The Warrior’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer – a prayer guide for daily victory in spiritual battles

  • When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, Jesus responded with the model prayer often called “The Lord’s Prayer” (Matthew 6:9-13).
  • The prayer is in the plural. Jesus uses “our” and “us” throughout the prayer. We pray not only for ourselves, but with all of the children of God in mind. This is intercessory prayer on a grand scale.

Kingdom Purposes

“Our Father, seated on heaven’s throne, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

  • We remember and reassert that our Father, the only living God, is alone exalted and enthroned in heaven. This awesome thought is our hope, our security, our provision, and our guidon. (Matthew 6:9)
  • As soldiers in the Lord’s army, we must align ourselves with our Father’s eternal plan: His name, His kingdom, and His will. (Matthew 6:10)

Daily Provision

“Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

  • We must trust in His daily provision of our needs to avoid being snared by the deceitfulness of riches, and the cares of this world. (Matthew 6:11; 13:7,22)
  • Our heavenly Father will faithfully forgive our sins, and give us the grace to forgive others. Being reconciled to God through Christ, we have been assigned the ministry of reconciliation to the world. One hand held by His hand, one hand holding tight to our neighbor’s hand. (Matthew 6:12)(1 John 1:5-10; Psalm 51:1-15; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21)

Victorious Power – to deliver us from the evil one

“And don’t allow us to be lead into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

  • Our Father God desires to walk with us, leading us in paths of righteousness, and away from temptation and trial. (Matthew 6:13)
  • Only God is powerful enough to deliver us from the evil one. No plan, device, or earthly power can separate us from His love. (1 John 3:8; Romans 8:37-39)

For more scriptures to help with prayer in spiritual warfare see: Spiritual Warfare Prayers

Sermon Audio

The Good Fight of Faith: Prayer Warriors

Posted in Spiritual Warfare | Comments Off on The Warrior’s Prayer

The Sword of the Spirit

Print

The armor of God

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…” (Ephesians 6:17)

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…” (2 Corinthians 10:3–5, ESV)

The word of God is alive and powerful

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:12–13)

“For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’ And this is the word that was preached to you.” (1 Peter 1:23–25, NIV)

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

“But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:14–17)

Will you be led by the Holy Spirit, or by the lusts of the flesh?

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4–7, ESV)

“But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him’ — these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” (1 Corinthians 2:9–13, ESV)

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God…” (Romans 8:12–16, NKJV)

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:15–17)

“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:24–25)

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20, ESV)

Spiritual Close Quarters Battle (CQB)

Body Soul Spirit
“Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:11–12)

“I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” (Romans 7:21–23)

“Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” (Romans 13:10–14)

“…put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22–24)

“Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” (Colossians 3:9–10, ESV)

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1–2, ESV)

“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.” (Romans 6:11–13, ESV)

“Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, ‘The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously’? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:4–8)

See also The Armor of God.

Commentary – Spiritual Close Quarters Battle (CQB) Diagram
Body Soul Spirit
Legend

  • Red – The created design of man  (Hebrews 4:12–13, Proverbs 20:27)
  • Blue – External influences
  • Yellow – Psychological development (See also Maslow’s hierarchy of needs)
  • Green – Holy Spirit vs. Lusts of flesh (James 4:4–8, 1 John 2:15–17)

When born anew from above, the spirit of man may commune with the Spirit of God and understand the word of God. As he does so, his ego (that is, his sense of self) will be defined by his relationship with God, being conformed to His image, and his will directed by God’s will. If not, his ego will be defined by and conformed to the values of his surrounding community and the natural world, and his will directed by “the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life”.

Posted in Spiritual Warfare | Comments Off on The Sword of the Spirit

Proskartereo – Bible Word Study

Taught at Randle Baptist Church, March 13, 2011.

 

Bible Word Study

  • Proskartereo – pros-kar-ter-eh’-o (Strong’s Number: G4342) 10 verses
  • Proskarteresis – pros-kar-ter’-ay-sis  (G4343) used only in Eph 6:18
  • Translation overview (ESV) – continue, attend, devote, have ready (be kept)
  • Root words: pros – unto, etc. & kartereo – perserverance, used only in Hebrews 11:27
  • Working definition – a) persist,  b) associate closely, c) serve personally i
  • Loose translations – Keep on keeping on! ; Hang in there, baby! ; Just get ‘er done!
  •  

    Sermon Audio

     

