God's Provisions For Growth

 2 Peter 1:1-4

Subject: Spiritual Growth 

Theme: acknowledge God’s provisions in order to stimulate and pursue real spiritual growth.

Introduction:

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2, Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4, Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter 1:1–4)

Building a life that reminds God of His darling Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, is no small undertaking. If our estimation of the Lord Jesus is anything near the Bible’s presentation of Him then you understand this is a monumental task! Assuming the responsibility of genuine spiritual development is our obligation, but we must make use of God’s supplies for the task. Well, what has our Heavenly Father given us? Peter, the Lord’s apostle, wrote to inform us that everything we need has been supplied! Our job is to make use of these provisions to build lives that mirror our Lord’s.

Yes, in Christianity, we have what we need for spiritual progress…all of what is needed. Peter demonstrates that being firmly established and abounding in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, involves:

·        Diligence in our personal spiritual growth (2 Pet. 1:1–11; Jude 20, 21)

·        Faithfulness to the apostles testimony concerning the Lord Jesus (2 Pet. 1:12–18)

·        Adherence to Scripture as the Word of God (2 Pet. 1:19–21)

This study will focus on what God has given us to grow. His provisions to us are essential to our spiritual journey! In order to stimulate spiritual growth, acknowledge God’s provisions (2Pet. 1:1-4).

Message:

I. God Provided a Preacher (2 Pet. 1:1)

Notice Who was Writing. “Simon Peter” introduces himself: As “a servant” (bondslave, Matt. 23:11) “and an apostle of Jesus Christ” (see Rom. 1:1; Titus 1:1). Immediately we are struck by his simplicity and humility. Near the close of his life, at the zenith of his apostolic authority, he was Christ’s slave first, and His apostle, one sent with a commission, second.  He was a bondslave by choice; an “apostle” by divine appointment. He uses no pompous titles or symbols of status. He has only a grateful acknowledgment of his obligation to serve the risen Savior.

Notice Why He was Writing. He is both a concerned pastor and a champion of sound theology. His purpose was to call Christians to spiritual growth (chapt. 1) so that they can combat apostasy (chapt. 2) as they look forward to the Lord’s return (chapt. 3). He passionately pleads for Christians to mature and guard against false teachers; he was driven by the fact that His time was short (1:13-15) and that these congregations faced immediate danger (2:1-3).

Notice to Whom He was Writing. “them that have obtained like precious faith”. The recipients of this letter are the same as those who received Peter’s first letter (2Pet. 3:1; 1 Pet. 1:1).  It is also written to you and me for our edification! These believers had “obtained,” “received,” or “attained by divine will” their salvation. Peter emphasized how salvation was not attained by personal effort, skill, or worthiness, but came purely from God’s grace. The original churches to whom this Letter was written had obtained the same precious faith as Peter and his colleagues. Have you also received God’s salvation gift in Christ? (Rom. 6:23; John 6:16)

II. God Provided a Process; Notice What We Have (2 Pet. 1:1-4)

The Process Starts with Salvation: We have a precious faith (1:1)

It is the Same Faith. The phrase “like precious” generally was used to designate equal rank, position, honor, standing, price, or value. Peter was emphasizing that Christians have all received the same precious, priceless saving faith. There are no first and second class Christians in spiritual, racial, or gender distinctions (Gal. 3:28). Since Peter was writing to mostly Gentiles, he was emphasizing that they have received the same faith as the Jews (Acts 10:44–48; 11:17, 18). Like precious faith: These Gentile believers had received the same kind of faith as believing Jews, a faith that was in no way deficient. All who are saved by the grace of God enjoy equal acceptance before Him, whether they are Jews or Gentiles, male or female, slave or free. The faith given them by God was of equal honor or privilege with that of the apostles’ faith. Here Peter foreshadowed his purpose by stressing that the faith of the apostles was no different from the faith of any believer. Anyone who has faith in Jesus has the same access to God as any other believer.

It is Saving Faith. This is because it involves God’s initiatives.  Peter is speaking of a subjective faith, i.e., the Christian’s power to believe for his salvation. Faith is the capacity to believe (Eph. 2:8, 9). Even though faith and belief express the human side of salvation, God still must awaken that faith. God initiates salvation when the Holy Spirit awakens our soul in response to hearing the Word of God (Acts 11:21; Eph. 2:8; Phil. 1:2). Further it is because it involves God’s righteousness. “Through the righteousness” tells how believers share the equal gift of salvation because God’s righteousness is imputed to us. This righteousness recognizes no distinction between people except that the sins of some are more heinous than others. So, not only do we have salvation because God gives it to us, we are saved only because God imputes righteousness to us (see Rom. 3:26; 4:5; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:8, 9). It was obtained when we were given the gift of righteousness (justification). The righteousness believers are given is the righteousness of Christ Himself.

