Message 10 - Tailor Made - Pray, Pray, Pray

Ephesian 6:18

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In the afternoon of November 19, 1863, folks had gathered at the Soldiers National Cemetery to hear a well-known orator named Edward Everett uh give a speech. Uh not so much as an afterthought, but out of respect. Uh the our president, Abraham Lincoln, was also asked to just say a few words. Everett, Mr. Everett spoke uh for over two hours, uh, 13, over 13,000 words. Reminds me of another president. Uh and then uh President Lincoln, uh another spot, got up and gave his greetings uh and spoke just over two minutes, uh, two minutes that uh became one of the are one of the most famous speeches that have ever been made, the Gettysburg Address. In that two minutes, uh, just a couple of things he said, a part of which we remember and hear often, fourscore, and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. And then a little later in his statement, he would add this the that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that the government of the people by the people and for the people shall not perish from the earth. Uh if we're not diligent, as Kyle mentioned a moment ago, it's it's easy to forget that uh this particular weekend and tomorrow especially uh marks not just the beginning of summer, which uh we all look forward to. Uh, and the kids are out of school now, and I'm sure they have uh lots of ideas of what they're gonna do as well. But more importantly, that it is a reminder of those who, as often has been said, uh the ones who gave some, and the ones especially that gave all. And some of your families have been touched by uh loved ones that gave that gave their all and gave some, and we sure want you to know that uh we appreciate that. We uh are very grateful for if you spent time in our uh service and fighting and being part of why we have freedom as a country, we are very grateful for that. So let's pray together. Lord, thank you. We do thank you for the country we live in. We recognize that just it's remarkable, uh, even that we sit here freely worshiping you as our God. We know that there are places in the world that uh that would be a foreign concept. Uh they they do not have these kind of freedoms in any way, of any shape or form. Uh so that's a remarkable thing, and uh something we are very grateful for, and it did come at great sacrifice. Uh and so we want uh you to know and those who have served our armed forces to know how how much we appreciate that. And it reminds us of the freedom that you provided for us in in regard to eternity, that it was this price that uh your son, our savior, paid on the cross that made gave us an opportunity to actually become a part of your family and to enjoy an inheritance that is forever. So thank you, Father, for that. And now guide us, Lord, as we spend some time in your word together. Uh use what we're gonna study as uh an encouragement to our hearts and as something that uh brings peace. Uh just pray these things in your son's name. Amen. We've been working our way uh through a passage in the book of Ephesians, Paul's letter to the church of Ephesus. If you want to get there, Ephesians 6, uh get there in your Bibles or your devices. Uh we're wrapping this up. We have today, and then Lord Wynn will wrap it up next week. Uh and what we've been walking through, uh, you who have been here know, is Paul's been walking us through uh a metaphor uh that he uses that uh is uh what we've uh the title is the armor of God. This armor that he says that uh uh we have at our behalf. And the reason we need this is because we have an enemy, and this enemy is actively after opposing us at all times. Uh he hates God. Uh he rebelled against God uh at a point in his history. He hates anyone who has a relationship with God. He is bent on, first of all, trying to keep anyone from stepping into that relationship. If that doesn't happen, he wants to at least, if possible, cause our relationship with God to be weak, anemic, uh even better, destructive, uh hypocritical, and so he's honestly always at work trying to make that happen. And so Paul says, steps into that situation and says, God, in our for our protection, has provided us an armor, and we've been walking through that armor uh for the the past several weeks. Oops, I got I pushed the button for her. Sorry about that, Josh. Uh, first of all, just quick, a quick list as a reminder. Here's here's what we have walked through so far. Uh we have walked, we've looked at the belt of truth, which remember, as we dug into it, we found out, discovered that it means integrity. It is that it is living an outward life of honesty and integrity when people look at you and and who you are as a person. They they they would use terminologies like you can count on that person. They're gonna be honest, they're gonna deal with you right. And so it's this outward evidence of uh being a person that's a righteous person, uh that can that is trustworthy. And then next, we tied to that, we looked at the breastplate of righteousness. It's what holds the whole