Dear Ministry Leaders/Friends:
Today we will be wrapping up our sermon series on “prayerful guidance”. Throughout this series we discovered that prayer saturated every aspect of Christ’s life and ministry. His ministry was launched with prayer, culminated in prayer, fueled by prayer, focused through prayer and covered in prayer.
Our prayer is we will follow Jesus’ example to lean into our heavenly Father’s presence through prayer.
Our passage this morning is taken from Ephesians 6:18. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians church tells us we have already received every spiritual blessing through Christ Jesus. We are adopted, predestined, and chosen by God. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit. We have been reunited with Him. As followers of Christ, we need to not only enjoy all we’ve received in Him, but to also live out he spiritual reality that we belong and are made new in Christ.
But in the walk, there is a war. In that war, we must learn to stand. The enemy wants to take us out. We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood. Our war is unseen and invisible. Our war is a legitimate struggle in the spiritual realm. For this war, God provides spiritual armor for His people. A belt. A helmet. A breastplate. Shoes. Even a sword. But then, finally, prayer. For this spiritual war, there is a spiritual opportunity, prayer to God.
In today’s passage, Paul is reminding us to “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 Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:18 NIV).
This passage that gives us insight on how we are to focus our prayer.
• “pray in the Spirit” = God pours out the ability for us to pray with the aid of the Spirit.
• “on all occasions” = we should develop an continual and open communication with God.
• “all kinds of prayers and requests” = we are to pray with every type of prayer at our disposal.
• “stay alert” = We open our eyes to see what to pray for, ask the Spirit to show us how and what to pray for
• “always keep on praying” = Prayer is that chopping of wood. Hard, but healthy. The deeper we go, the easier it becomes.
• “for all the Lord’s people” = Develop a heart to pray for others we love and know in Christ.
Friends! In all the weaponry provided for us in this spiritual fight, let us not forget prayer. I find prayer to be the five loaves and two fish I bring to God. Yes it may seem small and insignificant, but, passing through the hands of Christ, more than enough.
Let us bring come into God’s presence as we are. Let us cry out to Him as best we can. Be open to Him and allow Him to meet you where you are. As you pray, you are taking up a great weapon, because God is mighty and He hears the cry of His people.
Journeying Together
PG
Jun 27, 2021
© 2024 Logos Baptist Church.
