Ephesians: In the Lord's Army (8)
Notes
Transcript
Our Special Weapon
Our Special Weapon
Intro:
Picture with me for a moment, a Christian Soldier putting on all his armor and stepping out to battle. The Enemy begins marching toward the soldier, he digs in with his boots of peace, his heart racing.
He adjusts his helmet of salvation, cinches up his belt of truth and breastplate of righteousness.
Then something you would not see a normal soldier do, the christian soldier drops to his knees and begins to pray. I dont mean a blessing of food, I mean a deep, profound prayer.
Dont worry he will rise in a bit and fight, but not without first praying. Prayer is the special weapon that will be what wins or loses this battle.
It is the primary thing nessecary for his battles.
This is exactly what Paul is describing here.
With all the soldiers armor in place, Paul says, Eph. 6:18
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
For any soldier that is going to engage in Spiritual Warfare, regardless of how well the armor fits, or how well they can use the sword, they must make prayer the first thing before ever engaging the enemy.
The true Christian Soldier begins his battle on his knees.
You wonder why you are losing so many battles?
It might just be because You are not using the greatest weapon that God has given us.
The weapon of Prayer!
Without prayer, a Christian warrior is incomplete.
If you will allow me, I would like to preach on our special weapon , that we call prayer!
Main
Now Paul is not saying that this is another piece of armor,
(Paul does not say anything about putting on, or take up.)
I believe Paul is telling us that Prayer is the Weapon that will make or break a battle.
Paul is drawing there attention back to v.10.
He wants them to understand that to be strong in the Lord, it is going to take His power and might, and the only way that is going to happen is through prayer.
So the first thing that we see in our text about our special weapon is...
Our Weapon Requires Constant Communication With Command
Our Weapon Requires Constant Communication With Command
(Eph. 6:18a Praying always!)
This obviously does not mean “always saying prayers.”
Christ told His hearers that they are not to use vain repitions like the heathens for if you do you would not be heard(Matt. 6:7).
So what does praying always mean?
For this we go to Pauls letter to the Church at Thessalonica He says in his first letter the fifth chapter verse 17 “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thes. 5:17)
This tells us to , “Always be in communion with the Lord. Keep the receiver off the hook!”
Never have to say when you pray, “Lord, we come into Thy presence,” because you never left His presence!
A Christian must “pray always” because he is always subject to temptations and attacks of the devil.
A surprise attack has defeated more than one believer who forgot to “pray without ceasing.”
Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 2:60.
John Wesley wrote of being in constant prayer by saying,
[H]is heart is ever lifted up to God, at all times and in all places. In this he is never hindered, much less interrupted, by any person or thing. In retirement or company, in leisure, business, or conversation, his heart is ever with the Lord. Whether he lie down or rise up, God is in all his thoughts; he walks with God continually, having the loving eye of his mind still fixed upon Him, and everywhere “seeing him that is invisible.”
A life of continual prayer is possible.
Paul challenges us to see that this life is not ment just for the elite Christians, it is ment for all.
If our weapon is going to be used effectively we must be in constant communication with command.
Prayer is God’s will for every Christian soldier, there are no exceptions. I need to pray, you need to pray. The business man, the housewife, young mothers, students, all of us need to be in constant communication with command.
Pray always!!
Constant communication with command
Our Weapon is Universally Effective in Any Conflict
Our Weapon is Universally Effective in Any Conflict
(Eph. 6:18b with all prayers and supplications)
Paul goes on and tells us, not only should you Pray always, but you should pray in all situations.
Our weapon can be used in any and all conflicts.
Paul writing to Timothy 1Tim. 2:1
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
Paul tells Timothy that every kind of prayer is available to be used.
The believer who prays only to ask for things is missing out on blessings that come with intercessions and giving of thanks.
a Prayer of thanksgiving, is a deafening sound to Satan.
Every time we praise God for great things he hath done, we take a notch out of the devils belt.
Intercessory prayer for others could mean a blessing for you as well.
