Pray With Every Kind Of Prayer Series

July 11, 2020

We have been given a list of Spiritual Armor and a direct command to put it ALL on – Don’t leave off one piece – Don’t get lazy in your battle prep – PUT ON ALL THE ARMOR!!

A potential problem arises when our singular focus becomes the Armor at the expense of the last instruction Paul gives us for preparing for Spiritual Battle --- PRAY.

In war, one of the things an enemy will target is the line of communication between the Generals and the frontline soldier.

Satan targets our prayer life because he knows how vital it is to our war effort. He might plant these kinds of seeds:

• “God knows what I need, so why should I have to ask” --- Thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

• “I don’t get what I want, so I’m going to stop asking” --- Thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

• “I’m way to busy” --- Thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

• “I don’t want to be a nag” ---- Thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

We might think we’re bold and courageous when it comes to Spiritual Combat, but if we make little effort at communication until we want something or we’re in a jam we can’t get out of, our “prayer life” will have no power and no positive impact on our daily battles.

• Clinton Arnold {Ephesians, p. 112} - The writer {of Ephesians} wants his readers to understand prayer as an essential spiritual weapon, but more than a weapon, it is foundational for the deployment of all the other weapons.

Which is why Paul says:

Ephesians 6:18 {NASB} - …. with ALL prayer and petition pray at ALL times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with ALL perseverance and petition for ALL the saints.

All Prayer and Petition

A rough cut or natural diamond is pretty, but it has no life, no fire --- it’s not particularly interesting. What makes a finished diamond so highly sought after are the facets, which make it sparkly and fiery and beautiful.

A prayer life can be one dimensional ---

• The mealtime “thanks for the food” prayer

• The I want something prayer

• The I’m in trouble prayer

• The “holy” 20-minute Sabbath morning prayer {you know the ones I’m talking about}

What makes a prayer life VICTORIOUS is its many facets – which are of strategic importance in Spiritual Warfare:

The Prayer of Thanksgiving

• Psalm 100:1-5 - A psalm. For giving thanks. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

The Prayer of Praise and Worship

• Exodus 15:2-3 - The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. 3 The LORD is a warrior; the LORD is his name.

• Psalm 95:6-7 - Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; 7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

• Psalm 144:1-2 - Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. 2 He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.

The Prayer of Confession and Forgiveness

• Psalm 51:1-17 - Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge…. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me…. 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.