Ephesians 6:18-24
Most believers don’t believe that we are engaged in battle with an unseen yet potent enemy, and it doesn’t change the fact that we are.
Satan, the enemy of God, is also the enemy of the people of God. His desire for us is to defeat us, destroy us, and devour us. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (1 Peter 5:8 KJV)
Using what the Bible calls “wiles” (Ephesians 6:11), which speaks of “deceit and diabolical schemes”, he seeks to trick us.
James 1:14 reminds us, “every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his lust, and enticed.” Satan is like a master hunter or a master fisherman. He sets his traps and baits his hooks, and he lies in wait to capture and destroy the unsuspecting Christian.
If we are not “sober” and “vigilant” as the Bible tells us to be, we will be assaulted or worse.
We do not have to become victims of Satan’s traps and devices, and God has equipped us with everything we need to stand against the devil and attacks.
Let us consider the truths laid out in Ephesians 6:18-20 and as we study about Spirit-Filled Prayer in 3 points: the Concept, Context Of Spirit-Filled Prayer and the Content Of Spirit-Filled Prayer.
1. THE CONCEPT OF PRAYER
Let’s begin by defining prayer.
The dictionary defines prayer as “a request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God.” We can define prayer as “the breath of a redeemed soul, exhaling its needs and its worship toward God.”
This idea of prayer being the breath of the soul was in Martin Luther’s mind when he said, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.”
Thus, anytime we turn our attention toward God and speak to Him, we are praying. Our praying can take many forms.
Q: Mention the forms prayers, places where we can pray and the postures we can take when we pray?
We can pray anywhere, at any time, about anything, and in any posture. That is what prayer is. This passage also tells us when we should pray. Paul says, “praying always”.
Christianity also has a specific, set time for prayer. Our time for prayer is “always”. The Bible speaks of this in several places.
“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;” (Romans 12:12 KJV)
“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;” (Colossians 4:2 KJV)
“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV)
There is no time when we do not need to pray. There is no time when we cannot pray. There is no time when God will not be listening and when He will not hear us.
To pray “always” does not mean that we walk around in an attitude of formal prayer. Neither Jesus nor His disciples did that. To pray “always” does not mean that we follow ritualistic prayers recited manually from books. To pray “always” does not mean counting beads or repeating memorized prayers and prayer phrases. That is what the pagans do, Matthew 6:7.
To pray “always” does mean that we live in constant awareness of God and His presence. To pray “always” does mean that the soul is ever reaching up toward God.
Q: What circumstances should prompt us to pray?
When life is lived in that way, it becomes an ever-ascending prayer to the Lord. There will be times when we get alone with God to pray. Most of the time, however, our lives should be a continual exhalation of the soul breathing out its love for, and its dependence upon, God.
God honors the “always” prayers. God honors the “watchful” “persevering” prayers of His people.
In two parables, Jesus addressed this matter.
• In one parable, a persistent man continued asking for bread from his neighbor in the middle of the night. He asked until his request was granted. At the end of that parable, Jesus said this, “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” (Luke 11:9 KJV)
• In the second parable, Jesus spoke about a widow who petitioned a judge about her need. She continued to aggravate the judge until he gave in and granted her request. At the end of that parable, Jesus said this: “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:7–8 KJV)
The point of both those parables is that God answers the specific, persistent prayers of His people. It is always too soon to stop praying; ever let your soul release its breath toward the Father in Heaven.
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