Pray, Read the book of Ephesians, Praise God!
Coming down the homestretch of this wonderful epistle. Has your life changed? Have you slowed down the negative and seen the positive effect God's Word has on your flesh, your mind, your thoughts? Amazing isn't it? The Holy Spirit is alive and doing His work in spite of the pressures of this world, in spite of the devil's plans to thwart holiness, in spite of our resistance to discipline ourselves...
STUDY VERSES:
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,
19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
STUDY QUESTIONS:
1. What does it mean to "pray in the Spirit"?
2. How can we pray all the time?
3. What does supplication mean?
4. Why do we pray for the Saints? Who are the Saints? Do we pray to Saints?
5. Paul asks for prayer to be bold and be given words to proclaim the gospel. Do you pray for your own boldness? How does it feel to be bold?
6. Do you pray for our church leaders and pastors to be bold? Does boldly proclaiming the gospel make your uncomfortable?
7. Do you think that "to each his own" when it comes to faith? Do you think these verses confirm the belief that we should all "have our own faith and keep it to ourselves?" Why or why not?
8. What is the "mystery"? Can you proclaim it boldly?
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Commentary from ESV:
Eph. 6:18–20 Being Constant in Prayer. This section offers instruction on prayer (the main weapon of spiritual warfare) and explains when, how, and for whom to pray.
Eph. 6:18 praying. The weapons for warfare are spiritual because they are rooted in prayer, which is the Christian's most powerful resource. Prayer is to permeate believers' lives as a universal practice, as seen by the use of “all” four times in this verse: at all times . . . with all prayer . . . with all perseverance . . . for all the saints. Prayer in the Spirit is a form of worship (John 4:23–24) enabled by the Spirit of God, who intercedes on behalf of the person who prays (Rom. 8:26–27).
This is a commentary by Henry Neuefeld, for me, it summed up my learnings and beliefs about these particular passages:
“always pray in the Spirit.” The TEV reads, “Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads.” My favorite, the REB reads, “. . . pray always in the power of the spirit.” If I could combine my favorite parts of those translations, I would suggest, “In every season {good and bad}, pray, and let your prayer be led by the Spirit.” Now that’s not a literal translation, but I think it’s an expansion that’s justified by the context.
This verse follows Paul’s exposition of the armor of God. Often we stop at the end of the armor passage, and ignore the rest. I’ve heard people repeatedly refer to “putting on the armor of God every morning.” I’m glad you’re putting it on in the morning, but I have to ask: “Why did you take it off last night?” I like to use the armor in my morning prayers, but I see it as a renewal. For Paul, this was a regular state of the Christian life (Galatians 3:27).
Now I may step on various people’s toes, but the key point here is to ask what it means to “pray in the Spirit.” My charismatic brothers and sisters believe this refers to praying in tongues, and it is tied to having a “prayer language.” This prayer language is given initially as the sign of baptism in the Spirit. Now I do pray in tongues, so what I’m about to say is not a criticism of those who pray in tongues. Nonetheless I see no scriptural warrant for the idea that “praying in the Spirit” is the equivalent of praying in tongues, or that any single gift is universal.
The gift of a prayer language is wonderful for my own spiritual life, but as Paul notes in 1 Corinthians 14, it is not an edifying practice in the church congregation, for example (without interpretation). Thus if there are occasions on which one should not pray in tongues, yet one should pray “on every occasion” or “in every season” in the Spirit, then we have a bit of a problem putting both passages into practice!
But the most clear reason not to view “praying in the Spirit” here as a reference to praying in a tongue is simply that there is no reference in the immediate context, or even in the entire book, to the gift of tongues or to prayer in tongues. It simply is not mentioned. Further, in the overall passage there are a number of specific elements commanded in this prayer, petitions are to be made, we are to keep watch and persevere, we are to pray for all the saints. If we are to pray without the mind engaged (1 Corinthians 14:14), why the specific instructions?
The reason here is that Paul is not talking about some particular practice or method of prayer. Paul is talking about our entire attitude and approach to life. The armor of God is not an adjunct to our other activities, it’s the fundamental content–our salvation, the truth, God’s word, God’s Spirit, God’s gift of faith. It’s something that’s turned on all the time. It’s not a phone call once a week, once a day, or even once an hour; it’s your spirit waiting to hear from God’s spirit all the time. It’s an open line where you know God’s presence.
But to be more precise, what does “in the Spirit” mean here? One of the responses I have gotten in discussions with those who believe this refers to praying in tongues is, “Then what is it?” Well, if we look at verse 10, which starts this section, we see that Paul admonishes us to “find [our] strength in the Lord” and then in verse 17 to take up the “sword of the Spirit, the word of God.” The REB again provides a translation I like, though you have to think of it in the context of the whole passage–”the sword which the Spirit gives you.” Now don’t limit the “word of God” here to the written word, though praying from scripture is an excellent approach. This is where “led by the Spirit” comes in.
Praying in the Spirit is, I believe, being so in touch with God that you are praying what God puts in your heart to pray. That’s why I say that prayer is not about getting things from God; it’s about aligning yourself with God’s will. That doesn’t mean that prayer accomplishes nothing, or that you won’t see answers. But it does leave you open for God to change you.
Henry continues: Some time after I returned to the church following my “wilderness wandering” out of seminary, I experienced the presence of God in a powerful way in my own office. Now don’t confuse “powerful” with “pleasant.” In fact, I spent nearly a week, from early Tuesday during my prayer time to Friday afternoon, arguing with God. Now I don’t think arguing with God is a terribly profitable activity, but God can really work you over in such an experience. Many things in my life and ministry changed during that week. But there was one thing that was critical. My prayer life changed.
Before, as a trained Bible teacher, I was often called upon to pray in worship services or for particular people at the altar. When a missionary visited, I knew I would be called on to pray, because my parents were missionaries and I grew up overseas. So when there was a missionary there talking, I would be preparing my prayer for them, composing the right set of words to “bless them” and keep the congregation involved. I prayed some well-composed prayers, even though they were not written. But I must confess that those prayers were terribly routine.
Following my week with God I experienced something new, but I didn’t notice it until someone commented after I had again been called upon to pray for a visiting missionary. He told me it was different. Before my prayers had been eloquent, but routine. Now, he told me, he could feel the power. I realized that I had not composed that prayer. I had not thought about it in advance. I hadn’t felt pressured to “produce” as soon as I was in front of the church. I was just waiting for the Lord to lead and prayer from my heart as the Lord led.
Praying always in the Spirit, I believe, is simply letting God lead in our prayers at all times.
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Can I relate to what Henry Neufeld says about a change in our prayer life! In an earlier study I commented on a study group where I was asked to speak. God closed my mouth, simply shut my mouth (which isn't easy, mind you :)). I realize now that God was moving the Holy Spirit--He simply does not have to abide by our concept of time, space, physics nor take into account "my feelings"!
I can recall three times over the past twenty-two years of walking with God where I had such a profound move from Him. This one that happened on January 28th will be remembered as part of my testimony of what God has accomplished in my life. Huh, revelation? Just now seeing how and why the Holy Spirit shut my mouth that night. Most people called it "nerves", "fear" or whatever...I know, what I know what I know!
So the subtleties of living for Him are the moment-by-moment energy that He gives us to stay on the path and keep our eyes on the prize. The life-changing, profound and unexplainable times (if we are fortunate to recognize them) are those explosive, stratospheric, otherworldly, and phenomenal times that confirm, boldly, that Jesus is Lord; He is Alive; He Reigns; His Word is Truth; and We Shall Dwell in the House of the Lord Forever and Ever and Ever...Love you, Beloved-Sister Lisa
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