Today is known as Palm Sunday because about 2000 years ago Jesus Christ entered the City of Jerusalem and the people worshiped Him with palm branches! We read in Matthew 21:7-11, Jesus entered the City of Jerusalem on a donkey and the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
The people worshiped Jesus Christ because He was performing all sorts of miracles and Jesus was speaking for God. But after a few days, what did the people do to Jesus??
After welcoming Jesus into their lives, in a few days time, they mocked and killed Jesus. What happened?
Open your Bibles to Matthew 21…… look at v10-15………
Jesus came to tell the truth but the people, especially the leaders and teachers, did not want to be told that they were sinners against God. The children trusted Jesus but those who were self-righteous became indignant! Anger resulted!
Why did Jesus get so upset at the temple??
The people became robbers and neglected prayer! You see, a lack of prayer is a sign of self-righteousness!
Self-righteousness mocks God. Can we be self-righteous even as Christians? How’s our prayer life?
Let us not be like those who hated Jesus because He was telling the truth. Let us be a house of prayer!
We have been studying the full armor of God from Ephesians 6. Before we talk about the final piece of the full armor of God, which is about prayer, how are we doing with the first six pieces?
How did your week go with a focus on the Helmet of Salvation??
How has the other pieces of the armor helped you??
Now, we can be so good at putting on the Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, the Shoes of the Gospel of Peace, the Shield of Faith, the Sword of the Spirit, and the Helmet of Salvation and think we are fully protected when there is one major piece of the armor that is necessary.
Prayer completes the Full Armor of God! A lack of prayer is a sign of self-righteousness which the devil will use to injure us to be ineffective for God’s Kingdom.
As Christians confronted by the devil on a daily basis, we must learn what prayer is and more importantly to just do it! We will do just that in a moment.
Please open your Bibles to Ephesians 5:15-16……
now turn to Ephesians 6:13-18……..
God warned Christians 2000 years ago to be careful and live wisely because the days are evil. We are still living in evil days aren’t we? The devil will attack us Christians with his schemes. And if we don’t put on the full armor of God, the devil will hurt us, those around us, and make us ineffective for the Kingdom of Christ!
There is no question, every Christian must put on the full armor of God! Are you committed to this and will you encourage other Christians to put on the armor of God?
Please take a moment to quietly pray right now. Right where you are, make a commitment to God about putting on the full armor and encouraging others to do the same…
I have suggested that we remember the 7 pieces of the armor of God by remembering B B S S S H F.
Belt of Truth!
Breastplate of Righteousness!
Shoes of the Gospel!
Shield of Faith!
Sword of the Spirit!
Helmet of Salvation!
What is the final piece F? I am suggesting we call it the Forcefield of Prayer! What is a Forcefield? A Forcefield (picture) is a force which envelops you to protect you.
Now, am I just pulling this out of a hat or did I just watch too many Star Wars movies?
Consider the following passages:
Philippians 4:5-7 tells us, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Prayer gives us the peace of God and His protection!
James 5:16-18 states “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”
Some of you may remember the story of Elijah and the sorcerers calling on their god for fire. Elijah was so confident about the power of prayer that he put water all over the place! And we read in 1 Kings 18:36-38 “At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again." Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.”
When Believers of God pray, the power of God envelops them and provides protection from the devils attacks.
Here’s what Jesus said in Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
Yes we need to put on the Belt of Truth, the Breastplate of Righteousness, the Shoes of the Gospel, take up the Shield of Faith, the Sword of the Spirit, and the Helmet of Salvation. But if we don’t pray, we can still fall into the temptation of the devil.
And so we are instructed in Ephesians 6:18 and other Scriptures, 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. Pray always!
What is prayer? Prayer is simply talking to God!
God loves to hear our prayers! We read in 1 Peter 3:12, “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer.”
But let us take note, there can be barriers to our prayers. Prayers will not be powerful and effective if we are not right with God. How can we have powerful and effective prayers? Put on the 6 pieces of the armor of God first, then pray! BBSSSH before praying!
Buckle the Belt of Truth, allow Jesus Christ to embrace you!
The Breastplate of Righteousness calls for a clean heart! – Confess your sins and accept Jesus’ death on the cross.
The Shoes of the Gospel is your personal salvation story; remind yourself of why you accepted Jesus as Savior and God and be ready to share it!
Trust God with everything; this is your Shield of Faith!
Depend on the Bible which is the Sword of the Spirit!
Claim your citizenship in heaven! As a Christian, you belong to God; this is your Helmet of Salvation!
BBSSSH before praying, then talk to God, worship Him, and ask for anything in accordance to His will! If Jesus Christ is our Lord, we are to pray for what He desires!
Quietly do this right now…… BBSSSH before praying, then talk to God, worship Him, and ask for anything in accordance to His will!
