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Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Pray at All Times

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Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people). —Ephesians 6:18

In Ephesians 6:10-17, the apostle Paul talks about the armor of God and how we are to use it and the weapon of the Word to engage in spiritual warfare. After each piece has been listed, in verse eighteen Paul sums up his message by saying, Pray at all times. How often are we to pray? At all times.

What does that mean? Does it mean that when we are out doing the grocery shopping and God puts it on our heart to pray we are to drop to our knees right there in the middle of the supermarket aisle? I often kneel by my bed and pray. There are other times when I feel led by God to lie down, face to the floor, before Him and pray. We have to be careful not to confuse physical posture with prayer. We can also pray silently in the supermarket as we are walking down the aisles.

In the different seasons of life we are able to pray in different ways. A young mother with three or four little children, for example, is going to have to structure her prayer life differently from that of a grandmother whose family is all grown up and out of the house.

If we become too “religious” about prayer, thinking we must do it one way or the other because that is how someone else does it, we will bring condemnation on ourselves. The important thing about prayer is not the posture or the time or place but learning to pray in faith—at all times, unceasingly. Anytime the desire or need arises—pray!

 

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – The Balanced Approach to Spiritual Victory

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John MacArthur

“Be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God” (Eph. 6:10- 11).

When I was a child, my father and I watched a boxing match on television. After going through the ritual of punching the air, kicking his feet, and putting rosin on his shoes, one of the fighters knelt in the corner and crossed himself. I asked my dad if that helped. He said, “It does if he can punch. If he can’t punch, it doesn’t help at all.”

That illustrates a point we touched on yesterday and will explore further today: God’s part and our part in spiritual warfare. Many Christians believe that spiritual victory comes simply by surrendering more completely to God. They quote verses like 2 Chronicles 20:15 to support their view: “The battle is not yours but God’s.” “Stop struggling and striving,” they say. “Instead, yield and completely surrender yourself to God. He alone does the fighting and gives the victory.”

Such people are often called “Quietists” because they view the Christian’s role in spiritual warfare as passive or quiet. Their anthem is “Let go and let God.”

But Scripture gives a very different view of the believer’s role. It pictures the Christian life as a war, a race, and a fight. We depend on God’s energy, power, and strength, but are by no means passive. We’re commanded to apply ourselves to good deeds, resist the devil, bring our bodies under subjection, walk in wisdom, press toward the prize, cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, work out our salvation with fear and trembling, and perfect holiness in the fear of God. Those are calls to fervent action.

In Ephesians 6:10-11 Paul says, “Be strong in the . . . strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God.” That’s the balance. God supplies the resources; we supply the effort.

Suggestions for Prayer:

Thank God for the strength He gives for spiritual victory.

Ask for His wisdom in living a balanced Christian life.

For Further Study:

Read 2 Peter 1:3-7.

What does God supply for Christian living?

What must you as a believer supply?

John MacArthur

John MacArthur – Your Resources in Christ

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John MacArthur

“Be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Eph. 6:10-11).

Satan opposes God and wants to prevent believers from glorifying Him. One way he does that is by convincing them that he is either so formidable they could never defeat him, or so weak they can fight him on their own strength.

Second Corinthians 10:4 says, “The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” Human resources alone can never defeat a spiritual enemy, but divine resources can. That’s why it’s crucial to understand the resources you have in Christ that insure spiritual victory.

In Ephesians 1:3 Paul says you have received all the blessings of heaven through Christ. That includes being forgiven and redeemed (vv. 6-7), and receiving knowledge, understanding, and wisdom (vv. 17-18). Within you resides the Holy Spirit (v. 13), who strengthens you and accomplishes more than you can ask or think (3:16, 20).

Believers represent the awesome power of God in this world–the same power that raised Christ from the dead, seated Him at the right hand of the Father, and subjected all things under His feet (Eph. 1:19-22). He is the Sovereign Lord against whom no one can successfully stand. That’s why Paul exhorted us to “be strong in Him, and in the strength of His might” (Eph. 6:10, emphasis added). We find this strength by putting on the armor He has supplied: truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, the Word, and prayer. Then, no matter what direction the enemy approaches from, or how subtle his attacks may be, we’ll be able to stand firm.

