The Rescue

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.” Gal. 1:3-5

SPOILER ALERT: In the movie, “All is Lost”, the sole actor portrays an old sailor being tossed about by turbulent seas. His vessel is damaged beyond repair, and he is forced to abandon his sinking ship for an inflatable raft. The storms continue, and hope passes him by like the cargo ships that fail to hear his frantic calls for help and cannot see his faint flares. Exhausted by exposure to the elements, dying of hunger and thirst, he risks everything to light a fire in his raft that might attract the attention of a ship passing him in the night. The raft catches fire. He jumps into the sea, and is soon overcome by fatigue. He slips under the water, and disappears from view, but his eyes remain fixed on the flame of his raft, as he sinks deeper in the water. “All is Lost”, indeed. Then it happens. The sinking sailor sees a spotlight of a search boat, and he is infused with fresh hope. He swims towards the light, and with his last breath, he reaches out and takes hold of an outstretched arm that is plunged and extended towards him, beneath the shark-filled water. The End.

“The Rescue” is a work of God’s grace, and the only way to be at peace with God. The Father’s love is offered to those lost in sin, through His Son, Jesus Christ, “who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us…” (Galatians 1:4)

“The Rescue” was motivated by the will of The Father, and provided by the willing sacrifice of The Son. God is love. Love began as His idea, not man’s ideal. Jesus prayed early, often, and intensely, to prepare Himself to yield His will to the will of The Father. Prayer prepared Jesus to love people who didn’t deserve The Father’s love. Prayerless people are loveless people.

Prayer prepared Jesus not just to do the will of The Father, but it also prepared Him to go willingly to The Cross. Prayer, for Jesus, was all about shaping His will to His Father’s will. His final words in The Garden of Gethsemane sum it up. “Not My will, but Thy will be done.” This may be the purest expression of answered prayer in the Bible.

Note to self: Looking for a pattern of prayer for your life? Follow Jesus.  Prayer transforms your life, when prayer conforms your will to the will of The Father.  Don’t stop praying until you can love unlovely people.

Jesus gave His life, not to inspire people to try harder to find their way to God, but to rescue people willing to admit they have lost their way to God. The Rescue requires a degree of humility that brings people to the end of themselves. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness” reveals a key component in being rescued. It is their insatiable desire for the outstretched hand of God, to pluck them out of their sin.

The Father reached down to lost people with His Son, Jesus. Those who respond to their lost condition, by admitting they need a Savior, and cannot save themselves, reach out and receive His hand. Those who continue to seek their own way to God, flailing about with their limited resources always fail to be rescued. Pride seeks a solution. Humility seeks a Savior. Big difference.

“Rescue” means to deliver, to pluck out, to draw out, to select one out from many. Jesus gave Himself to pluck out those sinking in sin, and would choose to receive Him as their Savior. At The Cross, He would deal on their behalf with the consequences of their sin.

Those who are chosen for rescue often become frozen in a fear of ever letting anyone else in on the joy of salvation. The rescued must never think they were chosen, or plucked out because of their righteousness, but because of their lostness. They would be wise to sing the old hymn, “Rescue the perishing. Care for the dying.”  The Rescued are those who once were dying to be saved, and humble enough to receive a Savior. The frozen chosen reflect little glory on God’s love.

Churches once had an “Anxious Bench” where those who were suffocating in their sin, could come to pray for the gift of salvation. Contemporary churches have replaced the bench with cup-holders and streamlined services that start at 11:00 sharp and end at 12:00 dull. (Homage to Vance Havner)

Churches may baptize many, and yet fail to rescue any, unless they are brought to a conviction of their sin, and to a Savior who rescues them out of this “present evil age.” Inviting people to receive Jesus, but leaving them exactly the way they were is not a rescue. It is arranging deck chairs on The Titanic. Message: Get off the boat or you are going down with the ship.

Rescuing people who are flailing about in desperation may not be a pretty sight, but the flailing leads to failing, and failing can be life-giving, if people will receive the rescuing hand of Jesus to lift them out of the water. Jesus gave His life for “The Rescue.” His church should follow His lead.  

If there is anything more suffocating than the pride that keeps a lost man from being rescued, it is the pride of a rescued man that keeps him from sharing with a lost person how they can be saved. Prayerlessness is a form of pride that will lead a rescued person to believe they deserved God’s grace, but others do not. Jesus prayed until His will was in line with the will of God.  He said, “Follow Me!” TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Meeting

“Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him fro the dead), and all the brethren who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and the Father, to who be the glory forevermore. Amen.” Galatians 5:1-5

Recently I had an unusual preaching experience. My pastor, Clay Reed, asked me to coordinate a joint message with my father, Don Miller. The focus of the message was on, “The Legacy of Prayer.” Dad is 92 years old and has been preaching and praying since he was saved, 72 years ago.  Our wives, Libby and Dana, joined us for the presentation on the platform. My two children, Ashley and Allyson, took part in a question and answer time with the pastor at the end of the message.

