The Necessity of Communion with God

Ephesians 6:18-20

Prayer is the means by which the Christian takes his stand and is the spirit or temper in which he confronts the enemy and puts him to flight.  [Vaughn, Ephesians, p. 130]

            Lest we become smug and self-satisfied in our grasp of truth or our acts of righteousness, we are to in every conflict enlist the aid of our all-knowing and all-righteous God. Although we are always ready to serve, we must never charge off in our own wisdom or understanding, but after having sought the mind of God and his will for a matter.  By faith in the promises of God all the fiery darts of the evil one can be quenched.  The effectiveness of this faith, however, lies not in faith itself, but the object of faith; we must never become presumptuous about our ability to defeat our enemy.  Assurance of salvation is rooted not in a prayer we prayed in the past but in the God who provides salvation and his trustworthiness.  When Satan accuses us of being a hypocrite, we cannot toss a decision card or a baptismal certificate his way; we need the testimony of a Spirit-assured communion with the living God to defend our profession.  Finally, if we would use the sword of the Spirit accurately and effectively, we cannot do so without intimate knowledge of the author.  The sword becomes little more than a plastic toy apart from the nearness of the author in its use.  We would do well to consider Pauls encouragement to the Corinthians in 10:12; Let him who thinks he stands take heed, lest he fall.  We dare not turn our gaze toward the blessings and away from the One Who blesses.

1.  The manner of our prayer

            1a.  First of all, we are to be praying at all times; literally, in every season

            We are to pray at all times because we are always needy.

            We are to pray at all times because God is sufficient.

1b.  Secondly, our manner of prayer is to be in the Spirit. 

The inspiration of the Spirit is just as necessary for our prayers as the mediation of the son.  We can approach the Father only through the Son and only by the Spirit.  [Stott, Romans, p. 244]

1c.  Thirdly, we should pray with all perseverance.

We are especially called to pray when we are weary. 

2.  The objects of our prayers

            2a.  First pray for other Christians

            2b.  A Specific Example

Bible Study Outline