Praying The Warrior's Prayer

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not aginst flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil.

Archive for the tag “religion”

22 Feb 2013

Pray In The Spirit On All Occasions

A Pray in the Spirit

1. In tongues

The Greek phrase translated “in the Spirit,” in Ephesians 6:18 can also be translated as “with the Spirit,” or “by the Spirit.”  “For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God.  Indeed no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his Spirit.  He who speaks in a tongue edifies (lit. “builds up”) himself.” (1 Cor. 14”2,4a)  “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up (edify yourselves) … and pray in the Holy Spirit.” (Jude 20)

2. With the Spirit’s Help

It is obvious that we are not being told to pray exclusively in tongues, although that is definitely part of praying in the spirit and spiritual warfare.  Paul himself did not pray only in tongues, but in a known language as well.  “I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.  I keep asking that …god….may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know Him better.  I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened.” (Eph. 1:16-18a)  “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  We (sometimes) do not know what we out to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” (Romans 8:26)  When the Spirit helps us to pray, it may be in tongues, in English, or simply by groaning or even crying out to God.  The important thing is that it’s not just you praying for what you want, but the Spirit is interceding “in accordance with God’s will.” (Romans 8:27)

B. Praying For All the Saints

“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood.” (Eph. 6:12)  It is not an individual struggle.  Every member of the body of Christ is in a battle against the kingdom of darkness.  “I want you to know how much I am struggling for you.” (Col. 2:1) The struggle being talked about here is intercessory prayer, which Paul is doing “for all the saints.” (Eph. 6:18)  The reason for this struggle is that Christians are continually being attacked by evil spiritual forces and intercessory prayer is necessary to maintain the victory.

C. Praying through

“At that time, I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks.  On the twenty-fourth day of the first month…I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist.  He said…’Do not be afraid, Daniel.  Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding…your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.  But the Prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days.” (Daniel 10) It was necessary for Daniel to keep on struggling in prayer because of what was happening in the spiritual realm, even though God had heard his prayer and already answered it.

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22 Feb 2013

The Helmet Of Salvation And The Sword Of The Spirit

These two are included together because they are not distinctly separated in the text passage.  At this point, we are ready to enter into fighting.  We are dressed for battle and have our weapon(s) with us.

A. The Helmet of Salvation

1.  The Hope of Salvation

“…putting on…the hope of SALVATION as a HELMET.” (1 Thess. 5:8)  “For in this hope we were saved.” (Romans 8:24a)  “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, (mind, will and emotions), firm and secure.” (Hebrews 6:19)

2.  The Benefits of Salvation

“Yet to all who received Him (Jesus), to those who believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)  “I (Jesus) have come that they might have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10b)  “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us.” (1 Peter 1:3)  I tis through the Word that we will gain knowledge of Him and receive everything we need.

B. The Sword of the Spirit

“Take…the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT which is the word of God.” (Eph. 6:17b)  The Bible is a book, not a sword.  It only becomes a sword when it comes out of our mouths.  The Greek word for “word” used here is “rhema,” which means “utterance” or “spoken word.”  It is not the “logos” (written word) which is the sword, but the rhema.  “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7b)  When Jesus was face to face with the devil, he quoted scripture.  He used the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT , the rhema word of God.  We have a sword.  The devil doesn’t.  When we quote scripture, he can’t resist or overcome it.  There is nothing he can attack us with that we can’t resist or overcome.

C. The Battle For the Mind

1. Anchoring the Soul

The soul is said to consist of the mind, will, and emotions.  We are saved “in hope” (Romans 8:24) and hope is the “anchor for the soul.” (Hebrews 6:19)  Your mind (part of the soul), therefore, can be anchored, or steadied, by hope.  The Greek word for soul can also be translated “mind.”

2. Controlling the Mind

God and Satan battle for control of your mind and thoughts.  Your mind holds the power of choice.  “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.  The mind of sinful man is death, the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God.  It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.” (Romans 8:5-7)  “All of us also lived aming them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.” (Eph. 2:3)  “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5)

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22 Feb 2013

The Shield Of Faith

A. Overcoming by Faith

“This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4b)  “I will say of the lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my god, in whom I trust (put faith in).’ You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent (Satan).” (Psalm 91:2,13) “I (Jesus) have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions (evil spirits) and to overcome all the power of the enemy (Satan).” (Luke 10:19)

B. God is Our Shield

“After this, the Word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid, Abram.  I am your SHIELD.”  (Gen. 15:1)  “He (God) has given us new birth…into an inheritance that can never perish…kept in heaven for you, who through FAITH are SHIELDED by god’s power.” (1 Peter 1:3b-5a)  Our faith is not the shield.  God is the shield.  Our faith allows Him to shield us as we trust Him.

