"Stay on your knees"

Intro:

Objective of prayer: Prayer is the method by which he obtain God’s supernatural help

Definition: Prayer is a personal communicative response to the knowledge of God....Tim Keller

Definition: Prayer is giving God earthly permission to work supernaturally in our present situation; predicated on the fact it is consistent with what he intended to do in the first place.....Tony Evans

Some of us may not like Tony definition particularly the portion of giving God permission. Let me take you to Tony E proof text

James 5:17 CSB

17 Elijah was a human being as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the land.

Notice the text the Rain did not stop until Elijah prayed. So Elijah prayed in the natural to a Supernatural God who caused a Supernatural event to happen which was lack of rain for 42 months. Now it is important for us to also understand Elijah simply joined his will with God and ask God to do something that he already intended to do in the first place.

Another text that gives credence to this defintion is James 4:2:

James 4:2 CSB

2 You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war. You do not have because you do not ask.

Let’s Define: Prayer is the method by which God draws us closer to him so that his will becomes our will so that his Supernatural Kingdom can be made manifest in a Natural World.

Prayer is relational(Draws us closer to God)

Prayer is Humbling(Submitting our wills to God)

Prayer is Supernatural(Prayer removes the veil that exist between the Supernatural and Natural world.

-Now lets applies those principles of prayer to these final verses in Ephesians

I. Pray for yourself

Ephesians 6:18 CSB

18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

(v.18) “Pray”

In the CSB of translation the translators put the participle first. You remember that participles can function as verbs.

Praying-Present-Present means things we are to do an a daily basis.

(EXE-v.18) “Pray at all times”

Paul tells us to pray at all times(kairos)-can mean seasons, occasions or situations. Its best to understand Paul is informing us there is never a time or occasion in our life when we can relax in prayer.

Paul was used “Battle” as a metaphor for this conclusion to the book of Ephesians. Before & During Battle prayer would not have been a problem for a soldier because they recognize their life could be lost in a moment. What I think Paul is trying to communicate is for the believer there is never a downtime in battle. Even if things are going well in your life Pray, If things are going bad in your life Pray, If things are neutral in your life Pray.

(Exe-v.18) “Pray at all time in the Spirit”

What does it mean to Pray in the Spirit?

Let us take a look what it means to pray in the flesh first.

Praying in the flesh is us trying to figure out the perfect way to communicate with God based on our own human effort. It is us trying to pray longer, pray harder, and pray more eloquently believing this effort will give us success in prayer.

Praying in the Spirit is us totally depending on the Spirit to give us strength, insight and revelation as we commune with God. It is us coming realizing our own weaknesses and depending on God for Help.

To Pray in the Spirit is too pray with a recognition that the Christian life is unlivable without being constantly plugged into the power of God.

Ephesians 6:18 CSB

18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

(EXE-v.18) “Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request”

Paul is calling for holistic prayer right here. He is saying by this phrase God wants it all. He wants your pain, He wants your disappointment, He wants your question, He wants your request no matter how small.

In this case “Prayer and Request” uses two different greek words with two different nuances, but sometimes they are used in tandem to fully encapsulate what God wants to hear from his people.

God says “Come to me my son, my daughter and don’t leave anything out!” I know when you are mad at me, I know when your faith is weak, I know when you think something I have done in your life is unfair bring it to me.

Ephesians 6:18 CSB

18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

(Exe-v.18) “Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance”

Final warning: “and stay alert with all perseverance” Paul is staying with the War Metaphor as it pertains to our Spiritual Journey and he says “Stay Alert” this squares well with the opening phrase “Pray at all times in the Spirit” this is a warning to not get out there on your own believing you can conquer Satan, do ministry, and advance God’s kingdom without Prayer. “DON’T DO IT” never get comfortable because there are no downtimes for a Christian.

Transition Statement: Paul says in Spiritual Warfare it is not enough to pray for yourself we must also

II. Pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ

Ephesians 6:18 CSB

18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

(Exe-v.18) “18 Pray at all times [in] the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints”

The word intercession and request are the same greek word. It simply means request or petitions.

