Spiritual Warfare (Part 3)

Praying in the Spirit (Eph 6:18-24)

Introduction: We have been talking about Spiritual Warfare for the past two weeks.

A) What are some forms of spiritual warfare do you remember from the past few weeks?

Strategies of the Devil:

Doubt, especially as it relates to the Word of God

Temptation to rebel against God

Trials or hard times that lead to discouragement

Attacks on the physical body (Job)

Division or conflict in the church

B) How do we fight spiritual warfare?

The Armor of God

Belt of truth

Breast plate of righteousness

Shoes or the preparation of the Gospel

Shield of faith

The helmet of salvation

The sword of the spirit

(Prayer).....

One underestimated weapon against Spiritual Warfare is prayer

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane was under heavy Spiritual Warfare, as He was being betrayed by Judas.

Matthew 26:38 “He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.””

Praying in the Spirit lead Jesus to pray for God’s will to be done, despite the suffering Jesus was about to suffer.

Praying in the Spirit strengthen Jesus to fulfill God’s plan

1. (V18) Pray in the Spirit at all times

Last but not least, Prayer is effective in fighting the strategies of the devil

a) (When should we pray?) On every occasion, all the time

b) (How should you pray?) Alert and persistent

C) (Who should I pray for?) Believers everywhere

What does it mean to pray in the Spirit?

The Greek word translated “pray in” can have several different meanings. It can mean “by means of,” “with the help of,” “in the sphere of,” and “in connection to.”

Praying in the Spirit does not refer to the words we are saying. Rather, it refers to how we are praying. Praying in the Spirit is praying according to the Spirit’s leading. It is praying for things the Spirit leads us to pray for.

Romans 8:26 tells us, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

Practical example of praying in the Spirit:

As I read and spend time with God, I ask God, what or who should I pray for....The things or the people that come to mind, that is what I pray for as the spirit leads.

Speaking in Tongues

Some, based on 1 Corinthians 14:15, equate praying in the Spirit with praying in tongues. Discussing the gift of tongues, Paul mentions “pray with my spirit.” First Corinthians 14:14 states that when a person prays in tongues, he does not know what he is saying, since it is spoken in a language he does not know. Further, no one else can understand what is being said, unless there is an interpreter (1 Corinthians 14:27-28)