Prayer Service
Notes
Transcript
Ephesians 6:18-24
18 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, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Final Greetings
Final Greetings
21 So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brothers,[d] and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.
TONY
Intro & verse 18(A) Define praying in the Spirit
Ephesians 6:18(A)
praying at all times in the Spirit
Praying in a heart of thankfulness, gratitude, humbleness, worship.
Finishing up the book of Ephesians.
And the book ends with a discussion on prayer.
And today we’re going to be praying together as a church for these highlighted items in the end of Ephesians.
To prep our hearts, we’ve got 4 mini sermons that Chris and I are going to share and pray with you about.
To that end, the first part..
Ephesians 6:18A
praying at all times in the Spirit
We started the first half of this book with the good news of Jesus.
Words like chosen, predestined, adopted as sons, inheritance (describe these as good gifts).
As good as these gifts are, we still had a problem. A sin problem. A problem that brought death, destruction, and disorder. Choas, not life but death.
And we couldn’t reverse it. It was set. We broke it and couldn’t fix it.
We hurt others, we bring hate, lieing, killing, stealing, just plain and ugly selfishness that is never satisfied.
Our relationship with the author of life was severed. We hurt the very creation He said was very good and made in His likeness and image.
We deserved His wrath as a moma bear loves her cubs and would give up her life to protect, is the anology of wrath we deserve with what we brought into His loved creation.
But in the good news of Jesus we hear...
Words like redemption, forgiveness, grace (read below)
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
Bought, paid for. Forgiven of our wrongs, our trespasses. Not by what we did but by what He did.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Good news! Dead, made alive, by grace we have been saved!
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
No boasting in myself or others, like, my mom is stronger than your mom, just boasting in Christ and Christ alone.
The full understanding of the gospel is I’m a sinner. I helped destroy what is good and right and deserve to be punished by God.
But God in an act of love and practicing mercy and grace, forgave us!
And therefore we love. Why do we love?
We love because he first loved us.
The second half is the therefore part. Therefore because we have been loved and we now love, do this...
Ephesians 4:1-6
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—
one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Understanding who we are…equal, all sinners, all forgiven, all loved, all valued.
We don’t prop ourselves up over others, thinking we’re better than.
We’re thankful. Thankful for salvation whenever it was given and thankful for those that it was given to.
The prodigal son story…we shouldn’t act like that...
We are one body in Christ with one father and have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit, to see, understand, live, and be lead in prayer.
Intro & verse 18(A) Define praying in the Spirit
Ephesians 6:18(A)
praying at all times in the Spirit
Praying in a heart of thankfulness, gratitude, humbleness, truth, & worship.
Praying in the Spirit..is all about the truth of the gospel!
And with that truth it cut’s pride out of the heart and replaces it with humblness, gratitude, thankfulness.
We change from “I” to “you”.
Luke 18:9-14
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Praying in the Spirit is understanding the gospel and being forever changed by it.
This gospel it empowers life and defeats the schemes of the enemy!
We have the therfore clause...
We love because he first loved us.
1. Pray for the truth and heart of the Gospel to always be present in our prayers.
2. That the heart of flesh we’ve been given, beats with life in us and to others.
CHRIS
Ephesians 6:18(B)
with all prayer and supplication.
Biblical supplication is defined as pleading humbly. Supplication is one of the essentials that we can find in a healthy prayer life. We could do many sermons on prayer and how to pray. Jesus taught his disciples how to pray. The best way I think there is to strengthen your prayer life is to pray. The Apostle Paul put it like this in...
Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
So in the midst of this spiritual warfare we should be praying at all times for not just ourselves but our brothers and sisters(which we’ll get to in a minute) for the lost, for the church, and humbly pleading in those prayers.
One of the outlines I love for growing in your prayer life is the ACTS model of prayer
Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication.
Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication.
Adoration- Because wholehearted admiration and love for God are foundational to our relationship with him as Creator and Redeemer, adoration is the first and most basic kind of prayer. Prayers of adoration should aim at affectionate wonder, as we remember that we were dead in sin and that God has graciously made us alive in Christ. God is infinitely worthy of captivated hearts overflowing in passionate praise.
Confession- Confession is maybe one of the harder parts of our prayer life but we should always be in the practice of confession and repentance. Why? Because of the universality and seriousness of sin. Confession should aim at grateful sorrow as we contemplate the horror of dishonoring God and the staggering riches of his forgiveness in Christ.
Thanksgiving- is the precursor if you will to supplication. How can we plead humbly if we aren’t thankful in all circumstances like Paul mentioned in 1 Thess. that we looked at a minute ago.
Supplication- Supplication is a natural part of corporate prayer but, because of the temptation to focus primarily on our felt needs, we should balance it with adoration and confession. The mood of our corporate supplication should be urgent confidence as we lift up our concerns to our heavenly Father, trusting in his abundant mercies.