Satan’s attacks are complex and subtle. His ways of working in this world are cunning and deceitful. Since it’s impossible to analyze and anticipate his every offense, focus on strengthening your defenses by understanding your spiritual resources and using them each day.

Suggestions for Prayer:

Ask God to increase your understanding of spiritual warfare.

Seek wisdom in applying your resources in the most effective ways.

When you face spiritual battles, confide in a Christian friend who will pray with you and encourage you.

For Further Study:

According to Matthew 4:1-11, how did Jesus deal with Satan’s attacks?

Presidential Prayer Team

Presidential Prayer Team; J.R. – Responsibility Reminder

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After President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, new President Lyndon Johnson wanted Earl Warren, then Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, to head up an investigation. When Warren refused, Johnson called him to the White House. “You’ve been in uniform before,” Johnson told him, “and if I asked you, you would put on the uniform again for your country.” “Of course,” Warren replied. “This is more important than that,” Johnson told him. “If you’re putting it like that,” Warren replied, “I can’t say no.”

The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. Revelation 3:14

Jesus (through John) opens His letter to the Church in Laodicea – a congregation marked by lackadaisicalness to spiritual matters – by referring them to their Christian obligations. Their focus was not on answering God’s call but was actually on material wealth. “This is more important than that,” Christ was saying.

Are you prepared and willing to “put on the whole armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11) or are you content to be an apathetic bystander? As you pray for America and its leaders, let God know you are ready and desirous to be used however He needs you. You have an incredible responsibility to the Lord and this nation. You can’t say no!

Recommended Reading: Titus 3:1-8

 

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Presidential Prayer Team; C.P. – Spiritual Soldiers

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More than two million men and women are currently enlisted in the United States Armed Forces. Taking a stand against visible enemies is important for the protection and well-being of the nation. But equally important is taking a stand against invisible enemies – and you’re enlisted. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against…spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12) As one of God’s spiritual soldiers, you are to put on the full armor of God, “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” (Ephesians 6:18)

I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower. Habakkuk 2:1

When Israel was in a sinful state, God looked for an intercessor. “And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.” (Ezekiel 22:30) Yet you take your post as a prayer warrior for America as Habakkuk says in today’s verse, knowing prayer ushers in God’s will on earth (Matthew 6:10).

Renew your commitment to stand at your watchpost…and as the Holy Spirit brings the nation’s leaders or issues to mind, go to battle and make prayer your top priority.

Recommended Reading: Ephesians 6:10-20

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John MacArthur – Applying the Disciples’ Prayer

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“Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen” (Matt. 6:13).

The implications of the Disciples’ Prayer are profound and far-reaching. An unknown author put it this way:

I cannot say “our” if I live only for myself in a spiritual, watertight compartment. I cannot say “Father” if I do not endeavor each day to act like His child. I cannot say “who art in heaven” if I am laying up no treasure there.

I cannot say “hallowed be Thy name” if I am not striving for holiness. I cannot say “Thy kingdom come” if I am not doing all in my power to hasten that wonderful day. I cannot say “Thy will be done” if I am disobedient to His Word. I cannot say “in earth as it is in heaven” if I will not serve Him here and now.

I cannot say “give us . . . our daily bread” if I am dishonest or an “under the counter” shopper. I cannot say “forgive us our debts” if I harbor a grudge against anyone. I cannot say “lead us not into temptation” if I deliberately place myself in its path. I cannot say “deliver us from evil” if I do not put on the whole armor of God.

I cannot say “thine is the kingdom” if I do not give to the King the loyalty due Him as a faithful subject. I cannot attribute to Him “the power” if I fear what men may do. I cannot ascribe to Him “the glory” if I am seeking honor only for myself. I cannot say “forever” if the horizon of my life is bounded completely by the things of time.

As you learn to apply to your own life the principles in this marvelous prayer, I pray that God’s kingdom will be your focus, His glory your goal, and His power your strength. Only then will our Lord’s doxology be the continual song of your heart: “Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen” (v. 13).

Suggestions for Prayer: Ask God to use what you’ve learned from the Disciples’ Prayer to transform your prayers.

For Further Study: Read John 17, noting the priorities Jesus stressed in prayer.