armor together, and where integrity is what is that outward uh appearance of righteousness, uh, the breastplate of righteousness here, righteousness talks about virtue. Uh, those things that we allowed on the into our inward person uh that uh that if if they're the right kind of things, there they establish the solidity of us as an individual, that we're that we think right, that uh that we're godly, uh, but if we allow things into our life that uh destroy virtue, the the you know we watch the wrong things, we read the wrong things, we have the wrong kinds of conversation, they destroy that virtue and and uh um and they disrupt the whole everything else, honestly. So those are the first two pieces. Then we look down to the gospel, what Paul calls the gospel of the shoes of peace. And this is our foundation. It is that, remember, we looked at even looked at the shoes, how significant the shoes to the soldiers were, that they would, we actually saw pictures and they had these spikes. And the idea was that they would have a sure footing, so it would be very hard to knock them off of their feet. And Paul said that that those shoes for us as a believer are the gospel of peace. The recognition that because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross, and because we accepted that gift of forgiveness, our foundation, our relationship with God now is solid. We are at peace with God, and nothing can knock that, knock us off of our feet in regard to that. We are declared righteous because of Jesus Christ, not because of what we've done, but we are at peace with God because we've accepted God's offer through Jesus Christ of forgiveness, which has put us at peace, and we are secure in that. We are solid, we stand on that. And then we saw the shield of faith, and that's the promises of God that are laid out in his word, and that that as Satan throws different things at us, so often the way we respond to what he throws at us is we recognize what God has promised, that that's a lie, because Satan is the father of deception, and that's almost always what he uses. And as he tries to throw things at us that will mislead us and deceive us and and uh twist our thinking regard to God, if we review the promises of God, if we grab onto those things that we have an internal inheritance, that God protects us by his angels, as the as the ladies are studying right now, uh, that God's Spirit lives within us. All those things are the things that we grab onto and they help us be shielded from the attacks of Satan. Uh then we looked a few weeks ago at the helmet of salvation, uh, which is not what we have done, but what God has done is by grace we are saved, and that it wants that knowledge, if we hang on to that knowledge that our salvation is secure, not because of what I do or don't do, but simply because of what Jesus did on my behalf, and that's the knowledge I hang on to, and that protects my mind and from the deception that Satan will often try to put on us. And then last week we looked at the sword of the spirit, the one offensive weapon, the word of God. We even looked at Jesus as he set the example for us in the wilderness at certainly a very weak time, humanly speaking for him, as he had been fasting for for over a month. And Satan chose that particular time to attack because he was convinced that Jesus would be weak and would be vulnerable. And every time he tried to attack, Jesus responded with the word of God, protected him, went on the offense with the word of God. And so we've been walking through this uh really pretty, pretty interesting, pretty amazing metaphor uh that helps us in that battle that we're involved in. But then I got to this week, and something happened that I had to take note of. Paul completely drops the metaphor. As he comes into this last area that he's gonna talk to us about, there's no part of an armor. The whole idea, the whole thing he's been working us through, he he sets it aside. There's no metaphor now. And so when something like that happens, at least for me, I'm like, okay, what's going on here? You know, uh, did he just run out of pieces of armor and say, well, I guess I'm gonna have to just switch gears here. Uh I don't I don't think so. Uh I think I I honestly obviously the word of God is inspired by God, and so there's a reason. Uh and so I'm gonna share with you what what my theory is uh why when we got to this last part, this last protection against our enemy, uh, why he drops this whole idea of a metaphor, uh, and and it's this, you know, it's interesting. When it comes to metaphors, there's always a chance that people won't quite get what you're trying to get them towards, isn't it? You know, you use it and it and you ever had that happen where you you try to throw a metaphor into a conversation and you get this blank stare, like, yeah, I don't get the connection. I don't understand what you're what you're trying to say here, what you're uh trying to get across. And so I was thinking, I thought, is that what's going on? And then I actually got on the internet and I said, well, uh, you know, what tell me