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welcome to everyone it's good to be back in the house of our God for our call to worship you can turn with me in your Bibles to Psalm 119 psalm 19 the specific section will be verses 33- 40 Psalm 119 beginning in verse 33 Teach Me O Lord the way of your statutes and I shall keep it to the end give me understanding and I shall keep your law indeed I shall observe it with my whole heart make me walk in the path of your Commandments for I Delight in it incline my heart to your testimonies and not to covetousness turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things and revive me in your way establish your word to your servant who is devoted to fearing you turn away my reproach which I dread for your judgments are good behold I long for your precepts revive me in your righteousness amen well please turn to Psalm 100 Psalm 100b as in and we'll stand as we sing together [Music] 100b sing to our with his [Music] PR is us all we are Sur by his his [Music] with his us the mercy is forever All Shall to wa well let us pray our gracious God and Father we thank you that we get to enter into your gates with joy and Thanksgiving we thank you for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ we thank you for your Redemptive Grace and the mercy that you have poured out upon us for certainly we are not included in that blessed number because of our our own works of righteousness our own our own lawke keeping but we stand in awe at what Christ has accomplished on our behalf his life of perfect obedience to the father his death on Calvary as a substitute and sacrifice and his resurrection again that third day we bless you for the Glorious Gospel of our Salvation we bless you for his current session now at your right hand and we look forward to his return again in glory to judge the living and the dead may we all stand in awe of what Christ has accomplished and as we sing tonight help us to do so in a way that is pleasing in your sight as the psalmist prayed that you would be enthroned upon the Praises of Israel we ask that you would look with favor upon this local body we pray that you would strengthen and encourage and and build each one of us up in our Most Holy Faith we pray that your Holy Spirit would guide us tonight that we would approach you with that reverence that is fitting and appropriate for such a holy God such a glorious and Majestic God but as well mingle it with great joy with Thanksgiving with gratitude for what you have done for us in the gospel of our Salvation we confess our sin our remaining corruption we know father that you call us unto Holiness but we also know from our own experience and what we see in Romans 7 and Galatians 5 that there is this contrariness in our own Hearts there is that remaining corruption so we confess that even now trusting in the advocacy of our Lord Jesus Christ the one whoever ever lives to make intercession for us God we thank you as well that there is forgiveness with you that you may be feared and may that be our experience and may you encourage us and build us up so that we may not continue in those things that are displeasing in your sight for any and all here tonight God that are dead in their trespasses and sins we pray that you would awaken them by the power of the spirit that you would cause them to be born again to see Christ as altogether lovely and chief among 10,000 and may they by Grace believe on him for salvation we ask that you would bless uh with great grace the the the young people and the children in this congregation we are very Mindful and thankful to you we know that this is a gift given by you so give them Grace God to remember their creator in their youth cause them to hear the sound of the gospel and may they hear of a glorious savior in Jesus Christ as well we pray for the many babies that are in the wombs we just pray that you would watch over them and give them health and safety and protection and in your time God may they come forth as well we pray again for Mr Faber we just pray that you would bless him that you would help him you would watch over his family at this time of trial and affliction and hardship and difficulty may he find great joy in the promise of Psalm 23 that though he goes through the valley of the shadow of death the Lord Christ is with him that his uh rod and staff comfort him and may He indeed rejoice in these good these good truths that we find in Holy scripture we ask God that you would bless the other churches in our community we thank you for the the brothers that are Faithfully leading their congregations we just commend them to you and to the word of your grace and pray that you would prosper and Advance the cause of God and Truth in this community we pray for churches all throughout this nation the psalmist Cried Out revive me we pray for Revival amongst the people of God that we would think your thoughts after you that we we would be prayerful that we would indeed come to the throne of grace with boldness calling upon you to bless this land and God we pray specifically for the preaching of your gospel that many would come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and God for those in high places in civil government we pray that you'd either restrain uh redeem them or restrain them or remove them from these positions of influence wherein they legislate immorality and godlessness we cry against the this the sins the crimes of abortion and and Maid and all manner of sexual perversion we know that righteousness does exalt a nation but sin is a reproach to any people so God we pray that in your wrath you would remember Mercy in this nation of Canada as well we pray for the persecuted Church throughout the Earth God we read daily or uh on a regular basis of the various hardships and trials that our Brethren face in other parts of the world we think of Myanmar and their ongoing struggles and difficult ulties and hardships we pray for those who recently suffered in these bomb blasts we pray God that you would protect them from such things that the Orange Grove would be surrounded by you and that you would be be very gracious to keep and protect each one give wisdom and strength and Grace to Peter to continue to persevere and to continue to provide leadership in that situation and father we thank you for this time together tonight we pray that we would knowe your nearness that we would indeed count ourselves blessed that we are able to participate in the corporate worship of the Triune God even Father Son and Holy Spirit and we pray in jesus' name amen you can turn with me again in your hym books to 233 233 we'll stand as we sing together you can turn in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy for our scripture reading this evening Deuteronomy chapter 24 Deuteronomy chapter 24 beginning in verse one when a man takes a wife and marries her and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some uncleanness in her and he writes her a certificate of divorce puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house when she has departed from his house and goes and becomes another man's wife if the latter husband detests her and writes her a certificate of