Improving Your Prayer Life Series

Intro. Eph. 6 is best known for the armour of God. Yet, we see an exhortation to the christian’s prevailing practice. As we see and recognize the opposition we have as God’s children and examine the equipment God has provided for us to defend us. We find an important instrument that enables us to use the pieces of the armour properly.

Idea is “ Each piece put on with prayer” Martin Lloyd Jones.

I have been reading a book by Warren Wiersbe “ SomeThing Happens When Churches Pray”

I Prevailing prayer life.

Eph. 6: 18 Praying ( pres. tense) always with all prayer

here the word prayer is just a general term for prayer

A. We have an obligation to pray.

Luke 18:1 ¶ And he spake a parable unto them to this end,

that men ought ( it is necessary, necessity established by the counsel and decree of God,) always to pray, and not to faint;

B. We are to be attentive to pray. Christ was telling his followers what will enable them to prepare for the coming events.

Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

C. We are to be habitually praying

Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Acts 10:2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

D. We are exhorted as the church to be constant in prayer.

Acts 12:5 ¶ Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

Colossians 4:2 ¶ Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

2 Timothy 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

II. Petitioning Prayer Life

and supplication (to be shown favour, be shown consideration )

prayer with specific petitions to have desire met. cp. Phil. 4:6

1 Kings 8:59 And let these my words, wherewith I have made supplication before the LORD,

A. Supplications is getting close to God

be nigh unto the LORD our God day and night,

B. Supplications is requesting the interest of the petitioner

that he maintain the cause of his servant,

and the cause of his people Israel at all times,

C. Supplications is surrendering to the will of God to do what is best.

as the matter shall require:

what is the most important element of prayer that sets true prayer apart from just a list of requests.

III. Powerful Prayer Life

A. Spirit enables us to address God as Father.

Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

B. Spirit enables us to know how and what to pray for.

Martin Lloyd Jones says about Spirit led prayer- “ Praying in the HolySpirit! This means the Holy Spirit directs the prayer, creates the prayer within us, andempowers us to offer it and to pray it.”

Romans 8:26 ¶ 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.

Romans 8:27 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.

Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

C. Spirit enables us to be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.

Successful prayer is not based upon length or position but on what moves us to prayer. Do not rely upon forms or rituals or repetitious prayers.

notice Phil. 3:3 “ which worship God in the spirit” what is moving us to pray

IV. Persevering prayer Life.

A. Steadfast attentive prayer

and watching thereunto with all perseverance ( means to be steadfast, not stopping,to be steadfastly attentive unto, to give unremitting care to a thing do not slack off concerning prayer

) Thessalonians says “ pray without ceasing”

B. Sincere unselfish prayer

and supplication for all saints;

Matthew 15:25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

Matthew 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.

Matthew 15:27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.

Matthew 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.