Job’s captivity was turned around when he made intercessory prayer for his friends (Job 42:10)
Payer of supplication or petitionary prayer is that prayer that causes you to cry out to God, beg for His response. Pray with earnest.
You have that house payment coming due and no way to pay for it. You drop to your knees and beg God to strengthen your faith because it is Him only that will meet this need.
Any conflict, our weapon is effective.
Constant communication with command
universally effective in any conflict
Next
Our Weapon is Spirit Guided for Clarity
Our Weapon is Spirit Guided for Clarity
(in the Spirit)
(Like Laser Guided Missiles)
This does not mean it is some si-fi weapon (Tongues)
This does not mean that is is only available to the Super Elite like Delta force or something.
When the military has a specific target they want hit, they will “paint it” with a laser, so that the AF can hit exactly what needs to be hit.
That laser is like the Spirit, and we are the AF. With out the laser we can come in and carpet boom but When we dont know what to pray for or where to direct our prayers, the Spirit will “Paint the target”.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
all of us have access to this type of guidance.
The problem is we dont utilize it like we should.
When we Pray in the Spirit, two things supernaturally take place.
First, the Holy Spirit tells us what we should pray for.
First, the Holy Spirit tells us what we should pray for.
Without the assistance of the Spirit in our prayers, we are limited to praying with our own reasoning and intuition.
The Spirit helps us move to a higher level then our selves.
As we seek His help, he will speak to us through His Word, which conveys His will regarding every matter.
He will settle certain things in our hearts that we should pray for
Then with conviction we know that they are God’s will.
This is praying in faith.
Second, the Holy Spirit provides us the energy to pray.
Second, the Holy Spirit provides us the energy to pray.
He energizes tired, infirm bodies and elevates the depressed to pray with power and conviction for God’s work.
“Prayer” says Bunyan, “is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart or soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God has promised, or according to the Word of God, for the good of the church, with submission in faith to the will of God.”
Let us learn to pray in the Spirit.
R. Kent Hughes, Ephesians: The Mystery of the Body of Christ, Preaching the Word, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1990), 251.
Our weapon is Constant Communication With Command (Pray always)
Our Weapon is Universally Effective in Any Conflict (with all prayers and supplications)
Our weapon is Spirit Guided for Clarity (in the Spirit)
Our Weapon is Continued Assistance for Our Comrades
Our Weapon is Continued Assistance for Our Comrades
(watching with all perseverance and supplication for all saints)
The word watching means, “keep on alert”.
Paul using this word lets us know that we should always be on alert for the needs of our fellow comrades.
Nehemiah when repairing the wall, told the others to watch and pray. Neh. 4:9
Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
Nehemiah knew that the enemy could attack at any moment at any location in the wall and they needed to be ready to assist fellow labors with the battle.
Jesus even told His disciples that they were to watch and pray.
Are you watching and praying?
Are you always ready to assist your fellow comrades with your weapon?
That is exactly what Paul is telling them here.
Paul goes on telling them that even he needed prayers from his fellow soldiers.
Imagine with me for a moment, the aged Apostle Paul, with his gray beard around his weathered face.
Here he is, His old body bears the marks of war. his legs bow out because of his repeated marches across the Roman Empire. Scar tissue covers his torso as he has five times received thirty-nine stripes (some 195 lashes). He is bent over by the gravity not only of time but of the cosmic burdens of apostleship.
Can you see him?
Now imagine him in his well-worn armor.
He has worn his war belt so long that it is salt-stained but comfortable like an old horse’s bridle, and it holds everything perfectly in place. The “belt of truth,” God’s truth, has girt him tight for years, so that it has permeated his life and reigns within. He is armed with the clear eyes of a clean conscience. He can face anything.
His torso is sheathed with a battle-tarnished breastplate. It is crisscrossed with great lateral grooves from slicing sword blows and dented from enemy artillery. The “breastplate of righteousness” has preserved his vital organs. His holy life has rendered his heart impervious to the spiritual assaults of Satan.
His bowed and scared legs are comfortable in his ancient war boots. He has stood his ground on several continents. The boots are the “gospel of peace,” you know that peace with God that comes only through faith in him. He stands in peace, and being rooted in peace he cannot be moved.
