Ephesians 6:18-20

The Believer’s Energizer

Introduction:  On some television channels there is a battery that is advertised for customers to buy.  This battery uses a bunny rabbit that beats a drum that allows the bunny to keep on beating the drum without ever stopping.  This battery gives the bunny the energy to keep on going.  In this concluding sermon in Ephesians we are going to look at the believer’s energy that needed to keep on going.  In past sermons we have looked at the believer’s enemy and the believer’s equipment against the enemy.  The purpose of this sermon today is for us to look at and appropriate this powerful energetic tool that God has given to us…prayer.

I. Paul’s General Instruction About Prayer

·         (v.18) Paul uses 4 all’s in discussing his instruction about prayer.  These 4 all’s introduces 5 characteristics of the believer’s prayer life.

·         the variety of prayer (prayer refers to general request; petitions refers to specific requests) All kinds of prayers (cp. 1 Tim. 2:8, “I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”)

·         the frequency of prayer (not necessarily in formal or noticeable ways to draw attention to ourselves on purpose; to pray at all times “is to live in continual God consciousness.”  (cp. Colossians 3:2, “Set your affections on things above, not on things of this earth.”)

·         the manner of prayer (alertness, not sleeping) (cp. 1 Pet. 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.”)

·         the objects of prayer-all the saints-Christians everywhere

II.  Paul’s Specific Illustration on Prayer (v.19)

·         “Not my brother, nor my sister, but it’s me oh Lord standing in the need of prayer.”  Paul says pray for me.

·         What humility, a believer like himself, he utters… pray for me

III.  Paul’s Purpose for Prayer

·         Boldness  for the gospel’s sake

·         Boldness in spite of the chains (bonds)

Conclusion: Jesus was a person of prayer.

·         Lk. 22:31-32, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not, and when you are converted, strengthen the brethren.”

·         In the garden, Luke 22:42, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from; nevertheless not my will, but thine be done.”

·         On the cross, Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

(Illustration) Prayer is surrender--surrender to the will of God and cooperation with that will. If I throw out an anchor from the boat and catch hold of the shore and pull, do I pull the shore to me, or do I pull myself to the shore? Prayer is not pulling God to my will, but the aligning of my will to the will of God. (E. Stanley Jones)