divorce puts it in her hand and sends her out of his house or if the latter husband dies who took her as his wife then her former husband who divorced her must not take her back to be his wife after she has been defiled for that is an Abomination before the Lord and you shall not bring sin on the land which the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance when a man has taken a new wife he shall not go out to war or be charged with any business he shall be free at home one year and bring happiness to his wife whom he has taken no man shall take the lower or the Upper Millstone in pledge for he takes one's living in pledge if a man is found kidnapping any of his Brethren of the children of Israel and mistreats him or sells him then that kidnapper shall die and you shall put away the evil from among you take heed in an outbreak of leprosy that you carefully observe and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you just as I commanded them so you shall be careful to do remember what the Lord your God did to Miriam on the way when you came out of Egypt when you lend your brother anything you you shall not go into his house to get his pledge you shall stand outside and the man to whom you lend shall bring the pledge out to you and if the man is poor you shall not keep his pledge overnight you shall in any case return the pledge to him again when the Sun goes down that he may sleep in his own garment and bless you and it shall be righteousness to you before the Lord your God you shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens who is in your land within your Gates each day you shall give him his wages and not let the sun go down on it for he is poor and has set his heart on it lest he cry out against you to the Lord and it be sin to you father shall not be put to death for their children nor shall children be put to death for their fathers A person shall be put to death for his own sin you shall not pervert Justice do the stranger or the fatherless nor take a Widow's garment as a plag but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there therefore I command you to do this thing when you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheath in the field you shall not go back to get it it shall be for the stranger the fatherless and the Widow that the Lord your God May bless you in all the work of your hands when you beat your olive trees you shall not go over the bows again it shall be for the stranger the fatherless and the Widow when you gather The Grapes of your Vineyard you shall not glean it afterward it shall be for the stranger the fatherless and the Widow and you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt therefore I command you to do this thing amen well let us pray our gracious God we thank you for your holy word we know that it's inspired given by inspiration of God and that it's profitable for us and we thank you that you reveal in the Old Testament your holy law it reveals to us something of of your Perfections Your Glory your majesty as well father we thank you that we have our our blessed savior to redeem us from the curse of the law and we pray that you would be glorified in our lives as we take heed to what he says in John 14:15 if we love him we'll keep his Commandments not so that we may be saved but because by Grace we have been saved we bless you and we praise you and we thank you for these things in Jesus name amen well for our final hymn before we look at Ephesians 6 you can turn to 518 518 we'll stand as we sing [Music] together Jesus to he will never turn the way he will never turn away you are to with you for his PR and our can ever pass [Music] to your for s still my conse from my to be in take of my heart your and without the and as me to my my I am to my strength I would have your will GL [Music] is you can turn with me in your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 6 Ephesians 6 as we finish the armor of God and close out the epistle Ephesians chapter 6 our Focus will be verses 18 to 24 I'll pick up reading in verse 10 so Ephesians 6:10 finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the Ws of the devil for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities against Powers against the rulers of the darkness of this age against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the Heavenly places therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand stand therefore having girded your waist with truth having put on the breastplate of righteousness and having sha your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace above all taking the shield of Faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God praying always with all prayer and supplication in the the spirit being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints and for me that utterance may be given to me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known The Mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains that in it I may speak boldly as I ought to speak but that you also may know my Affairs and how I am doing tius a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will make all things known to you whom I have sent to you for this very purpose that you may know our Affairs and that he may Comfort your hearts peace to the Brethren and love with Faith from God the father and the Lord Jesus Christ Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity amen well let us pray Our Father we thank you for this section of Holy scripture we pray now for illumination and guidance by the Holy Spirit who gave us this word help us God to think conscious ly of this whole armor of God each and every day to take up those defensive elements to take up these offensive elements and to seek to be faithful soldiers of our Lord Jesus Christ in this present evil age give us boldness and courage to speak the truth and love give us Grace God to defend the Christian faith to condemn earnestly for it as Jude bids Us in Jude 3 and to do so For Your Glory and for your honor forgive us again of all sin and unrighteousness and guide us now we pray through Christ Our Lord amen well last week we looked or two weeks ago we looked at the first part of this whole armor of God remember that this whole section prior to the close of the epistle is marked by several imperatives or several commands the Apostle says to be strong verse 10 put on verse 11 take up verse 13 and then stand in verse 14 and then he indicates the various elements involved in this whole armor of God and one man says that Paul draws from the imagery of Isaiah which depicts Yahweh and his Messiah as the Divine Warrior who is clothed with armor as he prepares for battle to defend and vindicate his people and so the Apostle is calling us to engage in like attitude we need to take up this whole armor so in verses 14 and following he gives a description of that armor we looked last time at the defensive elements 14 to 17 notice the the belt of truth then he goes on to say the breastplate of righteousness feet prepared with the gospel of peace The Shield of faith and the helmet of salvation the Apostle Paul lived in the Roman Empire the Apostle Paul saw the Roman soldiers the Apostle Paul understood