THE SUPREMECY OF PRAYER
PRAYER • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 1 viewNotes
Transcript
stretch meager funds to meet life’s many demands.
Poverty did not dull her spirit, though; eventually, better times came into her life. She married a prosperous young farmer.
Then, like a sudden storm unleashing its fury, heartbreaking disappointment fell upon her. One heartache mounted on top of another.
Great Depression
LOSS
Amid a financial trial,
The beloved church
Then, illness added its burden.
Heartbroken, frightened, and desperate, her overwhelming needs closed in upon her. What could she do? Who could help?
She had no pastor to call. Even family and Christian friends were not near.
Overwhelmed, she fled to her room and fell onto her knees.
My father joined her in prayer for a time, but sleep eventually overtook him. She could not sleep, however. She kept praying. shut in with God for most of the night.
Amid prayer, a method of treating her son's pneumonia came to her mind.
to be a leader from the Lord. She applied it, and her son's life was saved.
Courage and faith were born anew in her heart. Perhaps of more importance, in that moment of need, she learned of a greatness in prayer that continued to characterize the rest of YOUR life.
I have many beautiful memories of that noble woman who was my mother, but
the crowning memory is the greatness and power of her prayer life.
How fortunate is that person who learns to pray when surrounded by overwhelming trials and burdens? It took me many years to learn that myself.
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
With this in mind, be alert and always pray for all the Lord's people."
That verse helps to convey the all-importance of prayer for being invincible to do the will of God. Four times the concept of "allness" is presented. Prayer is not simply an indispensable, additional part of the believer's armor but of equal importance to the other parts.
Steps to victory explained in Ephesians 6:10-18
1. The believer's position and relationship to Christ.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Our inseparable union with Christ in all His Person and work makes us invincible.
2. The work and ministry of the Holy Spirit. "Be strong ... in his mighty power" (Ephesians 6:10b).
We can enjoy and experience "his mighty power" only as the Holy Spirit fills and empowers us (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:16).
3. The whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-17). As we carefully clothe ourselves, in faith, with that spiritual clothing, we become a formidable opponent to the powers of darkness.
4. The absolute necessity of prayer. The apostle Paul repeatedly calls our attention to the importance of prayer in the book of Ephesians. In 1:15-23, Paul reveals the intensity of his prayers for the Ephesian believers. Warren Wiersbe points out that in this prayer
"he does not ask God to give them what they do not have, but rather prays that God will reveal to them what they already have."
PRAYER IS POWERFUL
In Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul presents a picture of himself bowing in
prayer before the heavenly Father.
He prays that the Ephesians might be enabled to do God's will. The Prayer is not simply indispensable an additional part of the believer's burden of his prayer is that armor, but rather is of equal importance
of believers might lay hold of the the various riches" available in Christ.
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
which are “immeasurably more than all we ask or
imagine"
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Through those riches, we can be energized by the power of the Spirit and enjoy "the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:19). Prayer is the key to enlightenment and enablement in enjoying the "glorious riches" of God.
In Ephesians 6:18, Paul admonishes us to pray "on all occasions,” or "in all seasons." That means to pray when you feel like it and when you don't feel like it. The preeminence of prayer needs to be firmly settled in our minds. There is no place for half-hearted, passive involvement in warfare praying.
PRAYER IS THE PREPARATION FOR NEW VICTORY; IF PRAYER IS THE FORERUNNER OF NEW TRIUMPH THEN PRAYER IS THE GREATEST WORK WE CAN BE INVOLVED IN.
It is impossible to overemphasize the role of biblical prayer in the victory of believers.
PRAYER IS PASSIONATE
We are to pray "with all kinds of prayers and requests." Have you ever considered how many different kinds of prayers there are?
There is silent prayer and audible prayer,
prayer without ceasing and prayer that terminates,
public prayer and private prayer,
a short prayer and extended prayer,
fasting prayer, and feasting prayer,
prayer with one's actions and prayer with one's words,
rejoicing prayer and broken prayer,
thanksgiving prayer and petitioning prayer,
doctrinal prayer and emotional prayer,
resisting-the-enemy prayer, and standing-with-the-Lord prayer.