So now what? What’s the goal? In this context of spiritual warfare we must remember we are a part of an army. The universal church. The local church. The Body of Christ! We are not in this alone so we should humbly pleading with urgent confidence for the Fathers protection, for the Spirits guidance, all in the name of the Son. Because we are living in a world that is not operating as it was designed and one that satan is still allowed to prowl. Because this is a battle in which we must persevere while remembering it’s not all about us.
Pray with...
Adoration, that God has provided us with His armor to persevere.
Confession, that we’ve fallen short and need His forgiveness.
Thanksgiving, that He chose us to be part of His army, His people.
Supplication, humbly pleading with urgent confidence knowing He will receive all the glory when the battle is won.
TONY
Verse 18 (C)-20 Making supplication for all the saints and boldness to do the Lord's work, share the gospel.
Ephesians 6:18(C)-20
To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
We have the good news and in that... life forever more but…we aren’t home yet.
In fact we are on foreign soil at war.
Chris talked about this war and we prayed for the Kingdom of God and it’s glory.
Now we’re going to discuss and prep our hearts for the soldiers of war.
Soldiers of war…who are they?
All of us, right?
Is any of us immune to the schemes of the devil, the desires of our flesh, or the desires of this world? No.
Daily, this war wages on.
All of us go through highs and lows.
It can be tough.
Ephesians 6:18C
To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
This is the “keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints”.
We need God, the Holy Spirit, and the Body of Christ!
Stay the course God has set beforehand. Persevere, stay the coarse. Remember truth! God’s plan and truth.
Earnestly pray in the Spirit for the each other and those fighting the battle elsewhere.
Be the body of Christ.
This is the anology scripture gives us as the body.
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
We are one!
We suffer together and rejoice together.
that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
We help each other, we pray for each other, we care for each other, we should lean on each other.
(My ankle and the body hurting but supporting....if time allows.)
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.
We talked about the war, being soldiers in that war and the Body of Christ supporting each other.
Out of the several missions in war, what’s one of our greatest missions?
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Once being lost and dead ourselves we have a love for those that are still dead and lost.
We pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to proclaim the good news!
This is what Paul is asking for prayer for!
We as well should be praying this prayer daily for ourselves and others!
1. Pray for each other in this daily fight of war.
2. Pray for our actions and words to be light in this dark world.
3. Pray that the lost can hear and see Truth.
CHRIS
Verse 21-24 Encourage each others hearts. War is not fought alone. Show up you have a purpose.
Ephesians 6:21-24
21 So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brothers,[d] and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.
When you think of any army you don’t think of just one soldier. Because wars are not fought alone and this spiritual warfare is no different. This spiritual journey that we are on while it’s personal it’s not a personal journey. We are called together as a body, a royal priesthood, the people of God and all those terms are plural. It’s not all about you all the time. There are so many one another commands in the bible we’d be fools to think it’s all about us, but the fact of the matter is that we are fools at times because we make everything about us.
Someone sat in my seat. I didn’t like the songs today. I don’t like the book they chose to study. I’m tired I’m not gonna go today. I’m sure those sound familiar and that should be an ouch not an amen. You guys we make it like its this personal God buffet and once we’re full that’s all that matters. But the bible is filled with language way different that those statements I made above.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
Like Tony said love because we were first love.
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Be devoted to one another. Brotherly affection isn’t describing a love for that second cousin that you see every few years at the family reunion. Devotion is much deeper.
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Serving one another. I’m not gonna tread to lightly here but it’s only out of love that I say this. If you are a part of this family but your not helping this family operate and not serving your brothers and sisters that’s selfish. You’re at the buffet, ate till you were full and left the plates on the table for the help to clean up. That’s not Thanksgiving dinner where everyone brought a dish, and everyone chipped in and helped clean up. But we’re not mad one because we love you and two...
with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
We are called to forgive one another, and be patient, and bear with one another.
And like how Paul sent Tychicus we are to encourage one another.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
That not neglecting to meet together stands out a lot because each and everyone of you have a purpose that God wants to use for His glory to build up His church and that makes you valuable to all of us that get to spend time with you in corporate worship and especially in community groups and life outside these wall.
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,
so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
or
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Look around the room for a minute. Look at the faces in this room. I’m sure there are significant situations that stick out when someone helped you through a tough time, or lent you a hand when you were in a bind, or helped you understand some scripture your were hung up on.
Now think about this. In the same way you looked at some of these people and had those thoughts others looked at you and had those same thoughts about you.
You guys I know life get’s busy, heck I know sometimes it’s nice to just be alone but we are one body with many parts and cannot urge you enough to make and nurture those connections because war isn’t fought alone. Our lives aren’t meant to be lived alone.
Our spiritual walk isn’t a secluded personal walk. We are one body with many parts all making up the Body of Christ.
Communion
Pray for God the Father to humble your heart so that you can embrace your purpose here.
Pray for the Holy Spirits guidance in how to serve that purpose in building up the body.
Thank Jesus for choosing you and paying the price on your behalf to bring you into the most beautiful family on Earth.