The Weapons of Our Warfare | Part 2

You know how to bring this. Listen to Adrian Rogers, have you learn to listen to go. Have you learned to be quiet and to be still in space.

Remodel life service here offer in writing of the spirit is not just marching into God's presence with a shopping list is based on knowing that I'm God instilling your heart to God. You know how to hear the voice of God, your God is welcome to love the word finding featuring the dynamic of biblical teaching Adrian Rogers before he ever built the fallen walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah was a man.

As a result, he faced serious spiritual warfare. Why will Adrian Rogers said he who stands nearest to the captain. In any battle is going to find the most darts aimed this shouldn't discourage us. In fact should be encouraged. We have the armor of God to protect us and prepare us to pray in the spirit. Was it mean to do that. Pray in the Spirit, if you have your Bible turned to Nehemiah chapter 4 will begin in verse seven as Adrian Rogers gives the conclusion of this powerful message. The weapons of our warfare. Now look in Ephesians chapter 6 verse 11 put on the whole armor of God that she may be able to stand against the wiles of the debtor, for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities by just powers I guess arose of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take him to you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand stand therefore, having your loins good about with truth and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace of all taking the shield of faith were with you should be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints and for me, that utterance may be given to me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel and will stop right there. But let me tell you that Nehemiah wasn't the only one who had a battle on his hands. If you are living for God, you have a battle on your hands and if you don't have a battle on your hands.

Shame on you. It doesn't speak well of you. It speaks poorly of you because the servant is not better than his master and he who stands nearest to the captain. In any battle is going to find the most darts aimed at him now. I just wonder if you're not standing near your Lord if your life is so easy and you're not knowing what it is to do battle where Emma battle with no holes barred. It's a battle between light and darkness between death and life between heaven and hell and every Christian is called to be a part of it. Now folks did this in your heart and get it down big and get it down straight. Prayer is not getting ready to fight. That's where the findings rightly, that is the battle that is the warfare right there. That's the way to wrestle against the enemy. Once you've dressed up for the flight. Once you seen your adversary once you seen your ally once you put on your armor ready for the attack, and the Army of the Lord Jesus Christ marches forth on its knees. The reason that some of us are not winning is where not even showing up for the war we don't even know where the battle is, the battle is in prayer. That's what Paul is saying here after we get dressed up to fight. Then he tells us how to fight. Let me give you some illustrations of what I'm talking about. For example, turn to Exodus chapter 17 for a moment.

Exodus chapter 17. Remember, the Israelites were coming out of the land of Egypt going into the promised land. And there was someone who withstood them and tried to keep them from having the fulfillment of God's promise in her life and that someone was a wicked man named Amalek, I want you to notice how Moses dealt with Amalek this one most remarkable battles in all of the Bible.

Now, here is Amalek this wicked king well is beginning verse eight. Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel and rest.

The dam match the name of the place record in and Moses said unto Joshua choose us out man and go out and fight with Amalek tomorrow.

I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand, and so Joshua did as Moses had said and him and fought with Amalek and Moses and Aaron and her went up to the top of the hill download, especially verse 11 and it came to pass, that, as Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed, but Moses hands were heavy and they took a stone and put it under him and he said thereon and Aaron and her status hands. The one on the one side and the other on the other side and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun, and Joshua got discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword and the Lord said to Moses, write this for a memorial in a book and rehearse it in the years of Joshua.

This was very important to God. This was an incidental this was fundamental, for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar and called the name of a Jehovah, Missy boy said because the Lord has sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation. Now here is the question. Where was the real war with Amalek all was it thought only you. I was at fault in the violent with you. Read the story you find out that was thought only was when his hands that Israel prevailed hands lifted to God holy hands in prayer.

It was when Moses tired and intercession, and his hands grouped that Amalek prevailed. I can imagine the Joshua down there in the valley with his soldiers would say to Moses. This is all going on. Moses come down off that mountain and fight. I can imagine Moses answering back and saying friend I am fighting all the battle is prayer don't you forget it, dear friend. The devil wants to keep us from praying he doesn't care what else we do. He doesn't care how much money we write. He cares not how many buildings we build.

He cares not how many songs we sing, or how many sermons we preach, the devil marks are schemes he lasted are toiling but he fears our prayers.

The battle is prayer. I am no greater than my prayer life.

You are no stronger than your prayer life.

This church is no better than the prayers of its people.

I remember when Sybil Baxter was here. He said this, he said the devil surely must say to his demons born keep him from praying or if you can keep them from praying we can beat him every time, but if he prays he will beat us every time the battle is prayer. The battle is prayer.

The battle is prayer. And when you put on the whole armor of God, all you're doing is bringing yourself into a stance where you can play what you can lift hands to God and stand against the wicked one whole lot of power in the hand of God. If we learn how to pray, let me give you another example of what I'm talking about doing battle through prayer, turn to the book of Daniel. Chapter 10 formal and let's look at another passage of Scripture. I want to read now beginning in verse 10, Daniel has been seeking knowledge from God. Daniel is warning and understanding and I want to say this dear friend that the understanding man praise in the praying man gets understanding and Daniel has been seeking understanding.

