WEBVTT 00:00:02.500 --> 00:00:04.540 We'll hope that you'll plan to be with us right 00:00:04.540 --> 00:00:07.500 through the fall on Sunday evenings. It's going 00:00:07.500 --> 00:00:11.539 to be an interesting fall as we study together 00:00:11.539 --> 00:00:16.399 the book of the Revelation. I desire to enter 00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:18.539 into that study not because I feel like I have 00:00:18.539 --> 00:00:21.500 all the answers, believe me, but because like 00:00:21.500 --> 00:00:24.739 you I desire to search and to study God's Word, 00:00:24.739 --> 00:00:28.079 and I believe that the time is short before the 00:00:28.079 --> 00:00:31.469 Lord's return. There is a special blessing. promised 00:00:31.469 --> 00:00:34.450 to those of us who study and who read the book 00:00:34.450 --> 00:00:37.590 of the Revelation. And as we begin in the middle 00:00:37.590 --> 00:00:40.329 of next month to dig into that book, I hope that 00:00:40.329 --> 00:00:44.829 you'll join us every Sunday night for it. Let's 00:00:44.829 --> 00:00:47.729 suppose for a moment that you were inducted into 00:00:47.729 --> 00:00:50.170 the Army. Say, well, that'd be quite a nightmare. 00:00:50.369 --> 00:00:55.270 Well, it may be for you. Let's suppose that after 00:00:55.270 --> 00:00:59.090 you got on that bus, were taken to a camp, you 00:00:59.090 --> 00:01:01.310 entered into several months of basic training, 00:01:01.969 --> 00:01:04.329 and because there was a particular need, you 00:01:04.329 --> 00:01:06.730 were then assigned immediately to the front line 00:01:06.730 --> 00:01:10.450 somewhere. And having arrived there at the front 00:01:10.450 --> 00:01:16.129 lines, you were issued a new weapon. In fact, 00:01:16.250 --> 00:01:18.969 it was all that you were given, just one piece, 00:01:19.069 --> 00:01:23.030 one weapon. But it was an unusual weapon, because 00:01:23.030 --> 00:01:26.180 with this one piece, that was put into your hands, 00:01:26.299 --> 00:01:28.280 you could do several things. In the first place, 00:01:29.140 --> 00:01:33.060 you had immediate satellite communication with 00:01:33.060 --> 00:01:36.700 headquarters. Now, of course, that kind of technology 00:01:36.700 --> 00:01:40.379 exists and was important in the Gulf War, where 00:01:40.379 --> 00:01:43.400 soldiers were dropped behind the lines, the Iraqi 00:01:43.400 --> 00:01:47.900 lines, and dug in in the desert and were able 00:01:47.900 --> 00:01:50.450 to... communicate via satellite directly with 00:01:50.450 --> 00:01:53.409 their commanders. Amazing technology. But here 00:01:53.409 --> 00:01:56.730 you have in your hands a weapon that has that 00:01:56.730 --> 00:02:02.170 kind of capability built into it. And then let's 00:02:02.170 --> 00:02:05.069 suppose that with the same weapon that was put 00:02:05.069 --> 00:02:08.289 into your hands, you could have instantly prepared 00:02:08.289 --> 00:02:12.069 meals. And for the Swedes who were inducted, 00:02:12.090 --> 00:02:14.150 there was a little spigot on the side for coffee. 00:02:14.969 --> 00:02:17.590 So that you could pour water into one side of 00:02:17.590 --> 00:02:21.150 this little thing and the spigot would release 00:02:21.150 --> 00:02:27.650 fresh hot coffee black for you to drink and There 00:02:27.650 --> 00:02:31.270 was a little Lever on the back of it that would 00:02:31.270 --> 00:02:34.849 spit out produced foods It wasn't a lot and it 00:02:34.849 --> 00:02:37.169 may not be taste real good But at least it was 00:02:37.169 --> 00:02:39.930 nourishment that you could have there on the 00:02:39.930 --> 00:02:42.229 field so you could have your meals prepared in 00:02:42.229 --> 00:02:46.889 the same instrument, the same weapon. Then let's 00:02:46.889 --> 00:02:49.789 suppose that the weapon in your hands had the 00:02:49.789 --> 00:02:52.789 capability to hit every target you fired at. 00:02:53.930 --> 00:02:58.110 All you had to do was to put the crosshairs on 00:02:58.110 --> 00:03:01.770 the target you were aiming toward, and because 00:03:01.770 --> 00:03:04.669 of laser technology, every time you squeezed 00:03:04.669 --> 00:03:07.889 the weapon, you hit exactly what you aimed at. 00:03:09.270 --> 00:03:11.810 But beyond that, let's suppose it had the capacity 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:14.680 This weapon that you were issued let's suppose 00:03:14.680 --> 00:03:17.379 it had the capacity to fire over the horizon 00:03:17.379 --> 00:03:22.580 So that actually because again of satellite technology 00:03:22.580 --> 00:03:27.319 you were able to hit targets that you could not 00:03:27.319 --> 00:03:33.180 see That is they were the targets the positions 00:03:33.180 --> 00:03:35.599 of the targets were given to you by satellite 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:38.740 and Although the target was over the horizon 00:03:38.740 --> 00:03:42.199 you could aim that weapon exactly where you were 00:03:42.199 --> 00:03:45.460 told to, by the satellite, fire the trigger, 00:03:45.759 --> 00:03:48.680 and the result of that was that that target would 00:03:48.680 --> 00:03:51.500 be struck. You say, well, come on, that sounds 00:03:51.500 --> 00:03:53.800 like something from a James Bond movie, that 00:03:53.800 --> 00:03:56.539 kind of a weapon. Well, in fact, I don't suppose 00:03:56.539 --> 00:03:59.860 it has been created yet. But the fact is that 00:03:59.860 --> 00:04:02.020 spiritually speaking, you have been given the 00:04:02.020 --> 00:04:07.340 kind of weapon I've just described. I'm talking 00:04:07.340 --> 00:04:12.039 about the God's great weapon of prayer. With 00:04:12.039 --> 00:04:14.780 this weapon that you have been issued as a soldier 00:04:14.780 --> 00:04:18.240 of Jesus Christ, you have instant communications 00:04:18.240 --> 00:04:22.399 with God. You don't have to go through anybody 00:04:22.399 --> 00:04:25.899 else. You have instant communication with God 00:04:25.899 --> 00:04:30.600 Himself whenever you want it. With this weapon, 00:04:30.620 --> 00:04:32.920 you have the capacity to receive nourishment 00:04:32.920 --> 00:04:38.899 for your soul. When you pray, you have the ability 00:04:38.899 --> 00:04:42.649 to hit every target you aim at. And you don't 00:04:42.649 --> 00:04:45.250 even have to be present in the same room or in 00:04:45.250 --> 00:04:48.129 the same community with that target. You can 00:04:48.129 --> 00:04:52.250 hit a target on the other side of the world with 00:04:52.250 --> 00:04:55.670 the weapon of prayer. That's why I've titled 00:04:55.670 --> 00:05:00.189 this message tonight, God's Mighty Weapon. Open 00:05:00.189 --> 00:05:03.750 your Bible to 2 Corinthians chapter 10 and notice 00:05:03.750 --> 00:05:06.170 what Paul reminds us of in these verses that 00:05:06.170 --> 00:05:09.769 are familiar to many of you. He says, though 00:05:09.769 --> 00:05:15.889 we walk in the flesh, we do not war according 00:05:15.889 --> 00:05:21.610 to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare 00:05:21.610 --> 00:05:28.790 are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for 00:05:28.790 --> 00:05:34.569 the destruction of fortresses. He says, the weapons 00:05:34.569 --> 00:05:40.920 of our warfare are divinely powerful for the 00:05:40.920 --> 00:05:44.279 destruction of fortresses, destroying speculations 00:05:44.279 --> 00:05:49.139 and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge 00:05:49.139 --> 00:05:55.439 of God, taking every thought captive to the obedience 00:05:55.439 --> 00:06:00.860 of Christ, every obstacle put in the way of the 00:06:00.860 --> 00:06:06.259 Christian soldier. Every false gospel that is 00:06:06.259 --> 00:06:11.399 raised against the knowledge of God. Every system 00:06:11.399 --> 00:06:14.180 of thought, every foolish way of looking at life, 00:06:14.300 --> 00:06:18.720 every idea that is false, every one of them is 00:06:18.720 --> 00:06:21.160 a target for the spiritual weapons that God puts 00:06:21.160 --> 00:06:25.360 into our hands. The weapon that we have in prayer 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:28.139 is divinely powerful and it can destroy any of 00:06:28.139 --> 00:06:35.300 these. God gives us prayer. as a mighty spiritual 00:06:35.300 --> 00:06:38.620 weapon for the battlefield of life. Our enemy 00:06:38.620 --> 00:06:43.939 is not flesh and blood. Our enemy is spiritual. 00:06:46.540 --> 00:06:49.980 And the goal of our enemy is our destruction. 00:06:51.100 --> 00:06:55.819 He cannot destroy us forever. He cannot drag 00:06:55.819 --> 00:06:59.899 us to hell. But our enemy can destroy us for 00:06:59.899 --> 00:07:03.040 this life as far as our usefulness. to God is 00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:08.379 concerned. He can neutralize us so that we do 00:07:08.379 --> 00:07:12.040 not any longer count in the battle for righteousness. 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:17.800 He seeks to devour us. He seeks to take us captive. 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:26.000 And he does that through schemes and traps, strategies 00:07:26.000 --> 00:07:30.220 that he carefully lays out in front of us, by 00:07:30.220 --> 00:07:33.769 which he intends to bring us to destruction. 00:07:35.110 --> 00:07:39.350 We have an enemy. But you and I have the right 00:07:39.350 --> 00:07:43.170 to pray. We have the right to use the weapon 00:07:43.170 --> 00:07:46.990 that God has issued to us in prayer. It is a 00:07:46.990 --> 00:07:51.470 weapon that God provides to all of His soldiers, 00:07:52.089 --> 00:07:55.689 without exception. Well, someone says, doesn't 00:07:55.689 --> 00:07:59.050 God hear everybody when they pray? Well, of course, 00:07:59.089 --> 00:08:02.879 in one sense, He does. because God is everywhere, 00:08:03.019 --> 00:08:06.240 God hears everything, everybody says, and so 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:09.980 God does hear everyone, even unbelievers when 00:08:09.980 --> 00:08:13.180 they pray, but the fact is that God has made 00:08:13.180 --> 00:08:17.620 no commitment to answer the prayers that unbelievers 00:08:17.620 --> 00:08:22.199 pray. He's made no commitment to them whatsoever. 00:08:23.639 --> 00:08:27.019 In fact, in the providential carrying out of 00:08:27.019 --> 00:08:31.310 His purposes, What unbelievers ask for may come 00:08:31.310 --> 00:08:35.570 to pass. But not because God is answering their 00:08:35.570 --> 00:08:39.049 prayers, simply because it is His purpose. They 00:08:39.049 --> 00:08:43.970 happen to ask according to His providence. But 00:08:43.970 --> 00:08:47.970 God has promised to answer the prayers of believers. 00:08:50.049 --> 00:08:52.149 And we ought to pray more than we do. We all 00:08:52.149 --> 00:08:57.850 know that. William Carey. was mightily used of 00:08:57.850 --> 00:09:02.509 God in India, Burma, and Southeast Asia and another 00:09:02.509 --> 00:09:09.610 generation. Carried by his occupation was a cobbler. 00:09:09.669 --> 00:09:15.350 He made shoes. On one occasion, he was accused 00:09:15.350 --> 00:09:22.840 of spending too much time in prayer. that he 00:09:22.840 --> 00:09:25.580 was spending too much time in intercession and 00:09:25.580 --> 00:09:28.759 supplication rather than in his business and 00:09:28.759 --> 00:09:32.840 was neglecting his business. To be honest with 00:09:32.840 --> 00:09:34.580 you, I don't think that's an accusation that's 00:09:34.580 --> 00:09:37.820 ever been leveled against me, maybe not against 00:09:37.820 --> 00:09:42.159 you either. But someone said to him, you're praying 00:09:42.159 --> 00:09:47.860 too much. He responded, quote, prayer is my real 00:09:47.860 --> 00:09:52.500 business. Cobbling shoes is a sideline. It just 00:09:52.500 --> 00:09:59.700 helps pay my expenses. We can go down the list 00:09:59.700 --> 00:10:01.960 of the great saints of the past, those warriors, 00:10:02.299 --> 00:10:04.860 those men and women in other generations as well 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:07.879 as in our own, who have learned the secret of 00:10:07.879 --> 00:10:10.200 prayer and inevitably they have been powerful 00:10:10.200 --> 00:10:15.779 men and women of God. The believer's right to 00:10:15.779 --> 00:10:22.320 pray Our right to use this weapon that God has 00:10:22.320 --> 00:10:28.340 issued to us is based upon our identity and our 00:10:28.340 --> 00:10:32.340 union to Jesus Christ. As I said before, God 00:10:32.340 --> 00:10:37.639 has no obligation to answer the prayers of those 00:10:37.639 --> 00:10:42.720 who are His enemies. But God has obligated Himself 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:48.320 to His people. And He invites us, call unto Me. 00:10:49.549 --> 00:10:53.190 And I will show you great and mighty things which 00:10:53.190 --> 00:10:58.809 you do not know." I'd like you to open your Bible 00:10:58.809 --> 00:11:01.190 again to the book of Ephesians and the third 00:11:01.190 --> 00:11:03.370 chapter where we see a marvelous verse, verse 00:11:03.370 --> 00:11:07.870 12. Paul is in this chapter explaining his ministry 00:11:07.870 --> 00:11:11.690 as a preacher of the riches of Christ to the 00:11:11.690 --> 00:11:17.169 Gentiles. And as he talks about this eternal 00:11:17.169 --> 00:11:21.559 purpose of God, Christ. He says in verse 12, 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:27.279 in whom, in Christ Jesus, we have boldness and 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:33.159 confident access through faith in Him. Notice 00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:36.759 that the privilege of prayer is related to our 00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:41.519 union to Jesus Christ. Why is it that we may 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:45.019 pray? Because we are praying in the name of Jesus 00:11:45.019 --> 00:11:48.549 Christ. We are praying as people who are related 00:11:48.549 --> 00:11:51.350 to God through Christ, through faith in Him. 00:11:52.950 --> 00:11:54.750 That's important for you and me to get a hold 00:11:54.750 --> 00:12:00.110 of this. Because sometimes we're sold the idea 00:12:00.110 --> 00:12:04.710 by the enemy that we can pray only when we feel 00:12:04.710 --> 00:12:08.480 like it. Or we can pray only when we've done 00:12:08.480 --> 00:12:11.340 this or only when we've done that. The fact is 00:12:11.340 --> 00:12:14.860 that you and I can pray anytime because of our 00:12:14.860 --> 00:12:17.919 identity with Jesus Christ. It is a privilege 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:22.460 that is given to us. I don't need to remind most 00:12:22.460 --> 00:12:25.440 of you that there was a tremendous change in 00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:27.580 our identity at the moment that we trusted the 00:12:27.580 --> 00:12:31.360 Savior. A profound transformation took place. 00:12:31.940 --> 00:12:34.460 We touched on it briefly this morning. Let's 00:12:34.460 --> 00:12:38.600 just touch on it. a bit more tonight, you and 00:12:38.600 --> 00:12:41.159 I were changed at the moment of our salvation 00:12:41.159 --> 00:12:47.299 as being one with Adam and his sin, two being 00:12:47.299 --> 00:12:53.720 one with Christ and his righteousness. The contrast 00:12:53.720 --> 00:12:57.440 between those two positions is profound. And 00:12:57.440 --> 00:12:59.120 there are several texts in the New Testament 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:00.799 that talk about it, but one of them is right 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:03.120 here in Ephesians 2. Just turn back a page or 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:05.830 so. And look with me briefly at these verses 00:13:05.830 --> 00:13:08.950 that begin the second chapter. And notice the 00:13:08.950 --> 00:13:12.990 contrast between the two spiritual identities. 00:13:14.730 --> 00:13:17.129 What we were before we were saved, what we are 00:13:17.129 --> 00:13:21.710 now that we have been saved. In the first place, 00:13:21.730 --> 00:13:25.370 there is a contrast in our condition. Notice 00:13:25.370 --> 00:13:31.350 in verse 1, he says, and you were dead. The Bible 00:13:31.350 --> 00:13:34.210 doesn't merely say that sinners are sick in their 00:13:34.210 --> 00:13:37.610 sin. The Bible says that sinners are dead without 00:13:37.610 --> 00:13:42.129 spiritual life toward God. Sinners are very well 00:13:42.129 --> 00:13:45.129 alive to this world, but they have no relationship 00:13:45.129 --> 00:13:47.909 to God. There is no union with God. They are 00:13:47.909 --> 00:13:54.669 cut off from God. There is death. So when we 00:13:54.669 --> 00:13:57.149 and I were unsaved, when we were in Adam, we 00:13:57.149 --> 00:14:00.450 were dead. That was our spiritual condition. 00:14:01.509 --> 00:14:04.070 But if you let your eye drift on down the verses 00:14:04.070 --> 00:14:07.850 here, you come to verse four, and it says, but 00:14:07.850 --> 00:14:13.350 God, God intervened, you see, by grace, but God 00:14:13.350 --> 00:14:15.970 being rich in mercy because of His great love 00:14:15.970 --> 00:14:20.250 with which He loved us, even when we were dead 00:14:20.250 --> 00:14:25.409 in our transgressions, made us alive together 00:14:25.409 --> 00:14:30.690 with Christ. So what is our position now? No 00:14:30.690 --> 00:14:34.610 longer are we dead toward God, we are alive with 00:14:34.610 --> 00:14:39.049 Jesus Christ. It goes on to say in verse 6, and 00:14:39.049 --> 00:14:43.570 we've been raised up with Him, together with 00:14:43.570 --> 00:14:47.889 Christ, and seated us together with Him in the 00:14:47.889 --> 00:14:53.809 heavenly places in Christ Jesus. So whereas before 00:14:53.809 --> 00:14:58.009 we were in Adam, And our spiritual condition 00:14:58.009 --> 00:15:00.909 was that we were dead toward God. Now we have 00:15:00.909 --> 00:15:06.090 been made alive and raised up and seated with 00:15:06.090 --> 00:15:10.529 Jesus Christ in the heavenly places, in the places 00:15:10.529 --> 00:15:14.870 of honor, the place where He reigns in glory. 00:15:15.690 --> 00:15:20.710 God counts us as seated with Him. Now there was 00:15:20.710 --> 00:15:23.610 also a contrast in our position accomplished 00:15:23.610 --> 00:15:28.070 when we were saved. Before, we were in trespasses 00:15:28.070 --> 00:15:31.049 and sins. He says that in verse 1. He repeats 00:15:31.049 --> 00:15:36.190 it in verse 5. We were in sin. We were in our 00:15:36.190 --> 00:15:40.250 transgressions. But now, he says, we are together 00:15:40.250 --> 00:15:46.110 with Christ. We are in Christ. You'll notice 00:15:46.110 --> 00:15:49.269 also a contrast in the conduct of our lives. 00:15:49.889 --> 00:15:55.200 Before we were saved, we walked. Verse 2. according 00:15:55.200 --> 00:16:00.940 to the course of this world, according to the 00:16:00.940 --> 00:16:03.980 desires and the plans of the age we live in. 00:16:04.580 --> 00:16:08.200 We walked according to that. We complied with 00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:12.519 it. We were part of all of that, you see. He 00:16:12.519 --> 00:16:15.820 says in verse 3 in a similar fashion, among them, 00:16:15.899 --> 00:16:19.279 the sons of disobedience, we all formerly lived 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:24.799 in the lusts of our flesh. Indulging the desires 00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:30.399 of the flesh and of the mind. That's before we 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:33.539 were saved. Our conduct was that we walked according 00:16:33.539 --> 00:16:39.000 to the world. He calls us, as we were, the sons 00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:43.940 of disobedience. We were characterized by disobedience 00:16:43.940 --> 00:16:49.720 to God. But now, we have a different walk. He 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:53.440 talks about it in chapter four, verse one. He 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:58.000 says, I therefore entreat you to walk in a manner 00:16:58.000 --> 00:17:00.340 worthy of the calling with which you've been 00:17:00.340 --> 00:17:04.420 called. There is a new walk, you see. Before, 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:06.680 it was a walk that was according to the course 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:10.200 of the world. It was a course that called for 00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:14.299 us to indulge our flesh, to fulfill the desires, 00:17:14.460 --> 00:17:17.920 the evil desires of our minds. But now that we've 00:17:17.920 --> 00:17:20.259 been saved, there is a new conduct. There is 00:17:20.259 --> 00:17:23.990 a new walk. And he says it is a walk that is 00:17:23.990 --> 00:17:26.970 according to the new calling we have in Christ 00:17:26.970 --> 00:17:31.450 Jesus. Before we were the sons of disobedience, 00:17:31.470 --> 00:17:34.170 now in chapter 2 he says we've been created in 00:17:34.170 --> 00:17:40.349 Christ Jesus unto good works. A contrast. Now 00:17:40.349 --> 00:17:43.450 going back again to chapter 2, he says that before 00:17:43.450 --> 00:17:45.950 we were saved there was an energy source that 00:17:45.950 --> 00:17:48.210 was at work in our lives. Notice what he calls 00:17:48.210 --> 00:17:52.000 it, verse 2. You walk according to the course 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:56.039 of this world, according to the prince of the 00:17:56.039 --> 00:18:01.240 power of the air. That is Satan, of course. He 00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:04.200 goes on to say, the spirit that is now working 00:18:04.200 --> 00:18:08.859 in the sons of disobedience. Notice that phrase, 00:18:08.920 --> 00:18:13.299 working in the sons of disobedience. The word 00:18:13.299 --> 00:18:16.920 work here is our word for energy. The point is 00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:20.299 that Satan is energizing the sons of disobedience. 00:18:20.339 --> 00:18:23.180 He is their power source. It doesn't mean that 00:18:23.180 --> 00:18:25.619 every unsafe person is demon possessed. I'm not 00:18:25.619 --> 00:18:28.059 saying that, and nor is Paul meaning that. But 00:18:28.059 --> 00:18:30.059 he is saying that because they walk according 00:18:30.059 --> 00:18:33.259 to the course of this world, this age, this cosmos 00:18:33.259 --> 00:18:36.480 in which we live, they are being energized and 00:18:36.480 --> 00:18:41.819 carried along by the spirit of Satan, the prince 00:18:41.819 --> 00:18:44.559 of the power of the air. That was true of all 00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:48.660 of us. before we were saved. But there's a change 00:18:48.660 --> 00:18:51.400 that's been made, and he summarizes it in chapter 00:18:51.400 --> 00:18:54.700 3, verse 20, where he says, now to him who is 00:18:54.700 --> 00:18:57.140 able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that 00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:59.740 we ask or think according to the power that works 00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:04.460 within us. You see the contrast? Before it was 00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:07.859 the power that was working in the sons of disobedience, 00:19:07.940 --> 00:19:11.799 which we were. But now there's a new power source. 00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:15.019 There is a new energy that God is providing to 00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:19.480 us through His Spirit who dwells in us. That 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:22.420 power is energizing you and me. And so he says 00:19:22.420 --> 00:19:26.059 in chapter 5, be filled, be controlled by the 00:19:26.059 --> 00:19:31.359 Holy Spirit. Before we were saved, we were called 00:19:31.359 --> 00:19:34.960 by Paul in chapter 2, the sons or the children 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:38.609 of wrath. That was our destiny. We were headed 00:19:38.609 --> 00:19:44.349 as sure as can be toward hell. The wrath of God. 00:19:46.369 --> 00:19:49.190 We were children who inherited deserved wrath 00:19:49.190 --> 00:19:53.470 from God. But now he tells us in verse 7 that 00:19:53.470 --> 00:19:56.470 God is going to show to us the surpassing riches 00:19:56.470 --> 00:20:00.950 of His grace and His kindness toward us in Christ 00:20:00.950 --> 00:20:04.670 Jesus. Whereas once our destiny was wrath, now 00:20:04.670 --> 00:20:09.069 our destiny is God's kindness. And so Paul is 00:20:09.069 --> 00:20:11.750 simply outlining for us here what our change 00:20:11.750 --> 00:20:15.289 in identity means. We are not what we used to 00:20:15.289 --> 00:20:18.430 be. We're completely different. Our condition 00:20:18.430 --> 00:20:20.630 is different. Our position is different. Our 00:20:20.630 --> 00:20:22.789 conduct is different. The energy source that 00:20:22.789 --> 00:20:25.210 is at work in our life is different. Our destiny 00:20:25.210 --> 00:20:28.789 is different. All because we have a new identity, 00:20:28.890 --> 00:20:33.329 no longer in Adam, but now in Christ. G. Alan 00:20:33.329 --> 00:20:36.539 Fleece has said we... We are not in the world 00:20:36.539 --> 00:20:40.819 bearing witness to Christ. We are in Christ bearing 00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:42.859 witness to the world. I like the difference in 00:20:42.859 --> 00:20:46.680 that statement. Because it begins with our position. 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:52.500 You and I can pray because of our identity. Because 00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:55.900 we are in Christ Jesus. I can pray even in times 00:20:55.900 --> 00:21:01.380 when I don't feel like praying. I can pray in 00:21:01.380 --> 00:21:05.430 times when I am spiritually low on gas. Why? 00:21:06.190 --> 00:21:08.690 Because my privilege to pray is not based upon 00:21:08.690 --> 00:21:11.609 how I'm doing at the moment. It is based upon 00:21:11.609 --> 00:21:19.289 who I am in Jesus Christ. I'd like for us to 00:21:19.289 --> 00:21:21.170 think for just a moment, too, about the blessings 00:21:21.170 --> 00:21:24.710 of this identity in Christ, as if we hadn't talked 00:21:24.710 --> 00:21:27.529 about some of them already. Back up further into 00:21:27.529 --> 00:21:31.089 chapter one. We've talked about the contrast 00:21:31.089 --> 00:21:33.799 of our identity. But let's talk about the blessings 00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:37.940 of our identity just briefly. In verses 4 through 00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:41.880 6, blessing number one is that we have complete 00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:46.940 acceptance. He talks about the spiritual blessings 00:21:46.940 --> 00:21:50.380 that are ours in Christ. In verse 3, he goes 00:21:50.380 --> 00:21:53.539 on to say, just as He chose us in Him before 00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:56.579 the foundation of the world, that we should be 00:21:56.579 --> 00:22:01.279 holy and blameless before Him. You see, there 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:06.299 is nothing that causes God to shun me. Because 00:22:06.299 --> 00:22:11.619 I am in Jesus Christ, God counts me as both holy, 00:22:12.180 --> 00:22:16.480 that is set apart to Him, and blameless. There 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:19.359 is no legitimate cause of accusation against 00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:24.700 me in Christ. I am completely accepted. He says 00:22:24.700 --> 00:22:27.440 furthermore in verse 5, He predestined us to 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:32.380 adoption. as sons through Christ. In other words, 00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:35.720 you and I, by our conversion, by our faith in 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:39.039 Christ, have been placed into God's family as 00:22:39.039 --> 00:22:43.859 adult children with all the rights and the responsibilities 00:22:43.859 --> 00:22:46.779 that come with that position. We are completely 00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:51.759 accepted by God. There's no probation. There's 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:54.240 no period when God watches us to see if we're 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:57.950 going to be able to make it. We are at the moment 00:22:57.950 --> 00:23:00.890 of our salvation fully accepted by God. We don't 00:23:00.890 --> 00:23:03.890 have to perform We don't have to work toward 00:23:03.890 --> 00:23:08.329 it. We don't have to do something Already God 00:23:08.329 --> 00:23:11.210 counts us as both holy and blameless and as his 00:23:11.210 --> 00:23:16.170 own sons With all the rights that comes with 00:23:16.170 --> 00:23:22.150 that title Completely accepted in Christ the 00:23:22.150 --> 00:23:25.319 second blessing that I see is found in verses 00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:27.859 seven and eight, and that is complete forgiveness. 00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:31.440 He says, in Him we have redemption through His 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:36.019 blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses according 00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:38.339 to the riches of His grace. God has completely 00:23:38.339 --> 00:23:41.779 forgiven us in Christ. His forgiveness is based 00:23:41.779 --> 00:23:45.440 upon Christ's blood, the fact that He has redeemed 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:50.220 us, He has paid the price for us, He has delivered 00:23:50.220 --> 00:23:54.779 us from our sins by paying a price on our behalf. 00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:59.039 So we not only have complete acceptance in Christ, 00:23:59.099 --> 00:24:02.460 we have complete forgiveness. That is good news. 00:24:04.420 --> 00:24:07.519 Oh, how unfortunate it is that so often we go 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:11.180 around carrying the load of guilt that God doesn't 00:24:11.180 --> 00:24:15.160 intend for us to carry. Now there is a place 00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:17.759 for guilt. That is God's red flag in our lives 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:22.299 that there's something wrong. When we acknowledge 00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:25.039 that and find out what God is saying to us and 00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:27.900 we acknowledge our sin, there is no longer any 00:24:27.900 --> 00:24:30.420 reason. It's forgiven. It's gone. It's forgotten. 00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:35.079 We are completely forgiven by God. He does not 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:39.200 hold our sins against us. Thirdly, we have the 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:41.539 blessing of complete understanding, verses 9 00:24:41.539 --> 00:24:45.200 and 10. He made known to us the mystery of His 00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:49.940 will. according to his kind intention which he 00:24:49.940 --> 00:24:54.000 purposed in Christ with a view to an administration 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:59.200 and economy of things suitable to the fullness 00:24:59.200 --> 00:25:02.079 of the times. What in the world is Paul saying 00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:05.039 here in these complicated phrases? He is saying 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:08.019 that God has given to you and me complete understanding 00:25:08.019 --> 00:25:11.359 of what God is about in this age. It's not that 00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:13.619 we understand every little detail that God is 00:25:13.619 --> 00:25:17.339 about, but we understand the big picture. We 00:25:17.339 --> 00:25:19.400 understand where things are moving. What is God 00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:22.839 working toward? What is His purpose? It is that 00:25:22.839 --> 00:25:25.940 ultimately everything be summed up under Christ. 00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:29.599 He goes on to talk about that, the summing up 00:25:29.599 --> 00:25:33.140 of all things in Christ, things in the heavens 00:25:33.140 --> 00:25:37.380 and things upon the earth. When sin entered the 00:25:37.380 --> 00:25:41.099 picture, there was a scattering of things. Things 00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:45.059 were pulled apart by sin. But God is in the business 00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:47.759 of pulling things back together and ultimately 00:25:47.759 --> 00:25:50.680 everything in heaven and on earth is going to 00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:53.980 be brought as one under the lordship of Jesus 00:25:53.980 --> 00:25:56.960 Christ. We have complete understanding of that 00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:59.920 and so we can get down on our knees and honestly 00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:04.039 pray as Jesus told us to pray, thy kingdom come, 00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:07.359 thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:26:08.259 --> 00:26:10.740 And though we don't see much of his kingdom outwardly 00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:13.369 and visibly today in the world, We see just the 00:26:13.369 --> 00:26:16.069 opposite. We see the kingdom of Antichrist being 00:26:16.069 --> 00:26:19.390 prepared. We know that one day God's kingdom 00:26:19.390 --> 00:26:23.390 is going to arrive. We may not understand all 00:26:23.390 --> 00:26:25.549 the details that will fall out between now and 00:26:25.549 --> 00:26:28.549 then, but we have the big picture. We have complete 00:26:28.549 --> 00:26:32.210 understanding. We know where things are headed. 00:26:32.630 --> 00:26:35.549 What a blessing that is to know that God's in 00:26:35.549 --> 00:26:39.190 control and in the end, everything is going to 00:26:39.190 --> 00:26:43.259 come out just the way that God wants it to. It 00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:46.880 gives me confidence in prayer. There's a fourth 00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:49.099 blessing that I see in verses 11 and 12, and 00:26:49.099 --> 00:26:53.599 that is a complete inheritance. He says, in Him 00:26:53.599 --> 00:26:58.839 also we have obtained an inheritance. To the 00:26:58.839 --> 00:27:01.099 end that we who were the first to hope in Christ 00:27:01.099 --> 00:27:04.579 should be to the praise of His glory. What he's 00:27:04.579 --> 00:27:07.319 saying in these verses is that because we're 00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:10.319 in Christ, we are going to receive a full share 00:27:10.319 --> 00:27:13.779 of Christ's inheritance. We're going to share 00:27:13.779 --> 00:27:17.380 in His coming kingdom. In that day when everything 00:27:17.380 --> 00:27:19.680 is brought together under His Lordship, we're 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:23.319 going to be there. We're going to share in His 00:27:23.319 --> 00:27:25.440 reign. We're going to share in the glory that 00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:29.559 is coming. What a blessing it is to know that. 00:27:30.779 --> 00:27:32.539 And then there's a fifth blessing that I see 00:27:32.539 --> 00:27:36.059 in verses 13 and 14, and that is complete security. 00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:41.630 Can I be sure that I'm going to be there? Can 00:27:41.630 --> 00:27:44.369 I be sure that I'll be present to receive my 00:27:44.369 --> 00:27:48.069 share of the inheritance? Absolutely He says 00:27:48.069 --> 00:27:50.509 in him you also after listening to the message 00:27:50.509 --> 00:27:53.170 of truth the gospel of your salvation Having 00:27:53.170 --> 00:27:57.150 believed you were sealed in him With the Holy 00:27:57.150 --> 00:27:59.990 Spirit of promise who's given as a pledge of 00:27:59.990 --> 00:28:04.549 our inheritance And so we have complete security 00:28:04.549 --> 00:28:08.710 in Jesus Christ. There is nothing that can cause 00:28:08.710 --> 00:28:12.299 us to lose out of what God's promised us. Nothing. 00:28:13.839 --> 00:28:19.019 It is ours in Christ. And none of this is deserved. 00:28:19.900 --> 00:28:24.000 All of it is given to us by the grace of God, 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:26.799 and that is why over and over in these verses, 00:28:26.900 --> 00:28:31.420 Paul points to the praise of God's glorious grace. 00:28:33.200 --> 00:28:35.200 What am I talking about? Well, it's the fact 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:39.140 that our right to pray is based upon our identity. 00:28:40.430 --> 00:28:43.890 Who we are in Jesus Christ. We're different people 00:28:43.890 --> 00:28:48.549 than we used to be We are now in Christ We've 00:28:48.549 --> 00:28:50.789 seen the contrast of what we were and what we 00:28:50.789 --> 00:28:53.309 are now We've seen now the blessings that are 00:28:53.309 --> 00:28:56.309 ours because of who we are in Jesus Christ and 00:28:56.309 --> 00:29:00.009 in light of this In light of this going back 00:29:00.009 --> 00:29:04.910 now to chapter 3 verse 12. He says we have boldness 00:29:04.910 --> 00:29:10.960 and confident access Through faith in him Paul 00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:13.640 is pointing to two different things here as he 00:29:13.640 --> 00:29:16.640 talks about our right to pray He says that we 00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:20.460 have in the first place freedom of speech There's 00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:25.220 nothing I can't say to God There are some things 00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:30.099 that I cannot say to you that are on my heart 00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:32.980 And there are some things that are on your heart 00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:36.539 that you can't say to me There are some things 00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:39.579 you can't even say to your spouse that one who 00:29:39.579 --> 00:29:42.900 is dearest to you or your closest friend, but 00:29:42.900 --> 00:29:46.359 there is nothing that you cannot share with God. 00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:51.140 You can open your heart to God with complete 00:29:51.140 --> 00:29:55.500 freedom of speech and boldly speak with Him, 00:29:56.420 --> 00:30:02.819 not brashly, not arrogantly, but freely, allowing 00:30:02.819 --> 00:30:06.160 God to see inside of your heart to the deepest 00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:09.309 recesses of it. Now, how can you do this? How 00:30:09.309 --> 00:30:11.930 can you have this kind of freedom? Because, friend, 00:30:11.930 --> 00:30:14.490 you are completely accepted by Him in Christ. 