“THE REASON WE PRESS ON” Eph. 6:19-20
FBCF – 8/29/21
Jon Daniels
INTRO – Lets’ get real this AM. Who needs prayer today?
- Healing from sickness
- Guidance on a decision or direction in life
- Family issues
- Grief
- Lost friend or family member
Sometimes we have a hard time asking for prayer for ourselves. May feel like it’s selfish. Someone else has a bigger need than us. Don’t want to call attention to ourselves. Others may think we are weak. Might talk about us. Our request may seem small, insignificant, even silly.
But there’s absolutely nothing wrong w/ asking for prayer for yourself. It’s good to do that. Good to let your brothers/sisters in Christ know how to support & encourage you. “We ask the Lord for help, & we ask other people. Until we see Him face-to-face, God works through His Spirit & His people.” (https://www.crossway.org/articles/the-right-way-to-ask-for-prayer/)
In the last 2 verses of Eph. 6:10-20, we see Paul asking for prayer for himself.
EXPLANATION – Ephesians 6:19-20
Spent last 5 weeks on spiritual warfare:
- “The Enemy We Face” – v. 10-11
- “The Battle we Fight” – v. 12
- “The Strategy We Use” – v. 13
- “The Armor We Wear” – v. 14-18
- “The Reason We Press On” – v. 19-20
Prayer is a powerful spiritual weapon in our arsenal. Franklin Graham: “…prayer is most definitely a weapon – a mighty weapon wielded by believers in the Lord Jesus Christ against our most powerful adversary, the devil.” (https://decisionmagazine.com/mighty-weapon-prayer/)
When we pray, we are calling down air support from heaven in our battles against Satan & his forces. We are drawing on the power of God when we pray. We are communicating w/ our Supreme Commander in Chief. No doubt that prayer is one of our most potent & powerful weapons against Satan. That’s why Paul asked the church to pray for him. He knew that sharing the Gospel would bring about a heavy attack from the enemy. He needed prayer cover.
I’d like to read this from the NIV84 (slide) - “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, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”
The reason we press on is the very reason that Paul was in prison: The Gospel! The Good News that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world & will give the gift of salvation to anyone, anywhere, at any time if they will turn from their sins & trust Him alone to save them. That’s why Paul pressed on in spite of persecution & prison cells, & that’s why we press on in spite of spiritual warfare & opposition.
APPLICATION – The Gospel is for ALL people & must be shared with as many people as possible.
When we look at Paul’s prayer request, we see 3 keys to pressing on to share the Gospel.
BE READY – “…whenever I open my mouth…” – Hurricane Ida barreling toward Gulf Coast. Now is the time to be ready for the inevitable impact.
We need to always be ready for the inevitable opportunities that will come our way to share the Gospel w/ someone. May be a family member, friend, or total stranger.
- 2 Timothy 4:2 – “Preach the Good News. Be ready @ all times & tell people what they need to do.” (NCV)
- 1 Peter 3:15 – “…Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you.” (GNT)
- Acts 8:35 – “Then Phillip opened his mouth…& told him the good news about Jesus.”
We witness with our lives AND w/ our words – not just one or the other. We practice what we preach but we MUST PREACH the Gospel!
- Acts 8:4 – “Those who had been scattered preached the Word everywhere they went.” (NIV)
BE BOLD – “…fearlessly” – Gk – “w/ courage, boldness, confidence, frankness” – Not cocky or arrogantly, but speaking lovingly, compassionately, clearly, & strongly b/c we know that what we are sharing is right & is the truth of God that can change a person’s life for all eternity.
Don’t back down from the truth of the Gospel! You’ll be ridiculed. People will push hard against you. They won’t like you. You won’t be popular. The culture hates the Gospel & is increasingly hating those who proclaim it. Proclaim it anyway – fearlessly!
BE OBEDIENT – “…as I should.” – Paul knew that, as a Christ-follower, he should share the Gospel. So he did, & it landed him in a prison cell, & eventually his execution. But obedience to the Lord’s commands is the best & only way for a Christ-follower to live his/her life.
In a world where everybody is choosing sides on every possible topic & issue imaginable, it’s high time for the CHURCH to get back to doing that thing that we SHOULD be doing – sharing the Gospel! Quit fighting & griping & tweeting & posting about your viewpoint on a vaccine that may or may not work & start doing what you SHOULD be doing as a Christ-follower & telling people about the 100% effective cure for the universally deadly disease called SIN!!!
CONCLUSION/TAKEAWAY – THE GOSPEL – IT is the reason we press on as the battles rage on!
