Prayer Power Series

Stand: The Sword of the Spirit

Ephesians 6:18-20

Pastor Jefferson M. Williams

6-2–2024

F-16 Fighting Falcon

This is a picture of an F-16 Fighting Falcon. Its wingspan is 32 feet and it measures 49 feet long. The top speed is 1,500 mph (Mach 2 at altitude). Its range is more than 2,000 miles and it can climb over 50,000 feet.

It carries a payload of two 2,000-pound bombs, two AIM-9s, two AIM-120s, and two 2400-pound external fuel tanks. It’s armed with one M-61A1 20mm multibarrel cannon with 500 rounds; external stations can carry up to six air-to-air missiles, conventional air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions, and electronic countermeasure pods.

Each plane costs 15 million dollars and is one of the most dangerous weapons in our arsenal.

And yet, if the electrical systems were to short out on this fighter plane, it would become useless and as harmless as a paper airplane.

Without power, the plane is not a threat and is an easy target for enemy missiles.

Over these past weeks, we’ve been studying the armor of God and this morning we will learn that there is a power source that makes the armor effective in our battle to stand against evil.

Please turn to Ephesians 6 with me one last time during this series.

Prayer

Review

We are learning that we are all in a spiritual battle that we cannot see. The Christian life is not a cruise ship but a battle ship.

Max Lucado writes:

“God has enlisted us in his navy and placed us on his ship. The boat has one purpose – to carry us safely to the other shore. This is no cruise ship; it’s a battleship. We aren’t called to a life of leisure; we are called to a life of service. Each of us has a different task. Some, concerned with those who are drowning, are snatching people from the water. Others are occupied with the enemy, so they man the cannons of prayer and worship. Still others devote themselves to the crew, feeding and training the crew members. Though different, we are the same. Each can tell of a personal encounter with the captain, for each has received a personal call. We each followed him across the gangplank of his grace onto the same boat. There is one captain and one destination. Though the battle is fierce, the boat is safe, for our captain is God. The ship will not sink. For that, there is no concern.”

Paul is finishing his letter to the Ephesian church and wants to warn them to be armed and ready for attacks of the evil one.

He was chained to an elite Roman guard day and night. I can imagine him staring at the guard’s armor and thinking.“That would make a perfect word picture for what I’m trying to communicate!”

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Eph 6:14-17)

He ends this section by continuing verse 17 with these words:

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 Lord’s people.

This verse shows us how to “take up” the armor of God. We do that through the power of prayer.

Prayer is part of every major religion. Muslims pray toward Mecca. Jewish people pray at the Wailing Wall. For Buddhists, prayer is the act of emptying the mind.

Many of us still need to improve in the area of prayer.

Richard Halverson lists four reasons that we shy away from prayer:

1. Unbelief – we simply doubt that God is listening or that He cares

2. Indifference – if God already knows, then why pray?

3. Priorities – we are too caught up in this world.

4. It’s difficult – prayer is hard work and takes discipline. Maxine’s mom and stepdad would pray all night. I have trouble praying for 20 mins!

We don’t pray to inform God of any new information. We pray as children to a Father. Prayer keeps our hearts in touch with God.

Prayer changes us and aligns us with His will. And God has conditioned our receiving things from Him through prayer.

Prayer is the expression of our total dependence on God for everything.

We can trust that God hears us (Psalm 16). We can rely on the Holy Spirit to help us pray when we are at a loss for words (Romans 8:26).

The writer of Hebrews encourages us to: