Prayer: Our Wartime Communication with God

Devotional

Day 1: Prayer as a Strategic Communication Tool

Prayer is not merely a means of personal comfort or convenience; it is a strategic communication tool in the spiritual battlefield. This perspective shifts the focus from individual needs to the broader mission of advancing God's kingdom. By viewing prayer as a "wartime walkie-talkie," believers are reminded of their role as soldiers in a spiritual battle, where prayer is used to call for divine intervention and support. The Apostle Paul exemplified this by urging the Colossians to pray for open doors for the Word of God, highlighting the selfless nature of true prayer. [01:12]

Ephesians 6:18 (ESV): "Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints."

Reflection: How can you shift your prayer focus from personal needs to the mission of advancing God's kingdom today?

Day 2: The Power of Persistent Prayer

Persistence in prayer is crucial, as it keeps believers connected to God and strengthens their spiritual resolve. Just as a walkie-talkie gains strength with use, prayer becomes more powerful the more it is engaged in. This persistence is not about repetition for its own sake but about maintaining a constant line of communication with God, our Commander. It is through persistent prayer that believers can gain strength and effectiveness in their spiritual lives. [06:13]

Luke 18:1 (ESV): "And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart."

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you need to be more persistent in prayer, and how can you commit to praying about it daily?

Day 3: Vigilance in Prayer Against Distractions

Being watchful in prayer means recognizing the tactics of the enemy, who seeks to disrupt communication with God through distractions and fatigue. Satan's goal is to interfere with our prayers, making vigilance essential. By staying alert and focused, believers can ensure that their prayers reach God without interference, maintaining a strong connection with Him. This watchfulness is a crucial aspect of spiritual warfare, as it helps believers remain steadfast in their communication with God. [07:37]

1 Peter 5:8 (ESV): "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

Reflection: What distractions or fatigue are currently hindering your prayer life, and how can you address them to maintain a vigilant prayer practice?

Day 4: Gratitude as a Focus in Prayer

Thankfulness in prayer ensures that the focus remains on God's victories and His ultimate control over the battle. Gratitude transforms prayers from mere requests to acknowledgments of God's faithfulness and power. By incorporating thankfulness into prayer, believers can maintain a perspective that celebrates God's past victories and trusts in His future provision, reinforcing their faith and reliance on Him. [12:15]

Colossians 4:2 (ESV): "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."

Reflection: What are three specific things you can thank God for today, and how can this gratitude shape your prayers moving forward?

Day 5: Supporting the Front Lines Through Prayer

Prayer plays a crucial role in supporting those on the front lines of spiritual battles. It is a means of calling for divine intervention and support, emphasizing the selfless nature of true prayer. By praying for others, believers can contribute to the advancement of the Gospel and the strengthening of fellow soldiers in the spiritual battlefield. This selfless approach to prayer aligns with the mission of advancing God's kingdom and supporting those who are actively engaged in spiritual warfare. [04:42]

2 Thessalonians 3:1 (ESV): "Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you."

Reflection: Who is someone on the front lines of spiritual battles that you can commit to praying for this week, and how can you support them through your prayers?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound metaphor of prayer as a "wartime walkie-talkie," contrasting it with the notion of a "domestic intercom." This imagery serves to remind us that prayer is not a tool for personal comfort or convenience, but a powerful means of communication with our Commander, God, in the spiritual battlefield. The Apostle Paul, even while imprisoned, exemplified this by urging the Colossians to pray for open doors for the Word of God, illustrating the strategic role of prayer in spiritual warfare.

We are all soldiers in this spiritual battle, and our prayers are crucial in supporting those on the front lines. Paul’s request for prayer was not for personal comfort but for the advancement of the Gospel, highlighting the selfless nature of true prayer. The call to "continue steadfastly in prayer" emphasizes persistence, watchfulness, and thankfulness. Persistence in prayer is likened to keeping a walkie-talkie on, gaining strength and effectiveness the more it is used. Watchfulness is necessary because our enemy, Satan, seeks to disrupt our communication with God through distractions and fatigue. Thanksgiving in prayer ensures that our focus remains on God’s victories and His ultimate control over the battle.

