Prayer (2)

Course:  Different Forms of Prayer

Lesson 6

Lesson Title:  Spiritual Warfare 

 

Text:   John 10:9 'I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.'

 

Theme:  Spiritual warfare is 'the battle of the doors'.

 

Introduction:   Christ came to make a way for salvation.  He became the door of salvation. 

  • Doors can open the way for evil or for good. 
  • The enemy sought to prevent Christ making a door for salvation, now he seeks to prevent doors being opened for the body of Christ, see Matthew 16:18.

 

Introductory Story:   A small gap will allow all the water to get through.  Flood defences will try to prevent an opening for the flood to get through. 

  • Water can also be diverted - Satan can try to divert the body of Christ.
  • Hydro electric is produced by damming the rivers and diverting the water.  To create large amounts of power the dams are opened to increase water pressure. 
  • Satan seeks to stop the Church moving in power by diverting it away from Christ and blocking the way.

 

Exposition: 

1.      Spiritual warfare is the battle to prevent the purposes of God being fulfilled, Matthew 16:18. 

  • The enemy seeks to stop souls being saved, and to prevent the body of Christ growing to maturity, Ephesians 4:11.  The enemy seeks to prevent the spread of God's word. 
  • Satan seeks to move the body of Christ away from living in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the truth of God's Word, John 4:23-24.

 

2.      Spiritual warfare is breaking through the gates of the enemy.  

  • The defences of the enemy need to be broken through by prayer.  Much prayer may be required to provide a small opening.
  • A great city can be taken through a small opening.  The Persians took Babylon by diverting the river Euphrates, Daniel 5:30-31.  Belshazzar believed he was secure because of the wall and water surrounding the city.  But the size of the wall became insignificant once the Persians diverted the flow of the River Euphrates and walked into the city.  Babylon was taken without a fight and Belshazzar was killed.

 

3.      The enemy seeks to close the way for God's people to spread righteousness, and to open doors for evil.

  • Satan works to close doors for God's people.  The gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church.  Evil seeks a way in.  Matt 16:18. 
  • Laws open the way for good or evil to spread through the land.     
  • Pray for those in authority, 1Timothy 2:1. Illustration:  House of Lords in Britain has a restraining power to stop or delay laws that would encourage evil (homosexuality, abortion etc.).

 

4.      Pray for doors to open for God’s people. 

  • Contacts are doors that enable people to come, a gap makes an entrance. 
  • Doors of opportunity for the gospel.  1 Corinthians 16:9 'For a great door and effectual is opened unto me.'  2 Corinthians 2:12 'a door was opened unto me of the Lord.'   Colossians 4:3 'praying also for us that God would open unto us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ'.   Revelation 3:8 'I have set before you an open door and no man can shut it.'

 

Conclusion: 

1.         Spiritual warfare is the battle to prevent the purposes of God being fulfilled.

2.         A small opening can be all that is needed to break through the gates of the enemy.

3.         The enemy seeks to close doors for God's people, and to open doors for evil.

We must pray for a door.  People are contacts that will open doors.  Pray for unity in the body of Christ that doors are opened for one another.

 

 

Lesson Outline

 

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