Now Is The Time.
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Introduction
Introduction
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.
Ephesians 6:10-
Our sermon series titled the Armor of God is coming to a close. Today we will deal with the last verse for this series. Verse 18. Before we deal with that verse let us remember who we are.
We have girded our
We have our loins girded with Truth. Dedication.
We have our breast plate in position. Purity.
We have our shoes buckled tight. Confidence
We picked up our shield last week which is Faith in the Truth of God’s Word. Protection
We picked up our helmet of salvation. Security.
Last week we picked up our sword and I pray we learned how to use through the study of the word Paul used for the WORD of God in verse 17. The Word rhema which he translated Rhema. Understanding how to use the Bible.
Today we will be looking at verse 18. Paul wraps up this armor with the understanding that the entire armor is to be in the context of prayer. WE must be constantly on our knees in order to use the armor properly. We do not have the power to put on Christ daily and consistently the way that we should. We must be totally dependent on the one that lives within us which is the Holy Spirit of God. He is able to empower us daily to be suited up for War. We must see the importance of praying and praying rightly in order to stand against the well thought out plans of Satan that he has in store to destroy you, this church, family, marriage, children. We must see Prayer is not a option it is the only option in order for this armor to be activated.
IF one has trouble understanding the importance of prayer, you must consider what the Son of God is doing at this very moment. What is Jesus doing right now? Some say guiding me, protecting me, leading me? The Holy Spirit is guiding, protecting, leading, convicting and comforting you.
Jesus Christ
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Jesus at this moment according to scriptures is seated at the right hand of God praying for his sheep awaiting the word from His Father to go get His Children!
So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Jesus is praying at all times. Pleading our case before God the Father. The only way we are saved is because God the Father sent God the Son to die in our place for our sin conquering our sin problem, the only way we are kept saved is God the Son pleading our case on our behalf constantly and by the Holy Spirit’s power in the life of the believer that seals us until the day of redemption. Jesus is praying eternal prayers at all times for us.
It is my goal today that Providence will see the importance of prayer but also the need of praying for others and today be the day that transforms this church and the members of Providence to become known for a House of Prayer.
Message
Message
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,
Ephesians
There is so much packed into one verse here about prayer. Paul said a lot. Incline your ear and lets learn what Paul was teaching them.
One must notice the use of the word “all” in this one verse. Paul uses the word “all” 4 times in this one verse.
All is the greek word pas - which means “the whole” “Every kind of” “total”
The word for praying is the word proseuchomai - which means prayer or vows or requests. Best understood calling on God.
Times is the word kairos here not chronos. Chronos is where we get our word chronology from. It is time in the sense of duration. Here the word Karios is used which means a period of time or an opportunity in time or a season in time. Kairos is connected to Kara which means “head.” Kairos is a time when things come to a head.
For he says,
“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
2 Corinthians
There is an opportunity of time in order to receive salvation. Paul wrote there is a widow of opportunity to receive salvation and we never know when it will close therefore now is the perfect opportunity.
Notice the frequency of Prayer.
Notice the frequency of Prayer.
Paul said calling on God in every opportunity. In all seasons of life.
If there has ever been a season where we desperately need to call on God it is now.
We have cheapened prayer in our lives.
For many of us it is a cheap way of telling someone I feel sorry for you.
For many of us we have told so many people we are praying for them until we do not even know who all we have told that to. Our list would be so long we could not even get through it.
Telling someone you are praying for them is far different than praying for someone.
Church now is the season of time in churches today where God’s people must desperately get on their face before God and plead on the nation’s behalf, church’s behalf, family’s behalf.
On June 25, 1962 is a day some remember many do not. I do not remember that day but I still hear everyone fuss about it.
This is the day prayer was removed from the schools.
How long has prayer been removed from your house? Well pastor I pray sometimes. Maybe before I go to bed. Maybe before my meal.
No - when is the last time you fell on your knees or face before God pleading with him for specific cause.
Notice the Kinds of prayer.
Notice the Kinds of prayer.
Paul said “With all kinds of prayer.” Therefore we must pray specifically.
Supplication is plea, request, prayer, a petition.
What is your plea? James said you have not because you ask not. general prayers get general answers. Specific prayers get specific answers.
we must pray specifically at all occasions.
In the evil day we must be praying specifically.
Father’s you need to be praying for your children by name with specific request.
Husbands and wives you need to be praying for each other with specific request.
Children you need to be praying for your mom and dad with specific request.
