Praying at All Times

Good morning, welcome, please open your Bibles to Ephesians 6.

Why this topic?

Praying in the early church- book of Acts.

At least ten references to prayer.

Awaiting the giving of the Spirit (ch. 1).

Given as a high priority of the early church (ch. 2).

Appointing deacons in order that the apostles could devote themselves to prayer and preaching the Word (ch. 6).

Immense prayer being offered up for Peter while in prison (ch. 12).

Prayer and fasting in setting up elders and leaders in various churches (ch. 14).

Church in Philippi planted at a prayer meeting by the river (ch. 16).

Prayer was everywhere in the life of the early church, as they sought the guidance of God rather than the guidance of self.

Robert Murray M’Cheyne- “What a man is on his knees before God, that he is, and nothing more.”

It is my hope that we will be a church like what Paul describes in Ephesians 6.

Read Ephesians 6:16-20- In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 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, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Pray.

Community aspect of prayer- Remember that Ephesians is written to local church bodies.

The sermon on the mount

Very individualistic until you come to the Lord’s prayer- Our Father.

After wrapping up the pieces of the armor of God, Paul writes to cover everything in prayer.

The prayer is necessarily constant because the spiritual wars and battles of this life are constant.

Prayer is spiritual breathing.

Breathing makes possible physical life. Prayer makes possible spiritual life.

Until we see prayer in this way, we will never pray as Paul instructs.

1. How should we pray?

V. 18- praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

Paul notes that there are different types of prayer, and that each are important and ought to be prayed often.

We can find at least four in Scripture.

ACTS

Adoration.

Praising God for who He is.

Do we adore God in our prayer? Hallowed be Thy name.

What happens when we adore God in the beginning of our prayers?

We put ourselves in right relation to God.

So much of our prayer life tends to revolve around the words, “Here is what I need...”

We can seek the will of God if we begin with adoring God.

Confession

Adoration rightly leads to confession.

Isaiah 6:1-5- In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”

When confronted with the holiness and awesomeness of God, Isaiah rightly sees the contrast of his own sin, as well as the sin of his people.

Do we recognize the size and scope of our sin? Do we realize the offense against God?

Thanksgiving

Praising God for what He has done.

As followers of Jesus, we are meant to be people who are aware of what God has done and is doing in our lives.

Supplication

1 Peter 2:9- But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Priesthood of believers. We pray for the needs of others and on the behalf of others.

2. For whom should we pray?

V. 18- Making supplication for all the saints.

Think about Jesus praying with His disciples before His death- prayed not only for His disciples and believers alive then, but also for those who would come after.

Have we become a village church with a village God?

John Stott visiting a church incognito- paying attention to the requests listed and prayed over.

John Stott- “I said to myself, it’s a village church with a village God. They have no interest in the world outside. There was no thinking about the poor, the oppressed, the refugees, the places of violence, and world evangelization.”

Concentric circles

Me- confession.

My family.

What do we desire for our families in this world?

Are we praying for their success, or for the gospel to radiate from them?

Evangeline.

How do we pray for our spouses?

Remember what Paul prayed in v. 19-20- Open my mouth to proudly proclaim the gospel.

This ought to be our prayer for Christians everywhere, and definitely our prayer for our families.

My Church family and leadership.

Charles Spurgeon- “No man can do me a truer kindness in this world than to pray for me.”

Ask you to regularly pray for our pastors, elders, ministry leaders, staff. Pray for your loved ones here, pray for those you don’t know, even if you don’t yet know their names, but can only pray for their faces.

Our community.

Pray for our church’s presence in our community, that we would serve well our community.

Pray for our interactions in our community.

Our missionaries.

Light in the darkness across the world.

The lost.

The mission of the global church- Go and make disciples.

Worldwide conflicts.

Pay some attention to the news. Pray for local, state and national leaders, regardless of political party.

Our prayers must have an ever increasing scope to them.

3. For what should we pray?

Challenge the way that we think about prayer, both individually and communally.

Pray big.

Pray and plan for that which only God can accomplish.

Pray deep.

Go deeper than we are used to going.

Do our prayers mirror the thoughts of those who do not know Jesus?

If all our prayers were answered, what would change? Who would know Christ? Who would be strengthened in their faith? Where would churches be planted? Where would people hear about Jesus?

When the early church gathered, they were praying about things that would have worldwide implications.

Not sure where to begin? Look to Scripture.

Ephesians 3:14-19- For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

John 17:13-17- But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

Will we be a praying church?

Will you commit yourself to praying with and for our church?

Goal to give plenty of opportunities in the future to gather for corporate prayer.

May our prayer life reveal a deep and impassioned love for Jesus Christ.