a little bit about metaphors. So I got on the internet, and here's what it said about metaphors. Metaphors can be miss can mislead, manipulate, or dehumanize, carrying an unintended consequence that affect perception, behavior, and decision making. So just me thinking. But my suspicion is that when we got to this last piece of this puzzle of uh of our protection uh against an enemy who's a very formidable enemy, uh, who is on constant attack, trying to discourage us, disrupt our lives, cause us to respond in ways that are ungodly and without integrity and virtue and all those things that we've talked about before. That we when we come to this last piece of the puzzle of the Nar Protection, under the inspiration of God, Paul's taking no chances that you and I don't get what he's trying to say here. What we are talking about now, maybe in some way is the glue that holds everything else together. And so he says, no metaphors here, no uh examples or illustrations. I'm just gonna say this straightforward so there's no chance that that you and I misunderstand. He simply says, as we come to the end here, this is what is so important in this battle against our enemy, and it's this. Pray. Pray. Do you want to be able to stand up to the enemy? Then you better pray. Do you want to have a heads up regarding how he attacks? You better pray. Do you want to know how to use that armor against God? Then pray. Do you want to know how what's good what he is planning to do down the road? Pray. The best way to battle with this enemy, at least something we better be very aware of and constant with, is prayer. I I love the verse, and I'm sure you're very familiar with it as well. It's in Paul's letter to the Christians in Philippi. And he says this do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Whatever comes in your life, whatever comes in my life on a day-to-day basis, good, bad, and ugly, uh, blessings from God, attacks by the enemy, whatever it is, uh, things you're confused about, lack wisdom about, whatever comes into your life and my life, talk to God about it and bring him into the picture. And then if you do, the peace of God, which transcends understanding, in other words, uh nothing's changed. I I don't know if this has happened to you. It has happened to me on a number of occasions. Uh something's going on, and I'm troubled by it, and and struggling with it, and wondering, asking the why question, and and so, and and very in, there's turmoil, turmoil in my life. And and so I I go to God and I talk to him about it. And and when I'm done talking to him about it, nothing's changed. Same situation, same problem, same lack of wisdom in many reccept this. I have a peace about it. For some reason, there's a peace. And and I know that sounds mystical, but I've seen it happen too many times in my life not to be very aware of it, that that peace of God transcended understanding, nothing's changed, and yet something about that conversation has brought me to a point of peace. And then the peace of God will that transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. A wonderful couple of verses. Uh do you want to have a peace about anything and everything you're walking through? Period? Paul says pray. And let's to be clear on this. Uh, I suspect we all are in this room, but what is prayer? Prayer is talking to God. It's talking to God. That's ultimately what prayer is. Simply talking to God about whatever it is that's on our mind and our hearts at that moment. Satan, one of the areas that I believe he likes to deceive and twist is in this area of prayer. Uh he likes to push us and push the world, uh, but push us even as believers into making it something that it isn't. Uh for instance, that it's it's a certain kind of word or words. That when you one one of the things that one of the ways I've seen prayer misunderstood is individuals have misunderstood what kind of words they're supposed to use when it comes to talking to God. That there are special words that uh should be involved in our prayer, religious-sounding words. I've was brought up in the church. I've heard individuals, perhaps you have as well, pray in the past, especially in public situations where you kind of needed an old English dictionary to understand what they're saying, because it's like, well, what does that word mean? And you have to look it up to understand. And and I've been in church environments where uh it seems like the assumption is that there's this special language that you have to use when talking to God, or else it's not a real prayer. It doesn't really count. That's not what we see in the Word of God. Uh that they're not impressing God, and and by using that kind of language, uh, maybe some people are impressed, uh, but that's not what the pop the purpose of prayer is to impress the people listening to you. I've I've seen others get caught up in a perspective when it comes to prayer that that prayer has to be uh done certain times of the day or in certain places. You can't just pray. You have to be in a certain space, a certain time, a certain place for it to be