Spiritual Warefare and The Armor of God: Session 10

PRAYER "You can do more than pray, after you have prayed, but you can never do more than pray until you have prayed." - S. D. Gordon "Prayer is putting shoe leather to the authority of Christ by standing on the promises of God and praying into existence that which was not, and might never have come to be, if we had not taken the time to pray it into being." Rusty Rustenbach All prayer Ephesians 6:18 - 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, All times - James 5:13-18 - Prayer is the battle; it is a matter of indifference where you are. Whichever way God engineers circumstances, the duty is to pray. Never allow the thought-'I am of no use where I am'; because you certainly can be of no use where you are not. Wherever God has dumped you down in circumstances, pray - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest All prayer and supplication- - Prayers - Supplication - All perseverance All the saints 1 Timothy 2:1-4 - In the Spirit Jude 20-21 - Romans 8:26-27 - To pray in the Spirit is to be in tune with the will of God Paul's prayer request 1. Open doors Colossians 4:3-4 - 2 Thessalonians 3:1 - The focus of all spiritual warfare is ultimately the opening of doors so that the ministry of the gospel may be advanced. - The Spirit-filled Life Bible 2. Boldness Acts 4:29-31 PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF THE DISCIPLES' PRAYER Matthew 6:5-15 Perspective Before I start the journey, I have decided . . . Not to pray like the hypocrites: "They love to pray . . . that they may be seen by men" (Matthew 6:5). Not to pray like the heathen: "They think that they will be heard for their many words" (Matthew 6:7). Praise "Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name" (Matthew 6:9 KJV). "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise" (Psalm 100:4). I Will Hallow His Name By . . . Rehearsing His Names • Jehovah-Tsidkenu, Jehovah Our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6) • Jehovah-Mekaddishkhem, Jehovah Who Sanctifies (Leviticus 20:7-8) • Jehovah-Shalom, Jehovah Who Is Our Peace (Judges 6:24) • Jehovah-Shammah, Jehovah Is There (Ezekiel 48:35) • Jehovah-Rophe, The Lord Who Heals (Exodus 15:26) • Jehovah-Jireh, The Lord Will Provide (Genesis 22:14) • Jehovah-Nissi, The Lord Is My Banner (Exodus 17:15) • Jehovah-Roi, The Lord Who Is My Shepherd (Psalm 23:1) Respecting His Greatness: His Attributes • Eternal (Psalm 90:2) • Unchanging (Malachi 3:6) • Holy (Psalm 99:3) • Love (1 John 4:8) • All-powerful (Revelation 19:6) • All-knowing (Acts 15:18) • Ever-present (Psalm 139:7-11) • Righteous (Psalm 11:7) • Sovereign (Ephesians 1:11) • True (John 17:3) • Faithful (Lamentations 3:23) • Good (Matthew 19:17) • Kind (Psalm 31:21) • Longsuffering (Psalm 86:15) Recognizing His Presence "I have set the LORD always before me" (Psalm 16:8). Priorities "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10 KJV). "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33). I Will Remember That . . . 1. I am a Person-I have a relationship with God. 2. I am a Partner-I have a relationship with my spouse. 3. I am a Parent-I have a relationship with my children. 4. I am a Provider-I have a responsibility in my job/profession. 5. I am a Participant-I have a responsibility in other things I am asked to do. Provision "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11 KJV). "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you" (Luke 11:9). 1. I will depend on God for my needs (Psalm 104:27; James 1:17). 2. I will distinguish between needs and wants: • "Our daily bread" (1 Timothy 6:8) • Something to put on: clothes • Something to put in: food • Something to put over: shelter 3. I will discipline myself not to worry. "Give us . . . our daily bread." Day to day, not week to week, or month to month, or year to year. 4. I will defer to the needs of others. "Give us," not me. "Give us our," not my. Personal Relationships "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Matthew 6:12 KJV). "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14-15). 1. We are to forgive because we are forgiven. Matthew 18:21-35 explains the importance of forgiving one another. 2. We are to forgive just as we are forgiven (Ephesians 4:32). 3. We are to forgive in order that we might be forgiven (Psalm 66:18). 4. We are to forgive before we need to be forgiven. At the start of each day, we remember our forgiveness and determine to forgive those who will hurt us. 5. We are to forgive always-and it is always our turn. How often? (Matthew 18:22) Who initiates? (Matthew 18:35; Mark 11:25) Protection "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (Matthew 6:13 KJV). Six Steps of Temptation 1. Deceit 2. Delight 3. Desire 4. Deliberation 5. Defeat 6. Despair Overcoming Temptation 1. Fight (James 4:7) 2. Follow (James 4:8) 3. Flee (2 Timothy 2:22; Romans 13:14) 4. Feed (Psalm 119:11) Deliverance from Evil • Deliverance from persecution (Psalm 22:19). • Deliverance from peril (Psalm 31:1-2, 15). • Deliverance from problems (Psalm 34:4, 17). "The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations" (2 Peter 2:9). Praise Again "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen" (Matthew 6:13 KJV). • Lord, I praise You for Your sovereignty. "Thine is the kingdom . . ." • Lord, I praise You for Your authority. "And the power . . ." • Lord, I praise You for Your majesty. "And the glory . . ." • Lord, I praise You for Your eternality. "Forever." Amen. THE WARROIR'S PRAYER Heavenly Father, Your warrior prepares for battle. Today I claim victory over Satan by putting on the whole armor of God! I put on the Girdle of Truth! May I stand firm in the truth of Your Word so I will not be a victim of Satan's lies. I put on the Breastplate of Righteousness! May it guard my heart from evil so I will remain pure and holy, protected under the blood of Jesus Christ. I put on the Shoes of Peace! May I stand firm in the Good News of the Gospel so Your peace will shine through me and be a light to all I encounter. I take the Shield of Faith! May I be ready for Satan's fiery darts of doubt, denial, and deceit so I will not be vulnerable to spiritual defeat. I put on the Helmet of Salvation! May I keep my mind focused on You so Satan will not have a stronghold in my thoughts. I take the Sword of the Spirit! May the two-edged sword of Your Word be ready in my hands so I can expose the tempting words of Satan. By faith Your warrior has put on the whole armor of God! I am prepared to live this day in spiritual victory! Amen. SPIRITUAL WARFARE AND THE ARMOR OF GOD SESSION 10: NOVEMBER 10, 2021 2 | Page