Slewfoot and his bag of tricks Or the enemy’s tactics
You have an enemy “the devil”
1 Pet 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
There’s a war going on
Eph 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.
Rom 7:21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
1 Pet 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
Tricks of the devil
a. Gal 5:19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
Gal 5:20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions
Gal 5:21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
b. Eph 5:3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.
Eph 5:4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
Eph 5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
c.Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
James 3:6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Doubt;worry;fear; pride;lying;murder;back stabbing;evil thoughts;trouble makers.
Overcoming the enemy
a. Eph 6:13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
Eph 6:15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
Eph 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Eph 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
b.Eph 6:18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
c. PRAYER in the Bible involves the dialogue between God and people, especially His covenant partners.
Old Testament Israel is a nation born of prayer. Abraham heard God's call (Gen. 12:1-3), and God heard the cries of the Hebrew children (Ex. 3:7). Moses conversed with God (Ex. 3:1-4:17) and interceded for Israel (Ex. 32:11-13; Num. 11:11-15). By prayer Joshua discerned sin in the conquest community (Josh. 7:6-9), but was tricked when he did not discern God's opinion by prayer (Josh. 9). God also spoke to the Judges to deliver His people when the people called out to Him for deliverance. David's spiritual acumen is seen in his prayers of confession (2 Sam. 12:13; Ps. 51). Solomon fulfilled the promises made to David after praying for wisdom (1 Kings 3:5-9) and dedicated the Temple in prayer (1 Kings 8). God worked miracles through the prayers of Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings 17:19-22; 18:20-40). The writing prophets noted that genuine prayer calls for accompanying moral and social accountability (Hos. 7:14; Amos 4:4-5). Isaiah's call reflected the intense cleansing and commitment involved in prayer (Isa. 6). Jeremiah's dialogue and intercession frequently voiced reservation and frustration (Jer. 1; 20:7-18), teaching honesty in prayer. The Psalms teach variety and honesty in prayer are permissible; they proclaim praise, ask pardon, seek such things as communion (63), protection (57), vindication (107), and healing (6). Psalm 86 provides an excellent pattern for prayer. Daily patterned prayer becomes very important to exiles denied access to the Temple (Dan. 6:10).
New Testament Jesus' example and teaching inspire prayer. Mark emphasized that Jesus prayed in crucial moments, including the disciples' appointment (3:13), their mission (6:30-32), and the transfiguration (9:2). Jesus displayed a regular and intense prayer life (Matt. 6:5; 14:23; Mark 1:35).Luke taught that Jesus was guided by the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:22; 4:1,14,18; Luke 10:21; Acts 10:38). John reported that Jesus sometimes prayed aloud for the benefit of those present (John 11:41-42). He also reported Jesus' prayer of intercession for the first disciples and future believers (John 17). Both prayers display Jesus' unity with the Father and desire to give Him glory (John 11:4; 17:1).
The Lord's Prayer (Matt. 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4) is taught to disciples who realize the kingdom's inbreaking yet await its full coming. Significantly, the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray after watching Him pray (Luke 11:1). The prayer also provides a contrast to hypocritical prayers (Matt. 6:5). Although it is permissible to repeat this prayer, it may be well to remember Jesus was emphasizing how to pray, not what to pray. See Lord's Prayer.
Jesus also corrected some abuses and misunderstandings regarding prayer. (1) Prayer is not to be offered to impress others. Disciples should rather seek a storage closet or a shed and pray in private. Jesus did not reject group prayer, but his warning might apply to a believer who prays to impress a congregation (Matt. 6:5-6). (2) Jesus also prohibited long-winded attempts that try to manipulate God. While Jesus prayed for long periods of time (Luke 6:12; Mark 1:35) and repeated Himself (Mark 14:36-42), He called for people to trust their Father and not their own eloquence or fervor.
Jesus' teaching on persistence in prayer is linked to the inbreaking kingdom (Luke 11:5-28; 18:1-8). God is not like the reluctant neighbor, even though Christians may have to wait for answers (Luke 11:13; 18:6-8). The ironies of prayer are evident: God knows our needs, yet we must ask; God is ready to answer, yet we must patiently persist. Children of the kingdom will have their requests heard (Matt. 6:8; 7:7-11; 21:22; John 14:13; 15:7,16; 16:23; compare 1 John 3:22; 5:14; Jas. 1:5), particularly believers gathered in Jesus' name (Matt. 18:19).
In Hebrew thought, the name was mysteriously linked to the person's character and prerogatives. Thus, prayer in Jesus' name is prayer that is seeking His will and submissive to His authority (John 14:13; 1 John 5:14).
The church remembered Jesus' teaching regarding the Spirit, prayer, and the kingdom mission. The disciples prayed awaiting the Holy Spirit's outpouring (Acts 1:14). The early church is characterized by prayer (Acts 2:42). They prayed regarding selection of leaders (Acts 1:24; 6:6; 13:3), during persecution (Acts 4:24-30; 12:5,12), and in preparing to heal (Acts 9:40; 28:8). Calling upon God's name--prayer--is the first act and true mark of a believer (Acts 2:21; 9:14,21; 22:16).
Paul's ministry reflected his constant prayer of intercession and thanksgiving (1 Tim. 2:1; Eph 1:16; 5:4; Acts 9:11). The Lord spoke to Paul in prayer (Acts 22:17). Prayer is crucial to continuing in the Christian life (Rom. 12:12). The indwelling Spirit enables a believer to call God "Abba" (Rom. 8:15); that is, the Spirit's work within the believer prompts him or her to address God with the confidence of a child (Rom. 8:14). The Spirit must intercede because our prayers are weak; apart from the Spirit Christians pray without discernment. He takes up our petitions with an earnest pleading beyond words (Rom. 8:26-27; Gal. 4:6).
Answered Prayers--Unanswered Petitions Not every petition is granted. Job's demand for answers from God was eclipsed by the awesome privilege of encountering Him (Job 38-41). Modern believers must also cherish communion with the Father more than their petitions.
Jesus, with His soul sorrowful to the point of death, prayed three times that His cup of suffering might pass, but He was nevertheless submissive to God's will (Matt. 26:38-39,42,45). Both the boldness of the petition to alter God's will and the submission to this "hard" path of suffering are significant.
Paul asked three times for deliverance from his "thorn in the flesh." God's answer to Paul directed him to find comfort in God's sufficient grace. Also, God declared that His power is best seen in Paul's weakness (2 Cor. 12:8-9). God gave him the problem to hinder his pride. Ironically, Paul claimed that God gave the problem, and yet he called it a messenger of Satan. Paul learned that petitions are sometimes denied in light of an eventual greater good: God's power displayed in Paul's humility.
Faith is a condition for answered petitions (Mark 11:24). Two extremes must be avoided concerning faith. (1) With Jesus' example in mind we must not think that faith will always cause our wishes to be granted. (2) Also, we must not go through the motions of prayer without faith. Believers do not receive what they pray for because they pray from selfish motives (Jas. 4:2-3). Prayers are also hindered by corrupted character (Jas. 4:7) or injured relationships (Matt. 5:23-24).
Theological Insights Dialogue is what is essential to prayer. Prayer makes a difference in what happens (Jas. 4:2). Our understanding of prayer will correspond to our understanding of God. When God is seen as desiring to bless (Jas. 1:5) and sovereignly free to respond to persons (Jonah 3:9), then prayer will be seen as dialogue with God. God will respond when we faithfully pursue this dialogue. Prayer will lead to a greater communion with God and a greater understanding of His will.