00:30:15.950 --> 00:30:18.650 You are completely forgiven already for anything 00:30:18.650 --> 00:30:23.990 that is in your heart that you don't like. You 00:30:23.990 --> 00:30:26.849 have in Jesus Christ complete understanding of 00:30:26.849 --> 00:30:29.930 what God's big picture is. You can open your 00:30:29.930 --> 00:30:32.410 heart with complete freedom of speech and say, 00:30:32.490 --> 00:30:39.619 Father, here it is. And tell Him. He also says 00:30:39.619 --> 00:30:44.099 that we have confident access. This refers to 00:30:44.099 --> 00:30:49.500 freedom of entrance. We have access to the King's 00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:55.859 presence. We may walk right in. He invites us 00:30:55.859 --> 00:31:00.880 to. Over in Hebrews chapter 10, he says that 00:31:00.880 --> 00:31:04.980 the way has been opened for us. God has taken 00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:07.140 out of the way everything that might have stood 00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:12.230 before. Himself and us. He just opened up the 00:31:12.230 --> 00:31:15.349 way through the sacrifice of Christ's body so 00:31:15.349 --> 00:31:19.609 that now we may come with confidence to our Heavenly 00:31:19.609 --> 00:31:23.410 Father. And how many time we want to, we have 00:31:23.410 --> 00:31:29.130 freedom of entrance. I want to continue this 00:31:29.130 --> 00:31:32.990 theme next week as we talk about prayer, but 00:31:32.990 --> 00:31:37.980 I hope this evening God begins to generate something 00:31:37.980 --> 00:31:40.859 fresh in your heart and mind about the privilege 00:31:40.859 --> 00:31:47.339 of prayer. That we begin to understand that prayer 00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:51.579 is our right. We have the privilege of laying 00:31:51.579 --> 00:31:57.359 hold of this powerful weapon because of who we 00:31:57.359 --> 00:32:04.720 are in Christ Jesus. It is a privilege to hold 00:32:04.720 --> 00:32:08.759 this mighty weapon. It is a privilege to use 00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:14.039 it. And we notice in the context here that Paul 00:32:14.039 --> 00:32:16.500 practiced what he preached. Look at verse 14. 00:32:17.079 --> 00:32:20.740 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father. 00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:26.720 So Paul begins to pray right as he is penning 00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:30.670 these words. I bow my knees before the Father 00:32:30.670 --> 00:32:33.670 from whom every family in heaven and on earth 00:32:33.670 --> 00:32:36.690 derives its name." And then he pours out his 00:32:36.690 --> 00:32:40.069 request and basically his request comes down 00:32:40.069 --> 00:32:43.150 to that last little phrase in verse 19, that 00:32:43.150 --> 00:32:46.690 you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. 00:32:48.529 --> 00:32:51.930 I'm not sure all that that means. One way of 00:32:51.930 --> 00:32:54.529 understanding it is that we might be filled up 00:32:54.529 --> 00:32:57.390 with all the fullness that God requires of us. 00:33:00.299 --> 00:33:02.960 Paul goes on to talk about that kind of fullness 00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:06.759 and maturity in chapter 4. And he says that we 00:33:06.759 --> 00:33:09.319 actually arrive at that maturity through the 00:33:09.319 --> 00:33:14.920 ministry of the local church. That's why he gives 00:33:14.920 --> 00:33:17.579 gifted people to us in the church. We have various 00:33:17.579 --> 00:33:23.700 gifts. That's why we are all gifted. We all have 00:33:23.700 --> 00:33:26.819 a measure of grace. So that as we are ministered 00:33:26.819 --> 00:33:30.029 to and as we minister to others, This prayer 00:33:30.029 --> 00:33:33.490 is answered. We begin to grow up and to become 00:33:33.490 --> 00:33:37.130 mature and to be filled up to all the fullness 00:33:37.130 --> 00:33:39.369 of God. It certainly does not mean that somehow, 00:33:39.490 --> 00:33:46.930 someday, we become just like God. Even those 00:33:46.930 --> 00:33:49.589 attributes of God, which He can communicate to 00:33:49.589 --> 00:33:53.950 us in some sense, is always in a limited sense. 00:33:55.809 --> 00:33:58.309 But He says that there is a certain fullness. 00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:03.720 that we need to strive toward. And as we pray 00:34:03.720 --> 00:34:05.740 for one another, that's one thing to pray about, 00:34:06.380 --> 00:34:12.179 that we might come to the fullness of God. And 00:34:12.179 --> 00:34:15.440 Paul says, I'm praying for every family in heaven 00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:18.840 and on earth. We need to use our privilege. We 00:34:18.840 --> 00:34:21.300 need to set aside time in our lives for prayer. 00:34:23.039 --> 00:34:25.260 We need to discipline ourselves so that nothing 00:34:25.260 --> 00:34:28.619 keeps us from becoming familiar. with the spiritual 00:34:28.619 --> 00:34:31.800 weapon that we've been issued so that nothing 00:34:31.800 --> 00:34:35.780 keeps us from using it. Now, certainly not in 00:34:35.780 --> 00:34:38.039 the sense that Paul means here, but in another 00:34:38.039 --> 00:34:40.579 sense, I'd like for us to pray for families tonight. 00:34:41.639 --> 00:34:46.519 We have intense spiritual warfare in our church 00:34:46.519 --> 00:34:51.380 and some of our families. The enemy is at work, 00:34:52.039 --> 00:34:54.519 and his desire is destruction. Make no mistake 00:34:54.519 --> 00:35:00.489 about it. He seeks to devour. And we need to 00:35:00.489 --> 00:35:02.590 be praying regarding this. We need to get out 00:35:02.590 --> 00:35:07.769 this spiritual weapon and put it to use. Families 00:35:07.769 --> 00:35:09.909 are in spiritual warfare. And tonight, I want 00:35:09.909 --> 00:35:13.650 us to pray for families. Represented here, perhaps, 00:35:13.690 --> 00:35:17.010 there are some families who are sensing spiritual 00:35:17.010 --> 00:35:21.489 warfare, the oppression of Satan in your home. 00:35:22.949 --> 00:35:25.889 If that's not true of you, perhaps you know of 00:35:25.889 --> 00:35:30.190 a family. in our church or outside of our church. 00:35:31.550 --> 00:35:34.110 A Christian family undergoing attack of the enemy. 