Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: Ephesians 6:18-20

(PRT)

v. 18 And through every kind of prayer and petition, keep praying in the Spirit in every season and opportune time so that you will stay vigilant and persist in seeking God’s answers for all who are set apart for God everywhere. v. 19 And pray for me that I might be given the right words coupled with a boldness to make understandable what remains hidden about the Good News. v. 20 It’s this very Good News that I’m an ambassador bound by a chain so pray that, through it, I might be bold as I have opportunity to speak.

Study Notes:

v. 18 And through every kind of prayer and petition, keep praying in the Spirit in every season and opportune time so that you will stay vigilant and persist in seeking God’s answers for all who are set apart for God everywhere.

Every kind of prayer, every season, and every opportune “kiaros” moment that comes our way. Temptation. Decision-making. Relationship issue. Enemies and friends.

Philippians reminds us that prayer and petition are the solution to worrying and anxiety.

Three kinds of prayer that get me through. 1) Blurt it out, 2) Settle in, 3) Pass it around.

Pray in the Spirit – 2 Cor.

This plea from an ambassador in a chain calls us to the battle to pray, to stand firm, and to bring peace.  This upside-down kingdom maintains that the battle will continue as we fight for the Good News of the Prince of Peace to win.

This passage is directly connected to v. 15. Keep praying as you keep your feet ready with the truth of the Gospel. We move forward with armor and with dependence on the captain.

Romans 8. In the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the empowerer, the revealer, and the giver of words when we don’t know what to pray. Holy Spirit praying is the answer to spiritual lethargy.

Relate this to the parable in Luke 18 where we ought not lose heart but pray. The ungodly judge and the persistent petitioner.

It’s about the mission. That no matter what we are going through Jesus is represented well and the Good News of the Kingdom will be seen and heard.

v. 19 And pray for me that I might be given the right words coupled with a boldness to make understandable what remains hidden about the Good News.

The words “for me” could easily be “over me” – we cover a person’s life in prayer so that their life counts, the words matter, and others see Jesus revealed in their words and actions.

You praying is the significant other side of the success of any endeavor. Pray and do. Pray and speak. Pray and take ground for the kingdom.

Like a gift that is wrapped, that others might open, understand, and receive that Good News that God offers. Rom 1:16 It is the power of God.

The right words aren’t accidental. Let your words be seasoned. Your prayers aren’t accidental. They come from a heart of longing for the Father’s will and a deep desire to see the Good News of the Kingdom win. Neither are our words to our friends and family. As they are underpinned by the prayers you pray and the requests that others pick up to pray.

Mt 10 – Jesus reminds us that the Spirit will give us the words when we are dependent on Him.

v. 20 It’s this very Good News that I’m an ambassador bound by a chain so pray that, through it, I might be bold as I have opportunity to speak.

My circumstances don’t dictate the message. For opportunity, for the right words, and boldness to follow through.

The irony of an ambassador in chains, an envoy bound.

The appeal here is that God, today, will open a new opportunity for which the boldness I received yesterday will  not be sufficient. We need the boldness that today’s demands require. It will be new, an adventure to step into, and a challenge to face in His strength.