“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,” We are called to godliness because of the all-pervasive nature of sin that we deal with. The spiritual gifts given to the body of Christ for the edification of the believers.
We saw in chapter 5-6 the fundamental structure of the home and the nature of father, wife, children, and servants. And their commensurate responsibilities. Being equal in value and different in function. Final verses of the chapter of the nature of our enemy Satan, and the weapons we have been given to defeat him.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Ephesians 6:10-13 NIV
14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Ephesians 6:14-17 NIV
We have followed the direction of God. We have chosen to be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6:10-13 We have chosen to stand firm utilizing all of the weapons of spiritual warfare at our disposal. Ephesians 6:14-17
Now it is time to enlist the final weapon. What is the final weapon of our warfare that if not used, will make feeble the other weapons mentioned. That weapon is “prayer.”
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Ephesians 6:18-20
What is the delivery method of our prayer? We pray “in” the Spirit.
Pray: προσεύχομαι, (pros-yoo’-khom-ahee) to pray to God, i.e. Supplicate, worship — pray (X earnestly, for), make prayer.
In: ἐν, (en), properly, in (inside, within); (figuratively) “in the realm (sphere) of,” as in the condition (state) in which something operates from the inside (within) (Strongs, concordance).
in the Spirit: πνεῦμα, (pnyoo’-mah)
The phrase is pray “in the spirit” not pray “with the Spirit.” Praying “with the spirit if found in 1 Corinthians 14:15 where the use of the word τό not ἐν is used. It is used of both “with the Spirit” and “with the mind” relating to the use of public prayer in the church.
We pray in the spirit when we are living out the ways of God being controlled by the spirit of God evidenced by the fruit of the spirit contrary to being controlled by the sinful nature.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:19-21 NIV
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
When do we pray? We are to pray in any and every circumstance in which we live our lives. On all occasions: παντὶ (pan-tee) means all or every combined with καιρός (kahee-ros’) which means “fitting season.” No matter what the situation, prayer is essential for knowing how to deal with any situation at any time.
How do we pray? We pray in acknowledging the attributes and greatness of God and praying for specific needs both spiritual and physical.
With all kinds of:
- Prayers: προσευχή (pros-yoo-khay’) means towards or exchange. Prayer is a general term referring to speaking towards God or connecting with God acknowledging His attributes and greatness and expressing gratitude.
- Requests: δέησις (deh’-ay-sis) deō, “to be in want, lack“; heart-felt petition, arising out of deep personal need due to a sense of sense of lack or want. want. This is asking for specific help or blessings.
With this in mind: This phrase means “considering what has been said or discussed already.”
- Based upon the fact that our enemy is not people, but the work of the evil one and his minions,
- Based upon the fact that we have been given weapons to stand our ground against the evil one,
- Based upon the fact that Satan’s minions use people to accomplish his purposes,
- Based upon the fact that in all of this we have everything we need to defeat his onslaughts of the evil one!
Be alert: ἀγρυπνέω, (ag-roop-neh’-o) means to be sleepless, stay awake, to watch, attentive, ready PAY ATTENTION: Same word used in Mark 13:32-33 referring to the return of Christ.
32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.
Mark 13:32-33 NIV
For whom should we pray? Pray for all of Gods people as well as all classes of people everywhere. We are to pray for all of the Lords people. ἅγιος, (hag’-ee-os) Those set apart for God and are therefore different from those who are of the world.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We lift our brothers and sisters to You today and we would like to bless them with these words of prayer. Lord, these are Your people, and we know many have grown weary along the way, but today we pray that the weariness will lift from them, and You will send a time of refreshing to them – spirit, soul, and body. Lord, encourage them by Your Spirit. You know the needs of each of Your people. Meet those needs according to Your will in each of their lives.
Bless them with health, finances, direction, strength, wisdom, love, and the things that they need at this time. Lord, may You heal any relationship problems in their churches, homes, and families. Give them revelation from on High. May they hear Your voice. Restore the joy of their salvation to those who are laboring without a rejoicing heart. Father may the joy of the Lord flood over them and help them to serve You with newness of heart and spirit.
We pray for them in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!
We are to pray for all people everywhere including those who might be the least deserving.
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 NIV
How and Why, We Should Pray for All People — By Allister Begg
Paul begins his instructions by saying that it is a priority that believers pray “for all people.” This is what he urges immediately after providing a sobering reminder about those who had “made shipwreck of their faith” and had been “handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme” (1 Tim. 1:19–20).
In Ephesus, where Timothy was ministering, “certain persons” (1 Tim. 1:3) had tied themselves in genealogical knots, and they had concerns about the law that were misguided. They were insisting upon the exclusiveness of the Gospel and would have been prepared to say, “We must issue requests and prayers and intercessions and thanksgiving, yes—but we are only going to pray for the people that we think it is right to pray for. And we know who they are because of our particular genealogical charts.”
So, Paul reminds Timothy that it is a matter of primary importance to pray for all people, not simply those who belong to our domain. Just as the heart of God goes way beyond genealogies or preferences, so we also must go beyond our own particularities.
As one illustrative example, Paul encourages prayer for the kind of people we are most tempted to despise, reject, dismiss, and abandon: those who are in authority. It is staggering how often professing Christians today slander political leaders as if they are something less than image bearers!
Where did we get the idea that we can pray for whom we like and not pray for whom we do not like? It certainly did not come from Scripture.
- Pray for those believers who are in places of prominence or in the public eye.
- Pray that they would speak fearlessly about what is right and true based upon the message of the Gospel. Ephesians 6:19
19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,
Ephesians 6:19 NIV
Pray that they would see themselves as messengers in bondage to the truth.
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Ephesians 6:20 NIV
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