Learning to Pray Like Jesus, Part 7 (Why Pray?)
Why Pray?—Ephesians 6:10-18
Intro…
· We’ve been learning to pray like Jesus…
o Don’t be like Hypocrites—pray privately.
o Don’t be like the pagans—pray sincerely.
o Pray like this…
· Why is prayer so important?—Why is it worth your while?
o Besides that God’s commands it & it works, why pray?
· ESS: You must pray like Jesus b/c it’s 1 of your greatest defenses against the devil. (Read)
o In these verses our lives are described as a struggle/fight.
§ V.12—Literally means “wrestling”/hand-to-hand combat.
§ A king of 1 kingdom fighting for his life against another…
· Let’s look at that struggle…
I. The struggle illustrated… Paul says, “Finally…”
- Not b/c this is of least importance, but drawing conclusion…
- Ephesus was the 4th largest city of the ANE, a political, religious, & commercial city—very consumeristic.
- Look at what Paul had said to the Ephesians…
- 4:17, 22-24—Becoming who Christ wants you to be…
- 4:25 (15)—Quit lying, speak the truth in love
- 4:26—27—Controlling anger
- 4:29, 31—Let nothing foul or dirty come out, no bitterness
- 4:32—Forgive others.
- 5:1-4—Imitate God…
- 5:15-20—drunkenness
- 5:21-6:5—Submitting: wives, husbands, parents, slaves…
- How do we do all these things?—How do we fulfill these things?
- We daily struggle w/lying, dirty mouths, controlling our anger.
- First, Paul tells us what the real problem is in our lives…
II. The struggle unmasked… (10-12)
- “Put on the full armor of God…”—Why?
- “…to stand against the schemes (tactics, methods) of the devil…”
- We’re wrestling against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers…
- Our struggle in this life isn’t against flesh & blood!!
- Satan is our real enemy—not your spouse, your boss, the bottle/drugs, & not the person across the isle from you…
- Our enemy at FBC isn’t one another—Satan’s our enemy.
- Our battle is against 3 foes (Satan uses them all…)
- The world—1 John 2:15—Worldly system of pride & selfishness.
- Satan is the ruler of this world—John 16:11.
- The flesh—Rom. 8:12-14—The part of the person not controlled…
- The flesh wants to follow the worldly system.
- You can’t say, the devil made me do it—James 1:14-15.
- The devil—2 Cor. 4:4, 1 Peter 5:8
- As Christians striving to put off our old self—striving to live for Jesus, understand that Satan is doing all that he can to prevent you from doing this—b/c He controls the worldly system.
III. The struggle’s answer… (13-14) What do we do?
· 2 Corinthians 10:3-4—Fight w/ spiritual weapons!—Here they are
o Belt of truth—Knowing the truth of God’s word.
o Breastplate of right.—Practical daily obedience to God’s word.
o Gospel of peace—assurance of your peace w/God.
o Shield of faith—Trust in God’s daily provision
o Helmet of salvation—trust in future assurance/knowing where
o Sword of the spirit—Defending yourself w/the arsenal of…
· “praying at all times in the spirit…”
o “pray” here is a participle/an on-going action.
o All the while you’re wrestling against your flesh & Satan, be praying.—Why?
o B/c learning to pray like Jesus is 1 of your greatest defenses against the devil.
Closing…
- Jesus’ words to His disciples before His crucifixion…
- Matt. 26:41
- Do you want to experience the victory that was won on the cross against Satan—not just when you get to heaven, but today?
- Learn to pray like Jesus!
- Make you Father in heaven the love of your life.
1 John 2:15 (ESV) 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
Romans 8:12-14 (ESV) 12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
James 1:14-15 (ESV) 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
2 Corinthians 4:4 (ESV) 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
1 Peter 5:8 (ESV) 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (ESV) 3 For though we walk in the flesh (physically), we are not waging war according to the flesh (the way the physical realm does). 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh (physical realm) but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
Matthew 26:41 (ESV) 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”