The Final Word | Week 8

The Final Word

Week 8 – Ephesians 6:18-20
Be on the Alert, Overcoming Prayer, Part 1

My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Psalm 27:8 (NLT)

I. When Christ Returns Will He Find Faith? Luke 18:1-8

• The Unrighteous Judge
• The Widow
• The Adversary
• God – The Righteous Judge
• The Child of God
• The Adversary

“When we emulate our widow, take our stand before our heavenly Judge and cry out to Him for justice from our adversary, the battle takes on a new twist. The adversary, seeing us standing and calling upon the Lord becomes alarmed and changes his tactics. He begins to target our resolve to stand before God” (Unrelenting Prayer by Bob Sorge, Loc. 296).

“So even though he’s (Satan) been given temporary clearance to strategize and antagonize, we don’t need to pray from a position of fear or weakness against him. Quite the opposite. You and I, coming to the Father through the mighty name of Jesus, can pray like the victorious saints of God we’ve been empowered to be. And we can expect to prevail. But we can’t expect to experience this power unless we’re serious about joining the battle” (Fervent by Priscilla Schirer, p. 21).

II. Christ’s Instructions on Prayer – Matthew 6:5-15

• Father
• Praise
• Submission and Intercession
• Daily Provision
• Confession and Forgiveness
• Protection from Temptation
• Deliverance from the Evil One
• Praise

It is our duty to plead with God in prayer, to fill our mouth with arguments (Job 23:4) not to move God, but to affect ourselves; to encourage the faith, to excite our fervency, and to evidence both. (Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (1638–1639). Peabody: Hendrickson.

III. The Actions that Bring Reward

A. When you give – Matthew 6:1-4

B. When you pray – Matthew 6:5-15

C. When you fast – Matthew 6:16-18

Hebrews 11:1 & 6
Do you believe that God is and that He is a rewarder?

IV. Where is Your Treasure?

Matthew 6:19-24 Hebrews 12:1-2

“If you can be moved from the place of prayer – from the place of gazing upon the face of Christ – then everything God has planned for your life is at risk” (Unrelenting Prayer by Bob Sorge).

V. Seek First – Matthew 6:25-34

VI. Pray - Develop a Prayer List

• Family
• Extended Family
• Friends
• Neighbors/Co-Workers
• Acquaintances
• Person X

“The greatest warfare always surrounds your prayer life. Nothing threatens hell more than the praying saint. When you’re abiding in His presence, clinging to His love, living in His Word, holding to His Promise, remaining fervent in spirit, and believing for His visitation, you’re an explosion that’s waiting to happen” (Unrelenting Prayer by Bob Sorge).

Additional Resources

Pray Like it Matters by Steve Gaines
The Transforming Power of Fasting by Dr. Bill Bright
Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough by Elmer Towns
Out of the Salt Shaker and Into the World: Evangelism as a Way of Life by Rebecca Manley Pippert
Concentric Circles of Concern by Oscar Thompson