Victory in Christ

Hold on.

The worship team can step down if you want to follow along to Ephesians chapter 6 verses 10 through 20 for Ephesians chapter 6 verses 10 through 24. I'll be reading for the new international version.

finally Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes for our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers against the authorities against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the Heavenly Realms therefore put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes you may be able to stand your ground and after you have done everything to stand stand firm then with the belt of Truth buckled around your waist with a breastplate of righteousness in place and with your feet fitted with the Readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this take up the shield of Faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the spirit on All Occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests with this in mind be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people pray also for me whenever I speak words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known The Mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in Chains pray that I may declare it fearlessly as I should. District has the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord will tell you everything so that you made so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. I am sending him to you for this very purpose that you may know how we are and that he may encourage you. P speed of the brothers and sisters and love with Faith from God the father and the Lord Jesus Christ Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ within an undying love. This is the word of the Lord. Let's have a word of prayer before Peter comes out. father

I know it's not unusual. But in these days our thoughts. if kind of straight into that power of death as we see people Who we care about people who are loved ones of people we care about have struggled with that.

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summer Entering into your presents this even today some seem to be just in the last few moments of their lives. We all struggle with those trials in those struggles were the body doesn't work. Right or the mine doesn't work. Right and we are aware that this is part of the curse of death on our lives.

The Lord for us as believers.

That concept of death is no longer a staying because it is through death that death is conquered. We serve a savior who died on the cross so that he could conquer death and that is we enter that unknown of the end of our physical life on Earth. We are transformed into the Glorious realm of spiritual eternal life. In the presence of our God and our savior. Lord as we think about that, our hearts are encouraged. Our minds are transformed because in debt and only ingest is there life. Lord as we think about the message that Pete Pastor Peter will be preaching this morning on the the the armor of God on prayer. We realizing we know that we are strengthened because you are our armor. You were the one who covers Us who protects us who by your spirit and through your word guides us and watches over us and leads us and directs us into your word and your truth. So we pray. from hearts that long for you that is Peter proclaims the word that you have given to him. That the meditations of our hearts will be brought into greater Conformity with the god whom we love and we serve wears in Christ's name. We pray. Amen.

Eden the children are dismissed for children's church.

we are going to close our study in the book of Ephesians this morning and I am looking forward to

just looking at how the building arguments or case that Paul is making as he goes through the book of Ephesians where he brings us to and where he brings us to is the reality that in Jesus the victory is won and we can stand firm and then he gives us these principles on how to stand firm to the end even as he closes the book Grace to all who love our lord Jesus with an undying love and so

He's going to describe the reality that we are in a battle and that even though the victory has been won in Jesus. Even as we just sang. The reality is the battle still rages and he's going to give us three. Keys to seeing that victory in our lives to standing firm and enduring in this battle as I was thinking about that this story from our own history from American history came to mind. I'm just going to read this. It's a selection from a website Christ and pop culture, but just as this Two and a half years after President Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation. And two months following General Lee and the Confederacy surrender Major General Gordon Granger of the Union Army arrived on the island of Galveston, Texas. He came with 2,000 Union troops to occupy, Texas on June 18th, 1865 and the following day June 19th on the balcony of Ashton Villa. He officially heralded. the news of the Civil War and slavery end in the treasonous Confederate States renzi's Abraham Lincoln in Morley allowed all states in the union that did not secede to continue the gross practice of slavery known as general order number three Grainger declared this quote the people of Texas are informed in accordance with a proclamation from the executive of the United States all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of Rights and writes the property between former master and slave and the connection here to for existing between them becomes that between employer and Free Labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly in their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and if they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere. on April 9th the Confederates surrendered it wasn't until two months later that the victory was declared in, Texas. That's similar to what we see being described here in the book of Ephesians that Jesus Christ has won the victory for us over sin and Satan and yet Satan is still battling against us and so we are encouraged and equipped to stand and again, he gives us these three tips on how to stand. So if you want to make your way to Ephesians chapter 6 Will dig into this I want to make a quick announcement. I just a reminder that this is the last Sunday in September and through the month of September. We've been asking for your prayerful consideration of deacons and Deaconess submissions nominations. And so if you wouldn't mind just continuing to prayerfully consider that and then make suggestions you can either put them in the offering box or give them to a pastor or a deacon and we can we we really really value and appreciate your your feedback in your input as we make these decisions. Cuz Church leadership is unbelievably important. looking for backing in the book of Ephesians and this concludes his book begins to conclude his book by saying this finally be strong in the Lord and mighty and his power as we go into this battle and describing this battle. The reality is the strength that you and I have to to stand firm. It does not come from within but it comes from his mighty power you and I have the strength to endure and the strength to overcome because of what Jesus Christ has done for you so he charges us be strong be strong in his mighty power. There's going to describe Us in this battle. So it's looking see a little bit about what this battle. How does battle is described and he's going to tell us where the battle takes place. He's going to tell us who we are battling against and it is going to tell us win the battle takes place just like with a physical battle. If you don't know where you're supposed to be you can't fight the battle. If you don't know who your enemy is, you're not going to be prepared to fight the battle. If you don't know when the attacks going to come you not going to be prepared to fight the battle. So let's look at how God's word describes. This battle that we're in as Believers so that we might be prepared to stand.