The metaphor of prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie challenges us to rethink our approach to prayer. It is a call to engage actively in the spiritual battle, using prayer to call for divine intervention and support. This perspective shifts our focus from personal needs to the broader mission of advancing God’s kingdom. As we pray, we should be mindful of the spiritual warfare around us, remaining vigilant and grateful, knowing that the battle belongs to the Lord and that victory is assured in Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Prayer as a Wartime Walkie-Talkie: Prayer is a powerful tool designed for the battlefield, not for personal comfort. It connects us with God, our Commander, to call for support and guidance in spiritual warfare. This perspective shifts our focus from personal needs to the mission of advancing God’s kingdom. [01:12]
2. Persistence in Prayer: Just as a walkie-talkie gains strength with use, prayer becomes more powerful the more we engage in it. Persistence in prayer is crucial, as it keeps us connected to God and strengthens our spiritual resolve. [06:13]
3. Watchfulness in Prayer: Satan seeks to disrupt our communication with God through distractions and fatigue. Being watchful in prayer means recognizing these tactics and remaining vigilant, ensuring our prayers reach God without interference. [07:37]
4. Thankfulness in Prayer: Gratitude in prayer keeps our focus on God’s victories and His control over the battle. It ensures that our prayers are not just requests but also acknowledgments of God’s faithfulness and power. [12:15]
5. The Role of Prayer in Spiritual Warfare: Prayer is crucial in supporting those on the front lines of spiritual battles. It is a means of calling for divine intervention and support, emphasizing the selfless nature of true prayer. [04:42]
** [04:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:14] - The Physical Side of Prayer
[00:24] - Prayer as a Wartime Walkie-Talkie
[01:12] - Contrasting Prayer Metaphors
[02:01] - Paul's Situation and Request
[03:02] - The Role of Prayer in Battle
[04:09] - Soldiers on the Battlefield
[05:08] - How to Pray: Persistence
[06:13] - Prayer's Power with Use
[07:37] - How to Pray: Watchfulness
[09:30] - The Enemy's Tactics
[10:54] - The Importance of Sleep
[12:04] - How to Pray: Thankfulness
[13:29] - Gratitude in Spiritual Warfare
[14:38] - Paradigm Shaping Definition of Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Colossians 4:2-4

Observation Questions:

How does the metaphor of a "wartime walkie-talkie" differ from a "domestic intercom" in the context of prayer? ([01:12])
What specific request does Paul make to the Colossians regarding prayer in Colossians 4:2-4? ([02:17])
According to the sermon, what are the three ways Satan tries to disrupt our prayer life? ([07:37])
How does the sermon describe the role of gratitude in prayer? ([12:15])

Interpretation Questions:

Why might Paul have chosen to use the metaphor of a "wartime walkie-talkie" to describe prayer? How does this change our understanding of its purpose? ([01:12])
In what ways does persistence in prayer strengthen our spiritual resolve, according to the sermon? ([06:13])
How does being watchful in prayer help us counteract the tactics of Satan? ([07:37])
What role does thankfulness play in maintaining a healthy prayer life, and how does it affect our perspective on spiritual battles? ([12:15])

Application Questions:

Reflect on your current prayer life. Do you treat prayer more like a "wartime walkie-talkie" or a "domestic intercom"? How can you shift your perspective to align more with the former? ([01:12])
What are some practical steps you can take to be more persistent in prayer throughout your day? Consider setting reminders or creating a prayer schedule. ([06:13])
Identify common distractions that interfere with your prayer time. What strategies can you implement to minimize these distractions and remain watchful? ([07:37])
How can you incorporate more gratitude into your prayers? Consider starting a gratitude journal or setting aside time each day to thank God for specific victories. ([12:15])
Think of someone on the "front lines" of spiritual battles, such as a missionary or church leader. How can you support them through prayer this week? ([04:42])
Reflect on a recent situation where you felt spiritually attacked. How did you respond, and how might a stronger prayer life have changed your response? ([07:37])
Consider the role of sleep and rest in your spiritual life. Are there changes you need to make to ensure you are physically and spiritually prepared for prayer? ([09:30])