We could consider other kinds of prayers, but the truth is that all kinds of prayers are a part of our warfare.
At times it is essential to praise the Lord in prayer. I recall an occasion when a distraught husband brought his troubled wife to counsel with me. She was under severe affliction from demonic powers. Although she did not know where our house was, the powers of darkness afflicting her did. As they neared our home, she screamed uncontrollably and tried to jump out of the moving car.
With considerable difficulty, the husband was able to steer her through our door and into a private counseling room. There she was like a frightened, caged animal, trying to flee, only to be blocked by her husband.
When I could gain no communication with her, the Holy Spirit led me to praise the Lord in prayer and song. I began to pray a doctrinal prayer of praise, enumerating the wondrous attributes of God and describing what it means to abide in Christ. At first, there seemed to be a violent reaction from the powers of darkness afflicting her. But as the praise continued, Satan's power was broken, and she became calm as the "peace of God" settled upon her.
Resisting the enemy in prayer is something we do not do as often as we should. "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds"
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
What a challenge that verse is to us--that we would see our "divine power" to resist the strategies of Satan. Joshua and the people of Israel achieved the same kind of victory against Jericho. The enemy’s walls were so thick and strong that there seemed to be no way Israel could take that mighty city. Yet by prayer and obedience to the Word of the Lord, the walls fell. They didn't even throw a stone.
That is the way it is in spiritual warfare. Impossible fortifications crumble to dust before the believers who use the divine power of their weapons to pull down strongholds. Like Israel, we can then walk through the gates and plunder the enemy's land.
Do you schedule an hour or two with God several times each week?
Spurgeon had shut-away times when it was said not even a visit from the King of England would cause him to interrupt his prayer.
The Greek word translated as "supplication" literally means "the character of necessity or compulsion in prayer.”
To bind yourself to the Lord with such a tie of petition is to ensure the answer. Every prayer has an answer, even if it is "No" or "Wait."
PRAYER IS TO BE PROTECTED BY THE SPIRIT
BY THE SPIRIT TOWARD THE BELIEVER
We are to pray "in the Spirit."
Some would interpret this to mean we must pray in "tongues." The Bible indicates otherwise. Paul's prayers in Ephesians 1 and 3 were indeed "in the Spirit" and were not uttered in "tongues."
1. give a word of warning to those who seek to "pray in tongues."
I ask those who have shared their experiences with me, "Have you tested the spirit GUIDING your tongue"?"
The Holy Spirit Himself tells us to do that in 1 John 4:1-4
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
While a person prays in a "tongue," his mind is mainly neutral. I suggest that he command the spirit, authoring the tongue to answer clearly in his mind, "Has Jesus Christ come in the flesh?
Is Jesus Christ Lord? Do you honor the blood of Jesus Christ?" Insist upon a clear and precise answer. The Holy Spirit will always answer with rejoicing, "Yes!"
Another spirit will be evasive or even sometimes on some occasions give a blatant "No. It is important to avoid being deceived by a "lying spirit," lest Satan gain an advantage against us.
Praying in the Spirit means praying in harmony with the Spirit or under the control of the Spirit.
Several practical steps will ensure that we are praying in the Spirit.
First, we must ask the Holy Spirit to control our praying and guide us to pray harmoniously with His will. That is one of the Holy Spirit's ministries according to Romans 8:26-27: "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 through wordless groans.
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God."
We also need to deliberately reject all fleshly praying. James warns, "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3). It is good to say as one begins to pray, "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I reject the involvement of my old sin nature in my prayer. I count myself dead with Christ to my sin nature and its control, and I ask the Holy Spirit to oversee the words of my prayer sovereignly.”
A third suggestion is to pray in harmony with the truth of the Word. The Word of God is Holy Spirit breathed (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
When we pray God's Word back to Him, we can be sure that we pray in the Spirit. Memorizing prayers from the Psalms or other great prayers of the Bible is a way to be sure of praying in the Spirit. One can certainly pray in the Spirit if he prays a prayer like Paul's prayer for the Ephesian believers in Ephesians 3:14- 21.
