Empowered Prayer: Engaging in Spiritual Warfare
Summary
In this final installment of our series "One Name," we delve into the profound power of prayer and its role in spiritual warfare. Our focus is on the Lord's Prayer, particularly the line, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." This prayer is not just a request for comfort and protection but a call to arms for breakthrough and direction. We are reminded that prayer is a battle, a fight against the subtle deceptions of the enemy, who prowls like a lion seeking to devour. To engage effectively in this spiritual battle, we must know our enemy, understand our authority in Christ, and learn how to fight using the Word of God as our sword.
The enemy's strategy is often subtle, leading us away from truth through small deviations. Therefore, we must gird ourselves with the belt of truth and wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. This involves not just reading scripture but praying it, declaring it over our lives and situations. We are encouraged to replace humanistic approaches with a biblical cosmology that acknowledges the spiritual realities we face.
In practical terms, this means being prepared to remove even good things from our lives if they lead us into temptation. It means having a greater "yes" that draws us away from the allure of sin. We are called to pray scripture into our lives, inserting our names or the names of loved ones into the text, making it personal and powerful. This practice transforms our prayer life from a passive routine into an active engagement with God's truth.
As we conclude, we are reminded of the importance of community and corporate prayer. Tomorrow night, we will gather to pray together, wielding the sword of the Spirit against the challenges we face. This is not just a one-time event but a lifestyle of prayer and spiritual vigilance. Let us stand firm, knowing our enemy, our authority, and how to fight, as we declare the mighty name of Jesus over every area of our lives.
Key Takeaways:
1. Prayer as Spiritual Warfare: Prayer is not merely a request for comfort and protection but a powerful tool for breakthrough and direction. It is a battle against the subtle deceptions of the enemy, who seeks to lead us away from truth. We must engage in this battle with the full armor of God, particularly the belt of truth and the sword of the Spirit. [10:52]
2. Knowing Your Enemy and Authority: Understanding the enemy's tactics is crucial in spiritual warfare. The devil is a deceiver, often leading us astray through subtle lies. However, we have authority in Christ, as new creations empowered to stand firm against these deceptions. Recognizing this authority is essential for effective prayer and spiritual resilience. [16:41]
3. The Power of Scripture in Prayer: The Word of God is our sword in spiritual battles. Praying scripture, inserting our names or those of loved ones, transforms our prayer life from passive to active engagement with God's truth. This practice helps us focus on what is true, rather than being swayed by feelings or circumstances. [22:42]
4. Removing Temptations for Greater Yes: To avoid falling into temptation, we must be willing to remove even good things from our lives if they lead us astray. This requires having a greater "yes" that draws us towards God's purposes. Without this greater vision, we risk settling for less and being ensnared by the enemy's lies. [34:22]
5. Community and Corporate Prayer: Gathering together for prayer strengthens our spiritual resolve and allows us to wield the sword of the Spirit collectively. Corporate prayer is a powerful expression of our unity in Christ and our commitment to stand against the enemy's schemes. It is an essential part of our spiritual discipline and growth. [51:02]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [07:34] - Introduction to Prayer as Warfare
- [10:52] - The Power of Breakthrough and Direction
- [16:41] - Knowing Your Enemy and Authority
- [20:04] - The Belt of Truth and Spiritual Armor
- [22:42] - The Sword of the Spirit: Praying Scripture
- [34:22] - Removing Temptations for a Greater Yes
- [38:32] - Addressing Anxiety and Worry
- [43:04] - Finding Rest in Jesus
- [45:16] - Declaring Psalm 23 for Breakthrough
- [47:19] - Personalizing Scripture in Prayer
- [51:02] - Community and Corporate Prayer
- [55:00] - Closing and Call to Action
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: "One Name" Series - The Power of Prayer in Spiritual Warfare
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 6:13 - "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."