    Scripture References

    English Standard Version The New King James Version
    Mark 3:9 And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him.
    Acts 1:14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
    Acts 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
    Acts 2:46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,
    Acts 6:4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
    Acts 8:13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.
    Acts 10:7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually.
    Rom 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;
    Rom 13:6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.
    Col 4:2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
    Eph 6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

     

    The golden rule for your life and mine is this concentrated keeping of the life open towards God. Let everything else — work, clothes, food, everything on earth — go by the board, saving that one thing. The rush of other things always tends to obscure this concentration on God. We have to maintain ourselves in the place of beholding, keeping the life absolutely spiritual all through. Let other things come and go as they may, let other people criticize as they will, but never allow anything to obscure the life that is hid with Christ in God. Never be hurried out of the relationship of abiding in Him. It is the one thing that is apt to fluctuate but it ought not to. The severest discipline of a Christian’s life is to learn how to keep ‘beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord.'(2 Cor 3:18) ”

    — Oswald Chambers. My Utmost for His Highest.

    i No. 4674. Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (electronic ed.). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

    Posted in Bible Study | Tagged | Comments Off on Proskartereo – Bible Word Study

    Philippians 2:3 – Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

    In exhorting Christians to have the same mind or the same attitude as Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul wrote:

    Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. – Philippians 2:3-4 NLT

    As encouragement, I wish to call your attention to a modern day example of humility: Staff Sergeant Salvatore A. Giunta, the first living Medal of Honor recipient for an ongoing military conflict since the Vietnam War. SSG Giunta was awarded the medal today in a Presidential ceremony for combat actions above and beyond the call of duty on October 25, 2007 during his second tour in Afghanistan. In the midst of a L-shaped ambush, despite great personal risk in the face of intense enemy fire, his actions fulfilled and exemplified the promise to leave no soldier behind.  As you would expect, concurrent with the recognition has been incessant national media coverage. The sergeant has been most uncomfortable with the spotlight, and has taken every opportunity to redirect the light onto the character and the actions of his fellow soldiers working together as a team – over the entire 15 month deployment rather than just that one night.

    During a CBS 60 Minutes program which aired on November 11th, correspondent Lara Logan asked what kind of soldier he is.  SSG Giunta said, “I’m average. I’m mediocre.” In the silence which followed he added, “This is only one moment. I don’t think I did anything that anyone else I was with wouldn’t have done. I was in a position to do it. That was what needed to be done. So that’s what I did.”  Taken back by his statement and in apparent awe, Logan almost stuttered her words, “This is the single greatest honor that the military can bestow on its own. And it comes right from the President of the United States himself. That’s pretty good for a mediocre soldier.” The sergeant’s reply?  “Think how good the great soldiers are.”   (quoted from the CBS  transcript dated Nov 14, 2010)

    This humble soldier is my kind of hero! How much more pleasant would life be, let alone church business meetings, if we considered others better than ourselves? If we fought together as one team against the real enemy rather than fighting each other? If we built each other up (edification) rather than tearing down? If we built the team and enlarged the family rather than pulling apart?

    Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4 ESV

    Posted in Devotional | Comments Off on Philippians 2:3 – Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.

    A Hope that Enters His Presence

    Sermon Outline: Preached Sunday AM, July 18, 2010 at Randle Baptist ChurchPrint PDF

    Text: Hebrews 6:19-20 | Subject: The Priesthood of the Believer

    Hebrews 6:19-20 | We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

    Who is a Priest?

    Hebrews 5:1 | For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

    Draw Near to God with Confidence

    Hebrews 4:14–16 | Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

    Hebrews 10:19–23 | Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

    1 Peter 2:9–10 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

    And with Reverence & Awe

    Hebrews 10:31 | It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

    Hebrews 12:28‐29 | … let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

    The Call: A Kingdom of Priests

    Exodus 19:1–6 | On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, while Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

    Exodus 19:12 | And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death.

    The Response: Fearful & Far Off

    Exodus 20:18–21 | Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

    Exodus 20:22 | And the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the people of Israel: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have talked with you from heaven.

    Hebrews 12:18–25 | For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

    See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.

    The Gospel Reveals…

    Romans 1:16 | For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

    Romans 1:17 | For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

    Romans 1:18–19 | For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

    Romans 3:21–26 | But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

    Romans 5:1–2 | Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

    Romans 8:31–34 | What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

    Benediction

    Ephesians 3:8–12 | To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

    Revelation 1:1–7 | The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

    John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

    Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

    To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

    Posted in Discipleship | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A Hope that Enters His Presence