It is good to master such passages to know how to pray for yourself and your church. Matthew 6:9-13, the "Lord's Prayer, “ can be a good guideline for praying in the Spirit.
We probably all had experienced prayer times when the words flowed easily, and the heart was warm toward God.
Sometimes we interpret those prayers as being in the Spirit, whereas difficult times are regarded as not being so. Yet, many of the prayers recorded in the Psalms begin with the lament that God seems far off and silent (see Psalms 28, 55, 102).
I sensed barriers and walls during shut-away times of in-depth prayer for several years. I was glad to realize that such prayer times can also be in the Spirit. The deep emotion of such times often teaches us more and expresses our needs more effectively than times of greater liberty do. Doctrinal praying the truth of God's Word back to Him--will aid in breaking through the times when barriers seem to hide God's face from us.
PRAYER PROVIDES PROTECTION FOR THOSE FOR WHOM WE PRAY
"With this in mind, be alert." This phrase has a military ring to it. It conveys the picture of a sentry on duty, guarding something that needs protection. In spiritual warfare, believers must stand guard through prayer, watching over themselves, their families, their church, and the work to which the Lord has called them.
In the military, someone on sentry duty stands guard to prevent surprise attack from unseen enemies. When she was still living, my wife's mother always included in her prayers the words
"Protect us from dangers and enemies, seen and unseen." She was "being alert" and every time I heard her pray that way, I was always impressed. Who can know what terrible calamities are avoided by alert praying?
The Lord Jesus employed that kind of warfare, praying. To Peter, the Lord Jesus said,
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Christ was being alert for Peter and the other apostles. The same kind of "sentry duty" prayer is evidenced in His great high priestly prayer of John 17.
MANY A PARENT HAS BEEN discouraged and broken-hearted when children show signs of serious rebellion against all they had been taught and professed to believe. Having always prayed for her children, she was in a quandary about what to do. Prayer had dramatically changed her children’s lives. WE NEED a new awareness of OUR responsibility to be alert for OUR family.
Satan would like nothing better than to harm us. He would afflict us with illness, misfortune, or misery if he had but one opportunity. When employing protective warfare, we can watch for ways the Lord protects us.
Restful assurance flooded my soul. That very morning I had carefully watched over my entire family in warfare prayer.
Guardian angels and a sovereign, protecting Shepherd were on duty in answer to my prayer.
THE PERSISTENCE OF PRAYER
There is no more important word than persistence in warfare praying. We must claim our union with Christ daily, appropriate the Holy Spirit's work, put on each part of the armor, and employ persistent prayer. Many times a day we may be called upon to use those elements to win the battle. We must be persistent. We must not let down if things are going well and suppose such faithful warfare is unnecessary.
problem with lust and pornography.
We considered carefully the steps to overcoming the lusts of the flesh.
1ST
we talked about the need to be honest and admit to oneself and to God that the old sin nature was at work.
2ND
We went over the need to reckon oneself dead with Christ to the rule and reign of that sin (Romans 6:11
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We can by faith affirm that to be true, because it is true.
We are responsible to "not let sin reign in (our) mortal bod(ies]" (Romans 6:12). The only way we can do that is to recognize that we have been crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20).
3RD
we discussed the need to ask the Holy Spirit to replace our fleshly, sinful desires with desires marked by the fruit of the Spirit:
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
We went over those three steps until he could repeat them back to me, and he promised to use them each time he came under temptation.
A few weeks later he came into my study, slumped in a chair, and groaned about being defeated by the lusts of the flesh. I listened attentively and sympathetically for a time, but then l asked him, "What are the biblical steps to overcoming your sin nature?" He was stumped. He remembered we had talked about that previously, but he couldn't recall what the three steps were.
Once again, we went over them.
three steps is set forth as God's way to victory over the flesh.
encouraging him until he could repeat them back to me.
I could do no more for him until he put those steps into consistent practice. Even God could do nothing more for him until he began to use what had already been provided.