It is the Same Savior. Yes, Peter is identifying Jesus Christ as both Savior and God. “God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Is. 43:3,11; 45:15,21; 60:16; Rom. 9:5; Col. 2:9; Titus 2:13; Heb. 1:8). This title of Jesus reflects Peter’s great confession in John 6:69: “Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” The title our God and Savior Jesus Christ is one of many in the NT which indicate the absolute deity of the Lord Jesus. If He is not God, then these words have no meaning.

The Process Continues with Strength: We have grace and peace (1:2)

This blessing of grace and peace is more than a mere formula of greeting. These virtues come through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. The apostle’s lofty prayer for these believers is that grace and peace might be multiplied to them through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Knowledge (1:2) is a strengthened form of “knowledge” implying a larger, more thorough, and intimate knowledge. The Christian’s precious faith is built on knowing the truth about God (1:3). Christianity is not a mystical religion, but is based in objective, historical, revealed, rational truth from God and intended to be understood and believed. The deeper and wider that knowledge of the Lord, the more “grace and peace” are multiplied in the believers life. God wants us to have this knowledge by His sustaining, empowering grace in our everyday lives (2 Cor. 12:9; Isa. 40:29-31). He wants our hearts to be guarded by the peace of God that passes all understanding (Phil. 4:7; Rom. 15:13). But this is not to be given in small doses! He desires these blessings to be multiplied in volume, not added in small segments.

How can these blessings be multiplied? It is in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Again the better we know God, the more we experience grace and peace. We do better by dwelling in the secret place of the Most High than by making occasional visits there. Those who live in the sanctuary rather than in the suburbs find the  secret of God’s grace and peace. (MacDonald)

I urge you to take advantage of the “full knowledge” available to us through Christ Jesus. In this way we can grow in spiritual strength to combat false teachers who claim to have special knowledge but who openly practiced immorality.

The Process Continues with Sanctification: We have everything necessary (1:3)       
The Source of the Process; “His divine power” refers to Jesus Christ (1:3). Christ’s power is the source of the believer’s sufficiency and perseverance (Matt. 24:30; Mark 5:30; Luke 4:14; 5:17; Rom. 1:4; 2 Cor. 12:9). The genuine Christian is eternally secure in his salvation and can persevere and grow because he has received everything necessary to sustain eternal life through Christ’s power. We are assured that Christ has made full provision for us to have a life of holiness. Christ’s divine power has provided everything believers need for life and godliness as an evidence of His power.

The Significance of the Process.  We, every Christian, should have (1:3) immense interest in spiritual maturity because it will keep us from falling in this life and assure us of a triumphal entry into the next (2 Pet. 1:10, 11; Jude 24; Heb. 12:15).

The Substance of the Process. “All things that pertain unto life and godliness”; Peter clearly states that God has given us every resource and empowerment necessary to live this kind of life. Notice the words “hath given” (1Pet. 1:3). The genuine believer ought not to ask God for something more to become godly (as if something necessary to sustain his growth, strength, and perseverance was missing). Because we already have every spiritual resource to manifest, sustain, and mature in godly living. Every believer is a divine repository of spiritual affluence! Yes, you are rich in spiritual assets.

The all things that pertain unto life and godliness include the high priestly work of Christ (Heb. 4:14-16; 7:24-25), the ministry of the Holy Spirit (2Cor. 3:17-18), the activity of angelic agencies on our behalf (Heb. 1:13-14), the new life we receive at conversion (1Jn. 5:10-13), and the instruction of the Word of God (2Tim. 3:14-17). Just like a healthy, newborn baby has all of its parts and everything it needs for a full life at the time of its birth, Christians are given the “god-life in miniature” at our spiritual birth. Every new Christian is given a measure of faith (Rom. 12:3), a new nature (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10), the “seed” of the life of God which is opposed to sin (1 John 3:9), and spiritual eyesight to see the things of the kingdom of God (John 3:3). Life and godliness (1:3) refers to “the godly life.” It denotes a reverent and worshipful lifestyle which is fully sensitive to God’s will and obedient to His moral standards.  Living to please God as opposed to yourself or mere people is the focus here.

The Supply Line (Channel) of the Process. All that believers need for spiritual vitality (life) and godly living (2Pet. 1:6; 3:11) is attainable through the knowledge of Christ. Just as His divine power is the source of holiness, so the knowledge of Him is the channel of holiness. To know Him is eternal life (John 17:3) and progress in knowing Him is progress in holiness (Jn. 15:1-8). The better we get to know Him, the more we become like Him. An intimate “full knowledge” of Christ is the supply line of spiritual power and growth (see Phil. 1:9; Col. 1:9-10; 2:2-3). Thus salvation must precede growth; we must know Him before we can grow in Him! It really is WHO you know that matters for salvation; then WHO you know WELL for sanctification! The knowledge of Christ emphasized here is not a superficial knowledge, or a mere surface awareness of the facts about Christ, but a genuine, personal sharing of life with Christ, based on repentance from sin and personal faith in Him (Matt. 7:21).