Sermon Clips

prayer was designed for the battlefield as a wartime walkie-talkie not to increase the pad of the saints through a domestic intercom now keep that image in your mind as i read these verses again and then i want to paint a picture for you of the situation that looks to me like paul is in continue steadfastly in prayer being watchful in it with thanksgiving pray for us also that god may open a door for the word to declare the mystery of christ on account of which i'm in prison that i may make it clear as i ought to speak [00:01:45]

paul apophis luke timothy aristarchus that's the team mentioned in this book in other verses kind of storm troopers you could picture them as on the front lines they have an assignment to penetrate the enemy line of satan and to take captive for god souls who are being blinded and held by satan they attempt to spearhead a breach through the enemy line and they hit a massive counter force the result at least two of them aristarchus and paul are in a prison camp it looks as though the enemy has gotten a significant tactical victory [00:02:32]

so here is what the the text verses 2 to 4 answers for us indirect supporters it answers how to pray and what to pray it gives three answers to each of those questions let's look at them briefly first of all how to pray verse two the first way is persistently verse two continue steadfastly in prayer or your version might say devote yourselves to prayer be persistent continuous devoted here's a way to illustrate this prayer is not like these new telephones that you can buy that don't have any cords [00:04:49]

prayer is exactly the opposite if you hang prayer up on the wall of your bedroom when you leave in the morning it will be dead when you come home at night very likely but the best way to keep prayer powerful is to hook it like i got this little doohickey right on me here see that's hooked up to this you just keep it hooked on your belt and make sure it stays on i got to flick this thing off between services or i've got no juice the battery runs out prayer is just the opposite you've got to keep it on because it gets more and more and more powerful the more you use it [00:06:13]

satan who is the enemy that we're against and who is holding people bondage knows how dangerous this walkie-talkie is to his purposes and so he will try to jam the airwaves so you can't get through he'll try to steal the unit so that you can't use it and he'll try to put you to sleep with some drug while you're talking on it now how does he do those three things he he's the prince of the power of the air picture him now he's just everywhere as it were at least his influence is everywhere [00:07:37]

satan puts you to sleep in prayer most commonly by tricking you into staying up too late the night before now i think this is real serious business here and i'm preaching to myself mainly god designed you to need a certain amount of sleep most people are about the same you might be a little different if you don't get that amount of sleep you get irritable and that's a sin and therefore not getting enough sleep is giving a foothold to the devil it leads to depression it leads to falling asleep during prayer [00:09:30]

the third way we are to pray besides persistently and watchfully is thankfully continue steadfastly in prayer it says being watchful in it with thanksgiving now in case the wartime analogy makes you jittery suppose this wartime talk that i'm using causes you to think in terms of oh it just means you you're biting your nails and your heart is thumping your hands are sweating this is an awful view of the christian life well that would be an awful view of the christian life so this word is added to get rid of that [00:12:04]

we ought as we call in the headquarters to guide us through the minefields of temptation and to give us the firepower we need and to blast doors off the hinges in our lives we ought to mingle with all of our requests sentences like this the missile hit right on target sir thank you the door was blown off its hinges sir thank you we're heading out in full force sir thank you the arm of aristarchus has been healed sir thank you we're coming in sir with 20 captives thank you you see the battle belongs to the lord [00:12:50]

all the crucial engagements with satan in the wilderness in gethsemane on the cross at the empty tomb every one of them were triumphantly won by jesus christ we do not fight one single battle with the mindset that we are going to be losers in the end we fight all of our battles knowing that in jesus christ we will win and therefore gratitude on a ring through this walkie-talkie all the time if it doesn't something will malfunction in the walkie-talkie it has this little sensor in there that begins to click when there's not enough gratitude going through [00:13:35]

one of the reasons we feel so weak in our prayer lives is that we have tried to make a domestic intercom out of a wartime walkie talkie end quote so such a great clip this clip is from john piper's may 29 1988 sermon titled walk in wisdom toward those outside uh the whole thing is available right now at desiringgod.org if you have a sermon clip to share email me give me your name hometown the sermon title the time stamp of where the clip happens in the audio and make a note of what stands out to you put the word clip in the subject line of an email and send it to me at askpastorjohn desiringgod.org [00:14:38]

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Prayer: Our Wartime Communication with God

Devotional

Day 1: Prayer as a Strategic Communication Tool

Day 2: The Power of Persistent Prayer

Day 3: Vigilance in Prayer Against Distractions

Day 4: Gratitude as a Focus in Prayer

Day 5: Supporting the Front Lines Through Prayer

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Prayer: Our Wartime Communication with God

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