We must also be insistent. It would be much easier if our enemy were willing to admit that we have full authority over him because we are united with Christ in all of His victory. Yet, he is not that kind of enemy. He but grudgingly admits such victory.
Most of us have observed a disobedient child reluctantly giving in to his parent’s authority. He doesn't give an inch until he has to. Satan and his demons are like that. This is why in warfare, our prayer needs to be insistent in our persistence.
There are times in all of our lives when everything seems to be failing, and the enemy seems to be winning at every turn. That is the very time we need to be most insistent that he can't win.
In Acts 16, Paul and Silas cast out a demon from a young fortune-teller. Those who made money from her fortune-telling had Paul and Silas arrested, roughly handled, and finally put in a dungeon, locked up in stocks. That pictures Satan's refusal to admit he is defeated. Instead of feeling sorry for themselves and complaining about how the devil was beating them, they prayed and sang songs of victory. The other prisoners all heard them at midnight. Despite outward evidence, they kept insisting on their victory in faith and practice.
Suddenly the prison shook, their stocks fell off, the doors opened, and they were free. The victory went on to such a dimension that the jailer and his family were saved, and the town authorities who had mistreated them had to apologize (see Acts 16). Truth must win. Persistence faces all tests and insists that evil must yield to truth.
THE PRIORITY OF PRAYER
Warfare prayer is to be
Ephesians 6:18 (KJV 1900)
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Does that take your breath away as it did mine the first time I saw it? What a vast spectrum of responsibility we have in warfare praying. It can be viewed as an ever-widening series of circles extending outward. Your first responsibility is for yourself. Each believer has the care of his own life and ministry to oversee.
The next step out is your family. No one will watch over your family in prayer as you will.
The circles then extend to your church, your denomination, your missionaries, and the entire Body of Christ around the world.
Christ commanded the disciples to witness to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth.
ALL SAINTS prayer reaches out that far, too. It has a panorama of responsibility that embraces the whole world.
Since being on a preaching mission to Britain in 1964, I have felt a special prayer responsibility for that nation. Many times as I have wrestled in prayer for the believers there and for revival in Britain, the Holy Spirit has torn my heart for that nation. Others have felt the same concern for China.
Ephesians 6:18 shows that prayer should be projected to "all the Lord's people." In verses 19 and 20, warfare prayer can specifically be projected toward the effectiveness of our ministry.
Paul asks the Ephesians: "Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given" (Ephesians 6:19). He is saying that the warfare prayer of the Ephesian believers can enable him to have greater ability to communicate the gospel. Every preacher knows the truth of those words. All of us have had the experience of studying hard and preparing diligently, only to try to deliver the message and find the words will not come. My wife has developed a capacity to know when I am facing such a trial. I have often seen her bow her head in prayer to ask that "words may be given." And often the barriers have been broken on such occasions.
That kind of prayer also affects boldness in proclaiming the gospel. Paul says their prayers for him will enable him to "fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospeL!” (Ephesians 6:19).
We not only need to pray for fearless preaching, but we need to pray for open ears.
Prayer directly affects how people hear the Word. That is why prayer support for revival crusades can help bring many souls to Christ. It helps to remove the spiritual blindness and deafness that Satan wants to perpetuate -
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
There is no force in the hands of humans as effective and far- reaching as prayer.
From the journal of David Brainerd comes this insight:
In the afternoon God was with me of a truth. Oh, it was blessed company indeed! God enabled me so to agonize in prayer that I was quite wet with sweat, though in the shade and cool wind.
My soul was drawn out very much for the world; I grasped for multitudes of souls. I think I had more enlargement for sinners than for the children of God, though I felt as if I could spend my life in cries for both. I had great joy in communion with my dear Saviour. I think I never in my life felt such an entire weanedness from this world, and so much resigned to God in everything. Oh, that I may always live to and upon my blessed
God! Amen.
Those are the words of a man who knew something of the POWER of prayer. A person of God can literally change the world through prayer without leaving the confines of their own home.
The invincible power of prayer knows no bounds.