Armor Binding
Prison Epistles: Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Greetings...
Together as we have traveled through the book of Ephesians we have journeyed with God in examining the “Glorious Church Of Christ.”
We have seen that the “glorious church of Christ” was in the eternal plans of the Father.
We have studied of the great dangers of being outside of His church and dire need of being in it and apart of it.
We have come to know the importance of not only the eternally planned blood bought church but the Law that was created to govern it and the beautiful unity it created.
We have witnessed in our studies how proper leadership will guide those that are “new in Christ” to walk “not in futility of mind” but “according to truth and love, sacrifice and submission.”
Paul then, in his letter, begins to explain how one stays strong and firm in such endeavors.
How husbands, wives, children, masters, slaves, and everyone else can walk according to truth and love, sacrifice and submission.
It’s with the special armor God made just for us.
Over the last several weeks we have looked at all six special pieces of armor, the Belt of Truth, Breastplate of Righteousness, Shoes Prepared for the Gospel of Peace, the Shield of Faith, the Helmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit.
Today we will be looking at what “binds all this armor” tightly on our spiritual selves.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 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.
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
18 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, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
18 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, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
18 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, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Praying At All Times
Praying At All Times
Praying without ceasing.
Praying without ceasing.
17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 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,
Eph 6:17-18
In verse 18 the first word for “praying” that is connected with the “in the Spirit” is, grammatically speaking, a present participle verb.
To the
Why does that matter, because the present participle denotes action that takes place during the timing of the leading verb.
The leading verb, in this case, is the word “take” from verse 17.
In other words, Paul is saying that when you take the helmet of salvation and sword of the Spirit you do so while praying at all times in the Spirit.
If we are to “pray at all times” while taking the helmet and sword it only logically follows that the helmet and sword is to be with us “at all times.”
This makes sense in light of such passages of .
17 pray without ceasing,
This doesn’t mean we are to be “on bended knee” 24/7 but that we live a life of prayer or life in communion with God.
Praying in the Spirit.
Praying in the Spirit.
There is no denying that prayer is to be done with the Holy Spirit’s help.
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
How does the Holy Spirit help us in our prayers.
First, the Spirit understands our weakness in our prayer life.
Man’s prayers his weakness and this is where the Holy Spirit helps out.
Second, the Spirit helps us when don’t know what to pray for and and steps in.
Third, God searches our hearts through our relationship we have with the Spirit according to the will of God.
He helps us when don’t know what to pray for.
He intercedes for us before God.
He does this
25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
We are helped by Him in our weakness and
Prayers and supplications.
Prayers and supplications.
The word for prayer here is the generic term for prayer and the most common.
It is found some 36 times in the New Testament.
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
The word for supplications here is often translated prayer but it holds the idea of an “urgent request to meet a need.”
It is found 18 times in the New Testament.
1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,
Notice Paul wants requests to God to be made for peaceful living
1 Tim 2:
Summery
Summery
When we put on the Armor of God we are holding it together “every day” with our constant praying and urgent requests to God.
If there is no “constant and consistent” prayer in our lives there is no properly fitting Armor of God on us.
Praying With Perseverance
Praying With Perseverance
This perseverance requires being alert.
This perseverance requires being alert.
It takes
This takes being alert.
This takes being alert.
You cannot persevere in prayer if you are not awake and this is why God spends so much time talking about being awake and alert.
In fact the word for “keep alert” means to lie awake and suffer from insomnia.
It is also a present participle connecting back to “take” as well from verse 17.
33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.
5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
Prayer that perseveres is one that is vigilantly keeping a watch over one’s salvation and the Word of God.
Truth be told all of this...
Not only are we to be praying at all times when taking the helmet and sword but we are to be alert while doing so as well.
This takes effort.
This takes effort.
Praying “at all times in the Spirit” while keeping alert at all times takes a lot of effort.
Prayer isn’t for the faint of heart or the weak in spirit it’s for those that are dedicated to having a close relationship with their God and Creator.
Daniel is a great example of the type of constant effort that is needed.
10 When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.
Summery
Summery
When we put on God’s special Armor it is our prayer life that will keep each piece tight and in position, because we have put forth the effort to make sure it is so.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.