If we know Christ Jesus more fully, we can know more of His sufficient power and grace in our experience.  If we do not believe He is enough for every challenge, and that we have real access to His sufficiency, we are vulnerable to being led astray—away from Christ and away from the maturity to which Christ calls us (Col. 2:8-10). But, if we have a deepening understanding of Christ and all He has provided for us and all that He makes available to us, we have a solid foundation on which to grow in every area of our lives. A foundation established on the eternal principles of God’s Word must be our focus to have a meaningful, satisfying, Christ-centered, and victorious life.

The Process Continues with Scripture: We have precious promises (1:4)

A Baby Needs Food to Grow.  A baby will not grow automatically even though every life process is in place for it to do so. A new baby needs to have its new life nurtured. It must receive love. It must be kept clean. It must be fed, and fed, and fed! If this nurturing does not take place properly, at best, the child will be stunted and weak. In the worst case scenario, it will grow weak and die.

Spiritual Growth is Not Automatic Either.  In the same way, as Christians we do not automatically grow just because we are alive. We Christians must also nurture the perfect and wonderful new spiritual life. Not only has God provided the new life and power, like a good parent; He also has given the food and the love-nurture needed for our growth! His Word cleanses, heals, and grows the spiritual life of His children. His Spirit in us and His presence in the church provide the environment of fellowship and love which fosters optimum growth (John 14:16–18; Acts 2:38–42).  Casual association with just any congregation will only hinder growth—commit to a solid Bible-believing New Testament Church who is obedient to Christ’s Great Commission!

The Bible Is No Ordinary Book!  The next time you are in a bookstore, wander over to the self-help section. Browse through the titles, and you will be amazed at the large number of books offering guidance for living a better life. Do you need a crash course in how to be more productive? There is a book a two for that. Need to learn how to cope with daily stresses? There are multiple books for this as well. Or, maybe you would like to know how you can improve your family relationships. You will probably find an entire section devoted to that subject (Wiersbe, MacDonald & MacArthur)! Yet, despite all these guides for improving certain aspects of life, only one book gives us guidance for every aspect of our lives—the Bible. God knew that we would require help getting along in this crazy and sometimes frustrating world. That is why He moved men to record His inspired principles, advice, and directives in the Bible. This is why He has guarded and preserved His Word through the centuries.

While skeptics attempt to lump the Bible alongside other religious books, a brief overview of the Bible quickly reveals its uniqueness. The Bible was written over a period of sixteen hundred years, by forty authors from various walks of life, and in three languages (Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic). Although the majority of the Bible’s writers never met, they present a unified picture of God, a central message of Jesus Christ as God coming to earth as man, and they address some of the most controversial topics of their time (and ours!) without contradicting one another (Wiersbe, MacDonald, & MacArthur). Amazing? It certainly is. God has given us this special book to communicate His personal message in a way we can easily understand. In the pages of the Bible you will discover who God is, how you can get to know Him personally, and how you will benefit from living your life according to His wonderful principles.

God’s Word is the Standard of Truth.  The Bible also provides an objective, trustworthy standard of truth—not society’s perception of truth, but God's absolute truth. In a world that can't make up its mind about right and wrong, the Bible stands as a perfect measuring stick against which every thought, word, and deed can be evaluated.

God’s Promises will Help Us Grow.  Thus, included among the “all things” (1:4) which God’s power has given to promote a life of holiness are His exceeding great and precious promises in the Word. It is estimated that there are at least 30,000 promises in the Bible. John Bunyan once said, “The pathway of life is strewn so thickly with the promises of God that it is impossible to take one step without treading upon one of them.” Think of some of the promises that relate to the life of holiness. (1) Freedom from sin’s dominion (Rom. 6:14). (2) Grace that is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9). (3) Power to obey His commands (Phil. 4:13). (4) Victory over the devil (Jas. 4:7). (5) Escape when tempted (1 Cor. 10:13). (6) Forgiveness when we confess our sins (1 Jn. 1:9)—and forgetfulness too (Jer. 31:34). (7) Response when we call (Ps. 50:15) (MacDonald). The Bible states that all promises given to us are “Yea” in Christ (2 Cor. 1:20), for He invites us to participate in His life and all the benefits and blessings which flow from it. What does 2 Corinthians 3:18 promise as we come to know Him more intimately?

Like building a new house requires definite consideration of what can be done with the available funds, we Christians must build our lives fully cognizant of what we have in Christ Jesus. Be assured our heavenly Father has richly provided everything we need to become truly godly individuals. The materials with which we build are spiritual and significant; therefore, we should build with confidence in God’s supply and provisions. As in building a house it matter what materials we use! (MacDonald & Wiersbe) 

As genuine Christians, we cannot afford ignorance of God's supplies for spiritual development. In order to live with spiritual integrity from day to day, we must put to use God resources. Peter warns that it is dangerous to build our lives rather haphazardly. He shows that being firmly established and abounding in the knowledge of Jesus Christ is essential. 