Paul’s mighty shield terrifies the eyes, for the broken shafts and the many charred holes reveal him to be the victor of many fierce battles. The “shield of faith,” held up as he has repeatedly believed God’s Word, has caught and extinguished every fiery dart of doubt and sensuality and materialism. None has as much as touched him.
On his old gray head he wears a helmet which has seen better days. Great dents mar its symmetry, reminders of furtive blows dealt him by the enemy. Because the “helmet of salvation,” the confidence of knowing that he is saved and will be saved, has allowed him to stand tall against the most vicious assaults, his imperial confidence gives him a regal bearing.
And then there is his sword. He was equal to a hundred men when his sword flashed. The “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” the ultimate offensive weapon, cut through everything — armor, flesh, glistening bone, and running marrow — even the soul.
R. Kent Hughes, Ephesians: The Mystery of the Body of Christ, Preaching the Word, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1990), 254–256.
What an awesome figure the apostle was. He had stood before Felix and Agrippa, the legates and officials of Rome — and had not given an inch. He was the consummate warrior. He could do it himself! But could he?
Listen to the warrior’s plea: Eph.6:19-20
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
“I cannot do it without your prayers!” says Paul.
“I fear that I may lose courage and fail under the stress. Pray that I will have the courage to declare the gospel fearlessly. I need your prayers!”
We all need to be praying for each other.
There are three things we should pray for when praying for each other.
Pray for their Work
Pray for their Work
(As for me; ambassador in bonds)
Paul knew that without the prayers of other saints, his work would be ineffective against the constant assaults of the enemy.
All of us have work to do for God and unless we have fellow soldiers praying for us and with us, we will be ineffective.
Pray for their Words
Pray for their Words
(utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly)
Have you ever stood in a group of vips and had to give a speech?
No, well I do every Sunday and Wednesday. and without the prayers of fellow soldiers it would be almost impossible.
Its your prayers that God hears and answers every sunday and wednesday. Every time I have to stand and preach, it gives me boldness to know that I have folks in my corner praying for me.
That was what Paul wanted. He wanted to know that fellow soldiers were praying for him and that would give him the boldness and courage he needed to speak the Words of God.
Pray for their Witness
Pray for their Witness
(to make known the mystery of the gospel; speak boldly, as I ought to speak)
We should be praying for each others witness. It takes alot of courage to tell someone about Jesus.
It is not an easy thing to do.
When we go out soulwinning, it is good to know that there are those that are praying for us. Parying that we would speak boldly the mysteries of the gospel.
( included the gospel message here)
You dont know what to pray for when it comes to your fellow soldiers,
Pray for the work they are doing for God that it would be effective
Pray for their Words that they would Speak what God wants and that they would do it with boldness
Pray for their witness that they would speak with boldness the mysteries of the gospel
Prayer is our Special Weapon. No battle should be fought with out it.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
The Christian Armor is not something new, it has been tested and tried.
It is our protection against a ruthless and relentless enemy that is trying to destroy each and every one of us.
Without this armor we are surly to fail and be overtaken by the enemy.
But you can have all the armor on.
You can Have it fitted perfectly to your stature.
Your Shield can be the strongest in the infantry.
Your Helmet the shiniest,
Your sword the sharpest,
but if you dont use your Special Weapon, the weapon that holds everything together, you might as well not even attempt to fight.
Illustration:
Take this orange,
Picture this peeled one as your spiritual self. it looks good like you do, spiritually.
Take this orange, Picture this unpeeled one as your spiritual self clothed in the armor of God. It doesnt look very good but hey you know whats under it right.
Drop both of these in water and no surprise, the one with the peel, floats.
so in order for us to survive we must have our armor on.
Now take this orange, it has the peel on it, but if you notice it has a bunch of little holes.
Picture this as your armored spiritual life without prayer.
Paul included prayer to the list for the sole purpose of letting us know that without, we will fail.
In the Lord’s Army
wear your armor, all of it and Seal it with prayer!