In preparation, Dad and I spent several mornings sitting at his kitchen table talking about the things that he has learned about prayer after decades of pastoring, and raising a family. Dad has never been one to be scripted, but I made some talking points that I thought might trigger some of his memories and initiate responses that would be helpful for people to hear. Dad approved and ignored all of them. He always does.

When Pastor Clay asked him a question, Dad nodded and moved immediately into a form of prayer that has become more and more a pattern, during this past year. Since August we have accompanied Dad to the Emergency Room numerous times, and spent over a month in various Intensive Care Units, due to either his Congestive Heart Failure or falls he has taken. His last early morning visit took place the Tuesday night. He took a blow to the back of his head, from a fall in his kitchen and had to have four stitches on the back of his head. Since we were to speak the following Sunday, I was concerned about his wellbeing and capacity to clearly share what was on his heart.

As it turned out, God used Mom and Dad to clearly exhibit a picture of what seven decades of marriage looks like when two people spend their lives praying TWOgether.  It should come as no surprise that their Life Verse is “O magnify the Lord with me, come let us exalt His name together.” Psalms 34:3

Dad’s response to most questions is a reflex reaction that points him toward God. He moves in and out of prayer with God, throughout the day, and when someone introduces a question or a comment to him, he quickly turns the focus of the question or conversation towards The Father. Sometimes it is difficult to tell when his prayer ends and his comments begin. He maintains a seamless stream of conversation with God, and when questions come his way, he invites The Father to take part in the conversation. It’s hard to explain, but amazing, and a little nerve-wracking for me to experience, but not for Dad.

Note to self: It would probably improve most of your conversations with people if you invited The Father to take part, before you said anything. Try it. Soon.

Paul seems to be able to do something very similar. As he introduces himself, his apostolic credentials, and his ministry team in Rome, Paul transitions seamlessly from a salutation into a word of intercession. Everything that ends with Amen is not a prayer, but Paul’s statement has all the markings of something more substantive, than a mere meet and greet salutation.  The greeting becomes a glorification of The Meeting that takes place when God’s grace meets man’s need.

“Grace to you and peace from our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and the Father, to who be the glory forevermore. Amen.”

God’s grace is the dispensation of His unmerited favor upon rebellious people who do not deserve to be forgiven. Yet He offers an end to the hostilities between Himself and rebels who comes to Him in absolute surrender through His Son, Jesus.

Rescued rebels who seek refuge in God’s arms, from “this present evil age” become the pillars of the church, through the grace of God. As Paul began to speak of grace, he must have remembered how much of The Father’s forgiveness was required to transform him from a murderer of Christian converts to a mentor of the early church.

Paul never got over God’s grace.  It never stopped amazing him how much he had been forgiven by God, and how he had been commissioned by Jesus to share the mystery of The Gospel. Neither should anyone else. It is “Amazing Grace”, indeed.

“Rescue us from this present evil age” is a far cry from the desire of most contemporary Christians. They seem to be intent on blending in with it, selling out to it, or hiding from it. None of these describe repentance, a turnaround that takes places when sinners admit they are moving in the wrong direction, and in need of a Savior to rescue them from evil.

Paul could not meet and greet people without pointing them to the grace of God, The Father, and giving Him glory for rescuing him and others through His Son, Jesus Christ. Paul had looked into the face of his “evil age”, and by God’s grace had seen the face of His Savior. 

When faced with evil, turn to the face of God through prayer, and call out to Jesus. He still rescues repentant rebels. Nothing is more important than The Meeting of God's grace at the point of your need. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Armor

“Put on the full armor of God that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11

The Armor: All of the pieces of the armor are defensive in nature, except The Sword of the Spirit. This should serve as a clear warning to all prayer warriors that an attack from the enemy is eminent.

“Stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” v. 12

The Enemy: Though the weapons of the warrior can be used against flesh and blood of family, friends and fellow-believers, these weapons are for use against spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

“…Having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore…” v. 13

The Stand: The prayer warrior stands against the devil and all of his spiritual forces, by putting on the Armor of God, and lining up in formation next to The Champion. Prayer warriors obey the orders of The Champion. The key to victory is not their armor, but their obedience.

