
“supplication” refers to specific requests. The phrase “in the Spirit” means that we should pray
in harmony with the Spirit or as the Spirit leads us to pray. We pray to the Father, through the
Son, in the Spirit. As we pray in God’s will we know that He hears and answers.
•
1 John 5:14-15 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing
according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we
ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
•
Romans 8:26-27 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what
we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with
groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is
the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will
of God.
•
Regular & daily prayers
•
Urgent & specific prayers
•
Prayers based on Scripture – Make the prayers of the Bible your own.
•
Prayers for salvation – We know it is God’s will to save the lost.
•
Prayers for spiritual growth – Most of Paul’s prayers recorded in Scripture were in this
category. Robert Murray McCheyne once prayed, “Lord, make me as much like Jesus as
a redeemed sinner can possibly be.”
•
Prayers for yourself – This may be confession of sin, need for wisdom, etc.
•
Prayers for others – This is called intercessory prayer.
The Faithfulness of Prayer:
As we pray, we are “watching thereunto with all perseverance” (Eph. 6:18). In other
words, we should be alert to our needs and those around us, stay with it, and be persistent in
prayer. We pray when we feel like it and when we don’t feel like it. A man went in to a
business to apply for a job. The owner asked him, “Well tell me what have you been doing?”
“Just this and that.” “Where have you been doing it?” “Just here and there.” When have you
been doing it? “Just off and on.” The owner paused and then said, “Well I think you ought to
check back just now and then. Does that describe our praying: this and that, here and there, off
and on?
• James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be
healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. The word
“fervent” means boiling or hot.
The Focus of Prayer:
The text says to pray “for all the saints…and for me (Paul)” (Eph. 6:18-19). We should
always pray with these people in mind:
•
Pray for other believers
•
Pray for spiritual leaders
•
Pray for the spread of the Gospel
•
1 Samuel 12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in
ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way.
•
1 Timothy 2:1-4 1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are
in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; 4 Who will have all men to
be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
We should pray for fellow believers and leaders. All believers are in the battle, and all
leaders are in the heat of the battle and they are the special targets of the enemy. Paul reminded
us to pray for spiritual needs. Most of Paul’s prayers were for spiritual needs. He was more
concerned with getting the gospel out than getting himself out of prison.
Prayer is a key to spiritual victory in our war with Satan. Satan is more powerful than we
are. He is wiser than we are. He is more experienced than we are. If we fight him in our own
strength, in our own wisdom, and based on our experience, we are sure to fail. Prayer is our
lifeline to the Lord and His unfailing strength and wisdom.
THE BELIEVER’S BATTLE PLAN – PART 4
EPHESIANS 6:10-18
In our text Paul has written about the battle Christians fight, the enemy we face, and the
armor we wear. Now the scripture reminds us to pray on the battlefield. God has not only
provided our armor and our weapon, the sword of the Spirit, but He has set up prayer as the
means of communication by which we stay in touch with headquarters. Warren Wiersbe
identified three main ideas in this passage on spiritual warfare: 1) the enemy (Satan); 2) the
equipment (the whole armor of God); and 3) the energy (prayer).
Soldiers must have supplies and they need guidance. Prayer is staying in contact with
headquarters and receiving supplies and direction (“intelligence”) from our Commander-inChief. In John Bunyan’s story, The Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian had a weapon called “all
prayer.” He was told that when all else failed, this weapon would enable him to defeat every
enemy that would attack him.
The______________________________________________ of Prayer:
Ephesians 6:18 says, “praying always.” Our prayer must be constant because our battle is
constant. In verse 12, Paul uses the word “wrestle” in the present tense which indicates a
continuing action. Because the battle is constant, there is a constant need to pray. We cannot
afford to stop praying, and thankfully God will never stop hearing prayer.
In the Old Testament there were special times assigned for prayer:
•
Psalms 55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he
shall hear my voice.
•
Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house;
and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees
three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
But in the New Testament with the coming of Christ and the Holy Spirit a new dimension was
added to prayer:
•
Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray,
and not to faint.
•
Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.
•
Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.
•
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
•
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
Every circumstance in life, good or bad, is an opportunity to pray.
•
When we are blessed, ______________________________________________________
•
When we are tempted, _____________________________________________________
•
When we have sinned, _____________________________________________________
•
When we meet an unbeliever, _______________________________________________
The______________________________________________ of Prayer:
Paul used the phrase “all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Eph. 6:18). Prayers take
many forms. The word “prayer” is a general word that includes all kinds of requests, and
“supplication” refers to specific requests. The phrase “in the Spirit” means that we should pray
in harmony with the Spirit or as the Spirit leads us to pray. We pray to the Father, through the
Son, in the Spirit. As we pray in God’s will we know that He hears and answers.
•
1 John 5:14-15 14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing
according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we
ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
•
Romans 8:26-27 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what
we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with
groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is
the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will
of God.
•
________________________________________________________ prayers
•
________________________________________________________ prayers
•
Prayers__________________________________________________
•
Prayers__________________________________________________
•
Prayers__________________________________________________
Most of Paul’s prayers recorded in Scripture were in this category. Robert Murray
McCheyne once prayed, “Lord, make me as much like Jesus as a redeemed sinner can
possibly be.”
•
Prayers__________________________________________________
•
Prayers__________________________________________________
The______________________________________________ of Prayer:
As we pray, we are “watching thereunto with all perseverance” (Eph. 6:18). In other
words, we should be alert to our needs and those around us, stay with it, and be persistent in
prayer. We pray when we feel like it and when we don’t feel like it. A man went in to a
business to apply for a job. The owner asked him, “Well tell me what have you been doing?”
“Just this and that.” “Where have you been doing it?” “Just here and there.” When have you
been doing it? “Just off and on.” The owner paused and then said, “Well I think you ought to
check back just now and then. Does that describe our praying: this and that, here and there, off
and on?
•
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be
healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. The word
“fervent” means boiling or hot.
The______________________________________________ of Prayer:
The text says to pray “for all the saints…and for me (Paul)” (Eph. 6:18-19). We should
always pray with these people in mind:
•
Pray for_________________________________________________
•
Pray for_________________________________________________
•
Pray for_________________________________________________
•
1 Samuel 12:23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in
ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way.
•
1 Timothy 2:1-4 1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are
in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; 4 Who will have all men to
be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
We should pray for fellow believers and leaders. All believers are in the battle, and all
leaders are in the heat of the battle and they are the special targets of the enemy. Paul reminded
us to pray for spiritual needs. Most of Paul’s prayers were for spiritual needs. He was more
concerned with getting the gospel out than getting himself out of prison.
Prayer is a key to spiritual victory in our war with Satan. Satan is more powerful than we
are. He is wiser than we are. He is more experienced than we are. If we fight him in our own
strength, in our own wisdom, and based on our experience, we are sure to fail. Prayer is our
lifeline to the Lord and His unfailing strength and wisdom.