00:35:34.309 --> 00:35:36.849 Tonight I want us to pray for them. And what 00:35:36.849 --> 00:35:39.050 I'm going to ask you to do is to come here to 00:35:39.050 --> 00:35:42.570 the front, along all these chairs, whether it 00:35:42.570 --> 00:35:44.869 be for your own family or it be for a family 00:35:44.869 --> 00:35:47.610 that you know about. If you tonight would like 00:35:47.610 --> 00:35:50.230 to pray for them, to bear them up before God 00:35:50.230 --> 00:35:53.130 or to bear up your own family before God, I'm 00:35:53.130 --> 00:35:54.849 going to ask you just to come, slip out and come 00:35:54.849 --> 00:35:57.230 right here to the front. so that we can pray 00:35:57.230 --> 00:35:59.610 for families. And I'd like to ask our staff and 00:35:59.610 --> 00:36:02.849 our elders who are here to also join me in the 00:36:02.849 --> 00:36:05.809 front. Let's do that right now. Now, when you're 00:36:05.809 --> 00:36:07.809 coming, you're coming either to pray for your 00:36:07.809 --> 00:36:12.190 family or for a family you know about. And I 00:36:12.190 --> 00:36:14.449 realize that we have some who are not married. 00:36:14.489 --> 00:36:16.190 And by the way, just kneel here at the chairs. 00:36:18.070 --> 00:36:21.070 We have some who are single. And it may be that 00:36:21.070 --> 00:36:24.750 you know of some relationships. Not husband and 00:36:24.750 --> 00:36:28.809 wife kind of relationships, but other relationships, 00:36:29.130 --> 00:36:32.010 roommate kinds of relationships. And you know 00:36:32.010 --> 00:36:34.570 that there is warfare going on there. We invite 00:36:34.570 --> 00:36:37.170 you to come for them. Or maybe it's your own 00:36:37.170 --> 00:36:43.349 roommate situation. No one's excluded. And tonight 00:36:43.349 --> 00:36:46.349 we're praying. We're asking God on behalf of 00:36:46.349 --> 00:36:53.750 others. And I'd like for us to... All of us to 00:36:53.750 --> 00:36:57.969 pray, certainly. But those who are here in the 00:36:57.969 --> 00:37:00.409 front have particular ones in mind. And I'm going 00:37:00.409 --> 00:37:04.269 to ask that we just spend a few moments in silent 00:37:04.269 --> 00:37:07.530 prayer. I'm going to ask that our elders and 00:37:07.530 --> 00:37:10.230 staff simply spread out and mingle here. And 00:37:10.230 --> 00:37:13.030 if you have a need to talk to a pastor or to 00:37:13.030 --> 00:37:15.889 an elder, and just to share very briefly what 00:37:15.889 --> 00:37:18.730 you're here for, what that person is going through 00:37:18.730 --> 00:37:21.510 that you're praying for. what your family's passing 00:37:21.510 --> 00:37:23.789 through, feel free to just signal to them to 00:37:23.789 --> 00:37:27.190 come over and let them pray with you. Just be 00:37:27.190 --> 00:37:31.889 a personal shepherd to you tonight. But as we 00:37:31.889 --> 00:37:38.909 lift our hearts before God in quietness, let's 00:37:38.909 --> 00:37:41.309 take hold of this weapon, this mighty weapon 00:37:41.309 --> 00:38:03.829 of prayer. Let me just say again that if you're 00:38:03.829 --> 00:38:06.250 here in the front and you desire a pastor or 00:38:06.250 --> 00:38:09.730 an elder to be aware of what you're passing through 00:38:09.730 --> 00:38:12.909 or your friend is passing through, just signal 00:38:12.909 --> 00:38:17.949 for one of them to come. Let them pray with you. 00:38:37.809 --> 00:38:43.929 Oh Father, our God, we come to you through faith 00:38:43.929 --> 00:38:48.230 in the Lord Jesus Christ. We bless you that you 00:38:48.230 --> 00:38:50.590 have opened the way that we might come through 00:38:50.590 --> 00:38:54.570 His shed blood. Thank you for the freedom to 00:38:54.570 --> 00:38:58.710 come and the freedom to speak on behalf of our 00:38:58.710 --> 00:39:04.809 families, behalf of relationships that are under 00:39:04.809 --> 00:39:10.420 attack of the enemy. We acknowledge to you that 00:39:10.420 --> 00:39:13.199 there are many different situations represented 00:39:13.199 --> 00:39:18.800 as we kneel and lift our hands before you tonight 00:39:18.800 --> 00:39:28.500 Lord you know the oppression You know the point 00:39:28.500 --> 00:39:37.139 of the attack You know the footholds that have 00:39:37.139 --> 00:39:41.610 been gained in lives, in marriages, in homes 00:39:41.610 --> 00:39:47.869 by the enemy. You also know the territory that's 00:39:47.869 --> 00:39:51.369 been taken back from the enemy. You know the 00:39:51.369 --> 00:39:53.730 progress that has been made in some of the battles 00:39:53.730 --> 00:39:59.550 that are represented here tonight. Lord, you 00:39:59.550 --> 00:40:03.309 have called us to be a people of prayer and to 00:40:03.309 --> 00:40:07.889 exercise in faith this mighty spiritual weapon. 00:40:09.159 --> 00:40:12.940 In our hearts we take aim against the enemy. 00:40:14.199 --> 00:40:18.380 We put the cross hairs upon him and upon his 00:40:18.380 --> 00:40:22.199 tactics in these families and homes and relationships. 00:40:24.340 --> 00:40:29.039 We pray against every thought, every idea that 00:40:29.039 --> 00:40:34.179 has been exalted against the purpose of God in 00:40:34.179 --> 00:40:39.429 these homes and families. Every stronghold that 00:40:39.429 --> 00:40:43.929 has been erected by the enemy, we pull down in 00:40:43.929 --> 00:40:50.789 the name of Jesus Christ. We pray that there 00:40:50.789 --> 00:40:54.289 will not be able to stand any plan or strategy 00:40:54.289 --> 00:40:59.070 or scheme that Satan has put together against 00:40:59.070 --> 00:41:04.210 these marriages, against the relationships between 00:41:04.210 --> 00:41:08.579 parents and children. in the relationships of 00:41:08.579 --> 00:41:15.699 roommates and friends. We pray that in every 00:41:15.699 --> 00:41:18.460 situation which you sovereignly know you will 00:41:18.460 --> 00:41:22.820 bring to pass deliverance and victory. May there 00:41:22.820 --> 00:41:26.480 be grace in the midst of the battle to stand 00:41:26.480 --> 00:41:34.059 strong in Christ Jesus. But ultimately we pray 00:41:34.059 --> 00:41:39.110 for that victory to come through. And we pray, 00:41:39.389 --> 00:41:41.690 Father, that the enemy will be totally defeated 00:41:41.690 --> 00:41:45.170 in these lives. May the works of darkness be 00:41:45.170 --> 00:41:49.849 exposed by the light of Christ. May the result 00:41:49.849 --> 00:41:53.750 be peace. May the result be restoration. May 00:41:53.750 --> 00:41:56.090 the result be harmony. In the name of Christ, 00:41:56.130 --> 00:42:01.329 we pray. And we will be careful to give you thanks. 00:42:03.389 --> 00:42:06.659 We will be careful to lift our Hands to you and 00:42:06.659 --> 00:42:09.659 our voices to you, giving you thanks for the 00:42:09.659 --> 00:42:12.980 way that you hear and answer our prayers tonight. 00:42:23.219 --> 00:42:29.460 Now finish your own thoughts to God. And Lord, 00:42:29.599 --> 00:42:32.280 we lift these requests, we lift these burdens, 00:42:32.539 --> 00:42:37.500 these dear individuals and families to you in 00:42:37.500 --> 00:42:42.599 prayer. In the name of Jesus, amen. And all God's 00:42:42.599 --> 00:42:44.599 people said, amen.