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Ephesians 6:18

“Pray in the Spirit Always”

Praying in the Spirit…•There is a story told of a small town in which there was not even one liquor store…• I think we all can agree that our prayer lives leave a lot to be desired•Prayer is the most ancient, universal, most intense expression of religious instinct; even cults pray

Pray in the Spirit…•The idea of prayer is speaking, pleading, and requesting human supplications to a divine being•If you are born again, you’re praying to the creator of the universe•If not, your prayers go nowhere– He hears but cannot act…

“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…”

Ephesians 6:18, NASB

“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…”

Ephesians 6:18, NASB

Last Messages from Ephesians…•We’ve covered a lot of ground…•Heavenly Places in chapter one•To Spiritual Battlefields in chapter six• In between Paul showed us how the Lord lavished His love and grace on us in redemption, how He took the lost and made us cherished family, turned division to unity, rescued us from deception to truth, dark to light

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…

Ephesians 6:18

A.) Praying Always in the Spirit•V 18, pray non-stop?•No– that would require rambling on…

And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Matthew 6:7

1.) Praying Always •V 18, pray non-stop?•No– that would require rambling on…•This verse and 1 Thessalonians’ 5:17 “Pray without ceasing” say to us, “Always be in communion with the Lord •A Christian must “pray always” because he is always subject to temptations and attacks of Satan and his cohort demons

1.) Praying Always…•Think you don’t have time?•If we say we don’t, all that does is tell the demons you aren’t in contact with God!•God hears our prayer wherever we are•Think of some of the places people have prayed in the Bible…•Jonah, Daniel, David, Peter– the key is in “frequent-cy”

“16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NASB

1.) Praying Always…•Can it be continuous too?

‘15 Elijah said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.”’

1 Kings 18:15, NASB

‘15 Elijah said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him [Ahab] today.”’

1 Kings 18:15, NASB

1.) Praying Always…• It Can be continuous too!•Elijah, seeking an audience with the wicked King Ahab, was well aware of the fact that wherever he went, he stood in God’s presence!•We, too, are never alone. Wherever we go, God is with us. We can commune with Him and fellowship with Him and pray to Him and hear from Him. That is the idea of continuous prayer: being in fellowship and communion with God•To grow, prayer must become a vital life part

2.) With all prayer…•What did Paul mean by this phrase?•There is more than one kind of prayer: supplication, intercession, and thanksgiving•If only asking supplication, you miss out on the blessings that come with intercessions and giving of thanks•Thanks is a powerful to defeat the Enemy as supplication—

2.) With all prayer…•“Praise changes things” as much as “prayer changes things”•When we praise the Lord for His goodness, love for us, and faithfulness, Satan’s deceptions and temptations melt away• Intercession for others can bring victory to our own lives•Some think prayer is the last piece of armor– it definitely is how we put it on!!

3.) No age limit•Notice that Paul didn’t set any age limit on who could wield our spiritual weaponry in prayer•Little children can intercede with their tender hearts just as the elderly can with wisdom•All of us can do this– as long as we can still think, we can fight this fight for us and others

Take Home!1. Instead of trying to twist

God’s arm with your prayer, put yourself in His hands

2. Prayer is God’s way pf sharing the journey with us; He could do it all without us, but He doesn’t want to!