Sermon Tone Analysis

! Introduction:

Ephesians 6:18

Praying, what a powerful spiritual weapon prayer is.

In the spiritual warfare, prayer is often the deciding factor in the spiritual battle.

Praying with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, watching with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

 

I.

Prayer is a Poweful Spiritual Weapon

 

A.

We Are Soldiers in a War (Phil 2:25; 2 Tim.2:3,4) 

 

1.

The Christian life is not a /playground /but a /battleground/

 

a)         It is not a physical war of flesh and blood.

/(1)    //It is a Spiritual War/

(a)         Remember when Judas betrayed Jesus.

Jesus said it was the hour of Darkness (Luke 22:53)

(b)        This refers to the forces of evil, the evil one himself.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

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/ (Ephesians 6:11-12).

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed /us/ into the kingdom of the Son of His love (Colossians 1:13).

(c)         We must remember the power of darkness & those who oppose the Lord will last only but a short time (the hour will soon pass).

B.

What Do We Need To Do?

 

1.

We need to stand up against the enemy (v.14)

 

a)         To do that we need help.

/(1)    /God has provided all of the help we will ever need.

/(2)    /We are to be strong /“in the Lord”/ and the power of /“His might”./

/(3)    /We need to depend on /“God’s Strength not ours”./

C.

How Does the Enemy Attack Us?

 

1.

The enemy attacks us in many ways.

a)         Emotionally.

/(1)    /Fear (2 Timothy1:7)

/(2)    /Despair

/(3)    /Anxiety (Philippians  4:6)

/(4)    /Depression

 

b)        Spiritually

/(1)    /Doubt the word of God/ /(Gen.

3:1)

/(2)    /Doubt the love of God (Rom.

5:8)

/(3)    /Doubt the faithfulness of God (2 Tim.

2:13)

 

D.

God Has Provided For us the Armor His Armor

 

1.

We are to be dressed, standing against the enemies attacks

 

a)         Know this:

/(1)    /Satan is always probing to see if there are any chinks in your armor.

/(2)    /He is constantly on the attack (1 Peter 5:8)

/(3)    /He will use anything he can to catch you off guard.

Paul refers to the wiles of the devil (Eph.6:11)

/(4)    /He is cunning, clever and relentless in his attacks.

There always comes the time when we must change from a defensive posture in this battle to the offense.

II.

The Offensive Attack.

A.

Through Prayer we begin to Attack the Enemy

 

1.

Our weapons are mighty in God.

For the weapons of our warfare /are/ not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,   and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

(2 Corinthians 10:4-6)

By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, (2 Corinthians 6:6-7)

So the people shouted when /the priests/ blew the trumpets.

And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat.

Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

(Joshua 6:20)

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.

(Hebrews 11:30)

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.

"Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, `Get justice for me from my adversary.'

"And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, `Though I do not fear God nor regard man,   `yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'"

Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said.

"And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?

(Luke 18:1-7 NKJV)

 

 

2.

It is no longer just trying to hold on, but to go on the attack.

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

(Acts 1:14 NKJV)

And they prayed and said, "You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen (Acts 1:24 NKJV)

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

(Acts 2:42 NKJV)

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth /hour/.

(Acts 3:1 NKJV)

And being let go, they went to their own /companions/ and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You /are/ God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,   "who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: `Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things?

The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.'

"For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together   "to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.

"Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,   "by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."

And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

(Acts 4:23-31 NKJV)

Whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.

(Acts 6:6 NKJV)

 

B.

There is a Spiritual Battle Going on in the Universe.

1.

The Kingdom of God ~/ The Kingdom of Darkness

 

a)         Central battleground is on this planet earth (Rev.12:9)

"How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!

/How/ you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!

For you have said in your heart: `I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;   I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'

Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.

"Those who see you will gaze at you, /And/ consider you, /saying: `Is/ this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms, Who made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities, /Who/ did not open the house of his prisoners?' (Isaiah 14:12-17 NKJV)

 

/(1)        /The battle is for the control of men's lives, whether you will be controlled by your flesh or by the Spirit of God.

/(2)        /Like it or not, you and I are at the center of this conflict.

Satan: Satan is called “the great dragon...that old serpent.”

1.       His name is /Lucifer/.

He was probably one of the highest angels ever created by God, but he fell because of selfishness and pride (Isaiah 14:12; cp. 1 Tim.

3:6;  Rev.