what it was they wore in terms of defense and what they wielded in terms of offense as P says relative to these various elements get yourselves furnished with with every Grace that none be wanting in you no part naked or exposed to your enemies so these defense uh defensive elements are crucial to guard against the attack of the enemy but he doesn't leave us without offense and the offensive elements are in verses 17 and 18 notice after speaking of the helmet of salvation he then indicates the sword of the spirit and then he tells us that is the word of God and then he bids us to pray in verse 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit so while we defend ourselves with those various elements involved in verses 14 to 17A we also have an offense we are to be a people of the book and we are to be a people at the throne of grace before our gracious God so I want to look first at the word of God in verse 17b and then secondly the necessity of Prayer in verse 18 and following till uh till we get to the close of the epistle so overall whole armor of God and then the close of the epistle to the Ephesians but first notice this statement concerning the sword of the spirit and then this further identification which is the word of God he's already indicated to us the necessity of Truth notice in verse 14 having girded your waist with truth in other words we are not without defense and we are not without an offense we have the word of the Living God we have the sword of the Spirit by which we are to engage the enemy now obviously the sword of the spirit isn't carnal it's not metal it's not 24 Ines long rather the sword of the spirit is the word of God so when I speak of engaging the enemy don't report me for a hate crime because I'm you know sort of advocating to go in and blow up a an arena or something but we Engage The the enemy with the sword of the spirit the word of God remember Jesus identifies in himself in John 14:6 as the way the truth and the life in fact if you look at John 18 you see this emphasis on Truth by our savior and it is an emphasis that Paul enjoins to the church with reference to her life in this world notice specifically in John 18 Jesus before Pontius Pilate in verse 37 pilate therefore said to him are you a king then Jesus answered you say rightly that I am a king for this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world that I should bear witness to the truth everyone who is of the truth hears my voice so when we get to an Ephesians 6:17 and the Apostle is telling us that we ought to emphasize the sword of the spirit which is the word of God we ought not to be surprised this is what marked characterized and uh uh demonstrated our Lord's Ministry in terms of his Earthly Ministry but then turning to Paul again second uh second Timothy chapter 3 very familiar passage of scripture that highlights the the various attributes of God's word it is something that or functions of God's word it's something that we need to embi notice in 2 Timothy 3 at: 16 all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction and righteousness that the man of God may be complete thoroughly equipped for every good work look at Hebrews chap 4 where this idea of the sword element is involved in a description of the scriptures notice in Hebrews 4:12 for the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the division of Soul and Spirit and of joints and Marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart turn over to the Book of Revelation where you see this same sort of imagery employed with reference to a description of God's holy word revelation 1 specifically in verse 16 he had in his right hand Seven Stars out of his mouth when a sharp two-edged sword and his countenance was like the sun shining in its strength and then again in Chapter 2 at verse 12 to the church at pergamos verse 12 and to the angel of the church in pergamos write these things says he who has the SHP sharp two-edged sword and then in Revelation 19 we get this description of the writer on the White Horse this is Christ and in Revelation 19 specifically at verse 11 now I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse and he who sat on him was called faithful and true and in righteousness he judges and makes War his eyes were like a flame of fire and on his head were many crowns he had a name written that no one knew except himself he was clothed with a robe dipped in Blood and his name is called the word of God and the armies in heaven clothed in fine linen white and clean followed him on white horses now out of his mouth goes a sharp sword that with it he should strike the Nations and he himself will rule them with a rod of iron he himself Treads The Wine Press of the fierceness and Wrath of almighty God and he has on his robe and on his thigh a name written king of kings and Lord of lords so the Lord Jesus Christ in his own Earthly Ministry wielded The Sword in terms of his own defense and offense remember in that Wilderness setting when the spirit drives him out there to be tempted by the death how does Jesus resist the onslaught of the devil he cites the word of God on three occasions he invokes the scripture and he uses that to rebuff his enemy John Ed makes it uh made this observation the captain of Salvation set the example and once and again and a third time did he repel the assault of the Prince of Darkness by three brief and simple citations from scripture diplomacy and argument truths and Armistice Armistice are of no avail the Ken right sword of the spirit must be un sheathed and lifted that is precisely the pattern set forth by our lord Jesus now Brethren it is good to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the Saints it is good for us to defend that faith that has been given to us it is good as well for us to wield that sword of the spirit in the light of godlessness and atheen Atheism and all manner of defac among those who profess the name of our Lord Jesus Christ know words there are seasons and times and occasions where the church goes on the offense relative to the proclamation of God's holy truth it is that by which he extends the kingdom of Jesus Christ on Earth Jesus makes that very clear and conspicuous in John 1837 he is a king that doesn't rule specifically with this military might he is a king who orchestrates the spiritual Kingdom with reference to truth he advances is his cause in that particular manner so we see that Christ is identified by truth we see that the instrument that Christ uses is truth but then there ought to be this imitation by the church turn to First Timothy chapter 3 1 Timothy chap 3 specifically at verse 14 these things I write to you though I hope to come to you shortly but if I am delayed I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God so he gives this statement about how you ought to conduct now he's not suggesting this don't read the aess here as SW Timothy can take or leave these instructions now the aess here is divine imperative this is the way you must conduct yourself Timothy the house belongs to God you don't go into somebody else's house and change things around if you do you might get a punch in the nose I'm not saying God will punch you in the