He wanted know what's what he wanted know what God was up to, so he could get in on any sprinkle. Lord, give me a revelation. God give me wisdom. Lord, I want to know in a strange thing happened when Daniel is mighty man began to pray and I'm reading here in Daniel 10 beginning in verse 10, and behold, I hand touched me, which set me up on my knees and upon the palms of my hands and he said in the me all Daniel, a man greatly beloved understand the words that I speak under the and stand upright for under the EMI's now sin and when he had spoken this word on the me I stood trembling. Then he said to me for not Daniel, for from the first day that thou data set thine heart to understand and to chasten thyself before God by words were heard, and I am come for thy word, but the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and 20 days below. Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me and I remained there with the kings of Persia and now I am come to make the understand what shall befall by people in the latter days for yet. The vision is for many days and when he had spoken such words on the me I set my face toward the ground and I became dominant, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips. Then I open my mouth and spake and set under him to stood before me. All my Lord by the vision.

My sorrows are turned upon me and I have retained no strength and then he goes on to tell how he received a message from this angel of the Lord. Now this is indeed a deep and mysterious passage of Scripture. But I want to learn something here tonight if you don't learn anything else about this passage of Scripture that prayer is real warfare. Here Daniel had been praying even fasting even seeking the face of God for 21 days of humiliation and fasting and no answer.

Had Daniel receive. He prayed and he prayed and he prayed and he fasted and he cried in the praying, but there was no answer. And finally, an angel came and the angel said I was on my way with the answer, but the Prince of Persia withstood me. Now is the Prince of Persia that is an allusion to the devil himself.

Often the power behind the throne of wicked kingdoms is the devil. Remember when Jesus said to Peter, get the behind me Satan he wasn't talking to Peter. He was talking to Satan, who was motivating Peter remember that Ezekiel 28 when the devil is called the Prince of Tyre, and when the Bible says the Prince of Persia. It literally means the chief demon who ruled over Persia. Remember what Paul said in Philippians chapter 6 verse 11 and verse 12 for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, that's what he's talking about against principalities and kingdoms and powers in spiritual wickedness in high places and here Daniel was praying. But the point I want you to see is that there was a warfare a great warfare that was going on. And while Daniel was praying and interceding, there were those were trying to keep the prayer from being answered and if you don't understand that you just don't understand that prayer is war. Prayer is real warfare, but I think something else is very wonderful about this. This doesn't discourage me. It encourages me because it also tells me friend that when I pray, as Daniel did and when I pray through that God even puts angels to work for me. Did you know that we all have ministering angels that want to take care of us just as Daniel had angels that came and ministered to him. Jot the Scriptures down in the margin bear Mark one verse 13. Speaking of the Lord Jesus. The angels came and ministered under him asked 12 verse seven and you going to find out. There were peters delivered by an Angel and Angel take Simon Peter out of prison and then in Hebrews chapter 1 verses 13 and 14, the Bible tells us that angels are ministering spirits that God is given. Did you know all around us there unseen angels.

Did you know that all around us. Elisha was at Dothan and the Syrian Army was surrounding Elisha and Elisha service at alas, my master, what shall we do, and Elisha prayed all Lord open his eyes and the Lord opened the eyes of the servant and the Bible says low. The mountains were filled with horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha all I just believe that God encamped his holy angels all around us and all about us. I tell you when I get in an airplane. Sometimes nothing just a bouncing around I say Lord put an angel in this wing Lord put an angel that wing Lord just put an angel up in the cockpit and I'm not being seven. I just believe that God has his angels to bear us up last week – our feet up on the stone. He gives his angels, holy angels charge over us.

As such, a remarkable thing to see that how Daniel when he started to pray that all kinds of strident forces started to work in here was my: here was of the archangel, and over here is the prince of Persia and is all well war that goes on when we pray, I want you learn this friend that prayer is warfare now let's go back if we can for just a moment to Ephesians chapter 6 and I was just making the point with those two illustrations to show you that when we put on the armor that we just simply getting ready to fight the battle, what is the battle look at it again, please.

In Ephesians chapter 6 look at the Bible says here in verse 18, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. What is praying in the spirit well in the first place, dear friend.