“…So that you will be able to resist in the evil day.” v. 13b

The Resistance: Resisting the devil begins by recognizing him as a liar, a deceiver, counterfeiter, and an accuser whose sole purpose for existing is to throw any lie against believers and to put every crisis in their path to see if it will stick or cause them to stumble.

“GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH…” v. 14a

The Truth: Believers surrounded by the powerful propaganda of the devil, protect themselves by listening to Jesus, ‘The Way, The Truth, and The Life.”

“HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,” v. 14b

The Righteousness: Prayer warriors protect their hearts. The heart of the matter is sin. Being right with God requires seeing one’s own sin through the eyes of God, agreeing with Him and calling it by its right name. Being made right with God begins by admitting sin to God. Staying right with God requires protecting ones’ heart from the enemy’s temptation to sin.

“…and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARTION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE.” v. 15

The Gospel: Prayer warriors long for peace with God, but take their stand at the foot of The Cross. They refuse peace offered at any price lower than the cost for sin, the death on The Cross of God’s Son, The Lord, Jesus Christ.

“…in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one…” v. 16

The Faith: Trusting in God for direction, and believing God for protection are the two sides of the same shield. Prayer warriors take the attack to the enemy by faith. They don’t hunker in the bunker, but face the enemy with confidence in The Champion to direct them towards the enemy and to protect them from the enemy.

“And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION…” v. 17a

The Salvation: Prayer warriors know they are children of God, and have been rescued from the enemy camp, by faith in Jesus. The Helmet of Salvation protects the mind of Christ in the believer. Jesus came to save and to serve. Believers were not saved to sit and soak, but to carry out the mission of The Savior.

“…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” V. 17b

The Word: Prayer warriors receive marching orders for the mission from the Word of God. The Spirit of God illuminates, but never contradicts or violates the Word of God. The sword of The Spirit cuts both ways. It protects the prayer warriors, by taking the battle to the enemy, and it corrects the prayer warriors by revealing and removing their own sin.

“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petitions for all the saints, and pray on my behalf…” v. 18-19a

The Grip: Praying at all times in the Spirit reveals the warrior’s humility, and releases God’s power for the battle. Self-assured converts will never be Spirit-filled believers. They may enter the battle, but they soon lose their grip on the sword of The Spirit. Prayerless and weaponless warriors strike no fear in the enemy camp.

“Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor the onslaught (lit. storm) of the wicked when it comes; for the LORD will be your confidence (lit. at your side) and will keep your foot from being caught.” Proverbs 3:26

The Champion: The enemy fears The Champion, not prayer warriors. Fear is a powerful force, and when it can be injected into the enemy camp, the enemy flees the scene. When the devil hears prayer warriors calling out to God, in the name of The Lord, Jesus Christ, he expects Jesus to take the field.

Prayer warriors face the storm of war, in confidence that The Lord is at their side. Wise prayer warriors take their stand on bended knees, and invite The Champion to make His stand on their behalf. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Chains

“Pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains.” Ephesians 6:19-20

Paul’s prayer request was his humble admission of the limits of his personal strength and courage for the crisis he continued to face. He was imprisoned in Rome, and chained to a Roman soldier, awaiting his trial under Roman law. What could possibly go wrong?

Notice Paul’s prayer request. It was personal. Paul was not above asking for help. Rebellious children shout, “I do it myself.” Perceptive prayer warriors recognize their limitations and cry out, “Pray for me.”

One of the most revealing things about a person is their response to the question, “Is there anything I can pray about for you?” Often the question catches a person a bit flatfooted and tongue-tied, until they mutter, “No, everything is going OK right now.” Translation, “I only pray in panic. Catch me later.”

Paul asked for the church to intercede “that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth.” (v. 19a)

Paul’s prayer was answered. Paul’s voice, though muted by imprisonment, burst past the walls, and restricted movement of his body, onto the pages of letters. Thank God his Prison Epistles still survive today. They offer great insight into the love of God, the life of the early church, the courage of the first believers. They provide encouragement for those of us who follow in their steps. Thanks Paul.

Along with the letters Paul wrote to a much wider audience, his request revealed a concern for his much smaller audience. He remained chained to his Roman guard and he chose to receive this relationship as an opportunity for importunity.

Importunity is the prayer warrior’s capacity to press on in the face of a prevailing wind, and to keep their eye on their port of call. Praying with importunity receives opposition, and turns it into an asset not a liability. Prayer warriors learn to sail into the wind, and transform adversity into the power to arrive safely at their destination.

Paul’s imprisonment continued to have a powerful impact upon those closest to him. His Roman guards were rotated in and out, and provided him opportunity for many personal conversations. Paul’s boldness with those chained to him reaped a tremendous harvest among the Roman guards. How did this happen?

Paul refused to rattle his chains in resentment, and chose to receive his chains as an assignment. Big difference.

The fact of Paul’s imprisonment did not change, but his faith did. His growing faith, in the face of continuing imprisonment, impacted those who observed Paul in the middle of a prolonged crisis. The result?

“"Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear." Philippians 1:12-14

Praying through his crisis of imprisonment, and pleading for intercession in the middle of it, raised Paul’s perspective from that of a victim to a victor. Rather than pull against his chains, Paul wore them as a badge of honor.

“I am an ambassador in chains.” (v. 20)

Paul’s prayer life claimed victory over crisis, and kept him from being a victim of it. He lived a life of victory between the words, “Pray on my behalf” and “I am an ambassador in chains.” Thank God he did.

Note to self: God wraps up some of His greatest gifts in the most frightening packaging. Lose your shock face. Embrace what God brings into your life with an attitude of gratitude. What often appears to you, as a devilish interruption, is actually a Divine appointment. Pray early and often to discern the difference. There is nothing more obnoxious than an ungrateful child. Don’t be one. Complaining about God’s gift-wrapping is a sign you need more intercession in your life. Ask for more, and do more of it for others.  TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

“Discernment is given for intercession, never fault-finding.” Oswald Chambers

The Grip

“And take the HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, “ Ephesians 6:17-19

The Purpose of Prayer can never be seen as a private devotional exercise, completely isolated from a personal passion for the salvation of the lost. The HELMET OF SALVATION protects and fills the preacher with the mind of Christ. Don’t take my word for it.

 “I came to seek and to save that which was lost.” Jesus

Preachers of The Gospel are alert to any loss of the mind of Christ. Prayerless preachers entering into pulpits without a passion for the salvation of the lost are a danger to the church. They may share few thoughts about the Bible, but they have lost their minds. Preaching ends the first time a preacher says, “I think.” It begins when the preacher says, “The Bible says.”

The consequences of preaching without THE HELMET, closely resemble results of playing football without a helmet. Never put a microphone in front of a player who has just had his “bell rung.” Thoughts flowing from a person who has experienced a concussion are often disturbing, and embarrassing. The same can be said of passionless, prayerless preaching.

Preaching requires the preacher to “Pray at all times in the Spirit.”  There is nothing too small for God’s attention, or too great for His ability. Preachers pray over things great and small, with every breath they take. This is more than a Quiet Time. This is an understanding of prayer as a Life Time. Without prayer there is no life. Prayer is the breath of man drawing on the air of Heaven. It is out of this world.

“The sword of the Spirit” is the only offensive weapon listed in the Armor of God. All the rest are defensive. This should be a reminder to the prayer warrior that enemy attacks are inevitable, but until “the sword of The Spirit” is unleashed, the enemy ‘s attack will be relentless. The enemy won’t back off without a fight with the right weapon.

Note to self: Preaching is not connecting, communicating, entertaining, educating, or endorsing candidates. It is about cutting. That’s what swords do. Cut the ties to sin in your own life, and to those of the people within the sound of your voice. Never cut the sinner. Cut out the sin. Remember the difference. It’s huge!

“Draw the sword, and throw away the scabbard.” “Stonewall” Jackson, Civil War General and devout Christian

The Roman soldier’s sword was short, double-edged, and sharpened to a fine, penetrating point. Simply put, it was short and to the point, just like the gospel. When there is a mist in the pew it is the result of a fog in the pulpit. Preachers must never forget the point of the message. The Father’s love is revealed by, and received from The Son, and His love is sustained, by The Spirit.

The Roman soldier was most effective when his sword was wielded in an organized unit. When it was thrust from behind a personal shield, within “The Turtle,” a battle formation of tightened shields, it was an awesome offensive and defensive weapon.

If a Roman soldier lost his grip on the sword, he pulled his arm back behind his shield, and tightened up in the battle formation. Experience is a brutal teacher. Soldiers knew a lost grip could lead to a lost arm if pride deluded them into a belief in their own invincibility.

The enemy had no fear of the arm of the Roman soldier, but it had a healthy respect for the Roman sword. The devil understands the difference between posers and preachers. He has no fear of the former, but he fears the weapon of the latter.

Every preacher should have the same respect for “the sword of The Spirit.” Preaching without “the sword of The Spirit” may release some good advice, but it won’t unleash the power of God. This is done when “the sword of The Spirit” is held tightly by praying in The Spirit.

In spiritual warfare, the grip on “the sword of The Spirit” is tightened, by praying in The Spirit. This is the power of prayer. It is the synergistic, and simultaneous wielding of “The Sword of The Spirit,” with a grip strengthened by praying in The Spirit. Both are essential for the prayer warrior.

Praying in The Spirit involves perseverance, and petition, and rapid response to requests received from those who are in the battle formation. Perseverance in prayer reveals the prayer warrior’s will to resist the inevitable war weariness, and battle fatigue that comes with spiritual warfare. Petitions reflect a confident connection to The Source of supply. Prayer warriors pray because they know, God answers knee mail.

Prayer warriors are not “Lone Rangers” focused on their own personal agenda. They are part of global network of believers, and they promptly intercede for specific requests received from those in need of prayer support. Paul was one of them.

 “Pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, “

Prayer warriors intercede for those in need of courage to share the best kept secret in the world. “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Command

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil…Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore…” Ephesians 6:13

The Command of the prayer warrior is, “Stand firm!” Well-equipped, impeccably uniformed, and fully informed saints will always panic in the face of a relentless enemy. The Warrior stands firm, and offers resistance. The deserter panics in fear.

Note to self: Wisely expect an attack from your enemy. Don’t seek applause from your friends. Pray for courage to resist the enemy attack. Chasing after the approval of your friends, or running from the enemy will leave you breathless and prayerless. Obey orders. Stand firm! Take a deep breath. Pray.

The Stand: Prayer Warriors find peace and grace when they stand firm. They stand by kneeling and praying.  The enemy fears, The Champion, Lord Jesus, The Risen Christ

Paul’s final words to the Ephesians contain their only hope for peace in the face of spiritual warfare. Peace comes to the heart of a warrior when they receive “love with faith.” There is no substitute for the unmerited, undeserved favor of God that He provides through His Spirit to those who love His Son, “with incorruptible love.” Prayer is the purest form of this love.

“Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.” Ephesians 6:23-24

The Strategy:  When Prayer Warriors identify the enemy through the fog of war, they cut off the head of the snake’s body. They never try to pull the teeth, milk the venom, or drink the poison of the snake to build up an aversion or an immunity to sin. They resist the schemes of the devil, by attacking the source of evil, not by dissecting the symptoms or discerning the signs of evil.

“Stand firm against the schemes of the devil…” v. 13

The Warrior:  Prayer warriors are Spirit-filled believers, fully informed about the enemy, properly uniformed with God’s armor, and standing firm in battle formation with The Champion.

“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit,” Ephesians 5:18

The Armor:  Fully equipped warriors with all of the weapons of warfare are not ready for battle until they are full of The Spirit.

“Put on the full armor of God…therefore, take up the full armor of God.” Ephesians 6:11, 13

The Sword: The essential weapons of warfare are all defensive in nature, except one. The double-edged sword, able to remove the cancer of sin from the body of the warrior, and cut off the head of the enemy.  When Satan attacked Jesus, he distorted Scripture. When Jesus resisted the devil, He quoted Scripture. Prayer warriors are adept and attack with The Sword.

“…The Sword of The Spirit, which is The Word of God.” Ephesians 6:17

The Duty: PRAY! It is not for just for Special Forces. Charge!

“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” Ephesians 5:18

The Courage: Without boldness, well-informed, well-armed, and impeccably uniformed saints are empty suits that strike no fear in the enemy, and have no peace in their hearts.

Paul humbly asked people to pray for him. He was not focused on finer clothes, a bigger home, a larger salary, better health, but greater boldness to share the greatest secret, “the mystery of the gospel.”

“Pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 5: 21

Prayerless people are prideful people. They are never fearless warriors. Running around in panic at the sight of the enemy or in the face of an attack encourages the enemy to keep up the fight. Prayer calls for The Champion to take the field.  Out of breath and tired of running? Take a knee. Stand firm! TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Finale

“10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” Ephesians 6:10-13

Famous last words are remembered because they reveal the heart of a person. When final words fall from the lips they can provide a glimpse into the last thought that came to the mind of someone who knew they were taking their last breath. They can be inspiring or depressing depending on the content of the character of the person making the statement.

“I regret I have but one life to give for my country.”                Nathan Hale, American Rev. War patriot & hero

Some people live a long time, and die short of the goal. Others die young, but live well. Final words often reveal the content of a person’s character.

The Finale can be a crescendo of orchestration that brings a powerful conclusion to a stirring piece of music.  In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, his preceding remarks had prepared the hearts of the early believers to receive the powerful words unleashed at the end of this masterpiece of exhortation.

In the 21st Century, Paul’s words are often lost in the honorable pursuit to describe the armor utilized by the Roman Legions of the 1st Century. When the focus of believers is placed on researching the armor, rather than obeying the marching orders, they lose the battle, EVERY TIME.

“He is just an empty suit.” This withering description is one of the worst things a man can have said about his leadership and gravitas. No matter how expensive the suit, if a man has no influence, he is undressed. That is the naked truth.

The Finale reveals the secret weapon of the prayer warrior. The source of the warrior’s strength comes from a close relationship to and dependence upon The Champion. The strength is never found in the armor, or in the knowledge of the enemy. It comes from the Lord.

Note to self: Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight. Prayer is the power behind a well-informed and completely uniformed warrior. Without it you are an empty suit.

“Be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might.” v. 10

Paul makes it very clear that the fight of the well-armed prayer warrior is not against flesh and blood. People can be irritating and intimidating, but it is one of the grand schemes of the devil to disguise them as the real enemy. They are not. They are hand puppets from hell. Before you punch a critic in the mouth, cut off the arm of the enemy. Pray!

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

The warfare of prayer takes place in a spiritual arena, and wise prayer warriors know they are up against powerful forces of evil. The strength of the prayer warrior is not found in an intimate knowledge of the enemy, but in an intimate relationship with The Champion, Jesus Christ, The Risen Lord.

Prayer warriors who focus their attention on the intimidating array of forces aligned against them are not strengthened but terrified. The enemy is not the least bit intimidated by a well-informed or completely uniformed prayer warrior. They are only empty suits.

The enemy has no fear in being known or seen by the prayer warrior. They fear The Champion. When prayer warriors align themselves with Him, and obey orders assigned by Him, the enemy panics. Don’t’ take my word for it.

 “The one concern of the devil is to keep the saints from praying. He fears nothing from fearless studies, prayerless work, or prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.” Samuel Chadwick

The Finale is an emphasis upon The Stand that is taken, not on The Armor that is taken up. Well-armed and immaculately uniformed prayer warriors that fail to take their stand will run around in panic at the first sounds and sights of the enemy. In spite of all their armor and knowledge, they are empty suits, indeed.

“…take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”

Prayer warriors stand best by closing their eyes, and taking their place in the battle line, kneeling right beside The Champion. When the enemy sees them in the battle line with The Risen Christ, it strikes fear in their ranks, and silences their terrifying shouts.

When prayer warriors close their eyes, they no longer see the enemy, but they are able to hear the voice of The Champion. Prayer resists the urge to flee in the face of the enemy, and turns to the face of the warrior towards Jesus. Taking The Stand with Jesus begins by calling out to Him in prayer, and staying there. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Model

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church [q]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:25-33

The Prayer Life of Jesus is The Model for any husband interested in loving his wife as Christ loved the church. Jesus ministered to His disciples by interceding for them. He modeled before them a life of intimate communication with The Father.

Perhaps The Gospel of Luke gives the most vivid depiction of the life of prayer that flowed out of the heart of The Son inseparably connected to the love of The Father. Since Luke recorded the impressions of those who knew Jesus intimately, he relates what left the greatest impression on those who knew Him best. They knew Jesus as a man of prayer. Husbands should take notice.

Note to self: You will never be a better husband until you are more like Jesus. When you are praying with, over, and for your wife, you rise above your self. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!  

After Jesus ascended into Heaven, He took His place at the right hand of The Father. This is where He continues to intercede for His followers. What He once did on earth, He now does in Heaven.

“Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” Romans 8:34

A prayerless husband reveals a serious careless streak that weakens his marriage. Refusing to love the way Jesus loves the church, creates a calloused heart and a loveless marriage for both husband and wife. A woman will never respect a man who says he loves her, but never looks out for her best interests.

Human nature being what it is, more marriages are made in heat than in Heaven. Deteriorating contemporary concepts of marriage being what they are, this sad state of affairs is not likely to end very soon. Don’t panic. Take a knee. Pray!

Those who enter into marriage soon find out that the heat of passion burns out. If it is fueled by human emotion, love simply cannot be sustained by passion. It must be driven by a higher grade of fuel that can only be ignited by The Spirit of God and persistent prayer. Praying husbands strike the match.

Over the last 40 years, I have performed hundreds of weddings, and funerals. To be honest, I have a better track record with funerals than weddings. Those I buried are still buried. All of those I married are not still married. Go figure. The reason for this inconsistency is simple.

The buried are lowered into the grave and stop looking out for their rights. The married enter into the arrangement as a trap they must escape, or a contest they must win. When marriage becomes a wrestling match for the dominance of personal rights, it stops being a marriage that honors Christ.

Husband who never stop looking out for their rights, rarely protect the rights of the wife they declared they love. In time, passion fades, eyes wander, dreams die, and marriages end. It is a sad story, repeated over and over again, IN THE CHURCH.

In the midst of the chaotic and corrupt culture of the Roman Empire, Paul urged husbands to love their wives, “as Christ loved the church.” CHRISTian marriages are designed to look like CHRIST.

The Model should come as no surprise, but even those marriages performed in churches seem bent on ignoring it, and going rogue. The result? Even Christian marriages struggle to produce the image of Christ. He prayed to prepare Himself to give up His rights.

Husbands are charged with climate change in their own marriages. They are not thermometers that are to register the heat. They are thermostats that are to set the temperature. Big difference.

Being married in a church building doesn’t produce a Christian marriage. Sleeping in a garage will not transform two people into His and Hers Cadillacs. Two people may dream all they want, but their reality will be a nightmare of disappointment, unless they pray their way to a new level of love and respect.

Real men pray for, with and over their wives. They resist the drive to survive that leads to looking out for their own rights. They pray for, with, and over, their wives. They protect the rights of their wives with every breath they take.

The prayer life of Jesus was The Model. Prayer was the initial and fundamental expression of love Jesus expressed for the church. Long before He went to the cross, He prayed. He still does. Husbands should too.

A husband, who looks at the cost of the cross without praying, will balk at paying the price. Prayer involves humbling oneself before God. Husbands will never have the courage to love their wives as Christ loved the church, without prayer. Praying prepares them for paying.

Prayer is the Gold Card of the wise husband. Don’t lead your home without it.

Prayer preceded The Passion of The Christ. A wise husband looks to Jesus, and doesn’t get ahead of himself. He empties himself, and prays to be filled with The Spirit, and love his with the character of Christ. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Grateful

“Be filled with the Spirit…always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;” Ephesians 5:20

I have always been intrigued by band names. One of my favorite names is “Creedence Clearwater Revival.” There is a lot going on there with that name. John Fogerty, at 69 years of age, is still performing, and we are all still waiting for “The Revival.” Another name that has caught my attention is, “The Grateful Dead.” It’s fan base, The Dead Heads, expressed such devotion to Jerry Garcia, the leader of the band, that he was elevated to near cult status before his death at 53 years of age.

Words mean things long after a band and the fans have forgotten why the names were chosen. This morning I find myself praying “The Revival” and thinking about “The Grateful Dead.”

Paul encouraged the early church to die to self, daily and to be grateful to God, always. He reminded them that thanksgiving was one of the vital signs of the fullness of the Spirit. He warned them that those who were unable to express gratitude to God, in the name of Jesus, were not full of The Spirit. To be more accurate, their mouths would reveal they were full of themselves, not imitators of God.

Paul encouraged the early disciples to “Be imitators of God.” (Ephesians 5:1) The finest picture of the character of God is provided by the prayer life of the Lord Jesus Christ. His prayer life was the essential expression of His personal and preferred form of communication with The Father. Persistent, personal prayer, performed privately and publicly, proved to be the primary source of His power for ministry.

Note to self: If you want to imitate God, and be like Jesus, stop whining and start praying. God knows the difference. You should too.

Paul describes prayer as the elementary expression of a person who is filled with The Spirit and intimately connected to The Father, in the name of The Son. Paul describes thanksgiving in prayer as a basic vital sign of the Spirit’s fullness, not the height of spiritual devotion reserved for only the elite few.  

The facts of physical life are clear. Where there is no breath, there is no life. In similar fashion, the Spirit-filled life does not exist where there is no prayer. Without The Spirit’s fullness, there is no breath of life. Where there is prayer, those who have died to self immediately express their gratitude to God for their new life in Christ. The born again are truly, “The Grateful Dead.” The way they come on is also the they way they go on, with gratitude and in prayer.  

Paul said that the first positive sign of being an imitator of God would be the “giving of thanks.” (Ephesians 5:4) It is hard to imagine this being done without the expression of personal, private, public, and persistent prayer.

Gratitude is the practical display of grace. It is not an emotion, as much as it is devotion. It is the over-riding expression of believers in the face of over-whelming crises and in the face of irritating people. Early believers weren’t given time to warm up the idea, or to mature or grow into the attitude of gratitude. On the contrary, they had to die to take their first breath. Like newborn babies they were desperate for air, and needed no training to do it. Breathing came naturally. So did screaming.

Dying to self precedes being filled with The Spirit. People who are full of self are incapable of being filled with The Spirit. Self has to die before The Spirit will fill. The Spirit goes where He is welcomed, not stiff-armed, grieved or resisted.

“The Grateful Dead” is not a well-worn term of expression for The Spirit Filled Life, but I maintain that is a pretty accurate one. Paul describes gratitude as the earliest sign of imitating God, and the result of being filled with The Spirit. Those who are void of thanksgiving to God, may be alive, but they don’t have life. Don’t take my word for it.

“I am The Way, The Truth and The Life. No one comes to the Father, but by Me.” Jesus – John 14:6

True believers are those who have been crucified with Christ. They didn’t just come to the cross. They died there. Dying daily maintains a perspective on life that can only be obtained by a view from the cross. Those who die to self and refuse to take a self-centered, self-absorbed, self-glorifying breath put themselves in the position to receive the fullness of The Spirit.

The Spirit brings the fullness of the character of Jesus into the life of the believer. The Spirit maintains, and sustains the attitude of gratitude in the life of “The Grateful Dead.”

Prayers of thanksgiving indicate death to self, invite the fullness of The Spirit, and release the Christ life in believers, for the honor and glory of God. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!

The Glory

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3: 20-21

The Glory of Prayer begins with a prayer warrior having the humility to get off their high horse and pray.  Paul assumes the position by bowing down before God. (“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father…” Ephesians 3:14) He initiates the purpose of prayer by interceding for believers “not to lose heart.” (Ephesians 3:13)

There is no joy in prayer for the intercessor when their prayer goes unanswered.  Answered prayer brings joy for the prayer warrior and glory to God. Answered prayer is not based on asking the right question, but in taking the proper position, humility.

Effective prayer is answered prayer, but answered prayer rests upon God’s capacity to answer, not upon the eloquence or the education of the intercessor.  Paul reminded the early believers that God “is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us…” v. 20

The Spirit of God lives to interpret the deepest longings and slightest groaning of the heart, and deliver them as prayers to Jesus. Jesus takes all the prayers delivered to Him, and intercedes on behalf of His followers before The Father.  Anything less than this is simply not prayer. Anything more than this is mere presumption.

Giving God instructions may be the greatest hindrance to answered prayer. When prayer warriors stop talking and start listening, they discover the secret to answered prayer.  The Father doesn’t need the advice of His children. He desires their faith. Prayer rests in the knowledge that The Father knows the need of His child. He holds the answer, before prayer is released, by His child. Release it anyway.

R.E.S.T. = Release Every Single Thing

The answer to Paul’s prayer will not be found in the early believers merely receiving fresh courage or keen insight to stand firm in the face of the crises of life. Paul’s prayer seeks the glory that their spiritual stamina will reflect upon The Father.

The birthmark on God’s children is prayer, not panic. When His children race around in fear, rather than face a crisis in faith, their behavior reflects poorly on The Father. Children without faith in The Father, rarely turn to Him in prayer.

Believing prayer seeks the face of The Father, before, during and after the crisis. It is more concerned with seeking The Presence of The Father, than The Father’s answer to prayer. Peace is found in His Presence, not in the answer. Panic is by-product of a unanswered prayer. It comes from constantly seeking answers, and in blind panic, missing God.

Note to self: When facing any crisis, large or small, don’t panic. Humble yourself. Seek the face of God for His direction, protection and correction. Running around with panic on your face, when faced with a crisis, reflects poorly on the face of your Father. Stop it!

Prayer reflects glory to The Father, when His children deflect the crisis towards Him. Trying to handle anything that only God can do is an expression of childish pride.

Every parent has had the experience of trying to provide guidance or assistance to one of their children, only to be met with the words, “I DO IT MYSELF!”  No doubt, children need to learn to do things for themselves, but wise parents know they must unplug their children from a dependence on them, and plug them into a connection with God as quickly as possible.

Prayer connects the prayer warrior to the will of God, and prayer reflects glory on the face of God.

“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. “ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The graduation season reveals one simple truth. When parents observe their children accomplishing a task that will set them on the right course, the joy in their hearts cannot be hidden. It beams out, and streams down their faces, in smiles and tears.  Wise parents glory in the sight of their children graduating from childishness to child-likeness, and praying children are a parent’s greatest accomplishment. The Father glories in praying children. Parents honor Him by leading their children to do it. TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!