nose but might actually be worse you don't go into somebody's house and start redecor decorating because the householder has ordained certain conduct and certain things in his house well God is the householder in the church so when Paul says to Timothy how you ought to conduct yourself again this isn't suggested this isn't a bit of a recommendation this is divine mandate with reference to Timothy but then he goes on to further describe the the the the house of God he goes on to say which is the Church of the Living God so we ask the question what's the house of God in this New Covenant setting well it's the Church of the Living God and then he identifies it by its Chief characteristic notice it's not the pillar and ground of your felt needs it's not the pillar and ground of your emotional benefit it's not the pillar and ground of your religious experience it's the pillar and ground of the truth that's our calling in this world to wield the sword of the spirit which is the word of God to be faithful to the commander who gave us that pattern an example and that commander who has commanded Us by his new testament Apostles in the way that they instruct us to look at some Churches today the last thing you would think is that they're pillars and ground of the truth they might be pillars and grounds of entertainment they might be pillars and grounds of group therapy they might be pillars and grounds of story time but they're not the pillar and ground of the truth again the church has one function three marks to be sure proclamation of the word discipline and the administration of the sacraments we can boil that all down to one specific idea we need to make much of God's holy word we need to be a people of the truth we need to make sure that that is what we prize and value and hold on to we need to wield the sword of the spirit which seems to indicate or imply or infer that we need to understand that word we can't go into battle with a sword that is untested we're not going to face atheism or agnosticism or or the various other you know isms that have departed or defected from the Christian truth we're not going to be able to do that if we ourselves don't know the scripture it's probably not surprising that few today wield the sword of the spirit when they get into these public combats because they haven't been taught and in a few moments we're going to see that the Apostle Paul highlights his ambassadorship as Christ's servant when we in the Pastoral Ministry or in churches entertain the idea that we can forfeit ambassadorship on behalf of Jesus for being a CEO or being a cheerleader or being an Entertainer we have not seriously engaged with Holy scripture we have not seriously engaged with our theological tradition we are trying to fight a battle that we're IL equipped to fight we're trying to engage an enemy without any offensive Weaponry we're trying to go out there and do something that we can't do we're trying to charge hell itself with a water gun you can't do that you need to mount a legitimate offensive against the enemy and the Apostle identifies that as the sword of the spirit which is the word of God I want to quote Brooks Thomas Brooks with reference to the importance of truth I quoted this last time I preached through the whole armor not two weeks ago but I think last year he says All Souls have you not found truth sweetening your spirits cheering your spirits warming your spirits raising your spirits and corroborating your spirits have you not found truth a guide to lead you a staff to uphold you a cordial to strengthen you and a plaster to heal you and will you not hold fast the truth has not truth been your best friend in your worst days has not truth stood by you when friends have forsaken you has not truth done more for you than all the world could do against you and will you not hold f F the truth is not truth your right eye with wi without which you cannot see for Christ and your right hand without which you cannot do for Christ and your right foot without which you cannot walk with Christ and will you not hold fast the truth oh hold fast the truth in your judgments and understandings in your wills and affections in your profession and conversation you are better let go anything than truth you were better let go your honors and riches your friends and pleasures and the world's favors yay your nearest and dearest relations yay your very lives than to let go truth oh keep the truth and truth will make you safe and happy forever blessed are those Souls that are kept by truth I don't think he's exaggerating I don't think he's just doing purit and ease I think he's engaging properly with the value and the supremacy of Truth in a fallen World filled with lies and deception what marks the devil's rule what marks the devil's Reign what marks the devil's sort of characteristics well he was a murderer and a liar from the beginning God most high is referred to in in Psalm 315 as Lord God of Truth I've already mentioned John 14:6 I am the way the truth and the life when Jesus promises the spirit in John 1416 he calls him the spirit of Truth yet not three truths one truth three Divine beings so with reference to truth that's our bread and butter if we sacrifice the truth if we give away the truth if we say that truth ought not to Mark our churches but just all kinds of love and happiness Brethren it's a love and a happiness that is rooted in the truth 1 Corinthians 13 love rejoices in truth it doesn't rejoice in falsehood it doesn't rejoice in deception it doesn't rejoice in lies it rejoices in truth and so for the Apostle Paul it was absolutely crucial that the church in Ephesus not only Dawn themselves with those defensive elements but to take up that sword of the spirit to engage those principalities remember the reason why he tells us in verse 10 to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might and then he tells us in verse 11 put on the whole armor of God he then goes on to explain why that you may be able to stand against the Ws of the devil he gives an explanatory statement for we do not rest against flesh and blood but against principalities against Powers against the rulers of the darkness of this age against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the Heavenly places therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand that the Apostle appeals to martial imagery I think suggests something very important commanders know what their troops need commanders get the big bucks because they're the strategists they're the tacticians they're the ones that have surveyed the enemy they're the ones that have surveyed the enemy's resources they're the ones that know the enemy's Firepower so when it comes to down to equipping their own men you think they're going to send them against an enemy that they're ill equipped to meet of course not I mean if he does he'll be Court marshal or shot because of his dereliction of Duty but he's going to survey the enemy and that will dictate the needs for his own troops that's precisely how the armor of God functions in this passage the weapons of our Warfare Paul says in uh 2 Corinthians 10 they're not carnal they're Mighty for the pulling down of strongholds so because