'What a misconception many people have of the Christian life! How little the average church member appears to know of the character of the conflict, and of its demands upon him! How ignorant he seems to be of the enemies he must encounter, if he engage
to serve God faithfully and so succeed in getting to heaven (((when the Savior returns))))and receive the crown of life! He seems scarcely to realize that the world, the flesh and the devil will oppose his onward march, and will defeat him utterly, unless he give himself to constant vigilance and unceasing prayer.
The Christian soldier wrestles not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in high places. Or, as the Scriptural margin reads, "wicked spirits in high places." What a fearful array of forces are set against him who would make his way through the wilderness of this world to the portals of the Celestial City! It is no surprise, therefore, to find Paul, who understood the character of the Christian life so well, and who was so thoroughly informed as to the malignity and number of the foes, which the disciple of the Lord must encounter, carefully and plainly urging him to "put on the whole armour of God," and "to pray with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit."
Wise, with a great wisdom, would the present generation be if all professors of our faith
could be induced to realize this all-important and vital truth, which is so absolutely indispensable to a successful Christian life.'
Quoted from- 'THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER By E.M. BOUNDS' (Excerpt 64)
*******
Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
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.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
You can be dressed in all the armor of God and fail to pray, then what? If a soldier in a physical battle is all geared up and yet has no communication with his commanding officer, then what? He's all dressed up but he is clueless. He doesn't even know who the enemy is unless his commander tells him who it is. He can guess at it, but in truth a soldier takes orders. A soldier has a leader. And it does a soldier NO good have a leader and not talk with him. Say if you like that God doesn't speak with us, but He does! We have His Word! When we pray HE LISTENS, HE HEARS. And speaks to us to and we KNOW HIS will He's told us HIS will!
We are in a REAL battle, but maybe because we don't have physical armor to put on for this battle, or a foe we can see all the time- I say all the time because often we struggle internally with our own thoughts, our own reasoning. We don't see the evil angel whispering in our ears, we don't hear him, but the influence of those evil angels are all around us. God can protect us, God will protect us but only if we CHOOSE HIM, only if we become His soldiers. And it is through PRAYER we place ourselves with God, it is through prayer we keep the evil at bay. We are told to PRAY always with ALL PRAYER and SUPPLICATION in the SPIRIT.
Prayer is so incredibly important, and the realization of its importance is truly lost on so many, please LORD help it not be lost on me, lost on us, please! Help us to learn to pray as we ought- praying always!
All by YOUR GRACE, YOUR LOVE, ALWAYS.
to serve God faithfully and so succeed in getting to heaven (((when the Savior returns))))and receive the crown of life! He seems scarcely to realize that the world, the flesh and the devil will oppose his onward march, and will defeat him utterly, unless he give himself to constant vigilance and unceasing prayer.
The Christian soldier wrestles not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in high places. Or, as the Scriptural margin reads, "wicked spirits in high places." What a fearful array of forces are set against him who would make his way through the wilderness of this world to the portals of the Celestial City! It is no surprise, therefore, to find Paul, who understood the character of the Christian life so well, and who was so thoroughly informed as to the malignity and number of the foes, which the disciple of the Lord must encounter, carefully and plainly urging him to "put on the whole armour of God," and "to pray with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit."
Wise, with a great wisdom, would the present generation be if all professors of our faith
could be induced to realize this all-important and vital truth, which is so absolutely indispensable to a successful Christian life.'
Quoted from- 'THE NECESSITY OF PRAYER By E.M. BOUNDS' (Excerpt 64)
*******
Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
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.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
You can be dressed in all the armor of God and fail to pray, then what? If a soldier in a physical battle is all geared up and yet has no communication with his commanding officer, then what? He's all dressed up but he is clueless. He doesn't even know who the enemy is unless his commander tells him who it is. He can guess at it, but in truth a soldier takes orders. A soldier has a leader. And it does a soldier NO good have a leader and not talk with him. Say if you like that God doesn't speak with us, but He does! We have His Word! When we pray HE LISTENS, HE HEARS. And speaks to us to and we KNOW HIS will He's told us HIS will!
We are in a REAL battle, but maybe because we don't have physical armor to put on for this battle, or a foe we can see all the time- I say all the time because often we struggle internally with our own thoughts, our own reasoning. We don't see the evil angel whispering in our ears, we don't hear him, but the influence of those evil angels are all around us. God can protect us, God will protect us but only if we CHOOSE HIM, only if we become His soldiers. And it is through PRAYER we place ourselves with God, it is through prayer we keep the evil at bay. We are told to PRAY always with ALL PRAYER and SUPPLICATION in the SPIRIT.
Prayer is so incredibly important, and the realization of its importance is truly lost on so many, please LORD help it not be lost on me, lost on us, please! Help us to learn to pray as we ought- praying always!
All by YOUR GRACE, YOUR LOVE, ALWAYS.
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