He says this inverses 11 and 12 put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes for our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers against the authorities and against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the Heavenly Realms. The Battleground is the spiritual world. It's the spiritual realm the book of Ephesians Paul's describe the spiritual realm the bunch to us. There's this place that we cannot see and yet it has direct application and implication on our lives.

So the question becomes will how can we have confidence in a victory in a spiritual Victory will look at what he tells us when let me remind you what he tells us in Ephesians chapter 1 he says this praise be to the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in the Heavenly Realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. If our battle takes place in the Heavenly Realms, that's a good place for us to be battling because you and I are complete in him. You have every spiritual blessing in Christ. There's no lacking. So this battle that's taken place. It's real and it's challenging there's pressure there's difficulty. But the reality is you have everything you need to see Victory or as or as Paul said here to stand your ground in this battle. Thanks. That's what all of chapter one is about. If you were to go through the book of Ephesians just walked back a little bit and your own copy to Ephesians chapter 1 we see that Ephesians chapter one is all about the spiritual blessings that we have in Jesus who we are in him what he's done for us the freedom in the Forgiveness that we have in him the grace in the mercy that's been lavished on us all these spiritual gifts that are ours in Christ, but it goes on to explain who our enemy is.

He says this. put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes for our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers against the authorities and against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the Heavenly realms Four enemy is Satan. Our enemy is Satan. He makes that clear in chapters 2 and 3 is he goes through and describes the battle that goes on in the reality that Satan has followers in this world. In fact, he says it this way as for you and chapter 2 verses 1 and 2 as for you you were dead in your transgressions and sins in the way in which you used to live when you follow the ways of the world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air. The spirit is not working those who are disobedient.

You & I we have a real enemy in that enemy is Satan not only that enemy Satan, but let me explain to you who is not your enemy. People are not your enemy. There is not a person that is your enemy. People are either our brothers and sisters. or our mission field that's who people are and I know that in all times is a difficult reality for us for me personally to grass that there is no one that I can look at and be like that person there my enemy I think a particular as we're in the midst of an election cycle. It's really really easy to see the anger that's thrown where we can begin to believe the lie that the person on the right or the person on the left is our enemy. What God's word tells us is our battle is not against flesh and blood. There's a battle going on for sure, but it's not about all against flesh and blood. So we as Believers, we as Christians in order to stand we need to recognize that it's not people but it's the spiritual Realm of the spiritual forces that were battling against Satan is real he is real has been roaming this Earth since the fall. He's good at what he does. He's been doing this longer than you or I have been alive and his methods have not changed. Ischemia against us as Paul reminds us here. He's scheming against us. His purpose is to steal kill and destroy his mode of operation is to divide think about back in the garden Adam and Eve they were to be United and yet what did he do? They were standing there together and he targeted Eve. Adam was right there, but he targeted he's already setting the stage for division. And what did he do? How did he Target will be targeted by questioning the word of God and by questioning the goodness of God. Did God really say And if God were good, he would give you this fruit, but he knows that if you need of it you'll be like him. So he questions the goodness of God and the word of God is doing the exact same thing today to you. And to me Weaver Real Enemy that really hates you. He really hates you. He really hates your family. He hates you and he is powerful people follow him as I read in Ephesians chapter 2