Church members you need to be praying for each other with specific request.
Sunday school teachers you need to be praying for you students with specific request.
It is hard for someone to tell me they love their sunday school class without praying for them, church, without praying for them, revival, without praying for God to change your heart first, their pastor without praying for him, family with out praying for them. It is hard for someone to tell me they love their Lord when we have neglected our time in His Word and in Constant, Specific prayer to Him.
Notice the intensity of Prayer.
Notice the intensity of Prayer.
Paul writes, with all perseverance.
The best I can study this word is used only 1 time in the bible and that is here.
Paul is talking about a persistent determination.
The root word for this word means might or power.
Paul means to be firm, endure, remain faithful to a person or a task.
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
Luke 18
If the unjust judge will give in to the persistent widow because she will not stop how much more will God answer the plea of his children not because he gets tired of our pleas but because he is a GOOD GOOD Father and delights and desires to answer the plea of His Children.
Mother’s many of you have stopped praying for your rebellious children or rebellious husband. Do not quit. Continue to cry out to God.
Father’s same for you.
Children.
Sunday school teacher, deacons,
Many church members have gave up on the mission of the church. Therefore many have stop being persistent in praying for God to use them and the church to reach this city.
The idea here is not a weak prayer before a meal or a weak prayer while you fall asleep this is a prayer of intensity.
Seek the Lord with might and power and endurance.
Like Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane - He falls to his face prostrate before God in prayer, praying specifically for the cross.
Like Jesus when he desperately needed to get it right and he prays with power and persistence all night as he seeks the right disciples.
Like David in psalm 55:17 when he writes, evening, morning, and noon, I utter my complaint and moan and he hears my voice.
Like Solomon when He got ready to dedicate the temple in he got on his knees and lifted his hands and cried out to God.
Like Daniel in right after the king signed a document that no one could worship or pray to anyone except for king darius. But you see Daniel prays 3 times a day. verse 10 when the document had been signed Daniel went home and got on his knees and lifted up holy hands and prayed as he had done previously. He didn’t care if it was going to cost him his life, or going into the lions den. He must pray. He must worship.
We need moms, dads, children, aunt and uncles, church members, sunday school teachers, deacons, leaders, we need you on your knees lifting up holy hands toward heaven praying with boldness and intensity, persistence for God to shake your family, your church, your leaders, your nation. We are in an evil day. We must be on our knees now more than ever. It is the right kairos. Right opportunity. Now is the time.
Notice the Level of Prayer.
Notice the Level of Prayer.
In the Spirit.
We must be praying alongside of the perfect will of God.
We must be praying for a deeper love for Jesus, we must be praying for a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and what he has done for me, we must be praying for the fruits of the spirit, our availability, our love for all men, our walk with the lord, we must be praying desperately for the Spirit to make us Holy.
Many times we do not want to pray in the Spirit because it will change us. It will make us give us somethings, change some things, might make us loose something we do not want to loose, change some things we do not want to change. God is always trying to take you somewhere new but many times we will won’t let him. Churches won’t let him because that is not the way we have done it in the past. That’s not the way we usually do it.
Pray for what you know God desires.
Salvation for the Lost mainly for God to use you.
The heart condition of providence. Which starts with the one praying.
Pray for God to take you to a knew level of knowledge with him.
Desire for His Word and His righteousness in your life.
Your availability.
Your lost children.
Being a Godly Father, mother, grandmother, grandfather.
God to give you a young man or young lady to disciple.
Pray for what you know God desires to do in your life.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Paul closes with keep alert!
Peter tells us in 1 Peter that Satan is walking around like a hungry lion looking for someone to devour. Looking for a family he can devour, looking for a marriage to devour, looking for a witness he can devour. Paul writes when you begin to pray this way, the right way, you better pray with one eye open because now you are praying rightly and Satan is not going to like it and he is going to try and devour what you are praying for. Keep alert pray with intense persistent. God is good and trustworthy.
What has God laid on your heart that you need to get right with today? What do you need to be praying for right now? Sin, family, becoming a church member, your relationship with God, your lost son or daughter, your lost husband, your church, your family, your pastor, your sunday school class, your friend who you know is lost, your heart to change, bitterness in your heart. Come to the altar. Bring your need to this altar. Today can be a new start for you and your family. Today can be a new start for this church. For your marriage, for your life. Come to this altar. I am asking you to come. Bring your need that God has laid on your heart this whole sermon. And I am going to kneel here with you and I am going to pray over you and for you.