effective because God only supposedly listens if you're in these certain places. Or maybe it's a certain posture. You have to be in a certain posture if you really want God to hear you. You have to be in a place like the church or a temple. That's not what prayer is. Uh and and I think Satan likes us to grab onto those things uh or to become concerned about those things to make our prayer life ineffective uh and to disrupt it. Uh prayer is talking to God in plain English, unless you don't speak English, then it's Spanish. Or if you don't speak, it's your language, it is talking to God and whatever. In fact, let's take it further. Scriptures are pretty clear. I don't even have to speak out loud, and then I can talk to God. I can actually speak through my thoughts and be talking to God. If you come see me in my office and and uh and I don't know you're coming, and you I'll see you uh if we we uh you come in, we have a we'll hear the door move, and we and I can look at the camera and usually see who it is, and and you head to my office. Here's what's gonna happen. I'm gonna start talking to God. And it's not gonna be like this. I'm not gonna stop you at my door and say, Oh, I need to pray for a minute before you come in here. No, I'm gonna have this private conversation with God, and it'll go something like this. Lord, I don't know what's going on, but obviously there's a need, and so give me wisdom. Help me know how to address whatever we're about to talk about. And you never saw me say a word. That's the wonderful thing about this relationship with God, that even in our thoughts we can we can have these conversations with God. Uh, because why? Well, because God lives in us. Pray in the Spirit, He He lives in us, that Holy Spirit lives within us. In fact, this is this is a wild, wild thought, and and uh uh when when you think about this whole thing uh and and praying and talking to God, uh when you accepted Jesus, we talked about this before, when you accepted Christ as your Savior, God's Spirit came to live within you, but but and he lives within you and he helps you pray. But you ever had this situation uh when it comes to praying, when to having a conversation with God, where it's like, I don't even know what to say. This is so big, God, that I don't even know what to tell, I don't even know what to say to you about it. Uh don't don't know what words to put this into. Uh I I just I'm overwhelmed by this this whole situation and the circumstances, and I'm not even sure what I should ask you, or maybe I'm not supposed to ask you anything, but but I don't I don't know what to do in this circumstance. Uh it happens in regular relationships too. How many times have you ever run to a situation where you're you're talking to your child or your spouse or a friend and and and uh you do speak to them but but it you're not connecting. You ever heard that happen where it's like I'm you they're obviously not getting what you're trying to say, you know? It's like you know, and you'll say it to them. No, that's not what I'm trying to say, you know. I think especially spouses, we have those kind of conversations. It's like, you know, you're just not getting it. No, that's not what I meant. Uh and sometimes it's that it's that way with God, but here's something cool. And you and I'm sure you knew this as well, but Paul writes, in the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. What kind of weakness? We do not know what we ought to pray for. But the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Isn't that crazy? Sometimes I don't even know what to say to God. And and and I'm a loss for words. I just, and uh maybe my my the best I'm doing in in my thoughts or even in my verbalizing to God is that. God, I don't know what to say. I don't know what to do about this, I don't even know how to pray. And Paul says, it's okay, because uh God the Spirit translates what needs to be said. And so even when you don't know what to say, uh the spirit that lives within you brings out the right words in your conversation with God. Uh he he helps you say the right thing, he makes sure God knows what's going on as if God didn't already know. So all these things are just these wonderful things about prayer. Now, and then Paul goes into, in this passage, some other specifics, because this is so significant in this battle to know these things. So he goes on and he says, uh, and pray in the spirit on all occasions. You remember a few minutes moments ago I mentioned that some folks have been misled into thinking that prayer must be must take place in certain at certain times or in certain places. Well, Paul's clearing this up here, and we've already talked to some about this, but but Paul's saying prayer can can and should take place at any time and any place. Well, God lives in me. I don't have to, I don't have to wait to get to a certain place to have this conversation. He is always there, he lives right in me and right in you. You don't have to make an appointment. Now I'm gonna come back to that in a moment because I learned something this week as I was studying