URGENT PRAYER // The POWER of PRAYER // Pastor Richie Fike

Welcome to the Movement Church podcast. We want you to

know that God is for you. So you're about to

hear a sermon from one of our weekend services in

the twilights of southern Colorado. God is not a monument,

He's a movement. So we're praying that this message will

move you in a meaningful way. Listen closely after the

message for ways to get connection with us. God bless you.

Thanks for tuning in.

We are in this series called Urgent Urgent Care, and

now we are in urgent prayer. I don't know about you.

How many of you would say that you are a

child of the eighties. Anybody here say that you are

a child of the eighties. Okay, what's up?

Unc? Good this see y'all this morning superunks they call us. Now.

I grew up in the eighties. I was born in

the seventies.

I grew up in the eighties, and I was targeted,

I mean just flat out targeted by Saturday morning cartoons.

Any anybody else Saturday morning cartoons. See these young people

don't know nothing about no Saturday morning cartoons. Okay that

y'all don't know what's up with the Saturday morning cartoons?

Because you just get whatever you want anytime you want.

But we had to wait until Saturday morning cartoons, right,

and we had you know, Gi Joe, I had Gi Joe,

Transformers and Star Wars. Anybody here have this this Jedi

carrying case?

My guy?

Come on, man, I'm telling you. Everything I saw in

cartoons I wanted. And the slogans of those cartoons absolutely

hooked me. They're still in my head today. Like for example,

g I Joe. Anybody remember the Gijo slogan? What is it?

No? That? No, that's right now.

But they would first they would say, now you know,

and then you would say, and knowing us.

Half the battle, GEI Joe? Right, that was the thing.

And dude, So if anybody ever says, now you know

to me, what's happening in my head?

Is g I Joe? Right?

And Transformers you were close Transformers of what Transformers was

was more than meets.

The eye, robots in disguise, right, that.

Was the vibe man, Transformers was it, dude? And then

of course Star Wars they had all kinds of slogans

use beforece Luke, search your feelings, Luke, I'm your father? No, right,

I mean I'll never get the first time I saw that.

And then, of course the one that.

Hooked me the most.

My absolute favorite set of toys as a kid was

he Man. Anybody else here love he Man as a kid?

My God, John Jannis, That's why I love you. That's

why we're brothers. Uh man Man. He Man had me,

They just had me, and you know. He Man was

the story of a normal guy named Adam who was

admittedly yoked, but but he would hold the sword of

Power up in the air and this would happen.

By the power of gracecoll Stranger became a mighty battle cat,

and I became he Man, the most powerful man in

the universe. Come on, anybody else get excited about that?

Just me.

I went and got us a little friend for today.

This is he Man. I've been trying to stand him up,

but he's real top heavy. He wants to fall over

my guy has I mean, you have to like lean

him way back to get him to stand up.

But he would stand up, and he would yell by

the power of Gray Skull, I have the power. That

was his thing.

And whenever that would happen, the power of the Castle

Gray School would come into the sword into his body

and this normal man, Adam.

Would become he Man.

Now just recently they put out a new Master's of

the Universe movie, and you better believe I went and

saw it, and you better believe it was terrible. It's

one of the worst movies that's ever come out. I mean,

just don't see this movie, Okay, if I have any

influence over you, don't see it.

It was bad.

But they did something cool in the movie. They broke

the lore of the he Man universe. In this movie,

there's this moment where Adam has broken the sword. The

sword is broken in half. All he has left is

the handle and the swords over there. And Adam is

pretty confident in that moment that he will never be

he Man again because he thinks that it's all about

having the sword and saying the words. And then out

of nowhere, a mystical spirit guide comes in and her

name is the Sorceress, but she is a spirit guide.

She comes in by the way as a white bird.

Come on, holy Spirit. I wish it was dove. It

was like this weird like nuclear condor or something. I

don't know, but anyway, she comes in and she says

to him, Adam It's not about the sword.

It's about you speaking the words with conviction.

I have the power, and so whenever he says it,

he doesn't need the sword anymore. He can become he man.

Are you wondering what this has to do with the Bible?

Me too. I just wanted to talk about him and

to be honest with me. No, just kidding.

In the year of Our Lord twenty twenty three, a

church was formed, a gathering of believers was formed, and

now here we are in twenty twenty six, and our

mission is to reclaim the high ground of the character

and nature of God in a world that is being

sold a lie that your God is against people, or worse,

that he is just totally indifferent, doesn't care, couldn't care less.