2. Ephesians 6:10-18 - The Armor of God
3. 1 Peter 5:8 - "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
---
Observation Questions:
1. What does the phrase "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" suggest about the nature of prayer as described in the sermon? [07:34]
2. How does the sermon describe the enemy's tactics, and what biblical imagery is used to illustrate this? [16:41]
3. According to the sermon, what role does the "belt of truth" play in spiritual warfare, and how is it practically applied? [20:04]
4. What is the significance of praying scripture, as highlighted in the sermon, and how does it transform our prayer life? [22:42]
---
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does understanding our authority in Christ change the way we approach spiritual warfare and prayer? [16:41]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that subtle deviations from truth can lead us away from God's path? How can believers guard against this? [20:04]
3. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between removing temptations and having a "greater yes" in our lives? How does this concept help in resisting sin? [34:22]
4. How does the sermon emphasize the importance of community and corporate prayer in spiritual battles? What benefits are highlighted? [51:02]
---
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt tempted. How did you respond, and what could you do differently in the future to rely more on prayer and scripture? [07:34]
2. Identify an area in your life where you might be subtly drifting away from truth. What steps can you take to realign with God's word and truth? [20:04]
3. Consider a "good thing" in your life that might be leading you into temptation. Are you willing to remove it for a greater purpose? What would that look like practically? [34:22]
4. How can you incorporate praying scripture into your daily routine? Choose a specific verse to pray over yourself or a loved one this week. [22:42]
5. Think about your current prayer life. How can you shift from praying primarily for comfort and protection to also seeking breakthrough and direction? [10:52]
6. How can you engage more actively in community and corporate prayer? What steps can you take to participate in or organize a prayer gathering? [51:02]
7. Reflect on the concept of knowing your enemy and your authority in Christ. How can this understanding empower you in your daily spiritual battles? [16:41]
Devotional
Day 1: Prayer as a Battle for Truth
Prayer is not merely a request for comfort and protection but a powerful tool for breakthrough and direction. It is a battle against the subtle deceptions of the enemy, who seeks to lead us away from truth. We must engage in this battle with the full armor of God, particularly the belt of truth and the sword of the Spirit. The enemy's strategy is often subtle, leading us away from truth through small deviations. Therefore, we must gird ourselves with the belt of truth and wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. This involves not just reading scripture but praying it, declaring it over our lives and situations. We are encouraged to replace humanistic approaches with a biblical cosmology that acknowledges the spiritual realities we face. [10:52]
Ephesians 6:13-14 (ESV): "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness."
Reflection: What specific lies or deceptions have you been battling recently, and how can you use prayer and scripture to combat them today?
Day 2: Recognizing and Resisting the Enemy's Tactics
Understanding the enemy's tactics is crucial in spiritual warfare. The devil is a deceiver, often leading us astray through subtle lies. However, we have authority in Christ, as new creations empowered to stand firm against these deceptions. Recognizing this authority is essential for effective prayer and spiritual resilience. By knowing our enemy and the authority we have in Christ, we can stand firm against the enemy's schemes. This involves being vigilant and discerning, aware of the subtle ways the enemy tries to lead us away from God's truth. [16:41]
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (ESV): "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to exercise your authority in Christ to resist the enemy's tactics today?
Day 3: Activating the Power of Scripture in Prayer
The Word of God is our sword in spiritual battles. Praying scripture, inserting our names or those of loved ones, transforms our prayer life from passive to active engagement with God's truth. This practice helps us focus on what is true, rather than being swayed by feelings or circumstances. By personalizing scripture in our prayers, we align ourselves with God's promises and truth, making our prayers more powerful and effective. This active engagement with scripture strengthens our faith and helps us stand firm in the face of challenges. [22:42]
Hebrews 4:12 (ESV): "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
Reflection: Choose a scripture passage that speaks to your current situation and personalize it in your prayers today. How does this change your perspective?
Day 4: Choosing a Greater Yes Over Temptation
To avoid falling into temptation, we must be willing to remove even good things from our lives if they lead us astray. This requires having a greater "yes" that draws us towards God's purposes. Without this greater vision, we risk settling for less and being ensnared by the enemy's lies. By focusing on a greater "yes," we align our desires with God's will, making it easier to resist the allure of temptation. This involves being intentional about our choices and prioritizing what truly matters in our spiritual journey. [34:22]
1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV): "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
Reflection: What is one "good" thing in your life that might be leading you into temptation, and how can you choose a greater "yes" today?