this passage. So hang on to that thought. But you don't have to make this special appointment to have this conversation with God. Even though you think that here's the God who is the creator and sustainer of the universe, uh, you know, you think if there's anybody that that you have, there's got to be this special audience to be able to speak to, it would be him, and yet he says, No. Pray on all occasions. This is a is a constant conversation that we can have with God because he lives, he's always there at all moments. We are right there with him. And this is a really stupid illustration, okay? But it's true. This actually happened to me, and I've I've I've shared it before, I know, so uh it'll be familiar. But uh, so this happened probably a couple decades ago. And and this is when this information about prayer, when I suddenly understood that it had clicked with me. Uh, that that I could have that that that God was always there. And uh so I'm driving down the road one day, and I don't know what I had had for lunch, but it was just me in the car, and I had and uh and I belched, okay? Um this is the honest truth. I belched and I did this. Excuse me, God. And then I laughed. It's like, what? Excuse me, God, and but then it was for me, it was this encouragement. It was like, why not? He's here. I really and then but it was encouragement to me because I knew in my heart, I really did get this. I really did believe it, that God is right there and I and I can have a conversation with him at all times. That was not uh irreligious for me or anything. It was just, it just was a reaction, but that reaction reminded me of this: that I can talk to God at all times, in all occasions. He is always there, and I don't have a special designated place or time, uh formal uh audience with him. He's always there, he lives within me, and he wants me to be talking to him and at at these at all times. He wants that relationship. But then I also know that in a good relationship, date nights are important, and you know, if you're married, or uh there are special occasions, and and so and Paul goes on, he's gonna address that as well. So as he goes on, he then says, uh, and pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Now, I'll be honest with you, when I first looked at that, I thought, okay, what we're dealing with here is all kinds of prayers, in other words, constant conversation and requests, specifically asking that he's saying you should have constant conversation with God, and then there should be times where you're specifically asking him for things that you need to have. And and in reality, the second word, that word, second request, that's kind of what is involved. It's that it is talking about those opportunities, those those times when we have we have things that we actually need to ask God for, and and there's nothing wrong with that. But here's another thing, you know, I you know I remember uh over the years, uh uh different times uh being taught this this uh destructive perspective when it comes to talking to God, and or at least being given this impression. You know, God's a he obviously is very busy because he's a creator and he's holding everything together. And there are certain things that you really shouldn't bother with God, you bother God with, you know. So, you know, you there, yeah, you you know, and and then then I and that's what I was taught. Well, I think what Paul's saying is no, no, no, no. God cares about everything, uh any kind of request. Uh, some sometimes we're dealing with big things, and and and Paul's saying, feel free to bring those big things to God. Uh, sometimes they're littler things, and and other people may not even understand why why we feel like we have to talk to God about it, but it's important to us. And and that's what Paul's saying here is don't be afraid to bring these things to God. Make these requests to God. You know, please help my friend. They're going through a hard time. Or, Lord, you know what I'm struggling with right now. Bring these things to God and don't and have no fear about doing that. But then the other part, the the prayer uh with all kinds of prayers, which I interpreted to kind of mean just kind of repeating what he said a moment ago, just uh meaning that you know the these casual conversations, that God's good with that. He wants us to have those conversations, but that's not what's going on there. Uh, what he actually meant means there when he talks about prayer is is that there should be times where we make deliberate appointments with God. That the casual conversation is is God wants that. He wants us to be have that kind of relationship where we feel like we can talk with him at any time, but he also wants us to make as part of our lives deliberate times on a regular basis, where we pause life and we talk to him. For me, it's in the morning. I share with you last week that uh, you know, my sketch I coffee and then I read the Bible, and then I every morning without fail, when I'm done in the scriptures, I spend some time talking to God. This is a liberal time. This is not casual