our enemy is described here in verse 12 as spiritual in nature we don't wrestle against flesh and blood and again there is that physical manifestation through Planned Parenthood through Godless government through all those agencies but we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities against Powers against the rulers of the darkness of this age against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the Heavenly places that's why when he comes to describe the defensive and offensive elements he doesn't do so carnally he doesn't do so physically he doesn't say go down to Dart and tackle and buy a big gun now again Brethren there is the object of being the body in the body politic he wouldn't diminish your right to protect yourself as an individual but in terms of the advancement of the church in terms of our spiritual enemy in terms of the spiritual warfare that is ours he describes defensive elements and offensive elements that speak particularly to the threat so if we don't put these things on if we don't wield the sword of truth which is the word of God then we will be ill equipped to meet the enemy we're going to die we are going to be bested we are going to be mopped up by the enemy and so the Apostle doesn't want that the commander of the apostle that used him to pen these words doesn't want that so for us we need to take Serious ly the defensive elements and the offensive and then notice the place of prayer the necessity of prayer two things I want to consider here first the manner of prayer secondly the object of prayer note the manner in verse 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication so that's the manner in which we are to pray and again that shouldn't surprise us Paul does similar things in other Epistles but look at this he says first of all the need for constancy praying always I think at times we stumble over passages like that and say well you know I'm working with heavy equipment and if I mess up then I'm going to lose an arm Paul's not telling you to jeopardize your arm by praying be in a disposition a man a manner or an attitude of prayerfulness there are seasons when to pray would jeopardize an appendage and you don't want to do that and God's not calling you to sacrifice your arm because you're praying no that's not what it means it doesn't mean don't eat breakfast because you got to pray don't have time with your wife because you got to pray always praying means that you're always in that disposition understanding the nature of the enemy knowing the the glory of our our blessed God and to be a prayerful person to be a person that seeks to pray with constancy you see that in Luke 181 the antidote to anxiousness is that men always ought to pray and not lose heart as I mention you see it in Colossians as well first Thessalonians this constancy in the th at the throne of grace 1 Thessalonians 5:17 praying always but as well notice after constancy is the need of the Holy Spirit notice what he says specifically praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit that doesn't mean your spirit it means the Holy Spirit and I think in the backdrop we might consider Romans chapter 8 Romans chapter 8 that sort of enig enigmatic passage that maybe we don't fully understand it we can't explain everything but we trust that God is telling us good things and we trust that even when we can't formulate the proper words the spirit who dwells in US is at work for us in terms of prayer and intercession notice in Romans 8:26 likewise the spirit also helps in our weaknesses for we do not know what we should pray as we uh for as we ought but the spirit himself makes intercession for us with uh with groanings uh excuse me for us with groanings which cannot be uttered now he who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the spirit is because he makes intercession for the Saints according to the will of God I mentioned that this morning praying is to be according to the will of God well there might be feasibly a time when you just don't know what that is so you all on your own is that it you can't pray well no the spirit is at work in you the spirit can intercede for you and thankfully he does he overcomes our weakness he overcomes our infirmity he overcomes our inability but then thirdly the Apostle Paul highlights the need for watchfulness so praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit being watchful to this end I think the best illustration of this is Gethsemane Matthew chapter 26 Peter James and John accompany the Savior into the garden Jesus is exceedingly sorrowful even as his soul is exceedingly sorrowful even unto death this is an intense moment for him the Luke uh Luke in tells us he sweat drops of blood as he faces the cup of God's holy wrath so how does he find Peter James and John they're asleep they're out now he doesn't smack them around he doesn't pinch them he says you know the flesh is or the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak I think there's a Psalm 103 sort of at least an illusion there he knows our frame he pies us but what's the admonition from the savior in that hour of crisis in need Watch and Pray Watch and Pray why because this is the hour of Darkness what are you supposed to be doing you're supposed to be praying the hour of Darkness that came upon the Savior at the cross well certainly if we are in the language of Ephesians 6 uh 13 to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand we are to Be watchful now Brethren I can complain probably just as much or more than everyone in here I need to I need to preach to myself you're going to pray uh uh complain about the government pray for the government in other words Be watchful be mindful be cognizant of the realities that are going on in the world and be prayerful with reference to that and then the last thing he says is perseverance often times we're lightweights at the throne of grace because we think God's on our time frame and not us on his well I prayed nothing happened I mentioned this morning no is an answer it really is an answer answer we don't like the answer but no words all you parents know that right how many times have you told your own children no do your children then complain well you never answer me well they might but their main complaint is that you never give me the answer I want well Brethren perseverance at the throne of grace is requisite again God is Not on our time friend he's not our Genie he's not our our our servant he's not beholden to us as I mentioned this morning when Jesus says ask me anything make sure you don't go Hog Wild in your interpretation there that again was a very tight strictly organized sort of instruction by the Savior relative to the Greater Works to advance the cause of God and Truth on the earth not a new boat not a new summer home so when it comes to prayer we need to be persevering you know I've tried prayer and it just didn't work I've tried prayer and for a little while it kind of helped me it's always about me right no prayer is an act of worship unto God most high we need to be persevering in it because as I said God is Not on our time schedule but we are on his then notice the objects for prayer twofold here praying