We know that that's not the message of the Bible.

We know that God is for you, and so are we.

Now that has become the mission of our church. It's

why we're going to go throw ducks at kids on

the fourth of July, because we want them to know.

Is anybody excited about throwing ducks at kids on the

fourth of July? Come on, it's We're gonna get lots

of lawsuits, but it's why we are going to the

community and the fourth of July, it's why we're not

asking them to come to church. We're going to bring

church to them and let them know that there's a

church in this town that loves you and that is

for you, and we represent a God who feels the

same way about you. But listen, the reason we have

to stand on that mission is because we have opposition.

We have an enemy who has crafted that really cunning

narrative that God's not for you, that God's against you.

Jesus said that the kingdom will be taken by force.

He was talking about power. He also said that he

had been given all authority in heaven and on earth.

He was talking about power. And in Acts chapter one,

there's this incredible moment between Jesus kind of catapulting into

heaven and the moment of Pentecost. Jesus has listened, something's coming.

When the Holy Spirit comes, you will have power. Power,

You have the power. And so my question for you

today Christians in the room is do you feel like,

and I'm going to say it, like he man, you

have the power. Do you feel like you have the power,

Because a lot of the Christians that I know would

say not really, I don't really know what that means.

How do you access the power of God? And so

we're in this series about prayer. First two weeks we've

covered the purpose of prayer and the practice of prayer,

and today we're going to talk about the power of prayer,

the power of prayer, and I'm going to try to

answer three questions for us today. I feel like I'm

standing in front of this too much. We're going to

answer three questions today. What's so powerful about prayer, what's

the purpose for that power? And how do we access

the power of prayer? Those are the questions we're going

to deal with today. And the way we're gonna do

it is we're gonna look at Ephesians chapter six. If

you've got a Bible, open it up. If you've got

a device fired up, if you have eyeballs, just look

up at the screen. We're going to look at Ephesians six.

And this is a very famous passage of scripture. This

is towards the end of Ephesians where Paul the Apostle

has written a letter to the church in Ephesis and

what he has done throughout the whole book of Ephesians

is communicate. This is what living like a Christian is

all about. If you're curious what distinguishes, what differentiates a

Christian from everyone else, Ephesians is our answer. Husbands, wives, leaders, followers, slaves, bosses, children, parents, friends, neighbors.

This is what it looks like to live as a Christian.

So Ephesians six, chapter ten. He finishes this phrase this

whole book by kind of this closing salva, Oh bye,

he Man, and he says, I'm not going to keep

messling with he Man this whole time. Ephesians six' ten

says this, finally be strengthened by The lord and by

his vast. Strength put on the full armor Of, god

so that you can stand against the schemes of the.

Devil for our struggle is not against flesh and, blood

but against the, rulers against the, authorities against the cosmic

powers of this, darkness against evil spiritual forces in the.

Heavens tell the person next to you you have an.

Enemy now tell the other, person the one you didn't

want to talk, to and you're not my.

Enemy tell them you're not my. Enemy verse.

Thirteen paul, says for this, reason take up the full

armor Of, god so that you may be able to

resist in the evil day and having prepared everything to

take your. Stand, okay So paul is going to walk

us through the armor Of god in a, moment but

first he wants to tell us why we need. It

he says in, eleven put on the full armor Of

god so that you can stand against the schemes of the.

Devil devil's really, good got a lot of, schemes been

at it for a long. Time he knows a little

bit more than you, do because he's lived longer than you.

Have he's.

Good his schemes are, powerful so you're gonna need the full.

Armor then he, says our, struggle, everybody say our.

Struggle our struggle.

Is not against flesh and, blood but against the spiritual

powers of evil and. Darkness and then he, says for this,

reason take up the full armor Of god so that

you may be able to take your. Stand he's going

to tell us why we need, it but FIRST i

want you to see. This paul has a very clear

message in A feesi and. Six and here's what it.

Is you've been given armor because you are at. War

those of you in the room who have put your

faith In Jesus christ as The lord And savior of your.

Life welcome to The lord's. Army you are at war

not against, people but against powers and. Principalities he's telling.

Us he's telling us some, things and he's also not

saying some. Things paul doesn't say that there's this battle

happening in.

Heaven and you've got nothing to do with.

It he's not saying that there's this, battle and the

battle is between people on the earth who you don't.

Like he's not saying that the battle is for somebody.

Else it's for. Us paul says that we, fight we,

struggle we contend with spiritual forces in the. Heavens this

is powerful. Stuff people are not your. Ops people are

not your. Enemy people are not who you should be fighting.

