Sermon Tone Analysis

EPHESIANS 6: 18-20

INTRODUCTION:

A- Paul has impressed upon us three things in the previous verses...

1- Spiritual warfare is real!

2- There are real spiritual enemies all around us.

3- You and I are to seek to be constantly clothed in God’s armor, using spiritual weapons to fight our spiritual foes.

B- In our text, the apostle discusses the absolute necessity of prayer and how we can engage in the conflict as prayer warriors.

TS: There are three questions that we must answer about being prayer warriors that are answered from our text:

I- HOW AM I TO PRAY?

(Ephesians 6:18)

A- Submitted

“ Pray in the Spirit...”

(ἐν πνεύματι)

1- Refers to praying under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and in His power.

(Romans 8:26)

(Jude 20)

B- Specific

1- Paul uses two words in the greek that are translated “prayer” in our text:

“...prayer (προσευχῆς) and supplication (δεήσεως)...”

( προσευχῆς καὶ δεήσεως)

a.The first word (προσευχῆς) refers to general prayer.

Talking to God.

(1) It is impossible to wield the spiritual weapons needed for the battle without tapping into God’s power or getting God’s instructions.

That is done through active communication with God in prayer.

b.

The second word (δεήσεως) deals with getting down to making serious, specific requests of God.

(1) God challenges us to lay our specific needs before Him in prayer.

Example: Paul praying for the Colossian believers (Colossians 1:9-13)

C- Alert

“...Stay alert ...”

(ἀγρυπνοῦντες= to be alert, to be on the lookout for, to be vigilant.)

(Colossians 4:2)

(1 Peter 4:7)

D- Tenacious

1- “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on all occasions...”

(ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ διὰ πάσης)

2- “...be persistent in your prayers...”

(πάσῃ προσκαρτερήσει)

(1 Thessalonians 5:17)

The example of the woman and the unjust judge

(Luke 18:1)

II- FOR WHOM AM I TO PRAY?

(Ephesians 6:18-19)

A- Christians Everywhere

“...be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

“

(πάντων τῶν ἁγίων)

Paul set the example for us:

Colossians 1:3

2 Thessalonians 1:11

1- Brothers and sisters in the local fellowship of believers

2- Brothers and sisters around the world.

Those living under persecution

B- Christian Leaders

Paul requested prayer for himself, (ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ= “for me”)

“And pray for me, too...”

(Romans 15:30)

2. Pray for Christian leaders:

Your pastor

Undergirding Prayer

When Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman had finished his first sermon as the newly elected pastor of the Bethany Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia an aged man leaning upon his cane approached the famous preacher, and said, “I am afraid you will make a failure here.”

That wasn’t much of an encouragement for a young man entering a new pastorate, but Dr. Chapman waited patiently for the old man to finish his remarks.

“You see,” he continued as he drew closer to Dr. Chapman, “we have always had a man of large experience, and this is a large church.

But I have made up my mind to help you!”

Dr. Chapman wondered just how this crippled old man could help him, keep him from failing as pastor of the church.

“I have resolved to pray for you every day that you are pastor in this church, and I have covenanted with two other men to pray for you.”

The three men grew to ten, the ten to fifty, the fifty to a hundred, and the hundred increased until there were as many as three hundred and fifty to five hundred men who would meet with Dr. Chapman at 9:45 Sunday morning to pray with him and for him as he preached.

With such undergirding it is not surprising that in less than three years Dr. Chapman should have received eleven hundred persons into the church on confession of faith.

Other Christian leaders in the local fellowship

Christian leaders in leadership in the association, MBCB, SBC

Christian leaders who are on the front line of the warfare (missionaries, etc.)

III- FOR WHAT AM I TO PRAY?

(Ephesians 6:19-20)

A- Clarity in communicating the Good News

(Ephesians 6:19)

“Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.

“

(ἵνα μοι δοθῇ λόγος ἐν ἀνοίξει τοῦ στόματός ἐν παρρησίᾳ γνωρίσαι τὸ μυστήριον τοῦ εὐαγγελίου)

1- Clarity in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus.

2- Clarity in proclaiming that the Good News is for all people.

B- Boldness in communicating the Good News

(Ephesians 6:20)

“...pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.”

(ἵνα ἐν αὐτῷ παρρησιάσωμαι ὡς δεῖ με λαλῆσαι)

( παρρησιάσωμαι = to speak openly about something and with complete confidence—‘to speak boldly, to speak openly.’)

(See Acts 19:8)

C- Consistency in the midst of difficulty

(Ephesians 6:20)

“I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador.”

(ὑπὲρ οὗ πρεσβεύω ἐν ἁλύσει)

CONCLUSION: