Offensive Prayer

Background to passage: wrapping up the spiritual warfare passage following the filled with the Spirit passage.

Ephesians 6:10–20 ESV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Opening illustration: Story of the missionary in Africa who made a two day trip into the jungle for ministry and medicine for years. The guy in Michigan moved to gather friends and pray for him. The 26 guards that were present at camp that night. “We cannot know what prayer is for until we know that life is war. Life is war. That’s not all it is. But it is certainly that. Our weakness in prayer is owing largely to our neglect of this truth. Prayer is primarily a wartime walkie-talkie for the mission of the church as it advances against the powers of darkness and unbelief. It is not surprising that prayer malfunctions when we try to make it a domestic intercom to call upstairs for more comforts in the den. God has given us prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the kingdom of Christ advances in the world.” (Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad, 41)

Main thought: Two aspects of prayer as an offensive weapon

1) Corporate Offensive (v. 18-19)

Ephesians 6:18–19 ESV

praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,

1) Corporate Offensive (v. 18-19)

Explanation: Intercessory prayer has differing aspects/applications, but if we think of them as offensive weapons, it completely changes your perspective. We typically think of three kinds: 1) for one another. Think of it as praying against spiritual attacks, praying against besetting sins, praying against schemes, praying against people coming against them, praying for them to overcome, praying for them when they are under attack.

2) Evangelistic prayer. For our friends and family is normal and easy. What about our neighbors. Bless Every Home. 60K people in LaGrange living far from God.

3) Global prayer. I won’t take time to talk about the 5 billion who need Christ, the 1500 people groups who need to know about/know Jesus. However, Spurgeon says that prayer is the slender nerve that moves the muscles of omnipotence.

Argumentation: this kind only comes out by prayer, Mark 9, “I have prayed for you” John 21

Illustration: Bless Every Home. Les Cox, Terry, Don Pirkle, “A new testament church is a praying church. Not just a church that has a prayer meeting, not just a church that has a few prayer warriors behind it, but a church that has a regular practice of coming together with urgent and intense prayer.” -Ingram

Application: Pray with spiritual warfare in mind for your brothers and sisters. Satan wants to destroy lives, thus the church. We must protect our brothers and sisters with prayer. Don’t simply pray a list of things for better health and a more comfortable lifestyle.

Everyone sign up for Bless Every Home. Pray for your 30 closest neighbors five per day.

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What if we all could pray five of our closest 30 neighbors a little closer to the kingdom. Pray against the kingdom of darkness in your neighbors lives to be thwarted and pray that the blindness upon their eyes would be lifted. Pray for the believers to be covered.

Pray for those on the front lines. Pray for the nations. Pray for those holding the ropes and writing the checks. Pray for OCC. Pray for the LMCO.

2) Personal Offensive (v. 18-20)

Ephesians 6:18–20 ESV

praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

2) Personal Offensive (v. 18-20)

Explanation: In this context of spiritual warfare, we have to think about the attacks that are going to come at us. We are often guilty of having some communion with God in the morning, then not really thinking about him much during the rest of the day, except maybe for meals. Our mentality changes when we think that life is war.

Argumentation:

Illustration: “People who ski happen to enjoy skiing; they have time for skiing, can afford to ski, and are good at skiing. I have found that I often treat prayer as though it were a sport like skiing— something you do if you like it, something you do in your spare time, something you do if you can afford the trouble, something you do if you’re good at it. Otherwise, you do without it most of the time. When you get in a pinch you try it, and then you call an expert. But prayer isn’t a sport. It’s work. Prayer is work because a Christian simply can’t “make a living” without it. The apostle Paul said we “wrestle” in prayer. In the wrestling of a Christian in prayer, “our fight is not against any physical enemy; it is against organizations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen powers that control this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil” (Ephesians 6:12, PHILLIPS). Seldom do we consider the nature of our opponent, and that is to his advantage. When we do recognize him for what he is, however, we have an inkling as to why prayer is never easy. It’s the weapon that Unseen Power dreads most, and if he can get us to treat it as casually as we treat a pair of skis or a tennis racket, he can keep his hold.” -Elizabeth Elliot

Application: When life is war, we think strategically. We don’t just check off the boxes. We can think about the high points we want to take and/or the weak spots we want to correct, but the point is proactive instead of reactive.

We think about where our weak points are. These are places that Satan will attack and preemptively pray there. Is anger a weak spot for you? Make your prayer that you can see lies of Satan that help you justify your feelings and behavior. Pray that God will incline your heart to him and bring your thoughts in line with his. Pray for specific things and situations that cause anger to rise up.

Maybe evangelism is a fear for you, and a weak point. Maybe your some aspect of your spousal relationship or responsibilities is a place that satan tempts you. Pray in advance. Pray continually. Maybe depression is a place that satan will use to undermine God’s joy for you, pray.

So let’s plan an offensive for your life. What do you want to achieve as a Christian next? Maybe you want to be the light of your office or place of business. That goal is undergirded by prayer. Pray for the things, attitudes, behaviors that need to happen first.

Closing illustration: “The great people of the earth today are the people who pray. I do not mean people who talk about prayer; nor those who say they believe in prayer; nor yet those who can explain about prayer; but I mean those people who take time and pray. They have not time. It must be taken from something else. This something else is important. Very important, and pressing, but still less important and less pressing than prayer.” –S. D. Gordon

Recap