C. The Protective Shield

“I (God) will protect him (the one who trusts in Him), for he acknowledges my name.” (Psalm 91:14b)  “Take up the SHIELD OF FAITH, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Eph. 6:16)  “Surely He will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence (terminal illness).  His faithfulness will be your SHIELD and rampart.  You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day (spiritual attack), nor the pestilence (sickness) that that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague (disease) that destroys at midday.  A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.” (Psalm 91:3-7)

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22 Feb 2013

Feet Fitted With The Readiness That Comes From The Gospel Of Peace

The piece of armour here is not peace, nor the gospel of peace, but rather the readiness (or preparation in KJV) that comes from the gospel of peace.  It is also not the feet that are to be noted here, but the foot covering.  The Greek and Hebrew words for peace imply “being at one with.”

A. The Characteristics of the Gospel of Peace

1.  Brings Prosperity

“Submit to God and be at PEACE with Him; in this way prosperity will come to you.” (job 22:21)

2. Promises freedom from fear

“I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid.” (Leviticus 26:6)  Compare with Job 3:25-26a.  “What I feared has come upon me…I have no peace, no quietness.”

3. Comes with obedience

“If only you had paid attention to (obeyed) my commands, your peace would have been like a river.” (Isaiah 48:18)  “’There is no peace,’ says the Lord, ‘for the wicked.’” (Isaiah 48:22)

B.  The Effects of The Gospel of Peace

1. Peace with God (The purpose of reconciliation)

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled shall we be saved through His life?” (Romans 5:1,10)

2. Peace with one another (The result of reconciliation)

“Let the PEACE of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body, you were called to PEACE.” (Col. 3:15)

3. Peace toward all men (The ministry of reconciliation)

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.  We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Cor. 5:18,20)

C. Walking in Paths of PEACE

“How beautiful on the mountains are the FEET of those who bring good news (the gospel), you who proclaim PEACE.” (Isaiah 52:7)  “Every place where you set your FOOT will be yours. (your ground)  No man will be able to stand against you.” (Deuteronomy 11:24-25)  Those who walk uprightly enter into PEACE.” (Isaiah 57:2)  “Their FEET rush into sin (the disobedient)…ruin and destruction mark their ways (paths in KJV).  The way (path) of PEACE they do not know; there is no justice in their paths.  They have turned into crooked roads (paths); no one who walks in them will know PEACE.” (Isaiah 59:7-8)  “Great PEACE have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” (Psalm 119:165)

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22 Feb 2013

The Breastplate Of Righteousness

There are two kinds of righteousness: our own, and God’s.  “…I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a RIGHTEOUSNESS of my own, that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – The RIGHTEOUSNESS that comes from God and is by faith.” (Philippians 3:8b-9)

A.  We are called to RIGHTEOUS living. (practical righteousness)

1. By resisting sinful desires

“Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.  Do not offer the parts of your body to sin…but rather offer yourselves to God…and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.” (Romans 6:12-13)

2. Through obedience

“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey – whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Romans 6:16)

B.  We are RIGHTEOUS through Christ.  (positional righteousness)

“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But, if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the father in our defense – Jesus Christ, the RIGHTEOUS one. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 2:1-2a)  “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)  “But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Romans 8:10)  “it is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us…our RIGHTEOUSNESS, holiness, and redemption.” (1 Cor. 1:30)  “God made him who had no sin (Jesus) to be sin for us, that we might become the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21)

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22 Feb 2013

The Belt Of Truth

The belt of truth is a very important part of the amour because it holds your weapons.

A.      What you hear and receive

“When he (the devil) lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44c)

“O Lord, may your love and your TRUTH always PROTECT me.” (Psalm 40:11b)

“Test everything.  Hold on to the good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

Two ways to TEST for TRUTH

  1. Spirit – “When the counselor comes…the spirit of TRUTH…he will testify about me (Jesus).” (John 15:26)  “When he, the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all TRUTH.” (John 16:13a)
  2. Word – “For the word of the Lord is right and TRUE.” (Psalm 33:4a)  Jesus, when tempted, answered the devil with the WORD.  He was wearing the belt of TRUTH. (See Luke 4:1-13)

B.      What You Say and Do

What you receive into yourself is what will come back out of you.  You must speak the TRUTH (Eph. 4:15a, 25a) and use the scripture to measure your speech and actions by.  “They overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the lamb and by the WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY.” (Rev. 12:11a) “To the law and to the TESTIMONY!  If they do not SPEAK according to This WORD, it is because there is no light in them.” (Isaiah 8:20)  don’t go out to fight without the belt of truth.  If you do, you won’t have your weapons with you.  “In TRUTHFUL SPEECH  and in the power of God, with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and the left.” (2 Cor. 6:7)

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