You know, I think this reality is difficult for us to grasp because in America, the spiritual realm is just not something that were. aware of and I think that Satan is intentional in that like if Satan is able to lull us into thinking that our our our possessions and Miss World of things that we see is all there is will then he's doing just fine because if that's true then there is no God and he's one you go to other places in the world and the spiritual realm is right in front of your face. It is just as active here. He's just more behind the scenes. I've experienced the Demonic Realm. like I can remember vividly a time in college where you can ask me afterwards for the full story. It's it's incredible. But where I was in my dorm room at Purdue and there was my my roommate was struggling with spiritual warfare and demonic things and through prayer and some different things like he had this breakthrough and that night I was sleeping and and I physically felt Like push down in my bed physically as this demon went from his side of the room across me this intense feeling of like doubt overcame me. I remember just crying out the Lord like Lord, I can't do this or I can't do this. I had it started with like a really Vivid dream. The dream was really weird and it was like dice. I still remember it was like guys that were dropping and then I hit the last time and like a split into all these snakes. I don't have beans like that is weird very very weird. And I remember feeling this intense Feeling of doubt. It was a it was a terrific feeling and all I can do is pray Lord. Like I can't do this. I can't do this and then I physically felt pushed down in my bed and as quickly as it came across me from his side of the room it left and I was at peace and I went to sleep. I know it sounds really crazy. But I'm telling you that's my experience and I've had other experiences and I know many of you have as well, but I want you to know we have to know that we are really in a battle with a real enemy that really hates you. And all he wants to do is to have the victory that Jesus has one for us to not have its full effect in your life. for you to not believe in the victory that Jesus has one for you for you to not live a life worthy of the calling you have received for you to seed ground back not to stand strong but his desires for you to shirk back. The reality is that we do not have to but not only do we have this battle ground and this enemy described. Well, let me just let me describe to you why we can have confidence in the victory that Jesus is one. I love in the partner book to Ephesians Colossians the way that God reminds us what he's accomplished through Jesus. He says this in Colossians 2:13 through 15. He says when you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature God Made You Alive with Christ. He forgave us our sins have been canceled the written code that with its regulations. That was against us and that stood opposed to us. He took it away nailing it to the cross and then listen to this and having disarmed the powers and authorities. He made a public spectacle of them try and think over them by the cross the picture that's being painted. There is of a king that goes the battle against another king and they win the battle and they take prisoners and they disarm those prisoners and they marched them back home. And there's this huge parade as they walk these prisoners disarmed and and weak through the town square and everybody is celebrating. That is what your savior did the to Satan. You and I have this victory that has been one. Now we're call to stand and stand firm. In the same way that the victory had been won when the when the Union Soldiers went into Texas two months later. They weren't wondering are we going to win the war not the war was one they had gone into Texas to declare the victory that had been won and that's to make sure that the full effects of that Victory impacted the lives of those around them. That's similar to the reality that you and I face today that the kingdom of God is advancing in your heart and in the hearts of those that you proclaim the gospel 2K, so we have the Battleground the enemy. And then the timing when does this take place while again if if the the the the Battleground is kind of going over in chapter 1 and our enemies described in chapters 2 and 3 now in chapters 4 through 6, we get the timing because guess when the timing is the timing is anytime. In all places, right? That's why it goes through at home. That's why he goes through your work. That's why he says, you know, don't let the sun go down on your anger, but deal with it. That's what it says don't steal but instead work to go to the putting off and putting on he says this in Chapter 13 or chapter 6 verse 13 therefore put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes honestly the battle can be anytime and anywhere. In church right now you could be fighting the battle. In your mind right now. I'm sure that that's some of you are. We are fighting a battle and the battle can take place at any time.

