Sermon Central
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The Spiritual Armor Of Prayer Series
Contributed by Douglas Phillips on Sep 16, 2015 (message contributor)
Summary: TODAY WE COME TO THE LAST OF THE ELEMENTS PAUL SPEAKS OF WHEN HE IS TEACHING ABOUT SPIRITUAL WARFARE, THE WEAPON OF PRAYER.
THE SPIRITUAL ARMOR OF PRAYER
TODAY WE COME TO THE LAST OF THE ELEMENTS PAUL SPEAKS OF WHEN HE IS TEACHING ABOUT SPIRITUAL WARFARE. PAUL HAS TAUGHT US THAT, WHILE WE MAY FACE TRIALS AND DIFFICULTIES IN THIS WORLD, THAT THESE TRIALS AND DIFFICULTIES HAVE A SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION.
HE STATES IN THIS PASSAGE THAT WE DO NOT STRUGGLE AGAINST “FLESH AND BLOOD”, FOR IF WE DID WE MIGHT STAND A CHANCE. HE TELLS US THAT THE TRUE NATURE OF OUR ENEMY, IS SPIRITUAL IN NATURE, AND OUR BATTLE IS FAUGHT IN THE SPIRITUAL REALMS.
WE FACE THE TEMPTATIONS AND STRUGGLES IN THIS WORLD, BUT THE ORIGINATOR OF OUR TROUBLE IS IN ANOTHER. IT WAS SATAN WHO WENT TO GOD FOR PERMISSION TO “TEST” JOB. THE OKAY WAS GIVEN IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM, THE BOUNDARIES WERE SET IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM, AND THEY WERE ACTED OUT IN THE PHYSICAL.
SATAN’S ULTIMATE GOAL IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS TO DESTROY THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND TO DO THIS HE HAS TO DESTROY ANY REASON FOR A PERSON TO WANT TO BELONG TO IT. THUS HE WILL ATTACK INDIVIDUAL CHRISTIANS AND CHURCHES WITH THE IDEA OF DESTROYING THEIR TESTIMONY AND WITNESS TO THOSE AROUND THEM, AND IN THE PROCESS, DESTROY THE REPUTATION OF GOD AS SEEN THROUGH THEM.
GOD GAVE PAUL THE WORDS OF EPHESIANS CHAPTER 6 TO HELP FEND OFF THE ATTACKS OF THE DEVIL. WHEN PAUL WROTE IT HE WAS A PRISONER AND USED THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ROMAN GUARD HE WAS CHAINED TO ILLUSTRATE HIS TEACHING.
PAUL GAVE US MANY PIECES OF ARMOR TO PUT ON, AND THIS INDICATES THAT THERE ARE MANY WAYS THAT SATAN IS GOING TO ATTACK US. ONE THING IS FOR SURE AND THAT IS THAT WE MUST BE WEARING THE ARMOR PROPERLY AND COMPLETELY IF WE ARE GOING TO DEFEAT SATAN IN HIS ATTACK.
THE PROBLEM THAT OCCURS THOUGH, IS THAT WE CONCENTRATE SO MUCH ON THE PIECES OF ARMOR THAT PAUL MENTIONS, THAT WE NEGLECT THE LAST THING THAT PAUL TELLS US TO DO IN PREPARATION FOR SPIRITUAL BATTLE, AND THAT IS PRAY.
NONE OF THE ELEMENTS OF ARMOR THAT PAUL MENTIONS WILL BE OF ANY USE UNLESS THEY ARE BATHED IN PRAYER. IT WOULD DO A SOLDIER NO GOOD, TO SEND HE OR SHE INTO BATTLE WITH A RIFLE AND NOT TEACH HOW TO CLEAN, LOAD, AND FIRE THE WEAPON. NOR WOULD IT DO THE SOLDIER ANY GOOD TO TEACH THEM THE PROPER USE OF THE WEAPON, AND NOT GIVE THEM ONE TO USE.
THE SAME IS TRUE IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE. OUR BATTLES ARE NOT FAUGHT IN THIS WORLD, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE WON OR LOST HERE. ONE PERSON HAS SAID THAT PRAYER IS THE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM BETWEEN THE GENERAL OF THE ARMY AND HIS SOLDIERS.
THERE IS THEN A STRONG RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PUTTING ON THE ARMOR OF GOD AND PRAYING. IN FACT ONE WILL GROW OUT OF THE OTHER. IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO JUST PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD, YOU MUST ALSO PRAY.
ROBERT DEFFINBAUGH STATES:
“PRAYER FOLLOWS PUTTING ON THE ARMOR OF GOD. IT IS A NATURAL, NORMAL OUTGROWTH. THE PLACE WHERE DISCIPLINE SHOULD COME IN IS NOT, FIRST, IN PRAYER, BUT IN DOING WHAT IS INVOLVED IN “PUTTING ON THE ARMOR OF GOD.” FIRST THINK THROUGH THE IMPLICATIONS OF OUR FAITH, AND THEN PRAYER WILL FOLLOW NATURALLY MUCH MORE EASILY. WHEN IT COMES IN THAT ORDER IT WILL BE THOUGHTFUL PRAYER, PRAYER WHICH HAS MEANING AND SIGNIFICANCE. IT WILL BE REVERENT PRAYER.”
THIS POWERFUL CALL TO PRAYER BY PAUL SHOULD NOT BE A SURPRISE TO US. THROUGHOUT THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS PAUL WRITES STRONG ELEMENTS OF PRAYER.
HE PRAYS FOR THE EPHESIANS IN CHAPTER ONE. (1:15-23)
HE CONCLUDES CHAPTER THREE WITH ANOTHER PRAYER (3:14-21)
IN CHAPTER 5 ONE ASPECT OF A SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE IS THANSGIVING.
HERE IN CHAPTER SIX, PAUL GIVES US DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS ON PRAYER. VERSES 18-20 PROVIDE A GOOD LESSON ON PRAYER. CONSIDER:
1. HE GIVES THE TIME TO PRAY: ALWAYS – IN EVERY SEASON
2. THE NATURE OF PRAYER: WITH EVERY KIND OF PRAYER AND PETITION
3. THE METHOD IS GIVEN: WATCHING WITH UTMOST AVAILABILITY TO MAKE PETITION.
4. THE OBJECTS: “ALL SAINTS”
PAUL IN THIS COMMAND COVERS ALL BASES BY SAYING THAT WE ARE TO HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF PRAYER FOR:
1. ALL TYPES OF PRAYER
2. SUPPLICATION
ALL TYPES OF PRAYER CAN REFER TO INTERCESSORY PRAYER, PETITION, WORSHIP, AND CONFESSION, JUST TO NAME A FEW. IT WILL NOT BE A PROBLEM FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS DONNED THE ARMOR OF GOD, TO BE ABLE TO BE IN AN ATTITUDE OF CONTINUOUS PRAYER.
PAUL TAUGHT IN 1 THESSALONIANS 5:17;
REJOICE ALWAYS, 17 PRAY CONTINUALLY, 18 GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES; FOR THIS IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU IN CHRIST JESUS. 19 DO NOT QUENCH THE SPIRIT. 20 DO NOT TREAT PROPHECIES WITH CONTEMPT 21 BUT TEST THEM ALL; HOLD ON TO WHAT IS GOOD, 22 REJECT EVERY KIND OF EVIL.
