How to win spiritual battles I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:14

Watching for our weakness Pulling down strongholds Pentecost Sunday Putting out the fires of the enemy Guarding our heart Wearing spiritual armour Powerful praying

We are in a spiritual battle We see it in the world around us. The cosmic struggle of good against evil.

Winning spiritual battles Why pray? For many reasons… But also because the Devil is real. (Jn10:10) Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world & against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Eph 6:12

Luke 11: 5 - 13 5 Then Jesus said to them, ‘Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.” 7 And suppose the one inside

answers, “Don’t bother me answers, “Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.” 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

9 ‘So I say to you: ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

11 ‘Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’

Parables… This isn’t a metaphor. It’s a parable of contrasts

Jesus shows four conditions for powerful praying. Desperate need (v5) Nothing to bring: this is beyond our own resources. (v6) I know a God who can: believing that God has what we need brings us to prayer. (v7) Keep on asking: it’s ok to have shameless audacity (v8).

God’s timing… Things don’t always happen as we’d like. We love lightening quick. It’s sometimes tortoise slow! Warning – we can easily get offended by God at this point.

Understanding the kingdom We live in tension. Romans 8: We and all creation groan with labour pains waiting for the new world to be born. Longing for redemption.

Prayer’s more than a hopeful message in a bottle Prayer’s more than a hopeful message in a bottle. We’re caught up in the heart of God. Tension and persistence. We come before God who’s working all things together for the good of those who love him. (Rom 8:28)

Make it a daily habit

Boldly ask for what we need Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you… v9-10 But God knows everything… You do not have because you do not ask. James 4:2 Ask with expectancy. How much more…v13

But it’s not Amazon’s Wish List My party dress But it’s not Amazon’s Wish List My party dress! Our boundary: If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7 Prayer grows our relationship with God. The Holy Spirit is given in abundance. v13

Prayer does change things Abraham pleads with God for Sodom (Gen 18-19) This is shameless audacity v9

Be persistent Ask; seek; knock v9 Greek present imperative: continual asking, seeking knocking. Trust God and his timing.

In the moment… Powerful arrow prayers. Praying in tongues.

Switch on the light; don’t dwell on the darkness. Prayer: grounds us in God’s love. roots us in God’s truth. Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matt 6:33

Prayer comes before breakthrough

Your kingdom come…