So what do we do we prepare now we prepare at every time you don't want to get caught in a firefight without your equipment and she put the equipment on before you go out. We prepare before we go out and so he then goes on to explain. What is that preparation look like so let's answer the question. So we recognize okay. We're in a battle. We recognize what this battle looks like to know the questions. Okay, Peter. How do we prepare God? How do we prepare? What is it look like for me to be able to Stand My Ground in the spot. That only gives us three steps. Male start with T. So it should be easy to remember. protection prayer for proclaim the gospel put on the armor of God protect yourself. Pray and proclaim the gospel message. That is how we're going to stand in this battle. Let's go looking into this in the God's armor here. Interesting as we look at God's armor this Armor of God that we get to put ourselves in that we get to close ourselves in each one of these is an attribute of Christ. Such luck here. I don't think there could we can make too much of like, you know the belt of Truth like the the part of the equipment and then the actor beat that it's tied to I don't want to make too much of that cuz really the reality is we're just to put on truth and righteousness and peace and faith and salvation in an in the word of God was supposed to be what we're putting on. I was talking last night with with Stephanie as we went out to dinner to celebrate Stephanie. It's her birthday today as we went out to celebrate. I had to get it in there some house though. You're welcome as we're talkin talkin about this passage and how this so often is a VBS passage and how we've had some really great vvs's surrounding this and we've done some stuff on missions trips. I won't send you the songs, but they're all the songs right about this but the danger of that the great thing is that there's a lot of true fear true that really helps us as Believers. The danger that is to make this into some cute, you know foam sword and cardboard Shield that kids wear and that's what we think about when we come to this the reality is this is talking about a spiritual warfare with an enemy stating that hates you. And so what's with that reality in mind? Look at what he says here. These attributes are ours in Christ. So the first 20 points to is stand from them with the belt of Truth buckled around your waist. He goes back. We can go back to chapter 113. We said this and you also were included in Christ. When you heard the message of Truth The Gospel of your salvation when you believed you were marked in him with a seal the promise. Holy Spirit truth is an important part of the armor that we wear truth is an understanding and a personal Embrace of what God has done for us through Jesus. The gospel truth is that's why I like knowing this believing. This is unbelievably important knowing this truth is Will putting the by the belt on looks like Remind you also like Paul's writing this in prison is Ramos in prison? And so he's surrounded by soldiers that are literally wearing this armor and they have a sword that ultimately one day his head going to be cut off by like these are very real realities for him. And he saying look, my battle is not against those soldiers. My battle is against the spiritual Realm. I told her to put that I'm going to put the belt of Truth on. Then he goes on the breastplate of righteousness me remind you what he says in chapter 1 verse 4. He says this for he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight you and I have been chosen if we are believers in Jesus Christ to be holy and blameless in his sight remember that everyday day by day as you put on the breastplate of righteousness your righteousness, and then he calls us to clothe ourselves in the righteousness of Christ. Right? So it's the reality that we both have these things and the reality that then we live a righteous life just like he says here in a fusion for one as a prisoner for the Lord then I heard you live a life worthy of the calling you have received to put on truth and righteousness. And then the boots of the Gospel. He says this and with your feet fitted with the Readiness that comes from the gospel of peace remind you what he says in chapter 2 verse 14. He says this for he himself is our peace who made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier the dividing wall of hostility. Remember when we talked about how the gospel not only brings us peace between us and God but the gospel brings peace between you and me right between us the strangers. We now have been reconciled together. The gospel brings peace in this round 2. And so what it looks like for us to put on the shoes of the gospel of peace is to live at peace with one another through the gospel. What's Satan's desire is to divide and so my encouragement to us as a as a body of Believers is live at peace with one another. That mean that becomes very practical. So if if there is division between a husband and wife here, let me challenge you to believe the gospel and to become reconciled live at peace if it's parents and children. Be reconciled live at peace. If it's even within this body of Believers if there is someone here that you are the two are divided over or that you are holding animosity towards don't let Satan enter in and divide but deal with that. Let the reality that the gospel brings peace, let it manifest itself here in this community of Believers so we can stand our ground. Do any moves on he says in addition to all this take up the shield of Faith this one here. I think it's fascinating that he ties to a shield because he says this with which we can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