conversation. And in fact, quite honestly, it's interesting. Uh one of my favorite verses, another one is where he says, Be still and know that I'm God. I think part of this time for me anyway is not talking at all, just getting quiet before God. And it's really amazing when I do that, how suddenly he starts bringing things to mind that I should talk to him about, that I need to talk. Sometimes they're personal things, sometimes they're people things, uh, individuals that I know are walking through things. Some often it's the church uh and things like that. But but so Paul's saying, yeah, we need those time, we can talk, we need to know that we we can and should be talking to God all the time. Casual conversation. He loves us, he lives within us. We don't have to wait for special times. We need to have those congregations. We need to know that we shouldn't be afraid to come to him with the things that are on our heart and those requests to ask him, don't be afraid to ask him. Uh, but we also need special times, those divine appointments where we deliberately take the time to sit quietly with God. Those are important. And and in all this you put together, and we're and we'll visit some more a little more next week. Uh basically, what Paul's saying is in this battle that we're involved in, where we have an enemy that is so bent on causing us pain and destruction and and hurt, uh we need close conversation, communication, time with God. You need to be talking to God on a regular basis. Now, right now, I want you to examine your own heart. You may not, you may, this whole conversation about prayer may be one that's very unfamiliar to you. You it, you know, you this idea that I can I can just talk to God all all the time, anytime I can be have my hands in an engine and be talking to God about what's going on there, and or you know, there these are all times I can yeah, that may be unfamiliar. And and and so you may be kind of wrestling with it. Uh, here's what I think is going on. Just my version. I think God is pretty excited at this moment, and and he's saying, and he and God the Spirit lives in you and they're saying, listen to this, grab onto this. This is important because I love you and I want these conversations, and we haven't been having them, so pay attention right now. Uh, because he's excited about that opportunity to have that close conversation and commitment with his child, which you are. And if that's the case, then the enemy's on the opposite side. He's trembling and he's saying, Don't pay attention to that stuff. You can't talk to God like that. Are you kidding me? He's the one that created this world, he doesn't care about you, you know, what's going on in your life right now. Or no, don't listen to that. You religion uh prayer has to be, you know, very formal, very religious, and you don't even know how to say the right words. Well, you gotta make a decision. Jump into this child-father relationship that God wants to have for you. Or keep being deceived by an enemy who wants to fool you into thinking that it's all about religion. My prayer for you is that you don't keep God waiting because he'd like to have a talk. Let's pray. Thank you, Father. It's kind of remarkable to think that you would care about talking to us when we when we think of who you are and what you've done, and and uh but that you want not not just you know, not just conversation, but intimate conversation, and you want us to recognize that you're always there and that there's no place that we can ever be that you can we can't just talk to you about it. Nothing we can walk through that you you aren't really concerned, you want to know about and you want to be a part of and you want to help us with. Uh what a wonderful thought. And and I suspect that our enemy has kept kept many from having the joy of these kind of conversations with you. And and Lord, I pray that that stops today. Uh, even as we move out of this building, that maybe some who for haven't talked to you for a long time, the stuff of life has just kind of interfered, and and uh they just had forgotten about how much you care for them and forgotten about how you want to have these conversations. And and Lord, so I I pray that that this moment and hearing this and and also hearing from Paul about how important this is, especially in light of the enemy we have, uh, that all these things have moved these conversations with you way up on our priority list. And I do, Lord, I I also pray uh that we just can relax and knowing that you want to hear from us our requests, and that Lord, finally, we do set up special times on a regular basis that we devote to talking with you. Thank you for prayer, thank you for the opportunity to be in constant conversation and for what Paul has taught us today through this passage of scripture. I pray that it doesn't become just something we know about, it becomes something that is part of our life, our day-to-day living. And Lord, we are so grateful for your gift of salvation that put us into this relationship with you. We pray these things in your son's name. Amen.