My Special Prayer Partner

ROM. 8:26-27

SUBJECT: PRAYER

THEME: Depend on the Word of God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit to enhance the effectiveness of your prayer life. Continue to look to the Lord for help even when you feel your prayers are useless.

INTRODUCTION:

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. ²⁷ And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:26-29)

Do you struggle in prayer? If you do, you are not alone. There are things that not even my sweet wife can help me with in prayer. Every Christian I know struggles at times in prayer, wondering…

• How should I pray about this situation or for this person?
• What is the Father's will in this instance?
• How should I express myself to God to convey what I really mean?

At times, our emotions run too deep for words, and we are therefore at a loss for clear expressions in prayer.

• At other times, we are confused by what we see as conflicting possibilities or problems.
• At still other times, we feel under such heavy assault from the devil that we seem to be fighting for our very lives, and all we can voice is a desperate cry for help!

Often we feel alone with nothing but the weakness of our prayers and the intimidation of our concerns. But, remember the secret of your power is your weakness—your infirmity. What is the secret of power to you?

• If you’re Popeye, I guess the secret of power is a can of spinach.
• If you’re Superman, the secret of power is kryptonite.
• If you’re a Christian, the secret of your power is weakness.
  The Word of God says, “Likewise [that is, by faith], the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities [weakness.]”
  It is not in our perceived strengths that the Spirit helps us.
  It is not in our egotism.
  It is not in our pride.
  It is when we recognize our lack of power that we plug into His strength. When we understand how much we need Him, then that is how much we will have Him.
• God works in our weaknesses. God likes to hit big licks with little sticks. God likes to honor Himself with things that look weak and helpless.

Remember, you are not wicked or even wrong because you need help in prayer!

MESSAGE:

I.                  Understand the Lord Jesus Seriously Struggled in Prayer.

Have you ever stopped to recognize that Jesus, in His humanity, struggled in prayer?

1. JESUS UNDERSTOOD HIS MISSION….

Jesus knew that He had come to the earth to be the substitutionary, sacrificial, all-sufficient payment for all sin. He said to His disciples during the final week of His life,

John 12:23-24, … The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. [24] Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

John 12:27-28, Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. [28] Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

2. EVEN WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE AND RESOLVE, JESUS STRUGGLED….

Matthew tells us that in the final hours before His betrayal by Judas, Jesus agonized in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.

• He admitted to His disciples, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.” (Matt. 26:38)
• “This was doubtless the unspeakable revulsion of His holy soul as He anticipated becoming a sin-offering for us. We who are sinful cannot conceive what it meant to Him, the Sinless One, to be made sin for us (2 Cor. 5:21).”—MacDonald, William

• Jesus prayed that if at all possible, He might be spared His crucifixion—the wrath of God, becoming sin, and separation from the Father’s fellowship (Matt. 27:46). In His agony in the garden, His soul was afflicted—a man of sorrow, overwhelmed with grief, as He prepared for trial and for death.  His soul wrung with pain.

• Yet His ultimate prayer was, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (See Matt. 26:36–42.)
• The “cup” represented the undiluted wrath of Jehovah against sin.
• Luke adds that Jesus was in such agony as He prayed that “his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” (Luke 22:44).  
• Hebrews tells us how angst-ridden His soul was as He wept profusely, and cried out to God,

“Who [Jesus] in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; ⁸ Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered…” (Hebrews 5:7-8)

• It was not merely death that Jesus was struggling with in prayer, but the fact that he would be made the Sin-Bearer of the world for all mankind and all ages.
• The punishment that had to be borne for our sins brought Jesus, a mammoth of a man, to His knees in anguishing prayer.  As the Sin-Bearer, He would be severed from fellowship with the Father for the first time. Christ would soon be inundated with the blame for all wickedness; He deemed sin as profoundly repulsive!
• Yes, the Son of God struggled in prayer, but He was effective still. You and I can have effective prayer lives in spite of our infirmities as we depend on the Holy Spirit.

3. YES, WE WILL ALSO STRUGGLE WITH PRAYER.

That is if prayer means anything at all to us and if we feel a burden to intercede for others. And yet, in those times of struggle, the apostle Paul taught, we can take heart because “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Rom. 8:26). The Holy Spirit dwells within us to help us in our prayer lives! We can count on Him to make our prayers effective.

                                                                       

II.              Understand How To Pray Within The Father's Will.

Romans 8:27, And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

A.     TRUST THE SCRIPTURES TO HELP US PRAY THE FATHER’S WILL.

Our Desire as Christians must Always Be to Pray Within the Will of the Father for Us.

