The Prayer War - Examining Ephesians – September 29 Readings: Ephesians 6:18-20

Ephesians: A Worthy Walk 

Background: For the next month, we will be studying the Book of Ephesians, a letter Paul wrote while he was in jail in Rome, awaiting his first trial. Ephesus was one of his best churches, and he spent a lot of time there on his missionary journeys. The church likely planted the other churches of Asia Minor that Jesus referenced in Revelation 2-3. 

Ephesians is easily outlined. Chapters 1-3 speak of the great salvation we have in Christ, which comes by grace through faith alone. Then, 4:1 is the turning point, where Paul admonishes them to "walk worthy of the calling you have received." We cannot be worthy of Christ's salvation - it is a gift of grace. But having received it, we can then, by the Spirit's power, WALK worthy. Chapters 4-6 describe the worthy walk. This is a favorite template for Paul. He develops a doctrine then applies it practically. 

As often as time allows, the reader is encouraged to read the entire book - it will not take more than a few minutes. Each day we will work our way through the book passage by passage. 

Today's Reading:  Ephesians 1-6    Focus Passage - Ephesians 6:18-20

18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. 20 For this I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.

Through the Bible Readings: Jeremiah 1-2, Galatians 1, Psalm 109:6–12, Proverbs24:1–2

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional:  The Prayer War   

Preaching and teaching about spiritual warfare has been subjected to much extrabiblical mythology and hype. It is interesting that after telling his readers to “put on the full armor of God” and describing that armor in detail, Paul’s next command is found starting in Ephesians 6:18.

Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.

This passage is taken by some to be a reference to what is called “praying in tongues” but that is an unwarranted assumption. The passage doesn’t mention tongues and such an idea would go against the clear teaching of Paul in 1 Corinthians 12. All of us are to pray in the Spirit but Paul was clear that not everyone was supposed to speak in tongues. So, praying in the Spirit is something else. Romans 8:26-27 opens up our understanding of this passage.

In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

 Too often, our praying is mechanical, working through prayer lists and telling God what we want, what we think, what our heart’s desires are. But this verse lays out a clear truth. We do not know what we should pray for, because our minds are not yet fully conformed to Christ. So the Spirit intercedes for us. He connects us to God and moves in our hearts to reveal to us what is on the heart of God. Praying in the Spirit is not just telling God what we want or what we think, but it is being moved by the Spirit to pray what is on God’s heart. Sometimes, these verses tell us, we don’t even know what to pray for and our prayers become deep inner groanings of pain and hope and joy.

When we pray in the Spirit, our prayer life becomes less about telling God what we want and seeking to get him to do what we want him to do and more about letting the Spirit of God align our hearts with God’s. He stands between us and our God, revealing God’s heart to us and helping us as we pray. 

It is important to remember that our prayer is war, a spiritual battle against the forces of darkness for which we need every bit of our armor to engage in properly. We must put on the full armor of God to pray in the Spirit. 

Father, by your Spirit give me a passion to pray and guide me as I pray. 

Think and Pray:

Is your prayer life accurately described as a battle against the forces of darkness? 

Do you actively rely on the Holy Spirit when you pray?