Petition with Perseverance

Introduction

Review: Eph 6:10-17 (Stand Firm in the Struggle)

Stance

Schemes

Struggle

Message Title: Petition with Perseverance

Bible Passage: Ephesians 6:18-20

Armor of God

Belt of “Truth”

Breastplate of “Righteousness”

Shoes of the “Gospel of Peace”

Shield of “Faith”

Helmet of “Salvation”

Sword of The Spirit “Word”

“...Armor is applied and empowered through prayer. Prayer is not an optional add-on; it is essential to spiritual warfare.”

The Message of Ephesians 3. The Armour of God (Verses 13–20)

Equipping ourselves with God’s armor is not a mechanical operation; it is itself an expression of our dependence on God, in other words of prayer

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. - John Piper

Petition

Prayer vs Petition

Prayer (General)

Petition (Specific need or wanting/asking for something) - make or present a formal request to (an authority) with respect to a particular cause.

Philippians 4:6 “6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

1 Timothy 2:1 “1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,”

In the Spirit (sword of The Spirit)

Life

Ephesians 2:18–22 “18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”

Ephesians 3:2–5 “2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;”

Ephesians 5:18 “18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,”

Help

Romans 8:26–27 “26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

Pay Attention

“Be on alert”

Ex: Mark 14:32-41

“Prayerlessness is spiritual drowsiness.”

Persevere

Colossians 4:2 “2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “17 pray without ceasing;”

Ex: Luke 18:1-8

Pray for Proclamation

Paul: vv 19-20

Boldness

Acts 4:13-31

Mystery of the gospel

Ephesians 3:2–5 “2 if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. 4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;”

ambassador

2 Corinthians 5:20 “20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

in chains

Ephesians 3:1 “1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—”

The Salvation of all

1 Tim 2:1-4

Conclusion

1 Timothy 2:5–6 “5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.”