Transcript
“Take it to the Lord in prayer.” When I think about the topic of prayer, I often think about my great-grandmother Senda Anderson. I’ve mentioned her before during a sermon or two. The reason why I think of her with this topic of prayer is because she was one of those old school saints—if you know what I mean. She was what we in the Baptist church would call a “Prayer Warrior.” If you needed to get a prayer through, Grandma Anderson could do it. Even as she got older and getting up and down wasn’t as easy for her, she still got on her knees every night that she could to pray before bed. In fact, when I was growing up she was the one who taught me The Lord’s Prayer. I’d be over spending the night and before bed I’d join with her in prayer, and I would say the prayer that almost every child learns when they’re young—you know the one—Say it with me— “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, and if I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” At one point I noticed Grandma wasn’t saying the same prayer I was, and her prayer sounded like the one the choir sang in church. So I asked her to teach me it. And she did. She’d say a line and then I’d repeat it. And I learned The Lord’s Prayer.
Here’s the thing about my Grandma Anderson, she had a way of praying and talking to the Lord even when she wasn’t having traditional prayer. I remember in the springs and summers she was go out and sit on the front porch, and I would be inside and I would walk up to the screen door and I would hear her singing. She’d be singing, but you could hear the prayer in the songs she sang and almost feel that connection between her and the Almighty. These weren’t special songs (well they were special to her), but traditional hymns like (And now you’ll have to indulge me for a minute while I take this trip down memory lane back to 4101 S. Minnie St, in Kansas City, KS):
Hymn Medley: “Pass Me Not,” (because) “I Need Thee Every Hour,” “Father, I Stretch My Hands to Thee,” (So) “Near the Cross”
You’re probably asking, “Michael Brown, why did we take that trip down memory lane?” We took that trip to illustrate a point I want make before I get too deep in this message. That point is this: it doesn’t matter how you choose to go to God in prayer, but just don’t forget to go to him. Don’t forget to pray.
Let’s go to our text. In Chapter six of Ephesians we find Paul wrapping up his letter to the Ephesians. In this letter (we really have to back up a little bit to chapter five) we find Paul reminding and encouraging the Ephesians to mature in their faith and walk with God. He gives specific instructions to wives and husbands, parents and children, servants and masters. Then Paul speaks to everyone in chapter six verse ten where our text starts: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” If that isn’t a message of faith in that one verse. “...be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” As Christian, when troubles arise our faith should remind us of the power of God and what HE is capable of, thereby reminding us to stand strong in the Lord. As Paul also said in Romans 8:31, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” As usual, that’s a message for a different day. Let’s go back to our text today.
Verses 11-12 Paul reminds us that we have to put on the whole armor of God because we’re fighting a daily battle against evil. What do I mean by evil? Well Paul says specifically in verses 11 and 12: “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 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.” My brothers and sisters, let me ask you something. Have you ever felt you were fighting an enemy that you just couldn’t see? Worry, anxiety, depression, doubt, fear, things coming at you from all angles. Just when you feel you’ve got one thing taken care of something else breaks a loose. Well, I’m here to remind you that as soldiers in God’s army, we don’t fight a physical enemy we fight a spiritual one. One that’s always on the prowl, one that’s always trying to break up your foundation of faith and break you down spiritually. But come with me through verses 13-17 where Paul tells us how to equip ourselves for battle.
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall 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.” Paul has just told us how to equip ourselves for battle. But he said something else I want to draw your attention to. Verse 13 into 14, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore…” When you’ve fought and withstood all you can, and you can’t fight no more, and you have on the whole armor of God, all you’ve got to do is just stand. Just stand. Just stand because you’ve got God on your side. And I believe in that moment you can just look at the enemy and say, “Come at me bro. Try me if you want.” (Maybe that’s just me. Michael Brown can get a little feisty at times.) Now, our last verse, 18, which in my humble opinion, Paul saved the best weapon we have, as Christian Soldiers, for last, saying; “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Saints though you may wear the whole armor of God, Don’t forget to pray. Prayer is the best weapon we have in our Christian arsenal. I am here to remind you today to use it often, use it daily. I heard them say in 1 Thessalonians “Pray without ceasing.” Pray in times of joy and happiness. Pray in times of sadness and sorrow. Pray, when you’ve done all you can do and you can’t do no more. Remember that Jesus is STILL on the mainline, and you can call him up and tell him what you want. Your prayer doesn’t even have to be a long prayer. All you have to say is, “Lord help,” or “in the name of Jesus,” or just call his name and say “Father,” because God knows your heart and knows what you need. And as I come to my close, I want to tell you, if you find yourself in a situation that you feel you can’t verbally pray your way out of, be like David, and just lift up your eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh your help. As David said “My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.”
Amen
