Standing in Prayer
Ephesians 6:18-20
August 19, 2007
Morning Service
Introduction
John Hyde is one of the most well known missionaries to India. One of his chief characteristics was an amazing prayer life. Early in his ministry he had an itinerant schedule and traveled from village to village. Hyde became frustrated with few converts.
One morning John was reading and came across the words of Isaiah 62:6-7: “They must remind the LORD of his promises… They must give him no rest until he restores Jerusalem.” John began praying that God would provide one convert for him that day. By the end of that year, he won over 400 people to Christ. The next year he began to ask God for two converts a day and again his prayer was answered. The following year he prayed for four converts a day with the same results.
Prayer worked incredible wonders for John Hyde and it can do the same for us today. Prayer has the power of God behind it and when we pray God moves.
Over and over again Paul calls the early church to the ministry of prayer. The most powerful example that Paul gives for prayer is often his own prayers that he prayed for the churches.
The central significance of prayer is not in the things that happen as results, but in the deepening intimacy and unhurried communion with God at His central throne of control in order to discover a "sense of God’s need in order to call on God’s help to meet that need" E.M. Bounds, The Weapon Of Prayer.
This morning, we are going to conclude our series on spiritual warfare. If you have your Bibles with you, please open them to Ephesians 6:18-20
18 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 saints. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6:18-20
The frequency of prayer
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions
Early African converts to Christianity were earnest and regular in private devotions. Each one reportedly had a separate spot in the thicket where he would pour out his heart to God. Over time the paths to these places became well worn. As a result, if one of these believers began to neglect prayer, it was soon apparent to the others. They would kindly remind the negligent one, "Brother, the grass grows on your path."Today in the Word, June 29, 1992.
When Paul says to pray on all occasions, does he mean to pray 24 hours per day? Most likely he is not. There are two things that Paul is referring to. The first issue is the attitude of prayer. Our day should be filled with an attitude of prayer. In other words, prayer should be an ongoing conversation with God throughout our day, not just a segment of it.
The second issue is the arrangement of prayer. Paul would have practiced a specific schedule of prayer. The Hebrew model of prayer was divided into three segments of day. These designated prayer times were observed by those who sought to know God. Each of these three times would have been around an hour in length.
The issue that Paul is dealing with is more than a specific set number of times for prayer. We are to live each day in a spirit of prayer.
The goal of frequency of prayer is to help us stay in tune with God. The idea of radio frequency – The number of times a radio wave gets repeated at a specific modulation. We are able to receive a radio station as long as you are able to stay within the designated frequency. The same is true with God, we can only stay in tune with Him when we stay in frequent communication with Him.
One of our problems in American churches is that we never truly get serious about prayer. We only really seriously pray when we are faced with problems beyond our abilities.
The form and function of prayer
with all kinds of prayers and requests
Paul tells the Ephesians to pray all kinds of prayers. When you stop to think about it there are several different kinds of prayers that we use and several different functions of prayer. This is in essence both the how and the why we pray. The form is how we pray and the function is why we pray.
Remember that there is no prescribed posture, position or even place in the New Testament for prayer. The issue of importance was the fact that we are to pray.
Forms
Petition – Praying for our own personal needs
Praise – Giving acknowledgement to God for His works and blessing in our lives
Intercession – Praying for the needs of others
Functions
Thanksgiving – Showing our gratitude to God for all that he has done for us
Adoration – Showing our love for God
Confession – Showing our remorse and sorrow to God for our sin
The fervency of prayer
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying
When we pray there ought to be a passionate outpouring of heart to God. Often, we pray with the enthusiasm of watching paint dry. Persevering in prayer means more than just not giving up, it means to approach prayer with a deep seated passion. It is to have a desire to not only pray but to pray with power. It is a desire to see more of God move in your life. It is the desire to allow God to have all of your life.
When we pray with passion, we move closer toward God. Praying literally draws us closer to God and brings us into His presence.
The focus of prayer
for all the saints
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive it; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Francis of Assisi.
As Christians, one of our motives must be a focus on the welfare of others. We are to be in prayer for our fellow believers. Studies show how that the majority of metal and psychological issue stem from an unhealthy focus on self. Today, many Christians have an incredible problem with self.
If you are struggling with personal problems – I want you to try something that might help you. Think of five other people who are having greater struggles than you and make a commitment to pray for them daily. Your troubles may not be solved but your perspective on them will certainly change.
Paul specifically asks for the Ephesians to pray for the saints. Saint is one of the most misunderstood terms in the New Testament. A saint was a person who was fully devoted to following Jesus. Early Christians sacrificed much to live the Christian life.
One prime example of this effected merchants and business owners. It is important to remember that many Roman cities required merchants to be members of guilds. These guilds would have practiced the worship of a specific pagan God. Without such a membership it would have been forbidden to conduct business.
Paul is asking the church to pray for one another as they faced the trials of faith. The church would have been encouraged to share one another’s burdens.
If we are truly going to stand for Jesus we must stand in battle together. Just as the Roman soldiers formed battle lines to repel the enemy, we need to stand together. We must stand shoulder to shoulder, shield to shield and side by side.
The need for prayer is twofold. First there is a need for you to pray. You are standing with your brothers and sisters in Christ when you take up the task of prayer. When you fail to pray, you fail to support your fellow soldiers. You are failing to take your rightful place in the shield wall. Those in this church need your prayers.
The second need is for you personally. Just as we need you to stand with the church. You need the rest of the church to stand with you. Would you honestly want to face your spiritual struggles without the church? Would you want to face the difficulties of life without support? The truth is this you need us and we need you.
Conclusion
Roman soldiers had adapted a Greek battle tactic that was incredibly effective. They would form what was called a shield wall. This formation lined each soldier side by side with little space in between. Then they would hold up their shields, which would overlap one another. This created a nearly impenetrable wall that moved forward as the soldiers confronted the enemy.
The time has come for the church to stand and stand together. We stand in faith. We stand in peace. We stand in truth. We stand in righteousness. We stand in prayer.
Will you answer the call to stand? Jesus stands with us today. Will you stand with Him?
