Word@Work Eph86 - Ephesians 6:18a
Published: Tue, 02/03/09
Word@Work from BeaconLight
EMERGENCY HELP
Ephesians 6:18a And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests ... (NIV)
Modern warfare is highly dependent on telecommunications. Ancient armies used more primitive signals (trumpet, flag, torch, fire or smoke - as well as human and animal couriers). Without an interactive command structure, you lose the battle. In this verse, Paul leapfrogs over millennia of communication methods and says that the hard pressed soldier, even the one isolated in the thick of the battle, can personally call up the King for help. Without the facility of prayer, we are on our own, left to make up our own solutions to impossible problems. But when we pray, we have immediate and direct access to the God who made us, and who has saved us out of the grip of the devil .... God will certainly not want us to fall back into his clutches.
All effective prayer is 'in the Spirit' (cf Jude 20). In the same way that God's Word is on permanent loan from God's Spirit, prayer is not just a human invention, but is energised by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit knows exactly what is in our hearts and He understands our needs even better than we can explain them. Rom 8:26-27 says, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." So God's response to our need does not even depend on our ability to get all the words right.
'Prayer' simply means 'cry'. Babies do not have logical words, whatever the need - they just cry. It is the parent's responsibility to interpret the sound, and to act accordingly. So it is with God. He is our Father and takes full responsibility for understanding every time we cry out to Him. Those who know that they belong to Him, will call out to Him: that is the nature of our family and military relationship with our Father and King. 2 Peter 2:9 says, "... the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment ..." So, today, when you cannot see your way through, and Satan is stirring up fear or even despair - cry out to the Lord. Tell Him what you know and feel, and then trust Him for the answer. He hears you at work or home, just as well as when you are in church!
Prayer: Dear Lord. I often do not know how to express myself to You. But today, I cry out and ask that you will interpret the confusion and pain of my heart, and the fear that Satan has stirred up by his lies. Please hear my cries for help and answer me. In Jesus' precious Name. Amen.
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and Spanish
Modern warfare is highly dependent on telecommunications. Ancient armies used more primitive signals (trumpet, flag, torch, fire or smoke - as well as human and animal couriers). Without an interactive command structure, you lose the battle. In this verse, Paul leapfrogs over millennia of communication methods and says that the hard pressed soldier, even the one isolated in the thick of the battle, can personally call up the King for help. Without the facility of prayer, we are on our own, left to make up our own solutions to impossible problems. But when we pray, we have immediate and direct access to the God who made us, and who has saved us out of the grip of the devil .... God will certainly not want us to fall back into his clutches.
All effective prayer is 'in the Spirit' (cf Jude 20). In the same way that God's Word is on permanent loan from God's Spirit, prayer is not just a human invention, but is energised by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit knows exactly what is in our hearts and He understands our needs even better than we can explain them. Rom 8:26-27 says, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." So God's response to our need does not even depend on our ability to get all the words right.
'Prayer' simply means 'cry'. Babies do not have logical words, whatever the need - they just cry. It is the parent's responsibility to interpret the sound, and to act accordingly. So it is with God. He is our Father and takes full responsibility for understanding every time we cry out to Him. Those who know that they belong to Him, will call out to Him: that is the nature of our family and military relationship with our Father and King. 2 Peter 2:9 says, "... the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment ..." So, today, when you cannot see your way through, and Satan is stirring up fear or even despair - cry out to the Lord. Tell Him what you know and feel, and then trust Him for the answer. He hears you at work or home, just as well as when you are in church!
Prayer: Dear Lord. I often do not know how to express myself to You. But today, I cry out and ask that you will interpret the confusion and pain of my heart, and the fear that Satan has stirred up by his lies. Please hear my cries for help and answer me. In Jesus' precious Name. Amen.
Why not share Word@Work with your friends - they can subscribe at http://www.beaconlight.co.uk/email!
If you value your free Word@Work - an occasional donation will help us to maintain and develop the ministry - thank you!
If you value your free Word@Work - an occasional donation will help us to maintain and develop the ministry - thank you!
W@WEph86 | Word@Work © Dr Paul Adams 2009 | Provided by BeaconLight
Contact us at wordatwork@beaconlight.co.uk
Your next Word@Work will be sent on