Ephesians 6:18 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.
After having described the equipment God provides for His people, Paul talks about prayer. Any soldier must be in direct communication with those he serves in order to be of use to them. Paul connects the section about our armor with the section on prayer by the use of “and” showing they go together (Ephesians 6:18).
LESSON FOR TODAY: The importance of a good, solid prayer life cannot be overemphasized (Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:9; Jeremiah 33:3). Fasting can be an important part of prayer as well when God directs it.
LESSON FOR TODAY: God does promise ultimate victory for His people, not always immediately in this life but enough for now and the rest in the future (1 Corinthians 15:57; 2 Corinthians 2:14; 1 John 5:5).
LESSON FOR TODAY: Did the Ephesians use their armor and have victory in their spiritual warfare? Yes and no. Yes, for they didn’t fall back into the sins that opened them to demonizing in the past. But also no, for Satan changed his tactics and attacked from within the church instead and this was much more successful. Deceptions and lies from false teachers brought confusion and often disunity among the believers. Satan still attacks from without and within today. It is the subtle attacks within we must be aware of for they often take us by surprise. That makes them more dangerous and deadly. We must know God’s Word thoroughly and apply it to all things in life to avoid being deceived.
Jesus is a wonderful example of how to pray in all situations. He tells Peter, James, and John to pray so they will not fall into temptation while He prays to the Father. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) Prayer is a critical part of our way to victory. Our culture is so goal oriented and results focused that we don’t value prayer as we should. We want to see ‘results’ so we put our time and energy into something with tangible outcomes. Oswald Chambers correctly said, “Prayer isn’t preliminary to the battle, prayer is the battle.” So, if we are defeated in prayer how can we expect to have victory for ourself or others? Start and end each day praying for your family, loved ones, yourself and anyone God puts on your heart.
The last session I have with pastors in India is about spiritual warfare. I always close with this prayer, which I have used about 200 times. I use it to pray for them and to teach them how to pray for themselves and others. They stand and often raise their hands. I pray: “Dear Jesus, we thank You for the salvation we have in Jesus. We know You are greater than Satan and his demons. We know You have power over them and have given us that power in Jesus’ name. In Jesus name I forbid any demons to work against me or my family or my church. If I have committed any sin that they use to work against me I put it under the blood of Jesus. In Jesus’ name I break any claim that comes down through my family line. In Jesus’ name I dedicate the land where my home and church are to God. In Jesus’ name I break any curse any one has made against me, my family, or my church. In Jesus’ name I forbid any demons to work against me or my family or my church for any reason. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Surround me with Your angels. Use me for Your glory.”
Then I will pray for the people present in the conference: “Father, I pray for each one here that You would surround them with Your Presence, You would fill them with Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name I come against any of Satan’s forces that would try any work against them or their family or their church. We put that all under the blood of Jesus. Their sin we put under the blood of Jesus. Anything in their family line, any curses on them, anything on the property where they live we cover all that with Jesus’ blood. We command that these spirits be gone immediately and permanently in Jesus’ name. I pray you show these men anything else they need to learn or do and that they find the total freedom that you give that you have. I pray that you give them the courage and the wisdom to use these things as they minister to bring freedom to others that need them. Father, we thank you for this time and this conference and all these things today. We pray you encourage them and remind them of these things to be the men, the pastors that you would have them to be. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!” The exact words aren’t important, but perhaps this example can help you in some way. No matter how you pray, just PRAY!
Matthew 12:43–45 “When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
How does your prayer life now compared with it a year ago? 10 years ago?
Where is the greatest improvement?
Where is more improvement needed?
Take some time now to pray.
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India, Africa & Spanish Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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