With flesh and blood is not your. Problem so if

someone disagrees with, you if they oppose you in any,

way it's because they have been incredibly deceived by your.

Enemy the people in this world who are shaking their

fists At christians are shaking their fists At christians because

they've been sold and they have bought a lie about

Who god, is about who you, are about What christianity

is all about and so they are shaking their fists at.

Lies they are not our, enemy they are our mission.

Field and we are living in a culture more and

more where we accept, Everyone we love everybody's, Perspective we

want to hear and open the door for.

Everybody But.

Christians we're walking towards a culture where that's more and more.

True my hairdresser, Yesterday, jenny was telling me she works

at a local shop here and at all of the different,

stations of all the different, hairdressers people have stickers and

little sayings and signs that they're allowed to put. Up

and there was a guy there in their shop that

got fired a couple of weeks, ago OR i think

maybe disciplined a couple of weeks, ago because he put

up a sticker About. God there's stickers About, satan there's

stickers about sexual, promiscuity there's stickers about anything you can think.

Of on all the other.

Stations this guy put up a sticker About, god and

he got disciplined for. It that's the world that we

are walking. Towards you are in a, war and it's.

Real one thing A christian can never say is that

is someone else's. Problem you don't get to say. That

that's What ephesians six tells. Us you are in the.

Battle you're either in or you're. Out you're either hot

or you're. Cold revelation, Says i'd rather be hot or,

cold because if you're, LUKEWARM i will spitch you out

of my. Mouth you're in or you're. Out you're either

annointed By god or you're abused by his. Enemy and

if you're, IN i got some real. NEWS i don't

know if it's good or. Bad but if you're, in

you have an enemy and he's good at his. Job

that's the hard. News but here's the good. News you

have been given all of the power that you need

to withstand the attacks of the. Enemy you've been given

armor because you're at. War you've been given armor because

you are under. Attack anybody in the, room Any christians

willing to admit that life sometimes feel like you are under,

ATTACK a new.

One? Here ARE i the only crazy? One? Right this

is what it's. About you are under.

Attack and So paul, says really, clearly before we get

real trigger, happy and before we get you, know to

feeling frisky about a, fight before we start kind of knuckling.

Up he wants us to notice some things of what he's.

Saying put all in full armor Of, god so that

you can stand, against so you are able to, resist

so that you can take your. Stand all of those

postures are. Defensive do you notice that they're all. Defensive

they're kind, of you, know getting a good stance so

that you can withstand the attacks of the. Enemy the

armor Of, god this is, important is decidedly more defensive

than it is. Offensive And i'm gonna walk you through

that here in a. Minute paul is not advocating as

he talks about this armor and about this fight for

a bunch of hoo Rah. Christians he's not advocating for

a bunch of give them the Hell. Christians, okay that's

not what we're talking. About all of us start like,

this well not exactly like, this BUT i mean, this,

brother he is, listen he is.

Ready isn't he? Ready he's?

Ready all of us start like, this, defenseless, yoked but,

defenseless and so let's put on the armor Of. God,

systematically we talk about the helmet of. Salvation paul gives

us that, example the helmet of. Salvation it protects your.

HEAD i have this this guy that's on my. Algorithm

he's a battle. Rapper his name Is Oh, solo and he's,

hysterical and he said this in a battle rap. Recently

he's very short and so he's always looking up at

people while he's talking trash to. Him but he said

this one, time AND i just laughed for. Days he,

said you should never lose your, head not even for a.

Minute you need your. Head your brains is in. It

i'm telling, YOU i laughed for a week about. THAT

i love. That what does the helmet? Do it protects your.

Head what's in your? Head your, Brains your brains is in,

it your thoughts are in, it your identity is in,

it your convictions are in. It who you, are what you,

believe what you will stand. On it's inside of your,

head your, thoughts your, clarity your belief. System and by the,

way it's called the helmet of. Salvation why because before

you put on anything, else remember That jesus said that

you were worthy for him to take on the cross

for all of your. Sin when you put that helmet

of salvation, on what you are reminding yourself is that you're.

Saved is that The Lord jesus did all the work

for you that it's not about, you it's about. Him,

amen that's the helmet of. Salvation remember who you, Are

remember whose you. Are and then we get to put

on the breastplate of, righteousness and it protects our. Heart

now you, know, metaphysically this isn't really a. THING i,

mean our heart keeps us, alive our brain keeps us.

Alive and really everything that's happening inside of you is

happening in your. Brain but, poetically what's happening in your

heart is your. Emotions, right what's happening in your heart

is how you feel about the world that you're living.

In so the breastplate of righteousness protects that.

Part of who you.

Are because our emotions can betray, Us, amen our emotions

can deceive. Us they can make us think things that aren't,

true make us feel things that aren't. True the, enemy

if he can't get to our, mind he'll get to our.

Heart that's what he. Does and so the breastplate of

righteousness protects our heart from every. Accusation nothing's gonna stick

to your. Ribs sticks and stones can break your, bones

but his words and his lives can never hurt you

because of that breastplate of. Righteousness, now if you're gonna

put an outfit, together you're going to need a.

Belt.

Right how many of you ladies will agree with me

that you can't wear a black belt with brown?

Shoes anybody? Agree come, on you. Can't that's not how it.

Works so we got to put a belt. On.

Now The bible calls the belt the belt of what

the belt of? Truth think about? That what does truth?

Do what does this belt of truth? Do it holds everything. Together,

see you're not built on just what you think or

what you. Feel if you're A, Christian you're built on

what The bible has to say to you about. You

it's the convictions that holds everything. Together otherwise you're going

to be blown to and. Fro you're gonna be swayed

by the cultural realities of the world we live. In

every good new thought that doesn't align with The, bible you, go,

well the whole culture thinks it's, true so maybe it is.

True where are you going to stand on your? Convictions

The bible is not a book about you AND. I

The bible is a book about the character and the

nature Of. God it's a book about his, character his,

nature his, values his definitions of good and. Evil none

of us in the room get to define what sin

is and what it Isn't god did.

That god does.

That so his perspective on life is the only one

in the history of time that has ever been unaffected

by the human.

Spirit it is objective.

Truth and if you put that belt of truth, on

it will hold you. Together so here's some. Questions what's

going to hold you? Together what's going to sele your

system of? Beliefs what's going to keep you from believing

lies or from determining the truth from a?

Lie the belt of?

Truth, now my favorite part of the, outfit if you know,

me are the shoes of. Readiness come, on if you know,

rich if like you, Know i'm all about the shoes of.

READINESS i love these. Shoes what If nike's slogan was

just don't.

Like, well how would that? Sell what are they communicating?

With just do?

It they're saying their shoes are not just stylish and,

cool but they are functional and. Performative do you Think

Michael jordan would have Worn jordan's if they didn't help

him to be the best basketball? Player of course. Not

it doesn't matter what you pay. Me if the shoes

feel like bricks on my. Feet do you THINK i

would preach in Air River jordans if they didn't help

me to preach more with The Holy? Spirit of, course,

not of course. NOT i wear these shoes Because i'm

for you. Today you know What i'm, Saying just do.

It the shoes of, readiness what do they? Do they

protect you from, slowfulness from, laziness and from surprise. Attacks

you ever been surprise attacked by the enemy anybody? Here

of course you. Have that's what he loves to. Do

and so you better have shoes on your feet and

be ready at any moment to get you know What i'm.

Saying got to be, ready.

Okay so the last piece is the shield of faith

or the next piece the shield of faith which protects

against swords and spears and.

Arrows what's it, called by the, way the shield of?

What why do you think that?

Matters the shield of? Faith because you AND, i in

our mission to help people experience the fullness Of, god

are going to be drawn into conversations.

And we are going to be attacked by people who

are deceived by the. Enemy and there is an ex

in every single one.

Of those conversations that you will ever have with someone

who doesn't believe In.

God and THAT x factor is.

Faith it's not the shield of, knowledge it's not the

shield of, morality it's not the shield of apologetics or

of great. Arguments it's the shield of. Faith and The

bible says that without, faith it's impossible to Please.

God AND i.

Would say that without, faith it's impossible for you to

withstand the. Enemy, Right paul doesn't tell us to pick

up a shield of. Knowledge he says to pick up

a shield of, faith because your faith is a great

defense for the slings and arrows of the enemy of your.

Soul so CAN i just encourage you whatever you got

to do to feed your, faith do it whoever you've

got to get out of your life so that your

faith stops being. Starved do it whoever you need to

invite into your life so that your faith starts getting.

Full do.

It find ways to feed your, faith grow, it strengthen, it.

Affirment now the only weapon that in the whole list

that feels, OFFENSIVE i, Mean Captain america figured out how

to use the shield as an offensive. Weapon but That's

Marvel comics so the only weapon that's offensive, offensive not,

offensive is the sword of The. Spirit it defends against.

Attackers of, course you can see this guy is ready to.

Attack but you've seen sword battles in the. Movies anybody

ever been in a sword? Fight anybody, here anybody in the.

ROOM i saw one. Hand, okay. Cool so you know

that it's used for both offense and, defense, Right but

mostly this weapon is for you want to, stab you

want to, attack but you also are using it to.

Defend and it's the sword of The when The spirit

of The lord comes upon, you you will have.

Power this is the sword of The.

Spirit and so What paul is saying is the spirit

of The Living, god the one who grants you access

to the power Of, god is your defender against the

worst attacks that you'll ever experience in. Life it's also

saying that you don't need to defend yourself because The Holy,

spirit The spirit of The Living, god is ready to defend.

You you don't have to be, plucky you don't have

to be looking for a.

Fight this is what The lord is built.

For christians don't have permission to sit, out but we

don't need to go looking for a fight.

Either you know what the reality.

Is the moment you said yes To, jesus you signed

up for a. Fight the moment you SAID i believe In, jesus,

boom you became on the radar just like, that a little,

blip and as your faith, grows the blip gets. Bigger

so you don't have to go looking for a. Fight

the fight is coming to. You some of us are

a little too, froggy you, know just ready to, jump

like say, less let's, go you know WHAT i? Mean

like the whole thing about like being a wish Factor.

Christian you ever heard of a wish Factor? CHRISTIAN i

wish somebody would say that kind of A, Christian, like

that's not what we need to. Be that's not What

paul's advocating. For and by the, way this is why

we added the little Clause god is for you and

so are, we because we're not going to be that

kind of A christian at The Movement church where we

are just looking for a fight everywhere we, go we're

looking to make. Peace god's character Or god's people must

emulate the character and nature Of, god all of who he,

is not just part of who he. Is he's a,

fighter is Your god a. Fighter Your god's a. Winner

he's not just a. Fighter he is victorious in. Battle,

Amen he's a. Fighter but is he also a? Servant

of course he. Is jesus was a servant even unto.

Death that's who Our savior. Is he's the lion and

he's the. Lamb he's. Both that's what's so beautiful and

amazing about Our.

God this is who he.

Is So paul is not a vocating for a, chesty,

nasty give him hell type Of. Christianity he's advocating for.

Readiness are you ready because the attack is. Coming expect

to experience opposition as you attempt to live For. God

darkness hates the. Light that's what The bible tells. Us

darkness hates. Light why because light exposes darkness and darkness

does not want to be exposed for what it really.

Is and so you are the carriers of the. Light

what Did jesus say to his? Disciples what did he

say to? Us, hey, guys you are the light of the.

World that means darkness is coming for.

You are you? Ready are you? Ready?

Now we have to remember this, thing this incredible thing

That jesus said in The, beatitudes in That sermon on The.

Mount he says, This he, says blessed are the peace.

Makers he doesn't, say blessed are the peace. Keepers blessed

are the peace what? Makers, Okay so in order to

make peace sometimes you have to wage. War you have

to win the peace because there's. War that's what this

means to be a peace. Maker we are sharing the

mission of our, Savior Jesus.

Christ and this is the.

Truth when someone doesn't Know, god there's no peace in their,

soul No, god no, peace No, god no.

Peace.

Right, so when someone doesn't Know, god they are at.

War there's, enmity, intention and strife inside of. Them the

mission Of jesus was to Reunite god's children with The.

Father that's what he came to, do and he's invited

us to be a part of that with. Him when

people don't Know, god they don't know, peace and when

they turn their hearts to, him his peace replaces the

enmity that existed in their.

Souls and so that is the, fight, guys that is the.

Struggle it's our struggle that we are fighting against powers

and principalities who are deceiving people to keep them away

from The father and it's our job to fight against,

that to war against. That paul said in verse, ten he, said,

listen be strengthened by The, lord by his vast. Strength

this is where the he man metaphor comes back into the.

Sermon you're.

Welcome you AND i were chosen By. God if you

Know Jesus christ as Your lord and, savior you were

chosen By. God he calls you his chosen. Children you

were chosen to be filled with the full power Of.

God you have the.