So Paul is basically saying all of the things he just mentioned in reference to individual prayer. Pray at all times, Pray in the Spirit, Pray Holistically apply not only to just us, But also as we are to pray for our brothers and sister in christ in the same manner.

Doing Spiritual Warfare in Community:

Ephesians 6:10 CSB

10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.

(Exe-v.10) “Finally, be strengthened” this verb is second person plural. You don’t see it in the translation, but inside the word strengthened is the pronoun “Yall” Second person is you. Second person plural is “Yall”

Ephesians 6:11 CSB

11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil.

(Exe-v.11) “You” this pronoun is second person plural. So lets replace: Put on the full armor of God so that yall can stand against the schemes of the devil”

Ephesians 6:12 CSB

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.

(Exe-v.12) “For our” This is first person plural.

Ephesians 6:13 CSB

13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.

(Exe-v.13) “so that you” Second Person Plural “For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that yall may be able to resist in the evil day”

Ephesians 6:16 CSB

16 In every situation take up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

(Exe-v.16) “which you can extinguish” lets translate this verse “In every situation take up the shield of faith with which yall can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one”

So in v.10, 11, 12, 13, & 16 Paul speaks in the second person plural form “Yall”

What overarching point is Paul making?

Paul is making the point Spiritual Warfare is done in community.

Can you imagine going to war against even a small nation by yourself? Imagine you come to the battlefield fighting against an army and you are by yourself.

Spiritually Speaking a believer is never alone because the host of heaven is always with you, but practically speaking “Paul is assuming you know and understand you cannot do Spiritual Warfare without the community of believers. You know what that requires. It requires you to become transparent with some people believers in your life and let them know everything your struggles, pains, past, present, and sins that have been a stumblingblock for you.

The Roman Soldiers when they went to needed to advance against a city while being fired by archers they would create what they called a “tostodas” this is latin for “Tortoise Shell” A group of soldiers would get shoulder to shoulder, connecting their shields with one another this created a shell for a large battalion of soldiers to advance while being fired upon and not take any casualties.

Transition Statement: Saints in your prayers for yourself, remember the saints, but also remember your Pastors

III. Pray for your Pastor

Ephesians 6:19 CSB

19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.

(Exe-v.19) “19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.”

Paul says “Pray for me” Paul says I planted yall I have a relationship with yall. Pray for me!!! Dear Saints don’t pray for your online Pastor before you pray for your local Pastor that actually minister to your needs in a personal way. The Whole Pastoral Team needs your Prayers. Notice what Paul asks for specific prayers for:

Sudden Revelation:

Paul says there are times when I don’t have time to study and I need a word on the spot. Pray that God will send me Revelation when I need to address any situation I am going through

Boldness:

Paul says I need courage to open my mouth when the time comes with the right message and with a courageous heart.

Why would Paul be asking the saints at Ephesus to pray he would have courage?

Paul is being vulnerable right here he is letting the body know although he is the Apostle to the Gentiles planted church all over Asia Minor he still struggles with fear, anxiety and worry.

It’s easy for us to just put Paul into the super saint category. But Paul lets his audience know “Yall I need the saints to pray for me to be bold, courageous and wise when the time comes.

Ephesians 6:19 CSB

19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.

(Exe-v.19) “Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should” Paul ask for Prayer that:

Sudden Revelation

Boldness

Restraint-Paul says let me be bold but also let speak only as I should. Give me a word specific for the situation, and with the right tone and tenor.

Dear Saints please Pray for Me and all The Pastor consistently and fervently.

Pastor across the Nations are falling into gross sins and they are dropping out of the Pulpit at record numbers.

Pray for our:

Families

Faith

Fidelity

Finances

Sister Karon and Pastor Hood Praying for Cori to walk again

Open the doors of the church

Giving

Ephesians 1:11–17 CSB

11 In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory. 13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory. 15 This is why, since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I never stop giving thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.

Benediction

1 Timothy 3:16 CSB

16 And most certainly, the mystery of godliness is great: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.