• 1 John 5:14-15, And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: ¹⁵ And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

• The Father's will include all that is beneficial and good for us personally, and all that is beneficial and good for all His children—simultaneously and eternally. His plan is greater than our ability to understand it; His purposes for our lives are beyond our comprehension. How, then, do we pray within the Father's will? (Stanley, C.)

     1.  If We Are Praying for Unsaved People, Our Prayer Should Be That They Come to Accept Jesus Christ as Their Personal Savior and Then to Follow Him as Their Lord.

• Romans 10:1, Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
• Romans 9:1-4, I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, [2] That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. [3] For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: [4] Who are Israelites; . . . .   

• Paul even wished himself accursed or cut off from Christ if through the forfeiting of his own salvation his Jewish brothers might be saved. In this spiritually muscular declaration of self-renunciation, we sense the highest form of godly love—that which constrains a man to lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). (MacDonald)

• And we feel the enormous burden, which he carried for the conversion of his countrymen. It reminds us of Moses’ prayer for his people: “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written” (Ex. 32:32).  Obviously, Paul wept over his people, desiring supremely to see them saved. It is God’s will to pray for the conversion of sinners.

• While living in the village of Herriden, Germany, God gave me many opportunities to witness to the youth at the bus stops in our community. I made a point of giving out gospel tracks and encouraging them to think about their personal need for Christ. God helped me remember many of their names and I used them when I interacted with them. I also placed their names on a special prayer list, “Bus Stop Prayer List,” to remind me to pray for the salvation of their souls.

     2.  If We Are Praying for Fellow Believers in Christ Jesus, Certain Things Are Always Within the Will of the Father.

        A.  A Model Prayer for the Philippians.  We have a good model for this in Paul’s letter to the Philippians, in which he tells the Philippians what he prays for them:

Philip. 1:3-6, I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, [4] Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, [5] For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; [6] Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Philip. 1:9-11 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; [10] That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; [11] Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

We can pray these things for all believers at all times and in all situations:

                1) That Christ Will Complete the Work in Them That He Has Started.  vs 6

                2) That Their Love May Abound and Overflow.  Vs 9,

·        Love is doing what’s best for another physically, emotionally, mentally, & spiritually.

                3) That They May Grow in Knowledge and Discernment   vs 9-10

·        Knowing right and wrong

·        Choosing the best, “excellent,” over the good and better

                4) That They May Live Sincere Lives as They Follow Christ, Avoiding Offenses to Him   Vs 10

                5) That They May Be Filled with the Fruits of Righteousness—persistent do-gooders   vs 11

                6) That Their Lives May Bring Glory and Praise to God     Vs 11

                7) That Christians Would Faithfully Contribute to the Advance of the Gospel–Missions Vs5           “For your fellowship in the gospel”

       B.  A Model Prayer for the Colossians.  Colossians provides another model prayer that we can always pray for our fellow believers and know it is God's will:         

Col. 1:9-12, For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; [10] That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; [11] Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; [12] Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

It is God's will always that our fellow believers:  

               1) Know God's Will for Their Lives Generally and Specifically.    Vs 9

               2) Have God's Wisdom as We Navigate through Daily Life.    Vs 9

               3) Grow in Spiritual Understanding—godly perspective & outlook.    Vs 9

·      (1 Cor. 2:12-13; compare 1 John 2:20; 5:20).

               4) Walk in Righteousness—Worthy of Our Lord, Pleasing to Him.   Vs 10  

               5) Bear Fruit in Many Types or areas of Christian Service.    Vs 10   

               6) Grow in Intimate Knowledge of God—experience Him daily.  Vs 10

               7) Become Stronger enabling us to be more Patient, more Longsuffering, and Joyful.  Vs 10

I encourage you to use these prayers as your basic pattern of intercession for other believers.

 B.  TRUST THE SPIRIT TO HELP US PRAY THE FATHER’S WILL.

When We Do not Always Know What to Pray or Cannot Seem to Pray What We Desire to Pray   Romans 8:26, Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Our struggle with praying within the will of the Father occurs most often when we don’t know how to pray or what to request. It may also occur when we do know how to pray, but the way we feel led to pray is not the way others desire for us to pray.

I heard the story about a pastor who visited a woman in the hospital. She was very ill, and she asked him to pray for her healing. He tried to pray as she requested, but the more he prayed, the more he prayed for everything but healing. He indicated that in his spirit, he had a growing knowledge that healing was not God’s plan for her. God was about to call her home. Sure enough, she died the next day.

      1.  The Holy Spirit Helps Us Pray in Spite of Our Infirmities.

In the difficult times when we don’t know how to pray, or we find ourselves stopped from praying what we had intended to pray, Paul tells us the Holy Spirit  “helpeth our infirmities” (Rom. 8:26).

                   A.  The Infirmities of the Christian

The Holy Spirit actually strengthens the believer to overcome his infirmities (weaknesses). Infirmities may refer to the presence of sin abiding in the believer (Rom. 7:14).  It may also refer to our ignorance and our current ambiguous perception of our future glorious existence.  Still the Spirit helps us conquer our weaknesses in our prayers. This knowledge of God’s sympathy should not motivate us to excuse our infirmities, but quicken us to seek a higher, holier, and Christ-honoring life. There may be much against us, but God is still for us!

                   B.  The Help of the Spirit. Rom 8:26, Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: ....

“Helpeth” here signifies "to take hold with at the side for assistance"; hence, "to take a share in, help in bearing, to help in general."  

Thus the Holy Spirit shares our burdens and assists us in our infirmities or at the very moment of weakness!  In other words before we will ever experience being over burdened with the Trials and Troubles of life, the Holy Spirit will pick up the burden on the other end before it’s too late and help you bare it!

                                1. It Means That the Holy Spirit Shares the Load. He gets up under the burden that we feel—about our lives or others' lives—and He helps carry the prayer. Remember, we still must pray!

                                2.  This Word “Helpeth” Is Also Used, in Martha's Request to the Lord to Bid Her Sister Help Her.   Luke 10:40, But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

This same word “help” is used in Luke 10 where we read that Martha was distracted from sitting at Jesus' feet because she was concerned about getting a meal on the table. She asked Jesus to tell her sister, Mary, to help her in the serving preparations. (See Luke 10:40.)

The implication in both places is that the help being given or being sought is practical in nature. Martha is “cumbered about”—with serving her guests. This phrase implies that she was running in circles. That's the way we often feel in our prayers, isn't it? We run all around the problem, hoping to corral it. (Stanley, C.)

The idea behind the use of the word “Helpeth” is the down to earth, everyday kind of help that Martha needed in the kitchen!  That is help where you need it the most!  We can trust the Holy Spirit to help us in a practical way—to guide us very specifically into God's answers and solutions so that we truly are praying in the will of the Father. (Stanley, C.)

                              3. The Word “Helpeth” and the Holy Spirit’s Title “Comforter” Convey the Same Ideas As One Called Alongside to Help!   John 14:16, And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;     (Also: Jn. 14:26; 15:26 & 16:7)

“The kind of help He gives is the help a doctor gives when he is called along side the sick bed; the kind of help the fireman gives when he is called alongside a burning building; the kind of help a Lawyer gives when he is called along side to undertake a case.  What a Helper and Comforter!”—Dr. John Phillips

         2.  What Do We Have to Do to Receive the Help of the Holy Spirit?  We need to ask for it. Ask for His help before you pray. Ask for His help as you pray.  Then literally depend on Him to assist and guide, and aid you in your prayer life.

         3.  God is Concerned About the Trials and Sufferings of His People.  Sometimes we wonder if God really Cares in the midst of our pain; we even question the tangibility of His love! There is great help in simply knowing that God really cares when we hurt and experience suffering in this life. Not only does God care, but he actually helps us in such times!  He Strengthens, Assists, Feel Our Pain with Us, He even Heals the Hurts in our spirit and soul!  O, how we need to acknowledge His help and accept His comfort always but most of all in the midst of the longest Trials, deepest Pains, and darkest Hours!

   C.  DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO BECOME DISCOURAGED OR FRUSTRATED!

Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

         1.  At the Very Times You Are Most Discouraged about Prayer, Don't Give in to Discouragement. That's the very time when you need to pray! Jesus promised that our Comforter-Helper is always available and is instantly accessible. He is never out of the office when we need Him.

         2.  God Values Our Prayers. Furthermore, He Commands Us to Pray. Prayer is part of God's plan for accomplishing His purposes on this earth. We didn't design this plan for prayer. God did. And He intends for us to succeed in prayer. That's why He helps us in it.

“The Creature and the Creation must groan in pain until the Revelation of the Sons of God, but until that time there is help for the Saved through the Holy Spirit.  We are told that the Holy Spirit will help with our weaknesses.   Even when we are too weak to know what we should pray for, we get intercession from the Spirit with such groaning that we could not utter.  We have a Heavenly Helper who maintains our cause for us.  All of this intercession is made according to the will of God.”—Dr. A. V. Henderson, Pastor Temple Baptist Church

Certainly God delights to do His own will!  These prayers will no doubt be answered fully!

CONCLUSION:   

My purpose is not to answer all the questions we might have about prayer. Rather, my purpose is to make this point: The Lord God wants us to pray, encourages us to pray, guides us in prayer, and when we do not know what to pray for, the Holy Spirit takes up our cause and prays to the Father for us.

Therefore, we should never fear praying to God or be discouraged about prayer. Rather, we can go to God and admit that we do not know how to pray for some things as we ought, and have confidence the Holy Spirit will make the proper prayer on our behalf. What freedom that gives us! We can just pray, with a free heart, knowing that the Holy Spirit is praying for us at the same time, translating our mixed-up thoughts, our uncertainties, and ignorance, into valid meaningful prayers.

