Marsha's Musings: Reflections on the Sermon

Our pastor preached a sermon on the importance of prayer. We just finished going through the six peices of the Christian's armour and the verses following that in Eph. 6 deal the importance of prayer. Whenever I have heard a message on the Christian's armour, they have talked about the six peices and that was where they ended. Our pastor pointed out that without prayer, talked about in the next few verses, the armour can't be effective. He said a Christian's spiritual life is measured by his prayer life. He also said what we pray for is a measure of our spiritual life as well. If we are always praying about temporal issues...Aunt Susie's ingrown toenail and Uncle Harry's arthritic knee, to the exclusion of praying for the spiritual issues of the people we know and our own spiritual neediness, then our spiritual life is not very deep. He challenged us to read the prayers of the Apostle Paul and the prayers of Jesus to see what they prayed about and compare them to our own prayers. It is quite revealing.

Ephesians 6:12 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. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery
darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 ¶ And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.