with all prayer and supplication in the spirit Verse 18 being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication notice first for all the saints for all the saints now I don't think Paul said get you know the phone book from coloss and from Leo deia get the phone books from all those and just start reading off names and say God pray you know bless those bless bless bless bless them he's probably meaning all the saints in your church all the saints that you know intimately all the saints in other churches that you happen to be friends with again Brethren you don't call to just get the chillak phone book if they even make those anymore then and just start running through the list if you want to do that and God's given you the gift of time then sure by all means but the for all the saints is probably all the saints that you have an intimate connection with you're to intercede for them you're to pray for them you're to seek favor from God on their behalf and then you might ask the question well I'm not sure what to pray for that have you ever considered the Lord's Prayer in Matthew chapter uh uh six have you ever considered that it's not just a wrote prayer we don't just repeat it in fact Jesus condemns that manner praying don't be like the Heathen who think that for their multitude of words they're going to be heard by God he says but in this manner pray so I can't imagine he's commending to us just in rope manner to read that prayer over and over again I think they're heads there there there there statements each one that we can sort of put uh flesh and and and blood on I would suggest with with reference to supplication for all the saints pray first that God's name be hallowed in their lives you've got friends that are Believers you got people in your church and and you do maybe just take a look to the right and a look to the left I don't know who to pray for I sure there's a lot of people in here that'd be happy for you to pray for them I'm just spitballing here but I'm sure that they're going to be happy that you you go to the throne of grace on their behalf to pray that God's name be hallowed in their lives again that's not some cheap wish that ought to be the primary focus of God's people to bring glory to God remember Paul says elsewhere uh so therefore whether you eat or drink or whatever you do do all to the glory of God as well you can pray that God's kingdom of Grace and Glory would come for their benefit if they're not saved you can pray now that's not Saints but you can pray for unbelievers that God would conquer them by his kingdom of Grace that they would know something of the glory of Jesus Christ and Believe on him for the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ that we would experience more grace the Apostle's going to end the epistle with that petition for Grace there's never a time in the life of God's people when we don't need Grace of course we need Grace and then of course the kingdom of Glory we ought to pray that for all the saints universally that Jesus would come again in glory to judge the living and the dead that is a Most Blessed reality in our future as well we can pray that God's will would be done by them again take the the heads of the the the Lord's Prayer and start plugging people in start praying these sorts of things because the Apostle says and for or for all the saints as well God's temporal provision somebody's sick somebody needs a job or give us this day our daily bread you may be fit with your daily bread you may have enough and an abundance but somebody you know may not be pray that God would bless them with their daily bread pray that God would give them their temporal provision and of course there spiritual needs for forgiveness and for protection from the evil one see when the Apostle tells us to pray for all the saints he ad he's he's exhorting us to what's called intercessory prayer we're to intercede on behalf of others we're we're not to be so focused upon ourselves all the time that all we ever pray for is our benefit our blessing our our help no there's other people in the world this particular type of praying intercessor intercessory prayer helps to remind us that we're not the center of the universe so the second object of prayer is Paul specifically notice what he says verse 18 being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints and then verse 19 and for me so Paul doesn't have a problem exhorting the church at Ephesus to pray for him he didn't have a problem exhorting the church in thessalonica to pray for him he didn't have a problem exhorting the church in colasse to pray for him he wanted people to pray for him Spurgeon was asked about the success of his ministry you know his response my people pray Pray For Me In other words when he preached people were gathered and praying that God would bless the proclamation of the truth it's the engine room of the ship we don't have prayer going on we're not going to be faithful and not going to be useful in the life of God's Church uh in terms of God's church so the Apostle prays or asks specifically for prayer now note the way that he wants them to pray and for me that utterance may be given to me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known The Mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains that I that in it I may speak boldly as I ought to speak now the Apostle had temporal needs he he really did remember where he is as he's writing this letter well he was in the Bahamas he was at a nice resort he was sipping cool beverages he was in a prison cell he was in a Roman prison cell if you were were in a Roman prison cell and you had one kick at the can to ask your church to pray for you what might it be pray that I get out of this Roman prison cell I can hear me saying that Calvin made the observation consider to at the same time his amazing ardor of zeal he is not solicitous as to his own safety he does not ask that prayers may be poured forth by the churches on his behalf that he may be delivered from the danger of death he is contented with this one thing that he may unconquered and undaunted pers persevere in a confession of the Gospel N More he fearlessly makes his own life a secondary matter as compared with the glory of Christ and the spread of the Gospel so when he comes to write this letter and end this letter with the Bold sort of petition pray for me the particular prayer that he wants is not for his temporal benefit not that they wouldn't short me on the daily provision for food not that they wouldn't take my blanket away or not that those guys in the prison yard won't beat me up that wasn't his concern so when we look at his concern it really kind of fits in with everything he said in terms of the armor of God this be uh uh belt of Truth this sword of the spirit for the Apostle Paul that was everything it was his ministry to make known the word of the living and true God so let's look specifically at what he says he says that I may have utterance or that utterance may be given to me now utterance here isn't just the gift of Gap as we continue in this particular section we know that utterance has to do with his proclamation of the word of God now historically the