John K. Jenkins Sr - Principles of Powerful Prayer - Part 5

Just to rehearse again and quickly review what we've covered in these past five sessions, this very significant passage where the Apostle Paul writes to the church in Ephesus is compelling. We acknowledge that these people were powerful , and I think I' ve already mentioned that I don't want to be a pastor of a dried-up church. I don't want to be pastoring people who come to church with blank, weary faces- dried up, squinched in, with no smiles, no joy, no victory. I don't want to be the pastor of that kind of church. I want to be the pastor of a church where people's lives are being transformed and changed-where marriages are being mended, where people are overcoming drugs , where individuals are experiencing healing from sickness and disease, where people are living a vibrant walk with God. I want to be the pastor of that kind of church, and that's what the church in Ephesus was - a church that was alive, vibrant , and powerful. It was an anointed church , and they became that way because Paul wrote to them and gave them clear-cut instructions. The guidance he provided was so powerful and enlightening that they applied it, which transformed them and made them a powerful church. He said much to them, but in chapter 6, he tells them that they will engage in battles in life. You and I need to understand that life is filled with battles. Don 't be disappointed when challenges arise; it comes with the territory of living . You don't have to invite drama ; it can show up at your house unannounced. Sometimes drama comes into your life without permission; it just marches in . Sometimes drama enters your bedroom-come on, talk to me! Drama can even affect your kids. I ' ve seen it, and sometimes it can impact your pets too. Yes, it 's still happening. You know that when my wife and kids start crying, "Oh Daddy, don't let it go," that's when drama shows up at the house. However, Paul reminds us that we're not wrestling against flesh and blood ; in fact, in this sixth chapter, he states that we are dealing with principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places . We've discussed how each of those entities plays out in our lives in Bible study. If you weren't present at those studies , I encourage you to catch up. He says, "Take up therefore," in verse 13, "the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." The evil day is when the enemy aims all his attacks at you. Let me assure you, if you're doing anything worthwhile , your evil day will come-the day will arrive when the enemy directs all his guns at you . What 's essential for you to understand is that although he may be firing all his weapons at you, no weapon formed against you shall prosper. You may fall down, but you will get back up. Come on, tell your neighbor, "We fall down, but we get back up." We are not counted out ; we are not defeated. We may face troubles , challenges , and trials, but we fall down, and we get up. Then he tells us to put on the whole armor of God. He explains the various pieces of this armor; I don't have time to discuss what it means to have your loins girded about with truth , the breastplate of righteousness , the shoes of the gospel , the helmet of salvation , and the shield of faith, or the short sword of the Spirit . What I want to focus on today is verses 18 , 19, and 20, where I've been concentrating for the past five weeks: prayer. I looked around as you all were praying this morning when I asked you to join hands and open your mouths to pray. There are still some of you who don't speak out loud in prayer. You haven't engaged in your walk with God enough to have the courage to pray aloud around others. You need to overcome that issue . If you can't pray out loud, step aside until you get your life together and can become a bold prayer warrior. Can I get an Amen right there? Paul says we need to pray always. Verse 18 discusses the posture of prayer . Somebody say, "the posture of prayer!" We should always be in a posture to pray and keep the prayer lines open.