Category: You (All) Are Always On

Ephesians 6:19-20 – Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains.

“There are many ways in which we practice being open to God’s presence and grow in hearing His word—Scripture study, worship, prayer, and meditation. When I speak of listening to God’s voice, I mean developing a practice of communion with the Father in which we are constantly asking, “Lord, what do you want me to do now? How do you want to use me? How should I pray? Whom do you want me to evangelize? Is there someone you want to heal?” Sometimes the Holy Spirit give me specific insights about people for whom I am praying. These come as impressions—specific words, pictures in my mind’s eye, or physical sensations in my body that corresponds to problems in their bodies. These impressions help me know who and what to pray for as well as how to pray.” [John Wimber]

The ‘how to’ in praying in/by the Spirit, is about the openness and willingness to hear and to obey the Spirit’s leading, which comes with His empowering. Hence, it becomes as much about listening as it is about praying/asking.

Lord Jesus, we pray for hearts that are open and listening to your Spirit’s leading and convictions. Show us of your heart and will over every area of our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.

– GK

 

Ephesians 6:18 (NLT) – Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

1 Peter 4:7 (NIV) – Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 

“Paul considered prayer to be above all an activity empowered by the Spirit. It also indicates the crucial role the Spirit plays in our continuing ‘warfare’ against Satan. For Paul, the concern was not only that they be clothed with the armor that Christ provides in the gospel, but that they take the enemy on by Spirit-empowered proclamation and by Spirit-inspired praying. The context is one of conflict…only praying in the Spirit will suffice in such conflict.” [Gordon Fee]

We so often look at the Christian life only with a defensive outlook—that we have to guard ourselves against the enemy’s attacks. However, as this passage suggests, our lives of prayer in the Spirit is also about being empowered to ask the Lord to set the people free from sin, from bondage, from any and all things that keep them from knowing the Lord. This is what is happening when we evangelize, and when we decide to pray and engage our small groups.

Father, we ask for your empowering to pray for those in our small groups, that they will experience your presence, your healing, and your freedom. We also pray for the harvest that we are to gather. Ready us to go out, and also ready the people to receive your word. May your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name, amen.

– GK

Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) – 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.

The words “on all occasions” is to describe time, situation, and place. The biblical imagination of Paul is to have God’s people so immersed in the Spirit’s presence and empowering, that in all occasions and circumstances we are filled and empowered by the Spirit to pray. We are not to be limited to certain situations or environment to be ‘filled’ and praying in the Spirit—i.e.: Sunday worship or ministry settings. Rather, every occasion, every situation, moment by moment, we are to be live by praying in/by the Spirit—always on!

Today let’s pray in dependence and expectation, where our prayers cross all places, all boundaries, every situation and occasion, and all issues that we daily face. From our need to grow closer to the Lord issues, to our lives together issues, to ministry issues, to family issues, to work issues. All these areas are to be dealt with and succeeded in and through the life of prayer. As you pray, worship with the song “More to Come” by Kristian Stanfill.

Lord Jesus, may your kingdom come into every area of our lives. We confess that we so often tend to compartmentalize our lives. Lord, have your way in our lives, in our homes, in our workplaces, in your church, and in the ministries that we are engaged in. In Jesus’ name, amen.

– GK

Ephesians 6:18 (NLT) – Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

The praying ‘in the Spirit’ as mentioned by Paul has to do with the kind of praying that is inspired and empowered by the Holy Spirit.  This is in contrast to the reactionary kind of prayers that comes out of our mouths in response to life’s difficulties and absurdities. “[W]e need to lean more heavily on praying in/by the Spirit…Prayer is not simply our cry of desperation or our “grocery list” of requests that we bring before our heavenly Abba; prayer is an activity inspired by God himself, through his Holy Spirit. It is God siding with his people, and by his own empowering presence, the Spirit of God himself bringing forth prayer that is in keeping with God’s will and his ways.” [Gordon Fee. GEP, 731]

So what prayer does is to take the matter out of our hands into God’s hands. As we pray in the Spirit, the issues that we felt were once ours alone, they are now placed before the Lord. The deeper we go in prayer, the more the Spirit brings forth prayers that are now in keeping with His ways.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we pray that we will be taken deeper into your presence, where our life burdens are no longer our own. As we surrender them to you, fill our mouths with prayers are that are in keeping with your will and your ways. In Jesus’ name, amen.

– GK

Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) – 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.

The exhortation of today’s verse to “…pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests,” is not a stand-alone imperative/command, rather it is linked to the previous passages on the armor of God that all Christians need to put on. Hence today’s verses are not to be taken as a call for the lifting of casual/occasional prayers, nor the ‘on-off’ approach to the Christian life as the common Christian experience. Rather Paul writes with a sense of urgency and sober-mindedness (alert), that prayer in/by the Spirit is to be a constant daily reality (walk by the Spirit), for this is the way that we remain “strong in the Lord and in his mighty power (Eph 6:10).”

Let’s be encouraged today to put off any tendency that causes us to approach the Christian life with an ‘on-off’ approach. Rather, spend time praying today and being always on!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we pray for the Spirit’s presence and empowering today. Help us not be on and off when it comes to prayer. We pray for an increase of the Spirit’s activity to engage you as we pray for the churches. May your church be blessed and empowered today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Worship with the song “Hymn of Surrender” by Matt Redman.

– GK