Apostle Paul is in this prison cell from about ad60 to a62 when he writes to the Philippians he knows there's a chance he could die but I don't think he thinks he's going to die and he did it he he has a whole different attitude in 2 Timothy chapter 4 he knows he's going to die my departure is at hand I have fought the good fight I have I have uh uh uh finished the race I've kept the faith so he knows he's going to die Philippians it's a possibility but it's not the highest of possibilities now as history tells us he was released from that first Roman imprisonment so 86062 this is where the book of Acts ends he gets out and then he ministers a couple of more years it's at that time that he writes uh Second Timothy Titus uh first and second Timothy Titus and probably Hebrews and so the Apostle Paul was a man that still had a mission the Apostle Paul knew that most likely he was going to get out of this Roman imprisonment so when he gets out again his concern isn't may you protect me from these nasty Roman people as they throw me in their horrible prisons know that utterance may be given to me why because that's his function as an ambassador of our Lord Jesus Christ but notice it's not just utterance that he wants he doesn't want to just be able to speak but he says that I may open my mouth boldly to make known The Mystery of the Gospel turn to First Corinthians chapter 2 for just a moment I think we think about the mighty Apostle Paul as the mighty Apostle Paul and well we should but Paul by Nature wasn't an orator Paul by Nature didn't have that those gifts that's why he's asking for that pray that I may have utterance and that I may speak boldly the gospel look at 1 Corinthians chapter 2 specifically at verse one basically the context Paul is displaying that the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of man and he does so in a way that you wouldn't expect he highlights that it's the message of the Cross which to the Jews is a stumbling block and to the Greeks is foolishness but it's the power of God he then illustrates what the Corinthians themselves notice in 1 Corinthians 22 or 1:26 for you see your calling Brethren that not many wise according to the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put the shame the wise how do we see a contrast between God's wisdom and the world's wisdom well in the world's wisdom they wouldn't have the message of the cross in the world's wisdom they wouldn't pick the not many wise according to the flesh the not many mighty the not many noble see in the wisdom of God which is foolishness to the world this is indeed a display of his power so the message of the Cross itself the recipients of the Cross but also the preacher of the Cross notice in 21 and I Brethren when I came to you did not come with Excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God for I determin not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and him Cru crucified I was with you in weakness in fear and in much trembling and my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom but in demonstration of the spirit and of power that your Fai should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God you wouldn't have hired Paul you wouldn't have given him the job as lead Pastor You' just said nah we need a power man we need a persuasive man we need a man that's gifted and skilled and oratory and all that Paul you go to Walmart perhaps they have a job for you collecting cards notice in 2 Corinthians chapter 10 2 Corinthians chapter 10 what is Paul doing Paul is telling us what Paul is so that when Sinners get saved it's not the case that Paul is to be praised but God has put a uh gospel treasure in Earth andwar vessels so that the power of Christ will be manifest notice in 2 Corinthians chap 10 specifically at verse 9 or verse 10 for his letters they say are weighty and Powerful but his bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible again he's not you know a trained orator he's not a a a man that had as his calling and as his gifting standing before thousands and proclaiming to them the glory of the Gospel so when we look at Ephesians chap 6 and he says to pray for me that utterance may be given to me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known The Mystery of the Gospel he sees the the purpose in the Clause that follows for which I am an ambassador in Chains in other words this is his function it's what I mentioned earlier when the pastor today sees himself primarily as the CEO when he sees himself as the guru when he sees himself as the the Entertainer or the comedian or the Storyteller and not the proclaimer of Truth then we've abandoned the pulpit we have given it away there's no shortage of entertainers out there there's no shortage of of CEOs out there there's no shorter shortage of gurus out there the crying desperate need in our generation is the proclamation of God's holy gospel it is the ambassadorship that Christ has given to the church to make known the glory The Mystery of the Gospel of Jesus Christ Our Lord that ought to be the primary function this morning I mentioned that if I don't happen to come back this morning I don't want to look at Nathan because he'll probably think I'm jinxing us but you never know when you fly do you you never know when you drive I could get smacked on the way home tonight whatever guy you look at for this Pulpit take Ephesians 6 and hold it up to him if he's not all that may it be the case that he's praying to be all that and notice that the Apostle ends this particular brief section by saying that in it I may speak boldly as I ought to speak now Brethren I Don't Think Bold speech is always loud speech sometimes preachers because they're different men aren't as loud some are louder you know you've been cursed with the latter that's just the way it goes but what happens is is that when it comes to gospel preaching it's not suggestive you know you can kind of take this or leave it if you want this might help you this might be no this is God's glorious gospel this is a message that must be heard this is a message that must be received this is the message of Christ and him crucified God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life we don't just suggest this we don't just recommend this we don't just try to you know try to persuade people with a little bit of a light nudge I think it was Samuel Davies preaching before the king maybe not Samuel Davies one of these older brothers was preaching uh before the king of England and the King of England and his wife were talking while he's preaching and he rebuked the king I mean that that great story he rebukes the king with something like when the lion roars in the forest the beasts of the field take heed in other words don't talk while the gospel is being proclaimed I mean that guy that's this guy right there that's the kind of guy we pray for so for the Apostle his ambassadorship was absolutely crucial he was not in it to be an Entertainer he was not in it to be a CEO he was and and there's nothing wrong I'm not condemning entertainers and CEOs or even gurus I don't know maybe about that uh nothing wrong you know God made you a CEO great but that's not the function of the