Prayer - Ephesians 6

Prayer

Notes on Tony Evans, “Pray at All Times” sermon.

Cannot be done in the flesh – must be in His presence

Everything that is visible and physical is preceded by that which is invisible and spiritual.

Ephesians 6:10–20 “10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 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. 13 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. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 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.”

When everything is under attack – you have to view things from the location of heavenly places.  When our world is shaken, we need to stand firm, don’t quit, turn to Christ.

- We wrestle not against flesh and blood – people are not our problem, the evil one is.

o Jesus has already suffered for us.  Do not run away from God during the evil day.

o It is the strength of Jesus who defeats the evil one

- We are instructed to be dressed for the battle – we have weapons to use

o Put on truth, righteousness, the helmet of salvation, faith and use the sward of the Spirit. Romans 13:14 – Put on Christ.  If you cannot remember all the pieces, put on this one.  Jesus says I am the way the truth and the life.

o Truth – Jesus is the way the truth and the life

o Righteousness – Christ is our righteousness

o Peace – Jesus says that in this world you will have tribulation , but I give you my peace

o Helmet of salvation – Jesus is the author and finisher of our salvation

o Put on the Word of God and use the sward of the Spirit – John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word…. 14 and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.   Jesus is the Word

o Become CENTERED IN JESUS – the manifestation and the power of God.

§ How do you put Him on? Eph. 6:18 with prayer!

I Thess. 5:17 - Pray without ceasing - This is means, not only when things are bad, but at all times. We often pray when things go wrong, but fail to pray preventively.

Pray in the Spirit

The role of the Spirt is to deliver the mind of God 1 Corinthians 2:9–10 “9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.”

People have limitations - We need the supernatural to inter the natural. To be in the Spirit is apposed to being in the flesh. This is not entering and exiting, but in the whelm - Romans 8:1-13 When you have the Spirit, you have the mind of the Spirit.

Romans 8:5–6 “5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.”

Galatians 5:16–17 “16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.” “16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”

The Battle - The flesh is the desire to please yourself independent of God. The desire will be there, but the Spirit will overrule the flesh. If you are praying and noting is happening, you may be doing the right thing, but in the wrong place. If you are under water and you try to breathe, the right thing, you will die, because you are doing it in the wrong environment. Prayer in the flesh is the same.

Be consumed with Him. When you are in the Spirit, you no longer have to force things. You still have to walk and you still have a ways to go, but we need to walk in the Spirit.

When we contact God and the timing is wrong, He will say, slow. If the request is wrong, He will say, no. If we are wrong, He will say, grow, but if the request is right, the timing is right, and we are right, sooner or later He will say, GO!