It is listening. Prayer listening prayer is not coming to God and saying all Lord listen for your servant speaketh that saying speak Lord for your servant is listening. You see, when you pray in the spirit, the Holy Spirit tells you what to pray. Prayer is not some sort of a means whereby we force God's will and are will prayer is finding God's will and getting in on the sweetest definition of prayer that I know is the Holy Spirit finding a desire in the heart of the father putting that desire into our hearts and then sending it back to heaven and the power of the cross over and that's powerful prayer have you learn to listen to God you know in Romans chapter 8 verses 14 through 16. Our relationship to God is spoken of his father and son in Romans chapter 7 verse four our relationship to God is spoken of is he's the husband and where the bride Colossians chapter 3 verse 24 our relationship to God is spoken of this way. He's the boss and we're the servant in another place Jesus calls us friend. All of those things whether it be father and son, husband and wife servant and boss, whether it be friend and friend. All of that implies a listening have you learn to listen to God, have you learned to be quiet and be still and say speak my Lord by servant here, offering praying in the spirit is not just marching into God's presence with a shopping list is being still and knowing that I'm God it's tuning your heart to God. Do you know how to hear the voice of God, can you hear God when he speak that's one of the fine things about fasting. Fasting at tunes you dear God, what is praying in the spirit. It is listening prayer how Tay it is lingering prayer look again, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, we can just rush into the presence of God. Jesus Christ said in John chapter 15 verses seven and eight if you abide in me and my words abide in you, then you shall ask what you will and it shall be done unto you.

All friend. We need to abide in the Lord Jesus just exactly as if a branch abides in the vine. A branch has no side issues below what a branch does to a bond. It is unconditionally committed to that by Jesus said you abide in me, and let my words abide in you, then you ask what you will. You see, praying in the spirit is letting the life of the Lord Jesus Christ flow through us, just as the sap flows from the vine into the branches.

Did you know according to rabbinical law that the wood of the vine cannot even be used in the temple sacrifices. It was against the rules to using why you couldn't take the wood of the vine and carve it make furniture it's good for nothing. The only thing that the wood of the vine is for the branches. Just abide in the vine, and it won't do that. It needs to be cut off, and cast into the fire and burn. That's what Jesus said, it's absolutely good for nothing except to abide.

Did you know that's the only business you have on earth is to abide and if you don't do that you absolutely good for nothing. You have no other purpose but by Jesus Christ I want to tell you that praying in the spirit listen to me. It is listening. Prayer it is lingering prayer.

Take time to be holding speak often with our Lord, abide in him always and feed on his word. The third thing I want to say about praying in the spirit. It is loving prayer look at it again in verse 18, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints and for me, all Paul is saying less.

Pray for one another less pray in love.

By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another man I tell you, dear friend, if you find your prayers being too egocentric. There probably not spirit led prayers and are probably not powerful prayers. The Holy Spirit wants to come into you to give you the spirit of intercession old God make us intercessors. Oh God, make us people who can pray for other people do you have a problem then pray for someone else's problem. The Bible says that the captivity of Job was turned when he prayed for his friend when he prayed for his friends. It's loving, prayer, and then it is laboring prayer.

Look, if you will, in verse 21 that she may also know my affairs and how I do to shifts, a beloved brother and faithful minister of the Lord shall make known, and do all things, whom I have sent unto you, for the same purpose that you might nor affairs and that he might comfort your heart and then in verse 12 for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places real praying in the spirit is not easy, it's warfare. It is work. It is labor is not always ecstasy. It may be agony Jesus in Gethsemane was not an ecstasy.

He was in agony. Romans 15 verse 30 put it down by the Scripture on now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ sake and for the love of the spirit that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me that you strive together that would strive soon agonize all my it's the word that we get our word agonize from and what Paul is saying is that we need to agonize in prayer praying in the spirit is laboring prayer is not easy.

It takes blood sweat and tears to pray in the spirit now folks, there is no way that will overcome the devil apart from our warfare taking old the whole armor of God is just getting us ready for the warfare. The warfare is prayer and prayer is the warfare that Satan cannot stand again.

Jesus taught that we can rob a strong man's house if we first binding in the way that we going to binding is through believing persistent prayer that will not take no for an answer.

You know what witnessing is in soul winning friend that's not the bad. That's just going out and picking up the spoils of the event. The battle is one of on these before we ever get you what preaching is. That's not the battle is just the spoils of the land battle is won or lost before we ever stop its prayer prayer in the Savior's name putting on the whole armor of God, and standing against the wiles of the such a great reminder that prayer is not getting ready to fight. That's where the fight is the devil mocks our schemes. He laughs that are toiling's but he fears our prayers. How are you doing in your prayer life.

If you have questions today about who Jesus is what he means to you what it means to follow him invite you to our discovery, Jesus page@lwf.org/radio find resources and materials there that will answer questions you might have about your faith again. Click discovered jesus@lwf.org/radio if you'd like to order a copy of today's message on CD. Call us at 1877 love God mentioned the title the weapons of our warfare. This message is also part of the powerful series turning problems into possibilities for the complete collection all eight insightful messages.

Call us at 1877 love God or go online to LWF.org/radio or write us at love worth finding box 38, 600 Memphis, TN 38183 thanks for joining us in our study of God's word today. Would you be brave to put on the armor of God, go to battle pray in the spirit listen to God abide intercede for others and embrace the hard tasks.

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