A shield a Roman Shield was about 4 ft tall in about 2 ft wide was a big Shield. It was wooden that was wrapped in metal. And then that metal was wrapped in Leather And the reason why I was wrapped in leather was because then they would take it before the battle. They would dunk it in water. So it would soak up the water and then that Shield as we're standing next to each other in line there that Shield was ready so that when the arrows from the enemy that they would that they would cover the ends with pitch or with tar, they would light them on fire and they would shoot them at the Roman soldiers as those fiery arrows came in. We be able to hide behind our Shields and they wouldn't just catch the wooden shield on fire, but they would extinguish the flames. I was thinking about that picture like you and I were standing here in this battle. This this whole passage is not just me fighting alone, but it's us fighting together. We're fighting this battle together. And so Tim Tim and I are standing right next to each other and if if our Shields aren't aren't ready then when that fire arrow comes and hits him then his shield is like catching on fire. I'm freaking out because the guy next to me Shield is on fire. So I'm going to panic and run and you over there like these fire arrows that are fired at us. They don't just affect you but they affect me. So the shield of faith is the means through which we extinguish the fiery arrows of Satan. What are those fiery arrows look like they're those lies that you are the lies that shoots about You're worth. Your value in the eyes of Christ. The arrows that shoots to you about your forgiveness that you're not really forgiven that you can be forgiven for most of that you've done with that one thing. There's no way you're going to carry that one forever. That is a Lie from Satan. Life I'm stating that maybe you know that's in that you're drawn to that you're tempted to I really need to do this. I deserve this or I've learned this or Peter if you understood what I've been going through. I really need this out. Like those are all those arrows that he's shooting at you. I don't know why she's there was like a like a dark but that's what he does those arrows that he shoots at you and the reality is that you and I the way that we extinguish those is by faith. It's by believing the truth that we know if I taking the truth of God's word and trusting it like applying it to our lives to say no Satan. I know what you're telling me, but I know what is to be true and I'm going to like You're going to lose your power Satan as I put my faith in what God has said. So continue to trust in God's holy word and what he says to you. And then we can extinguish not just some of those arrows but all of them then he moves on to the helmet of salvation and remind you what he says here in chapter 1 verse 7 says in him. We have Redemption through his blood the Forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God's grace this this this armor that we where is because we are saved it is our salvation and let me just remind or or challenge you that are either here or listening at home. If you don't know Jesus you are in this battle, but you are fighting a battle. In fact, you are on the wrong side. This is the battle is being waged for your heart and your losing and the only hope that you have is for a rescuer to enter in and rescue you from your sins. That's what Jesus Christ has done for every single one of us. It is by Grace. We have been saved through faith. It is not of yourselves as a gift of God so that we cannot boast that is exactly what Jesus Christ has done for you and for me, so we trust in him and then as we trust in him, we can stand firm knowing that we are saved if you put your faith in Jesus brother sister you are saved. You are saved. Don't let the enemy. tell you anything otherwise I want to Salvation sword of the spirit. sword of the spirit Is the word of God let me just remind you what he says about the church in chapter 5 verses 25 to 27. He says husbands love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her. Holy. How did he make us? Holy how is it that he made us holy cleansing her by the washing with water through the word you and I have been washed through the word. Enter present her to himself as a Radiant Church Without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. The word of God is our offensive weapon, I think about when Jesus was tempted in the desert. Satan came and was and was trying to tempt him to bend his knee to Satan to have a way out of the road that he was walking down which was leading to the cross it just bend your knee to me and all these nations. All the power will be yours. Jesus time and time and time again three times. Actually, he quotes scripture back to Satan to get him like Perry his moves right to get rid of the lies that were coming at him. So are our sword that we carry with us is the word of gods. My challenge to us is to continue to be in the word of God. You can't use a weapon that you don't have and so keep your Bible with you memorize scripture. I'm telling you that day of that day of evil is going to come when you're not expecting it and the word that you have buried in your heart hidden in your heart that's going to be the tool that you can use to combat the lies of Satan.

To the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. So getting this picture that's being painted is that Jesus has won the Victory and now we're called us can stand our ground not giving an inch back to the enemy. Remember the strength that is at work in worth work in you is the same strength that God exerted when he raised Jesus from the dead and seated in the Heavenly Realms you have strong armor you and I have strong armor to same strength that Jesus that was used when Jesus was raised back to life when he went from dead to alive. And then when he went from this Earth raised to the right hand of the father that strength is the same power that is at work in you the one we've got the protection that we put on the moving quickly move on to praying. Play big brother and sister the stand-your-ground to endure in this life. Let me challenge you and encourage you pray and pray big. Look what he says and pray in the spirit on All Occasions with all kinds of prayer requests with this in mind be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Pray in step with the spirit. That means like a lining us with his will praying things that align with the will of God praying things that align with what we know to be true. Prayer is unbelievably powerful. Let me share with you is a little long but let me share with you a story from from American history that happened the anniversary of it was this is last Wednesday, September 23rd. In 1857. Let me read the story to you. Texas it was exactly 12 noon on September 23rd 1857. A tall middle-aged former businessman climb creaking stairs to the third story of an old church building in the heart of lower, New York City. He entered an empty room pulled out his pocket watch and sat down to wait the placard outside red quote prayer meeting from 12 to 1. 5 10 or 20 minutes or hour as your time admits. It looked like no one had the time as the minutes ticked by the solitary waiter. Wondered if it were all a mistake for some three months. You've been visiting boarding homes shops and offices inviting people to the 88 year-old Old Dutch North Church in at Fulton and William streets the church had fallen on Slim X old family that moved away the business neighborhood was teeming with a floating population of immigrants and laborers other churches have gotten out many thought the Old Dutch should throw in the towel. But the trustees determined on a last-ditch stand they decided to hire a lay missionary to conduct a visitation program. The man they picked was Jeremiah C lamphere. A merchant who had no experience whatsoever in church visitation work. I don't know how they pick this guy why they picked him. He was 49 years old. He was a businessman. They picked this guy.

49 year old lamphere gave up his trade position to knock on doors for salary of less than $1,000 a year. The going was slow a few families came, but often he returned to his room in the church weary and discouraged. At such time he quotes spread out his Sorrows before the Lord and he never fail to draw new strength from his time of prayer. Won't going his rounds of visitation the idea occurred to him that businessmen might like to get away for a short. Of prayer once a week while offices were closed at noon with permission of church officials lamphere passed out flyers and put up the placard when the day of the first meeting came. He was the only one on hand for it.

The minute hand of his watch pointed to 12:30. So 10 minutes to pass another 10 minutes and other 10 minutes when he had last heard steps on the stairs one man came in then another and another until there were six. After few minutes of prayer, the meeting was dismissed with the decision that another meeting would be held the following Wednesday. That's small meeting was in no way extraordinary. There was no great outpouring of the spirit of God. Lamphere had no way of knowing that it was the beginning of a great National Revival which would sweep an estimated 1 million people into the kingdom of heaven.

See what happened was this man? start of this prayer meeting and he just was faithful in prayer and 6 people showed up and then the next week a few more and then the next week a few more and then World things were going on and the market started to crash a little bit and people started to seek God and so they came and more more came within a year.

There Were Ten Thousand men daily praying in New York City 10000 men praying daily in New York City The news was Daily Record recording these meetings these prayer meetings. It would go things like this. It would it would be like this. They would pray and they have these rules that you can only pray for 5 minutes. And I said Pastor Jim would probably be able to make it in those prayer meetings. You did great 5 minutes, so they would have like 5 minutes. I don't know why I'm saying to you cuz I'm the one that takes 2 hours to do a message and it's a prayer and then they will go on so they would take prayer request. They would say this prayer request pray for them and they were done their start at when they're done at 1 and it would go like this. Someone is praying for their son on the didn't know the Lord and so they start praying and then I was there praying unbeknownst to the one that was praying the sun was in the back and he stands up and he says brothers and sisters like pray for me because that is my dad and I need to repent and come back to the Lord.

Another another news article records that they would take letters. It was in Philadelphia. They would take letters and telegrams. I am pray for those prayer request. And so there was a letter that was read that there was from a wife and she was praying for her unsaved husband. And so they start praying and as they're starting to pray a man stands up in the back with tears in his eyes and he says that woman is my wife. And men, will you pray for me? Cuz I need to know the Lord.

And then after praying for him another man stood up in that same meeting and said men that man is my wife. I have a God-fearing wife and she's praying for me. I need to know the Lord. Will you pray for me? And then another and another and another like thousands of people were coming into congregations at this time. The reason why we do Sunday school today was because of this revival so many people are coming to the Lord that knew nothing or little of the word of God that they started Sunday school in order to teach them. So the reason we do Sunday school was because of these Revival all the started by a 49 year-old businessman that just wanted to pray I want to challenge us and encourage us that God does not always work that way. In fact, he rarely does but prayer is unbelievably powerful. So how does God call us to pray in order that we might stand in this Victory? We pray in the spirit on All Occasions. There's never a situation you faced in which prayer is not required. If you think you can't endure what you're going through right now, let me encourage you pray. If you think that you can endure what you're going through right now and encourage you pray if you think that you can endure what you're going through right now. I mean courage you pray. The first one is a little bit easier. I mean all of us have been in those Seasons where we come to the end of our ropes and we're like I need to fall on my knees.

Sometimes it's when the things are going well that we need to be reminded that I need to be reminded Peter. You are not doing this on your own like you need to go to the father. Pray, pray on All Occasions. There is nothing that we face in which God does not want us to come to him in prayer on All Occasions with all kinds of prayer requests. all kinds pray for the little things pray for the big things pray for your neighbors pray for your family's pray for your friends all kinds of prayers and requests. Bring them to the Lord lay them at his feet. Pray with all kinds of prayers and then pray always keep on praying for all the saints. This is a key to the book of Ephesians. Now. We're starting to like bring everything to a close. This is a key theme of the letter is that you and I we are doing this together. We're fighting this battle together. We are seeing the Victory and we are told to stand together. That's why this is titled together in Christ. We we need to do this together. Will you pray for me? Because I need your prayers. I'll pray for you. I promise that me and Jim and Mike we're praying for you. We just had a deacon's meeting on Thursday night. We pray for our church family. We prayed for you. Would you be praying for me one of the sweetest things when the sweetest memories I have from church is when I first started here, they had the Wednesday Eve or the Wednesday morning prayer meeting and it was just some old timers in the church that would get together and they would faithfully and regularly pray and I was here I'm downstairs. I'll be up in the youth room working on stuff out here and praying and there is one day where they left their prayer list just out on the table. And like I'm not kidding David on I like it brought tears to my eyes to see my name on that list being prayed for regularly by this group and many of your names are on that list and are to this day as they still do that are on that list being prayed for regularly by name. Keep on praying for all the saints. Play another one.

was

Going to Chris and Kathy's house house and seeing my name up on their chalkboard. They had a list of people they will pray for weekly that one day Monday Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday Saturday Sunday, and they were just praying they're praying for individuals in the church and they are praying for their pastors. I covet those prayers. Would you continue to pray for me and I'm praying for you continue to pray for one another? Look at these big words that are used to pray in the spirit on All Occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray big who put on our protection. We pray big prayers. What does it look? Like? What does it look like for you to pray for me what Paul is going to give us an example is going to give us the third P then here, which is to proclaim the gospel. But look at what Paul says, he says you want to know how you can pray for the Saints pray like this and this is what we close with. Pray also for me that whenever I open my mouth words may be given me so I will fearlessly make known The Mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in Chains pray that I may declare it fearlessly as I should. This is crazy. This is Paul. The guy that wrote most of the New Testament. That like writes with such power and beauty and eloquence 1st Corinthians 13 may be the most beautiful thing ever written by any human hand ever. And yet he's sitting there saying church. Will you please pray that I would proclaim the gospel fearlessly? so if you fear Or if you feel weak in the area of evangelism you're in good company because Paul was right there with you. So let's pray for one another as we proclaim the mystery of the Gospel. We remind you Paul was as he says here and Ambassador in Chains, meaning that he understood that his charge was to proclaim the gospel to the world and yet where did he find himself in a prison cell is in a prison cell and that even there may be seeing one or two people a day and probably the guards and that was it he's asking would you give would you pray for me that that that words and that a Fearless spirit will be given to me as I Proclaim to those that I come across even in a prison cell. It's fascinating to me what he doesn't ask for prayer for He doesn't pray brothers and sisters. Will you pray for me that the Prison Walls break down and then I'm able to flee out of here.