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In week four of our series “Teach Us To Pray”, we are reminded that our greatest enemy is not anyone of this world. Our greatest enemy is identified in Ephesians 6:11, “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Satan is working diligently behind the scenes: to rob us of our joy and to kill our witness for the Lord Jesus. Remember, we do not have to let him win. (1 John 4:4)

Ephesians 6:18-20 says,  

“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

Pastor Bill pointed out a few keys from these verses to help us walk in victory:

-We should pray “at all times”. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Never stop praying.” It’s important to note that we don’t have to drop to our knees in a dark room with worship music playing softly in the background every time we pray. We can talk with the Lord when we’re in the car, at the store, at work, in the shower, etc. If we walk with Him daily and throughout the day, He will listen to us and He will lead us… which means that we can talk with Him wherever we find ourselves!

 -We should pray “in the Spirit”. This one can be a little confusing. What does that mean? 1 John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” How do we ask according to God’s will? We must be walking closely with the Lord to know His will for our lives. The closer we are to the Lord, the more His will becomes our will. Have you ever had a friend that you were so close to that you started finishing each other’s sentences? It’s like you knew what they were thinking before they even said anything. Bottom line: the closer we are with God, the more His desires for us become our desires for us too. 

-We should be on the alert with all perseverance. There is a real battle going on around us. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” It is so important for us to be armed with the full armor of God to stay alert, persevere and be ready to constantly intercede for our fellow believers. 

Points to Ponder:

1. How are you doing with “praying at all times”? Do you talk to God all the time or only when you need something?
2. What are you doing daily to put on the full armor that God has given us for battle?
3. What does persevering look like for you in your life right now?
4. Who can you commit to praying for this week?

    

   Check out the full sermon: