The Importance of Prayer - Part 1

Reading Eph 6:10-24

What is one of the most important things in the Christian life?

Text – V18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Prayer – Worship

Supplication – Request

Notice the word – All

Strong words – Prayer, supplication, perseverance (we give up)

Strong expression – “watching thereunto” See Matthew 26:41 –

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

The idea here is to be vigilant or sleepless in the matter of prayer.

1. Why pray? Because there is a Devil

Look at verse 12 and then look at our instruction to follow in verse 13

We are instructed to put on the full armour but verse 18 brings it to a climax. Yes it is to vigilant, sleepless and persistent prayer.

In the Spirit or else it will fail

2. Prayer is God’s appointed way to obtain things

Read James 4:2

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

These last few words contain the secret of the poverty and powerlessness of the average Christian.

I make so little progress in my Christian life – why

Neglect of prayer - ye have not, because ye ask not.

I see so little fruit in my labours

Neglect of prayer - ye have not, because ye ask not.