priority the Christian Pulpit we are the pillar and ground of the truth we're to proclaim the gospel we're to speak the mystery of Gentile inclusion and the Covenant Promises of God most high the Glorious Church of the Lord Jesus Christ the the two being made one new man in him Ephesians 3 the Apostle Paul when he comes to ask for prayer wants prayer for Spiritual things the epistle ends with a personal note and then a benediction note the personal note he speaks of this brother beloved brother tius or tukon tius seems a little bit easier than tukon but or tikon but notice but that you may or that you also may know my Affairs and how I am doing Titus a beloved brother and faithful minister of the Lord this beloved brother is mentioned in Acts chapter 20 at verse 4 he's mentioned in Colossians 4 at verse 7 and he's mentioned in 2 Timothy 4 and verse 12 there's something that you ought to appreciate about the New Testament documents the churches knew about each other this wasn't ESO this wasn't a cult this wasn't you know we just meet in secret no the churches knew about each other the churches exchanged letters amongst each other the Apostle Paul visited them he brought greetings to them he he he he he moved and had his being amongst them the Churches of Christ were in Fellowship they were in communion together so this Titus is sent by the Apostle Paul for two specific reasons notice in verse 21 but that you uh also may know my Affairs and how I am doing TI kiss a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will make all things known to you whom I have sent to you for this very purpose that you may know our Affairs other words I'm going to send this man because I want you to know what's happening in this Roman prison cell I want you to pray for me I want you to know I want you to be intimately connected I want you to Bear my burdens I want you to share and participate with me in these particular hardships and trials so tius is going to come along and make all things known to to you but then notice the second purpose at the end of verse 22 he says and that he may Comfort your hearts Comfort your hearts huh the Apostle Paul is in a Roman prison cell it's probably not as bad as it's going to be later for him in that second Roman imprisonment but it's not Joy no three Hots in a cot the only way that you ate is if faithful Brethren brought you food it wasn't that you got three Hots in a c you got help if you were loved so for the Apostle what is his concern it's not first and foremost his comfort it's the the comfort of the churches I want tius to come I want him to let you know what's happening to me but I want him to comfort you I want him to encourage you I want him to build you up the Apostle is others minded to The Bitter End and then the epistle ends where many of the Apostles letters begin and end Grace and peace notice in verse 23 peace to the Brethren and love with Faith from God the father and the Lord Jesus Christ Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity so the manner in which he begins almost all of his Epistles is Grace and peace from God the father and the Lord Jesus Christ notice that compound object God the father and the Lord Jesus Christ I mentioned yesterday excuse me in our theology study of the Holy Spirit just because the spirit isn't reference here don't think he's excluded whenever you see father you see son in spirit whenever you see son you see father and spirit whenever you see Spirit you see father and son there is but one only the living and true God who exists eternally as Father Son and Holy Spirit we ask the question what is God or who is God he's Father Son and Holy Spirit and it's the spirit that communicates to us the grace is a fa a uh Grace and peace so this grace and peace from God the father and and the Lord Jesus Christ is communicated To Us by the third person of the Trinity namely the Holy Spirit 2 Corinthians 13:14 May the uh the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit communion there means yeah we have communion with father son and spirit Spirit part of that not part of God but part of that communion but it also refers to the spirit communicating The Graces of God to the objects of his mercy so the spirit is the active power to bring and fetch those things for us and to fill us as God has purposed and planned so the Apostle ends his note with Grace and peace and note the contrast between verse 24 and 1 Corinthians 16:22 he says Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity amen 1 Corinthians 16:22 if anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ let him be a cursed oh Lord come so so here Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and there if anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ let him be a curse oh Lord come remember this morning if you love me you keep my Commandments why do we love him and keep his Commandments because by his grace we have believed in him as Lord and Savior this epistle rehearses those great things this epistle begins an eternity past with the purpose and plan and decree of God most high father son and spirit to save his people from their sins it moves to the realm of history in Ephesians chapter 2 the application of Redemptive benefit through what we call the Covenant of Grace God saved us by grace through faith that not of yourselves it is the gift of God chapter three rehearses the Glorious thing that obtained in the New Covenant in terms of Gentile inclusion in the Covenant Promises of God no more two distinct peoples no more separated peoples but in Jesus Christ believing Jew and Gentile are one new man in him never to be divided never to be rent aunder never to be put off in terms of some future sort of eschatological scheme that others have dictated no the people of God are unified in the Lord Jesus Christ and from chapter 4 beginning in verse 1 all the way to chapter 6 verse 20 the Apostle tells us about how to apply these things to our life hopefully it's been an encouragement hopefully we have learned many good things and hopefully that when it comes to prayer we pray for one another and I would ask prayer in the spirit of the Apostle Paul for that kind of utterance that kind of boldness to make known the Lord Jesus Christ because it's an ambassadorship you don't want me to be an Entertainer I don't have the ability to be a CEO you should want proclamation of God's truth 16 ounces to the pound that's what you and I desperately need well let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you than you for this epistle we thank you for the Glorious themes that it covers and for the the emphasis on salvation by grace through faith in Jesus we pray that this gospel would be proclaimed throughout the Earth that it would run swiftly and be glorified and help each of us as your people to take up the whole armor of God to put on these defensive elements to wield the sword of the spirit and to be a prayerful people for all the saints and for those who labor in the word and Doctrine go with us now watch over us in this coming week grant us Grace and safety protection and many many blessings and we pray through Christ the Lord amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation