Untitled Sermon

Spiritual Warfare

Prayer; Weapons for the frontlines where God has placed us Ephesians 6:18-20

Introduction:

Good morning Redeemer Church! This morning we are going to conclude our excursus into the book of Ephesians having examined various aspects of spiritual warfare.

I’m sure it has come as a bit of a shock to some of you that we haven’t delved into the seeming practical practices of exorcisms and the dealing with territorial spirits and other supernatural encounters that one may see in a lifetime.

This may be especially surprising when Paul has made a point of explaining that our wrestles and struggles in this world against the schemes of the Devil are not against physical human opposition per see but rather against cosmic powers, over spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

We are not saying that there is no place for exorcisms or that that the evil powers, demons and the like are not organised into geographical strongholds, it seems they surely are!

But the way that we are called to primarily wrestle and struggle according to our Ephesian text is that we are to take hold of the provisions bound up in the person and work of Jesus Christ, and in taking up and putting on these provisions, like the putting on of armour, we are in fact taking an immovable firm stand against Satan, his cohorts and their plans to come against all that is good in Christ in you and the church.

The Problem: Common misinformed understanding of biblical supernatural realities.

What has made and continues to make our task so hard is the common misconception that Satan is on some kind of equal footing with God and can go toe to toe, if you like, with him.

This nonsense is not only unfounded in any biblical reality, but has been imported into western culture and Christianity via eastern philosophies of yin yang and the likes of the ‘force’ in the star wars world where good and evil must equal itself out and find some balance for the universes to exist in harmony.

The biblical truth is that while these spiritual authorities and evil powers are powerful and against us, they are non the less created beings, created by God, his creatures…

as theologian Esther E. Acolatse comments “they are not Lordless lords but are under control all the time”

ESV Ephesians 1:20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, overcomes our greatest enemy and fear and reigns over his creation unequalled. He is our hope, our redeemer, our saviour, God in the flesh, he is ours! Jesus washes away all of my sin!!!

This is the Truth we need to hold on to. His righteousness is ours, his perfections are given to us enabling us to live a holy life in the power of the Spirit. This is the basis of out readiness with the Gospel that has brought us peace, the good news of his faithfulness on our behalf purchasing sinners and reconciling us to the Father. He is the one who has given us faith, so we can have faith and walk by faith holding on the the salvation he has wrought in us as we stand firm in it wielding the word of God applied by and in the Power the Holy Spirit

We are his and as he has been prophesied from old by Isaiah the prophet that…

NIVO Isaiah 59:17 He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.

We are now called to put on Christ, his power, his victory and as we do this in the battlefield of this life we are given to live in the fallen world we are connected directly, not left powerless,

18 And

pray in the Spirit

on all occasions

This often debated phrase has the ability to detract us from the power that Paul has in mind for us if we allow it.

It debated because in its ambiguity it can and has been taken by many to mean praying in tongues.

Apart from this interpretation leaving many non-tongues speakers at a disadvantage it makes no sense from the context that the ‘in the spirit’ is with worked out and realised through the praying of ‘all kinds of prayers.’ Before we dismiss these interpretations we can see why some might think it means tongues, it comes from Paul’s discourse in 1 CO 14. Here is where Paul argues that tongue praying can leave the mind un-fruitful and others who hear tongues are at a loss as to what they are saying as he explains in verse 16

NIV 1 Corinthians 14:16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?

This praising God ‘in the Spirit’ is the very exact phrase by Paul thus leading to this idea that ‘in the Spirit’ can be identified with tongues.

Like I just mentioned in, makes no sense here, context must rule, so what is Paul saying to us?

If not tongues speak then is he meaning in our heart or in our Spirit?

Well no because he says ‘pray in the spirit’ not with your spirit or in your spirit, I think it is clear he is referring to the Holy Spirit.

Charles Hodge can help us here…

The third direction is, to pray ἐν πνεύματι. This does not mean inwardly, or, with the heart…but it means under the influence of the Spirit, and with his assistance, whose gracious office it is to teach us how to pray, and to make intercessions for us with groanings that cannot be uttered

Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

with all kinds of prayers

and requests.

Prayer is on the front line of spiritual warfare! Literally with ‘all or every Prayer and supplication’

This is surely meant to be a pointer tp the real purpose of prayer!

Not the lord give me my daily bread when you have $5 in your pocket and you could grab macD’s

But rather I’m in a situation here, Lord I Need so actual help, Lord I have sinned, Lord I feel trapped in this decision ive made, Lord is there no way out, Lord Lord, my child…my friend…

NIVO Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

1 Tim 1:18-2:2: This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions,

Notice Paul’s consistent advise! In order to wage the good warfare he is urged to pray, not for himself but for others, could it be others influenced by Satanic powers? We don’t wart against people, we recognise that this is a spiritual battle and evil forces are involved and people are influenced to various degrees by them so we are urged to pray for these folk!

With this in mind, be alert

and always keep on praying

for all the saints.

With all prayers be alert, what is going on around you?

NIVO Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ESV Colossians 4:2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

The tendency is to be distracted to not be thinking that there are Spiritual issues at hand!

Always dose not mean that we are in a continued flux of prayer but rather it means in the various situations we should always pray! The persistent widow parable in Luke 18…

NIVO Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Not give up when? When we are crying out for and answer to the situation

NIVO Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

In Thessalonians we have

NIVO 1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

NAS 1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Then we have the object of the prayers! Please don’t let this be lost in the reason why we pray and how we pray, in many ways they are superfluous to the who we are praying for and the what we are praying for!

19 Pray also for me,

that whenever I open my mouth,

words may be given me

so that I will fearlessly make known

the mystery of the gospel,

20 for which I am an ambassador

in chains.

Pray that I may declare it fearlessly,

as I should.

Here in the conclusion of our text we now have the grounds where the battle is fought and the reason we need all that we have mentioned Is necessary!

The grounds are bound up in the purpose of our calling out of the world and the intense opposition that we face from spiritual forces.

Paul request sums up our purpose in the world!

2 Co 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

NIVO Colossians 4:3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.

NIVO 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honoured, just as it was with you.

NIV Acts 4:29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

NIVO Exodus 19:5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”

NIVO 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

NIVO Revelation 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father-- to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.