Always

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Introduction: the passage we have been studying now for the last couple months begins with identifying our enemy.

“We do not wrestle against flesh and blood”

Your struggle is not primarily with men and women

Your struggle is not primarily a thing of flesh and blood, strength and weakness, health and sickness, wealth and poverty

These things are of the flesh, natural circumstances

We are going to have to take off these blinders we call eyes and begin to see the world and what is going on as it truly is in light of God’s Word

Wealth is not that important, it is temporary

Health is not the end all, physical life must give way to eternal life

1 Corinthians 13:12–13 NKJV

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

We have been called to wrestle against

Principalities

powers

the rulers of the darkness of this age

against spiritual host of wickedness in the heavenly places

You don’t only need a hold of the truth, the truth better have a hold of you

You need to be in right standing with God, prepared and skilled in the gospel

And faith, faith to quench the fiery lies the enemy is going to try and shoot into your mind

The devil is a liar, the father of all lies

He will set your mind on fire with all sorts of lies

you would of, could of, should of

you are this and you are that

did God really say

We are a saved and redeemed people, with a sword

let me tell you about that sword, because it is the Word of God

in the beginning God said let there be light

every morning without fail we have a blazing reminder

Praying Always

three points or aspects of this

1.) A constant dialog with God

We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, we need to be aware that we are entertaining divinity, the very God glory every moment of every day.

This means there is a sense in which every word that comes out of your mouth is facet of your prayer life

We are enter acting with Jesus first, others second

2.) A prayer time practiced consistently over days, weeks, months, and years

A personal , devotional prayer life comes with no shortcuts

There are great many things that come instantly with the cross

But a prayer life can only be practiced.

the sweetness of time alone with God can only comes out developed sensitivities, and disciplined appetites.

3.) A prayer at every opportunity

Every chance you get, pray with someone

Look for opportunities

Make opportunities

Praying always with all PRAYER and SUPPLICATION in the Spirit

Prayer refers to a place or position of prayer

it is translated in James 5 as “earnestly”

James 5:17 NKJV

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.

We need to stay in open communication with God

this includes our fears, and doubts, and frustrations

Too often folks get too “spiritual” to pray

We pray something like, “Oh dear Lord, please make my husband a man after your own heart”

When what we really ought to be praying is, “Oh God, he is driving me crazy. Please help him to pick up his dirty socks, or help me not to care. And God help me not to kill him.”

God is not looking for “Pretty Prayer”, He is looking for “Honest Prayer”

“Dear God, I have no idea what that woman wants. Help her to know what she wants and then to tell me.”

“Dear God, I am rather disappointed how things went down, please show me how you are working in this situation.”

“Dear God, I really don’t want to pray, rather just do my own thing, but I know this isn’t right, God I need you to change my heart.”

Supplication refers to an honest heart felt request

Your prayers need to move your own heart if you expect them to move the heart of God

Supplication here can also be translated “plea”

it is a request for a need

We are told to do this all in the Spirit

We think we need all our problems fixed

But sometimes need to become what our problems are pressuring us to become.

Being watchful to this end with all perseverance

keep on keeping on

all things that preserve must be practiced with perseverance

breathing, eating, sleeping

Prayer needs to become as habitual as sleeping, then eating, then finally breathing

Supplication for all the saints

our primary demonstration God’s love for us is our love for other Christians.

Matthew 25:40–46 NKJV

And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

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