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Saturday, April 27, 2013

Praying Always



Week 16
Ephesians 6:18 (KJV)  -  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

·         “Praying always” 
      Notice that this is not part of the armor but it is included as an indispensable part of the fight against the evil powers that we war against.  We cannot afford to forget truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, or the Word of God and we cannot neglect to pray.  We must remain in an attitude of prayer.  Like a warrior that has prepared for battle we must stay in contact with our commander to communicate the needs and receive instruction.  Many battles have been lost because of poor communication don’t add yours to the list.

·         “In the Spirit” 
      Effective prayer, the only kind that really matters, is done in the Spirit.  Too often prayers are made in the flesh with questionable motives and sensual desires being the engine of those prayers.  Other times we pray amiss because we don’t understand the will of God.  When James told us, “You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss”  He was talking about those misguided prayers.  “Praying always” in the flesh will do not advance the gospel or strengthen you in the fight.  Prayers and supplications in the Spirit will bring * unleash the power of God in you.  Now that’s something worth doing.  Always!

·         “Watchmen”   
     Your friends and loved ones are depending on your vigilance.  The Watchman would take his position on the wall and remain alert for attacks from the enemy.  If he failed to watch and listen it could mean the lives of those he loved would be lost.  Consider what Isaiah 62:7 says, “I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest,..” There is no time for slacking!  We have been called to cry and we must not rest until the Lord comes and saves us.  Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.  Psalm 127:1 (NIV)

·         “Persistent Prayer” 
      We are in an invisible war, a spiritual battle, those that fight on their knees will prevail.  Perhaps the use of knees as a position of prayer should be avoided.  Prayer does not happen in one position but our lives should be permeated with this holy pursuit.  Brother Lawrence in The Practice of the Presence of God states “The time of business does not differ with me from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were on my knees."  I don’t know about you but that sounds wonderful to me.

·         “Suppli What”  
      I love to watch the demonstrations of how the Romans and Spartans fought.  Their shields raised, massed together, depending on one another and protecting one another from the attacking hordes.  This is the essence of what Paul is saying here.  The Apostle Paul had travelled the known world preaching the Gospel of Christ.  He had started churches in countless places and mentored young converts equipping them to become preachers, evangelists, and missionaries.  He wrote extensively with deep passion and understanding that could only come from years of study and an anointing from the Holy Ghost.  His armor was in place and had been battered by decades of ministry as Paul followed the call of God in establishing the Church.  This is a leader, a warrior, a hero of the faith.   And then you get this request from Paul, “Pray 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.” Ephesians 6:19-20 (KJV)   Pray for sinners, pray for the lost, pray for the confused but please don’t forget the one that is leading the charge don’t take them for granted they need your prayers.

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