Christian Offensive Weapons Spiritual Warfare Series The Weapon of Prayer Pasir Panjang Church of Christ 20 July 2014

Spiritual Warfare Series Two Opposing Kingdoms ✓ The Weapons, The Battleground and The Basis Of Our Victory ✓ The Girdle Of Truth, The Breastplate Of Righteousness ✓ The Shoes Of The Preparation Of The Gospel of Peace ✓ The Shield Of Faith ✓ The Helmet Of Salvation, The Sword Of The Spirit ✓ Weapons of Offensive Praise ✓ Prayer Preaching Testimony

Ephesians 6: Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is 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. 13 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. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Taking the Offensive For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension (imagination) that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Cor 10:3-5) Our obligation: To assail and cast down Satan’s strongholds

Prayer – A Weapon? Christian armour – 6 items of defensive weapons listed Move from defensive to offensive “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and request.” Eph 6:18 Many aspects of prayer o Praises o Thanksgivings o Intercessions o Petitions o Confessions Prayer – greatest of all weapons of attack o Not limited by time or distance o Yet under-utilized nor not much belief in its power

Acts 12 Apostle Peter held captive in maximum security jail (v1- 6) 4 squads of 4 soldiers each, day and night Possibly 1 soldier chained to Peter’s hands or feet Any kind of rescue virtually impossible The church was earnestly praying to God (v5) God sent an angel to rescue Peter (v8-11) Judgment on King Herod (v19-23) Peter held captive; church prayed for him; God sent an angel to break physical strongholds on him Similarly those who are being held captive spiritually – need God’s intervention to break spiritual strongholds

Spiritual Warfare In war, objective is to attack enemy at his weakest Satan’s strategy is similar – attack the Christian at his weakest; build up strongholds that will hold him captive Satan build up strongholds in your life through lies and deception Satan doesn’t want Christians to invoke the power of God against his schemes and hold on them

Spiritual Strongholds What are Strongholds? o They are fortresses constructed in our mind from which we can be ruled or controlled inappropriately. o Strongholds are negative, destructive thought patterns engraved on the mind Strongholds that hold Christians captive: o Lust o Pride o Worldly pursuits o Unrepentant sins o Unforgiveness … and many others that Satan uses to incapacitate or weaken us spiritually God’s intervention necessary and needed to break these spiritual strongholds

Spiritual Strongholds What areas of our life give Satan the ability to wage war against us, build strongholds and cause us to fail? Gal 5:19-21; Col 3:5-10; 2 Cor 12:20-21 Bring these into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:5) The Need for Prayers Promises of God’s word not a substitute for our prayers – they provoke our prayers Prayers make the promises of God’s word effective in our lives Prayer life defines a Christian life

Prayer as Offensive Weapon It’s not merely that we pray but what we pray for that determines whether or not we fail Require us to be transparent with our struggles, battle with addictions, spiritual strongholds Jesus’ prayer at Gethsemane – expressed his human side though as son of God, submit himself to God’s will “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have what we asked of Him.” I Jn 5:14 (niv)

Bible Prayers “...they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him.” 1 Chron 5:20 (nkjv) “.. pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.” 2 Thess 3:1-2 (nkjv) "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail ; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” Lk 22:31-32 (nkjv) "… I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours... Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. …I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one … ” Jn 17:1-24 (nkjv)

Weapon of Prayer Prayer brings the Christian into presence of God Prayer invokes the power of God into the Christian’s life Prayer appropriate and focus God’s intervention Prayer as an effective offensive spiritual weapon A lert – Watch and Pray. Be alert to what Satan is doing C onstant – Without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17), with perseverance E verything – Don’t limit God! Especially in spiritual warfare Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 4:16 (niv)