Be sure to respect God qualifying criteria for prayer! The Scriptures are abundantly clear that we are not to pray with selfish motives (James 4:3), or with sin in our heart (Psalm 66:18), or without faith (James 1:6). At the same time, God readily hears the prayer, “Lord, I have sinned. Forgive my sin, and restore me to fellowship with you. Empower me to change from within.” If we have taken care of those matters, we can pray. So pray…risk praying poorly if you must, but still pray—cry out to God shamelessly. Pray the best you know how. The Holy Spirit is there, assisting, translating, interpreting, and literally praying to the Father for you. That is correct; God prays to God for you!

But, what if we do not believe what the Bible declares about prayer? We will miss out on some of the ministry of the Lord Jesus, the Word of God, and Holy Spirit would like to have in our lives. We will have a less than biblical understanding of the blessing of the Living God’s direct involvement. We’ll miss out on the peace and joy of knowing that God is on a constant watch for our spiritual welfare. Then finally, we will have little to share with others regarding these weighty spiritual matters. (Anders)

So are your prayers needed? Yes! Is God listening? Yes! Does God expect us to pray when He prompts us to pray? Yes! Does God hear and answer our Bible-informed prayers? Yes! Do we always pray the right things when we ask the Holy Spirit and rely on Him to guide our prayers? YES!

There is great reward in cooperating with the Scriptures, Holy Spirit and our Lord Jesus in prayer. That reward is manifested not only in the lives of those for whom we pray but also in our life. You cannot lose if you ask the Holy Spirit, trust the Word, and follow the Lord Jesus in prayer!

Why Do We Need Spiritual Armor?

Why Do We Need Spiritual Armor?

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11, Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13, Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Eph. 6:10-13) 

What is the purpose of spiritual armor? Actually the answer to that important question is found in Ephesians 6:11 and 13. You see, God’s spiritual armor enables us Believers to become strong in the Lord for the purpose of standing firmly while resisting the “wiles of the devil.” Such armor is for engaging in supernatural combat with demonic agents, and continuing to “withstand in the evil day” of temptation. Thus armor is protective gear—a defensive measure that preserves the warrior in combat. As such the Christian warrior can persevere in the battles while facing a formidable foe. Our spiritual armor affords us supernatural and divine protection in a war that is intensely spiritual in nature. In fact based on our passage in Ephesians, the following four observations spell out the incredible benefits of our God-provided armor.

God’s Special Armor Equipment is for Divine Protection (Eph. 6:11).

Since we are fighting against enemies in the spirit world, we need special equipment both for offense and defense. While God’s armor provides the protection we need, the weapons provide effective means of assault. Do not miss the point…complete protection is given to God’s warriors as we engage the enemy under God’s power and authority.

God has provided the “whole armour” for us, and we dare not omit any part. All forms and every form of defense required to engage the enemy effectively has been furnished to us. We must be certain to don the entire armor set. Satan looks for that unguarded area where he can get an advantage. He desires a strategic position that will afford him opportunities for launching life-crippling attacks (Eph. 4:27). God assures each of us of the need to put on the “whole armour”! We must take up the prescribed weapons of this warfare, and by the power of our Lord Jesus withstand Satan. Beloved, any and all of this must be undertaken by real faith. In the middle of battle is not the place to doubt our body armor or our weapons!

The armor is our God-given resource for our protection, power, and effectiveness in the spiritual warfare against the forces of darkness. These supernatural resources are truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God. None of these implements are carnal; all are powerful through Almighty God for surviving the spiritual assaults of the wicked one. These are the spiritual resources for God’s embattled people.

God’s Armor is For Resisting the Enemy’s Strategies and Tricks (Eph. 6:11).

Our supreme Commander-in-Chief has issued divine and complete “war gear” to provide all we need “to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Our armor provisions are the result of His careful plan and strategy to help us thrive in the theater of war. It is certain the devil rules the world of darkness, and postures his armies to engage God’s people. Satan leads the evil kingdom in opposition to God and our Lord Jesus. He uses an array of methods to achieve his wicked goals.  

Our objective is to “stand against” his tricks. This ancient military term means to resist the enemy, hold our position, and offer no surrender. Our Lord would have us “stand fast in the faith” (1 Cor. 16:13), with the determination to “stand perfect and complete in the will of God” (Col 4:12). Standing against Satan and his armies is the imperative: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Once more Peter challenges us concerning Satan’s aggression to “resist stead fast in the faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9). God’s plan for each Believer is to stand our ground refusing any advances of the enemy. All of this means that God has equipped us for victory through His armor.