Power the trick is learning how to yield to, him

how to lean on him instead of leaning on. You

how to hear his still small voice while you're being

shouted out by your. Enemy how to pay attention to

his voice while the world is megaphoning all the lies

that you could ever. Hear you're just tuning into that

still small voice of The Holy, spirit so that you

can be filled with the power Of. God you have the,

power but are you connected to? It an extension cable

has a lot of, power doesn't. It you can do

a lot of. Things but what happens if it's. Unplugged

it's just a piece of. Plastic but when you plug it,

in that connection point In christianity is called, prayer and

this is where the power is, sourced is when you

AND i. Pray i've probably read That ephesian six passage

like a thousand times in My. Christianity some of you

probably have to if you've ever let A vbs or

worked with. Kids this is a very famous. Passage BUT

i noticed something in preparation for this sermon That i've

never noticed.

Ever ever.

Before it's What paul says after right after he talks

about all the different armor Of, god after he instructs

us to put on the full armor Of, god he says,

this you've got the whole armor.

On you're not allowed to sit out of the. Fight

we are.

Struggling it's not about, people it's About, prince you, know

principalities and, powers and so put on the full armor

Of god.

And then get ready for. Battle and here's what battle looks.

Like pray WHAT i thought we were going to get

out on the field and, like you, know knuckle up

like spirit Of Kendrick, lamar squabble, up let's Go LIKE

i thought that's what we were. Doing, no put on

the full armor and. Pray how much DO i have to?

Pray at all, Times, okay what else in the, Spirit

so it's not about. Me, no it's never been about, You,

okay with every prayer and request and stay, alert with

all perseverance and intercession for all the. SAINTS i really

thought that this was going to be A Friday Night

lights type of, moment you, know like we're sitting in

the huddle coaches like full hearts can't, lose, RIGHT i

mean that that's the.

Moment let's get out, there no.

Pray there's a song that came out a few years.

Ago we sang it this. Morning it's Called Battle. Belongs

and WHEN i first heard this, SONG i hated.

IT i hated it.

Because WHEN i read these, WORDS i was, like, no

that's not HOW i. Fight he, Says so WHEN i,

FIGHT i fight on my knees with my hands lifted.

High AND i was, like, hey that's not HOW i.

Fight WHEN i, FIGHT i get up in the, GAME

i knuckle, up you.

Know bruise some people, like you, know. Elbows i'm a.

BIER i bite.

Like let's get you, know like like this is HOW i.

Fight And phil's, like, No, no WHEN i, FIGHT i

fight on my knees with my hands lifted high AND i, Say, Oh,

god the battle belongs to. You because every FEAR i

lay at your. Feet i'll sing through the Night, god

the battle belongs to. You feels. Right paul's. Right this

is an incredible. Reality, see The christian version of He

man doesn't look like us YELLING.

I have the.

Power it's not, haughty it's not, arrogant it's not about.

Us we are connected to.

The power Of. God and that's what it.

Means to be a prayer warrior is to get on

our knees and to lift our hands To god and to, Say,

god the battle belongs to. You this is what A

christian fighting a spiritual battle by accessing the power of

prayer looks.

Like this is a prayer. Warrior this is. Power this is.

Amazing paul says that our first battle tactic.

Is, prayer.

And it's our primary battle. Tactic even in The Old,

testament you look at some of those fights that they

were getting all riled up, For we're going to go

fight these. People there's a battle In chronicles where they

worshiped their way to the field knowing that they were

going to lose because they were, outnumbered and when they got,

there all of the fight had already. Happened they turned

on each. Other the battle belongs to The. Lord it's

fascinating when you think about this progression That paul's laying.

Out we are under attack because we're moving on. Mission

we can't sit this battle. Out we better suit up for.

Battle if it were. Me if it were, ME i

would have said put on the armor and. Attack that's

not what The bible. Says it says you're under. Attack

you can't sit it. Out it is your, fight and

the tactic is.

Pray. Pray we got to pray just to make it. Today.

Pray that's the. Fight that's what it looks like For.

Christians this is a prayer. Warrior so look at it.

Again you to notice there's a couple of phrases in

this verse that he says about how to. Pray he,

says pray at all times in the. Spirit let's talk

about these two. Phrases, really in the spirit is WHAT

i want to hit in the.

Spirit.

Now for a lot of, us maybe some of you

grew up in charismatic Or pentecostal. Circles maybe you've heard

some theology that communicates the idea that in the spirit

always and only means that you're praying in.

Tongues let me just say.

THIS i would quibble with, that and we will later

in the, year BUT i just would say, This The

bible clearly advocates for the articulation of. TONGUES i believe

that Your bible advocates for the articulation of tongues in

twenty twenty. Six, okay there is a way That god

wants to do, that but this is as a way

that The Holy spirit manifests. Itself not the, way but a.

Way are you with? Me and that's WHERE i would.

QUIBBLE a lot of the theology in The pentecostal and

charismatic world would communicate that the only way that you

can ever fight a spiritual battle is by speaking in.

Tongues that's not what Our bible. Says it does say

that we need to pray in the. Spirit and What

paul's doing is he's delineating the difference between praying kind

of in the flesh and praying in the. Spirit the

Whole book Of ephesians is about. This it's about the

distance between these two ideas self.

Reliance human, strength natural.

Instincts that's life in the. Flesh and then dependence Upon,

god guidance From, god empowerment From.

God that's life in the.

Spirit, basically what he's saying is that to pray in The,

spirit he's encouraging us to pray under the, influence the

guidance and the power of The Holy, spirit rather than

merely from our own. Resources The Holy spirit Is. God

he is the third nature Of, God, Father, Son Holy.

Spirit the moment that you became A, christian he took

residence in your. Body you became a temple for The Living.

God and The Holy spirit has things that he wants

to do and say in and through. You CAN i hear?

It? Amen? Okay that is the.

Reality and so What paul's saying is that prayer is

how the soldier remains connected to the. COMMANDER a soldier

with armor but no communication is. Vulnerable can you imagine

being on enemy lines and not knowing what the battle plan.

Is that's what it looks like to go fight on your,

own to fight in the. Flesh paul envisions believers constantly drawing, strength, wisdom,

guidance and courage from The spirit while staying engaged in.

Battle he talks about this again In romans.

Eight i'll just show you this.

QUICKLY i love this, passage he, says for we know

that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor

pains until. Now not only, that but we, ourselves who

have The spirit as the first, fruits we also grown

within ourselves eagerly waiting for adoption the redemption of our.

Bodies he says that in the same, way The.

Spirit also helps us in our, weakness because we don't

know what to pray as we, Should but The spirit

himself intercedes for us with inexpressible, groanings and he searches our,

hearts knows the minds of the spirit because he intercedes

for the saints according to the will Of. God have

you ever been so wrought with, pain so exhausted in a,

trial so, frustrated so just like done that you can't

even say a sentence To?

God anybody ever been? There good.

News god doesn't need your, Words he wants your. Heart

and so to pray in the spirit could just simply

could just be like ah, Ah.

God's like heard heard? That heard? That? Amen did y'all hear?

IT i heard?

It pray in the. Spirit just let all of who

you are pour out Before. God that is a valid.

Prayer your groans are battle crist, eyes And god knows

what to do with.

Them. Amen.

Amen so praying in the spirit simply means praying under

the influence of The Holy. Spirit it really just means

are you thinking about the source of your? Prayers are

you praying from the sinkhole of your limited knowledge and,

experience or are you praying from the well spring Of

god's limitless perspective and. Power one is going to get you,

somewhere the other. Won't paul's encouraging us to stop trying to.

Do god's job for. Him he's, saying, yes.

You're responsible for the fight before, you but, no you

shouldn't fight in your own. Strength anybody ever tried to

fight in your own? Strength anybody? Here does it? Work

does it get you? Anywhere?

Nowhere but? Frustrated?

Right, Okay i've told you we were going to answer three,

questions and we. HAVE i just haven't told. You you

know the words for, These but we've talked about all

three of. These what's the power about? Prayer prayer Is

god's primary battle. Plan that's what's powerful about. It put

on your, armor get ready for the.

Fight what does the fight look? Like.

Prayer, see prayer is not just this throwaway thing that

we go, WELL i, Mean i've tried everything. ELSE i

Guess i'll. Pray, No, no. Pray first start. There get

out of the, flesh get into the. Spirit what's the

purpose for that? Power god wants you to have access

to his, power for the purpose of fighting the good,

fight not against, people but Against god's enemies and For god's.

People how do we access the power of? Prayer we

do it by praying in the? Spirit how, often at all?

Times and CAN.

I just tell you, you guys are up against. It you're

up against. It in twenty twenty, SIX i read something this.

Week.

JOHN i don't know if you've ever heard, this but

the Average american checks their phone more than two hundred

times a. Day two hundred times a day we pick

up our, Phone oh what's going? On two hundred times a.

Day we want to be so connected to. It what

if we stayed that connected To? God what if you

stayed that connected To? God think about your closest, relationships

whether it's a best friend or a wife or a,

husband or a father or a. Child how would it

work if you never, communicated or if you only communicated

once a. Day how would that. Work it doesn't. Work

you're going to lose that. Fight here's the. Reality you're

not permitted to sit out of the. Fight you got

no shot at victory without constant, communication and you ought

to say.

