A Praying Church

Ephesians 6:18-24: "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 Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
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. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.
Peace to the brothers and sisters,[a] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

As Paul ends his letter to the church in Ephesus, he encourages them to the keep "praying always" (Ephesians 6:18-24, NKJV).  Clearly, prayer is one the critical components of Christianity, yet many believers seem to regard prayer as an occasional luxury. (John MacArthur, p. 89)

As I reflected, I realized that I absolutely used to think that!  I thought that it didn't really matter if I prayed because God was in control of everything anyway.  What is my little prayer going to do?  Surely God has more "important" things to deal with!  I realized though that these thoughts were coming from a place of arrogance and lack of trust.  These thoughts meant that I could handle things on my own and didn't trust that God would really make a difference.

I learned something else this week too from John 15:7-8.

"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

God wants us to trust Him and pray to Him.  He wants us to ask. It isn't because He doesn't already know what is going to happen, but so that He can respond to our requests.  He wants to give believers what we ask Him for. It is through this that he is glorified!  His faithful response to our prayers increase our faith and give testimony of God to others.  He is like an earthly father who wants his children to go to him and rely on him. 

"When we work, we work, but when we pray, God works." - Unknown

​Consider these questions honestly and share your thoughts in the comments below. 
4) How does Luke 22:39-46 contribute to your understanding of prayer as a weapon in our war against Satan?
5) Clearly, prayer is one of the critical components of Christianity, yet many believers seem to regard prayer as an occasional luxury.  Why?
7) What do the quotes on p. 90 and, more importantly, the Scriptural texts studied in this lesson, teach or remind you of as you contemplate your own habits of prayer?

​As we close our time together studying Ephesians, consider if you are fully trusting God?  Is His Word, the Bible, your truth?  It is OK to wrestle with the question of who God really is to you.  He invites us into this conversation with Him!  He is waiting with arms wide open to give you "every spiritual blessing in Christ: (Ephesians 1: 3).