Day 5: The Strength of Community and Corporate Prayer
Gathering together for prayer strengthens our spiritual resolve and allows us to wield the sword of the Spirit collectively. Corporate prayer is a powerful expression of our unity in Christ and our commitment to stand against the enemy's schemes. It is an essential part of our spiritual discipline and growth. By coming together in prayer, we support one another and amplify our spiritual strength, creating a powerful force against the challenges we face. This communal aspect of prayer reminds us that we are not alone in our spiritual battles and that together, we can achieve greater victories. [51:02]
Acts 4:31 (ESV): "And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness."
Reflection: How can you actively participate in or initiate a community prayer gathering this week to strengthen your spiritual journey and that of others?
Quotes
When we pray, we fight. We fight. When we pray, we do battle. Because it's not just about, oh, me and Jesus. And I just need this. This rolls up in me. during the prayer huddle before the 9 a .m. this morning. And there's this phrase, it's kind of, I don't know where it came from. I think it may have just come from within my soul. [00:10:37] (23 seconds)
Often when we pray, we are praying for comfort and protection. It's not that that's not good, but we often are driven by our prayer life. It's all about comfort and protection. And we can ask for those things in prayer. But if we only are praying for comfort and protection, we miss the power of prayer, which is for breakthrough and direction. [00:10:52] (23 seconds)
And so we don't often think about this. We think, oh, comfort and protection, comfort and protection. Yeah, but what about praying for breakthrough and redirection? Breakthrough and Lord, your way, what are you telling me to do? Not what I think. What are you telling me to do? And when Jesus says this line, that's what it's all about. [00:11:24] (19 seconds)
Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour, and we see it in nature, lions devour the weak. Lions devour the young. Lions devour those who drift away from the pack. That's their strategy. And your enemy, the devil, is prowling around, just looking for you to just drift and go, this way. He's a deceiver. He's a liar. [00:12:25] (32 seconds)
His devouring doesn't often come in one foul swoop. It's a slow drift until life is drained from you in an area of your life. Secondly, know your enemy. Number two, know your authority. So when you're praying, you need to know your enemy in this line, but know your authority. 2 Corinthians 5, 17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, that's an authority identity. [00:13:07] (29 seconds)
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old is gone, the new... has come that word in christ that phrase in christ in the new testament appears 164 times this isn't just some little suggestion that paul gives to the corinthian church if you're in christ that's an authority statement that's an identity statement you have been given authority to claim this is who i am this is who i belong to therefore then you can pray knowing your enemy knowing your authority and third which we'll focus on today is know how to fight [00:13:23] (42 seconds)
We live life being prepared because he's our heavenly father. We praise his name because when we praise, God's presence arrives. We declare his name above all names. When we ask for his kingdom to come and his will to be done, you see the posture here? Now, the how -tos and the unfolding of all of that, there's different ways around it and different things that can help. Absolutely. [00:16:41] (26 seconds)
Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. He's a schemer. He always has been. Let's go to the beginning garden. He doesn't come in and go, hi, Eve. I'm going to cause you to rebel against God. I'm going to cause you to bow down and worship me. He doesn't. Hey, did God really say? It's good, isn't it? Come on. [00:17:48] (28 seconds)
What kind of harm could he do? He's a schemer. It's subtle. Some of us are literally metaphorically biting into things that look good and are good and may not kill you, but you are dying as a result. He's a schemer. Know your enemy, know your authority, know how to fight for our struggles, 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. [00:18:30] (35 seconds)
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. Here we go. Stand firm then. I'm going to mention the first one and the last one in today's message. Mostly the last one, but the first one and the last one. I haven't got time for them all. Stand firm then with the belt of truth buckled around your waist. [00:18:50] (24 seconds)
The sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. We need to pray it now for some of you have been following Jesus for a while you've just got scriptures in you so you're praying through something and a scripture will rise up in you because that's the role of the Holy Spirit when Jesus said I'm gonna send to you the Holy Spirit it says he will remind you of everything I've taught you so I need to learn the words of Jesus which is why I need to read the scriptures I need to learn the words of Jesus so that they're there for the Holy Spirit to then remind me of them [00:25:24] (31 seconds)
Scripture needs to be declared and prayed. On two occasions in our married life, somebody in our household decided to plaster every cupboard, every door, every mirror all over our house with sticky notes, with scriptures on. She did that. It wasn't me. It was my wife, Mel. She did that because she needed to make sure that in the midst of a tumultuous situation, what is true? What is true? [00:31:56] (29 seconds)
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?