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:
1. Principalities: The Greek word here is “archas” which describes the highest order in Satan’s kingdom. We get the English word “architect” from this word. Principalities are delegated rulers assigned over geographical nations and regions (see Daniel 10:1-21). They are the masters or“architects” of Satan’s rule in these regions. Regional religious and political systems will influence principalities that rule over them and unless there is active intercession they will take on their nature and worship these principalities.
2. Powers: The Greek word here is “exousias” which means “authorities.” These “powers” are delegated authority in Satan’s kingdom under principalities. They might be described as the “contractors” who follow the “architect’s” plan. Satan is called the prince of the power (“exousia”) of the air (Ephesians 2:2).
3. Rulers of the darkness of this world: The Greek word for “rulers” is “kosmo-kratoras” which means, “word rulers.” It can also be translated as “lords of this world” and “princes of this age.” “Darkness” includes the concepts of destitution, lack of light, obscurity, concealment, covering, secrecy, murkiness, shadiness, dimness, and death. In other words, spiritual darkness is the spiritual atmosphere that is void of the true wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and authority of God. Rulers of the darkness of this world are demons assigned to cover this world in darkness in order to conceal the true knowledge of God and of salvation through Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:4) These rulers of darkness are masters of human deception. This darkness is rooted in “philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8) False religions, political mindsets, humanistic philosophies, New Age and the Occult, and man-made traditions are means which Satan blinds people and binds people.
4. Spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places: “Hosts” is a word that can also be translated as “armies.” “Wickedness” describes the nature of these spirits as being morally bad or evil. The English word for “wicked” is derived from the root word that means, “twisted.” Spiritual hosts of wickedness are armies of wicked spirits sent forth to twist the truth of God into a lie. They work to twist man’s behavior, thinking, and character against the moral standard of God. These are the front-line demons that oppose our pursuit of God. (Edward Hassell)
By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured seeing him who is invisible. (Hebrews 11:27)
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (Romans 8:15–16)
Our defense in the battle against these forces is God’s Armor, our Weapon is the Word of God, and our strength and power in these battles is prayer. Here in verse 18, four times the word ALL is used to define the believer’s prayers.
1. Pray at all times
The Bible tells us that we are to remain in constant prayer at all times and for all things.
praying at all times in the Spirit, (Ephesians 6:18)
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.(Colossians 4:2)
they ought always to pray and not lose heart. (Luke 18:1)
?pray without ceasing, (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live. (Psalm 116:2)
“Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us,” (1 Samuel 7:8)
I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. (2 Timothy 1:3)
we have not ceased to pray for you, (Colossians 1:9)
Prayer is to permeate our lives as a universal practice that is as natural to us as breathing. We need to be in constant communication with God because the enemy is at constant war with us with powers of deception and temptation. I guess we should pray that God would give us enough success to know He’s there and enough failure to desperately need Him. We have so many things going for us in our society, in our church, and in our lives. We’ve seen such tremendous blessings that we’ve become smug to reduce everything to gimmicks, programs, and methods. We’ve got it all. To the point that the United States has become spiritual atheists. There’s no passion, no deep longing or yearning that brings us to earnest prayer.
Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26–27)
2. With All Prayer and Supplication
Our prayers are to be more than a list of people who are sick or have physical needs. These are important, but they are not the principal purpose of prayer. In fact, if we only pray to ask for things, we’re missing out on the greatest blessings that come with intercessions.
Make your prayers in concert with Christ. Praying in the Spirit is not talking incoherently or babbling. Praying in the Spirit is being in tune with the heart and plan of Christ to the point that you are praying for His victory and will. For reasons, I can’t fully begin to explain, our Almighty and Sovereign God employs the prayers of the righteous saints.
Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 14 and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.” (Daniel 10:12–14)
The intercessor knows that God’s priorities must be the priority of our prayers. It is living your life consciously in the will of God. It is that your whole life rises before God in communion and communication and you are struggling with God in the deep issues because you want your own life to be in harmony with God. Then when urgent needs arise you are so aware of God’s own will you pray in that manner.
Jesus taught this when he taught his disciples to pray using the Lord’s prayer. The first direction of the prayer was toward the nature, character, majesty, and will of God. The more you know and understand who He is and His will and the more you see this world against the backdrop of HIS holiness, the more you are driven to pray and intercede on behalf of the needs of this world.
If warfare in the heavens was all it took to get this earth free from Satan’s hold, then the battle could have taken place there without the cross. But Satan’s spiritual hold on human lives had to be broken in the earthly realm. The Bible tells us that Jesus was manifested in order to destroy the works of the devil (I John 3:8). The issue behind every temptation of Jesus in the wilderness was to deceive Jesus into exercising His authority independently of God. Jesus submitted Himself to the authority of God’s Word in every temptation. Submission to God was demonstrated through submission to His word. As a result, Satan could not touch him.
3. Praying With Your Eyes Open
“Keep alert with all perseverance...” (v.18)
Jesus said, “For judgment, I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” (John 9:39)
The phrase “watch and pray” occurs often in the Bible. When Nehemiah was repairing the walls of Jerusalem, and the enemy was trying to stop the work, Nehemiah defeated the enemy by watching and praying. Watching and praying is the secret to victory over the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
First, we don’t pray aloof to what is going on around us. As we maintain alertness, we need to maintain persistence! Perseverance in prayer does not mean we are trying to twist God’s arm, but rather that we are deeply concerned and burdened and cannot rest until we get God’s answer. (Mark 14:38)
The early church prayed without ceasing when Peter was in prison and, at the last moment, God gave them their answer (by releasing Peter supernaturally just before he faced certain execution). We also need to be self-aware of our lives and how the enemy is leading us away from God. Sin hinders our prayers.
?The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. (Proverbs 15:29)
but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. (Isaiah 59:2)
4. Praying for Others
Because of the separation and deception that sin brings, God initiated in the Old Testament a plan for intercession (mediation) by instituting priests who could stand in the gap between Himself and His people. The High Priest was the highest and most important intercessor among the people. In the New Testament, Jesus is our High Priest and we have become a holy priesthood unto our God (Hebrews 4:14; I Peter 2:9). Every believer in Jesus Christ is an intercessor by virtue of His priesthood. It is not the job of a special elite force of “intercessors” in the church. Every believer is to be involved in the ministry of intercession. An intercessor is one “who stands in the gap for another”
And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. (Ezekiel 22:30)
God is not looking for those who can see the sin and faults in others and then proceed to expose and curse them. Anyone can and will do that. No, Jesus is looking for those who can see beyond the problem and seek the solution. He is looking for those who can see God’s plan for the people and then stand in the gap as intercessors so that God will not have to destroy in judgment. It is not the job of intercessors to pray judgment and destruction upon sinners and rebels but in every case to plead the mercy of God until repentance and restoration come. Intercessors stand in the gap believing that when people are willing to turn to God, God’s mercy will always triumph over pending judgment (James 2:13). Even if sinners refuse to repent and God executes judgment, the heart of a true intercessor will weep and mourn for those who have suffered this fate (Lamentations 3:48; Luke 19:41-44).
