Ephesians 6
The Proactive Prayers and Petitions of Thanksgiving!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, November 26. Happy Thanksgiving!
Paul teaches us in Ephesians 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.”
What a beautiful passage! It is a partner passage to Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Both of these Scriptures exhort us to use prayer as an offensive, proactive weapon in the Spirit of God. We have been equipped to face any giant because we remember that the battle belongs to the Lord. We simply get to be witnesses to His faithfulness!
Never forget that the context of Ephesians 6:18 is putting on the full armor of God.
So, how do we join with God in this battle for the hearts and minds of individuals, families, communities, and nations?
We have to make sure we are only using the weapons of the Spirit so that you can stand firm on the Rock of Jesus Christ:
- Praying in the Spirit on all occasions;
- Making petitions and requests in everything; and
- Giving thanks to God in all of our prayers, petitions, and requests.
Let me summarize these in one statement: “The Proactive Prayers and Petitions of Thanksgiving are our greatest weapon!”
We so often forget that thankfulness is not a reactive emotional response to our circumstances, but, rather, our proactive awareness of God’s faithfulness in everything.
Seize the moment and pray in the Spirit on all occasions through the proactive prayers and petitions of thanksgiving! Your thanksgiving is your continual praise to God!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.