Amen.

Amen So i'm going to give you three easy steps

and we'll close out. Today this, week as you're thinking about,

prayer these are really really simple ways that you can

kind of rethink the way you think about, prayer not

as a last resort, work but as a way that

you're staying connected to The father for The here's the first.

One pray, First pray. First first thing you do in the.

MORNING a lot of people first thing they do is

they reach for their phone or they reach for their,

coffee one of the. Two so before you chase that

dopamine hit of your phone or that caffeine hit from your,

coffee chase after the hit of connecting to The Holy Spirit,

GOD i just want us to say good, morning thank

you for another, day thank You lord for whatever you

want to do in my life. TODAY i, say, yes

it could be that. Simple pray. First here's the second. One,

oh this is before you check your text, messages before

you check your, emails your feed before you post that.

Post please pray before you. Post CAN i just say

that as your, pastor please pray before you, Post before

you make that, purchase that dumb purchase that you're going

to regret in like thirty minutes before the big, meeting

before the, argument before the next, decision before the scary.

Diagnosis pray, First pray. First and here's the second. One pray,

Small pray. Small you don't get extra credit for using

the most ten syllable words in your. Prayers do you

know that he wants your? Heart he just wants your.

HEART i learned this from my Son judah DURING covid

An he's.

Sweet look how sweet he? Was keyword was, no he's still.

Sweet but when he was four years old in About

april of twenty TWENTY, covid, RIGHT i remember this one

night we were sitting down to pray before bed AND

i was, Like, okay we're. Stuck we're living In Fort.

Worth everybody's stuck. Inside we're like we can't go. Anywhere

we're going to be in this house. Together we're not

going to, preschool we're not going to, church, YadA. YadA

i've got to explain this to him in a way

that makes sense to. Him AND i talked for about

four or five, minutes and he looked at, me and

at one point finally he just, said, Hey, Dad AND

i was, like what is it? Son he, GOES i got,

it AND i was, like what do you? Got he,

goes let's pray AND i was, like, oh. Okay and

SO i couldn't wait.

To hear what he was going to.

Say he closed his eyes and clasped his fingers and

he prayed a really simple.

Prayer he just, Said, jesus fix. It, Amen pray.

Small you don't have to pray, big just pray from your.

Heart so pray, First pray, small and this is. Important

pray for. People don't just pray for. Yourself don't start

your day off by just being, me, me, me, me,

me me, me think about. Others pray for, Others paul, Said

pray at all times in the, spirit with every prayer

and request and sailor with all perseverance and, intercession for, yourself.

For all the.

Saints pray for. People pray for people you, Like pray

for people you don't, like but pray for. People pray

for your, Coworker pray for your, Neighbor pray for that family,

member come, on you know who it. Is pray for

a difficult, person and pray for the people you. Love

this is what's powerful about being a part of a,

church by the, way is when you know that the

people in your growth, group the people in your move,

group the people on your row know your story well

enough to know how to pray for you on a weekly.

Basis that is so powerful because when you wake up

thinking about praying for, them and you know that somewhere

in this crazy world someone's praying for, you that is.

Amazing so pray, first pray, small pray for. People prayer

warriors don't spend their energy fighting against. People they spend

their energy fighting for. People and when you don't know

what to, say when you run out of, words allow

yourself to just groan Before. GOD i don't know what to, Say,

god but you know what the story.

Is fix.

It fight on your knees with their hands did, high

fight in the spirit because the battle belongs to The.

LORD i wish he man was, RIGHT i really. DO

i wish this was.

Right Praise.

God wouldn't it be amazing if every time you got

up and.

Prayed that's what it felt.

LIKE i have the. Power, like wouldn't that be? Incredible

but very, often come on, you you're just like.

Me i'm just like. You you pray and you go. OKAY

i MEAN i prayed right LIKE i did. IT i

did the. THING i prayed the.

PRAYER i didn't feel anything that there weren't like lightning

bolts from.

Heaven BUT i. PRAYED i connected To. God that's what it's.

About by the.

Power of The Holy, spirit we have the. Power when

The Holy spirit comes upon, you you will have. Power

so this WEEK i want you to TRY i pray,

first pray, small pray for, people and watch What god

does and through your.

Life so What's god leading you to do? Next and

how can we? Help send us an email to info

At movementchurch dot co and tell us how we can

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god is for you and so are we