Also it is important to understand that Satan will not fight fair; his “wiles” will often include subtle tricks, schemes, and devices of non-material conflict. For instance the word “wiles” means strategies or methods of deception. It implies craftiness, cunning, and scheming—this accurately describes Satan’s tactics. It has been well observed that he often uses “discouragement, frustration, confusion, moral failure, and doctrinal error” (MacDonald).  We must also be aware of the fact that Satan has been using these strategies for thousands of years and so have his armies. We may be new to such battles, but our enemy has vast experience and is highly skilled! He is well aware of the multiplicity of weaknesses and vulnerabilities of humanity—fallen mankind. His armies have been manipulating peoples and nations since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Often without our knowing it the enemy takes aim at our greatest susceptibilities to defeat us. If we are not careful we will think the failures, complications, and troubles we find ourselves in are purely the result of our botched efforts. While we may have some responsibility, we must also wisely recognize that a clever enemy is working to deceive us. If he cannot disable us with one method, he will try again with another. Beware of the “wiles” of the wicked one! Always remember that our “ability to stand” in spiritual battles depend ultimately on our use of “the whole armor of God.”

God’s Spiritual Armor is for Complete Victory (Eph. 6:13).

The phrase “having done all, to stand” probably summarize the believers’ victory after the battle. It is well reported that in ancient times, those still standing after the battle were the victors. The whole context of Ephesians six implies that we have the victory. That is correct; without any exception each Christian can experience Christ’s triumph in their individual battles! While it is true we must call every faculty into submission and obedience to Jesus Christ, we can be winners! The passage does not say, ‘having done nothing to stand!’ No, God requires that we give our best energies to this conflict. We are to participate in Christ’s victory over Satan.

It is true that we know the ultimate outcome of this war. Still individual battles can be lost if any Believer has not done all in order to stand (see also James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9). The victory comes from the Lord, but we will undoubtedly know we are at war with a terrible enemy. This is not a matter of doing nothing while the Lord fights the battles! It is a matter of our participating in these battles by faith and consecration to the Lord. God will work harmoniously in us and with us to defeat the foe. We must be in concert with Him to secure victory.

Knowing that Christ has already conquered Satan, and that the spiritual armor and weapons are available, by faith we accept what God gives us and go out to meet the foe. Yes, the day is evil, and the enemy is wicked, but “if God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31).

God’s Armor Assure us of Ultimate Victory!

When we engage in warfare at Christ’s command and under His authority, we are assured of full triumph and victory. Whenever we feel as though we are losing the relentless battles, there are two key points to keep in mind.

First, the loss of a battle is not the loss of the war. In some cases, you may feel as if you have lost a round in your fight against the devil and his cohorts. You may experience what you perceive to be a setback. It is helpful to remember our setbacks do not surprise our Lord, nor change His designs for us.

When the Lord Jesus sent out His disciples to preach the gospel and heal the sick, He said that if the people in a city did not receive them, they were to wipe the dust of that place from their feet, give a warning to the people, and move on. Jesus anticipated that His disciples might not be successful 100 percent of the time.

Nevertheless, our Lord fully expected His disciples to continue to move forward! They were charged to do the maximum amount of good. They were to continue preaching and praying with the greatest amount of effectiveness possible in any given town, village, or rural area. Christ Jesus expects the same of us. We may not win every battle or realize the results we anticipated every time, but God’s designs for His warriors have not changed. We still have our orders to stand! There is no incentive for quitting because of personal frustrations when we realize this truth. It may surprise us to not realize, but our Lord does not call us to be successful by our reckoning, but rather, faithful to His purposes. We are to do what He calls us to do; the consequences and results are His responsibility.

Secondly, the final victory will be revealed fully in eternity. You and I cannot presently know the 360 degree impact of our lives and ministries on the lives of others. Some of what we accomplish for Christ on earth will be revealed to us only in eternity. And when it comes to eternity, the devil has absolutely no hold on us once we have accepted Christ as our Savior and Lord.

Nothing the devil can do to us will change our eternal destiny. Think about when the Lord Jesus sent out seventy of His disciples, two by two. He gave them specific instructions to preach the gospel and heal the sick, which included anything that might keep a person from being whole. This was their concentrated focus for this entire tour of service. The disciples returned to Jesus with great joy, saying, “Lord, even the devils are subject unto us in thy name” (Luke 10:17). Satan’s hindrances and oppositions were no match for our Lord’s power and authority! Jesus responded, “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. [19] Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:18–19).

Understand that sometimes in the Scriptures, serpents and scorpions are other terms for demons. Jesus told His disciples then, and He tells us today, that His followers have authority over the devil, and the devil can do nothing to cause eternal harm to those who rest in the authority of Christ. We may have moments of timidity and fear…we certainly will feel real pain from time to time. Still…be assured we will NOT experience any eternal damage at the hand of Satan. Beloved, vested with the power and authority of our exalted Lord Jesus Christ, we can face our enemies with assurance the victory is ours! So, now that we understand better why we need spiritual war gear…suit up!