TITLE: Prayer: The Ultimate Weapon

2. TITLE: Prayer: The Ultimate Weapon • TEXT: Ephesians 6:18-24 • THEME: Prayer is Gods greatest weapon against Satan’s attacks.

4. Every generation has had a traumatic event that shapes them. • For the Gen X’ers it was 911 and seeing the Twin Towers fall before our eyes on TV.

5. Every generation has a traumatic event that shapes them for life. • For the Gen X’ers it was 911 and seeing the Twin Towers fall before our eyes on TV. • For the Busters it was the Challenger disaster

6. Every generation has a traumatic event that shapes them for life. • For the Gen X’ers it was 911 and seeing the Twin Towers fall before our eyes on TV. • For the Busters it was the Challenger disaster. • For the boomers it was the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the landing on the moon

7. Every generation has a traumatic event that shapes them for life. • For the Gen X’ers it was 911 and seeing the Twin Towers fall before our eyes on TV. • For the Busters it was the Challenger disaster. • For the boomers it was the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the landing on the moon. • For the builders from the U.S. it was Pearl Harbor.

8. Herman Wouk, Winds of War He tells how the psychology of the US has been permanently impacted by Pearl Harbor because of their unpreparedness. They lost thousands of lives and numerous ships became they did not anticipate that Japan would invade- especially in light of the fact that just hours before they were still in negotiation with each other.

9. Herman Wouk, Winds of War Before Pearl Harbor the battleship was believed to the most valuable ship in the Navy. WWII demonstrated the plane made this mighty ship vulnerable. Also, ships were kept together because Hawaii was a safe and distant port, and the US had done all it could to stay out of the war that the rest of the world was fighting. Pearl Harbor brought an ill prepared America into the war

10. The Lesson Learned? Always be on the alert for an attack from your enemy.

11. The same is true in the spiritual realm.

13. Study by the World Health Organization and Harvard Medical School • America may very well be the saddest nation in the world.

14. Study by the World Health Organization and Harvard Medical School • America may very well be the saddest nation in the world. • 9.6 percent of Americans suffer from depression or bipolar disorder—the highest among 14 major nations polled.

15. Study by the World Health Organization and Harvard Medical School • America may very well be the saddest nation in the world. • 9.6 percent of Americans suffer from depression or bipolar disorder—the highest among 14 major nations polled. • Those nations that scored better than the U.S. suffer from ongoing wars and rumors of war (Lebanon), vast unemployment (Mexico), and profound poverty (Nigeria).

16. In his Wall Street Journal article, "The Great Depression," Bret Stephens argues:

17. In his Wall Street Journal article, "The Great Depression," Bret Stephens argues: Perhaps America scores poorly as a nation because its population is generally comfortable and wealthy. Such luxuries allow that much more time for critically picking apart life situations and personal circumstances. Those who live in countries torn apart by varying social and economic issues have less time to fret over personal gain and ambition. They are simply too busy trying to survive.

18. So what could turn this sad nation around? The research shows that the citizens of the world's happier nations find a steady source of joy in their families, their religion, and their traditions.

20. Ephesians 6:18-24 “[18] 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 saints. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,

21. Ephesians 6:18-24 [20] for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. 21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. [22] I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you

22. Ephesians 6:18-24 (23)Peace to the brothers, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [24] Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love

24. How should the believer pray to defeat Satan?

25. I. Pray in the Spirit (18)

26. How many times have we sung a song or hymn that we have memorized over the years and its words do not move you? They are just words to a song you know. We can do the same thing in prayer. They do not come from the heart or the Spirit- they are just words.

27. Prayer is effective when its origin is with God (Spirit inspired and directed).

28. Romans RO 8:22-27 “(22) We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. [23] Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. [24] For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? [25] But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently

29. Romans RO 8:22-27 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. [27] And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.”

30. Did you notice verse 26? The Spirit of God essentially translates for us when we do not know what we ought to pray for. He knows our hearts and can present our thoughts to God when we ourselves do not know what to say.

31. I. Pray in the Spirit (18) A. On all occasions. B. With all kinds of prayers.

32. Philippians 4:6-7 • “[6] Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

33. I. Pray in the Spirit (18) • On all occasions. • With all kinds of prayers. C. With all kinds of requests.

34. Two implications: • It is an admission of our ignorance and impotency in spiritual conflict.

35. Two implications: • It is an admission of our ignorance and impotency in spiritual conflict. • It reveals to Satan we are dependent on God- he cannot defeat God.

36. 1 John 4:4-6 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. [5] They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them

37. 1 John 4:4-6 [6] We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood

40. How should the believer pray to defeat Satan?

41. II. Pray with Alertness (18)

42. Matthew 26:36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." [37] He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. [38] Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.

43. Matthew 26:36 39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. [41] "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." 42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

44. Matthew 26:36 43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. [44] So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. 45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. [46] Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!

46. What is "essential" in the mind of the typical college freshman? • Survey conducted by the Higher Education Research Institute found that 85.8 percent say it is getting rich. That's a 43 percent increase over what the typical college freshman thought in 1967. As for developing a meaningful philosophy of life? Only 45 percent found it to be of any real worth. That's a 29 percent drop.

48. Pew Research for the MacNeil/Lehrer Productions' Generation Next project

49. Pew Research for the MacNeil/Lehrer Productions' Generation Next project • 18–25-year-olds listed the following as their top life goal:

50. Pew Research for the MacNeil/Lehrer Productions' Generation Next project • 18–25-year-olds listed the following as their top life goal: • Be rich—81 percent