Praying In The Spirit At All Times Series

Dr. Bradford Reaves

Crossway Christian Fellowship

Hagerstown, MD

www.mycrossway.org

Watch this message at: https://mycrossway.churchcenter.com/episodes/157508

We have come to the closing of the Armor of God, and really it is the closing of the Book of Ephesians. And it is fitting that the closing theme to this entire magnificent letter on The Essential Resources of the Believer in Jesus Alone, is prayer. This is more than an additional weapon, Prayer is the very air that we breathe as God’s children.

For 36 weeks we’ve broken down the victorious and abundant life of the believer in Jesus Christ and nowhere during that time did Paul ever lead us to believe that is to rely on our own spiritual resources. God has given us everything we need, but it all still depends on Him. In the midst of this marvelous victory over death, sin, eternal hell, the flesh, and the forces of Satan himself, the Apostle Paul tells us that God has given us His armor to withstand every spiritual attack our vanquished foe, Satan can throw at us.

I pray and I hope that if you received any bit of spiritual understanding out of this study, it is that you understand that the forces of Satan are real and powerful. Our enemy is real and the battle that is occurring all around us is real. This isn’t some allegory nor is it trivial. It is happening now over the battle for the eternity of every person made in God’s image and the demonic forces are immersed, even celebrated in our culture.

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, (Ephesians 6:10–18)

The war against the satanic forces is happening in the heavenly realm through prayer, worship, music, and the prophetic. We see the battle in the sanctity of the union of a man and a woman and even in the very identity, the imago Dei, as a man or a woman. We see the battle happening over our children, their lives, their souls, and their innocence. We see the battle over our school, churches, town, and in geopolitical forces; a stronghold that is oppressing God’s people and blinding them to the truth of our day.

It is happening now and all around us and the Apostle Paul does not tell us to cower in the face of these enemies but to stand firm with the armor of God. Stand firm with the Belt of Truth, holding everything together. Stand firm with the Breastplate of Righteousness, keeping yourself pure in the righteousness of Christ. Stand firm and on solid ground with the Shoes of the Gospel, taking up the Shield of Faith to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the enemy and provide a unified front as the Army of God. Stand firm with the Helmet of Salvation guarding your mind and the Sword of the Spirit to defeat the enemy's attack. Stand firm in the Full Armor of God and at ALL TIMES be in intercessory prayer. The armor is not mechanical and the armor is not magical. It needs God. God infuses into the armor and God infuses into our resources His power and that only happens when you pray. Intercessory prayer confronts the demonic powers in the heavenly places and sends them fleeing away. We must be a church engaged in prayer!

Revelation 12:9 reveals that Satan was cast out of heaven with a third of the angels. These “fallen angels” are enemy forces who obey Satan and come to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Jesus encountered these forces in His earthly ministry when He cast out demons. Our contact with these forces is continual. Ephesians 6:12 tells us, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”  While Satan is the archenemy of God and of the saints, he is not omnipresent. His forces make up the kingdom of Satan (Matthew 12:26).  Ephesians 6:12 reveals four distinct levels: