6e. What to Battle For (In Prayer)
August 30, 2011“Target Acquired”
So now that we are all dressed up in the armour of God and we know who our enemy is, do we just go for nuts and smash whatever we can? Or do we stand around looking good but with no where to go, no target or purpose to go after. Paul after stating all the pieces of armour of God on that we are to pray; pray with all supplication in the Spirit.[1] That’s great, God’s armour is to stand against the devil and to be used in prayer but for what purpose? Remember we are more specifically talking about going to war in prayer, but I believe this can very well apply to all that we do and pray. Our focus, our pursuit should always be that the Kingdom of God might be extended and God might be glorified.
Jesus said we are to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”.[2] He actually promises that as we do this He will take care of all other things. The prayer Jesus taught His disciples began with the pronouncement of letting the Kingdom and will of God being done in earth as it is in Heaven.[3] In other words that the Kingdom of God be extended here on earth as it is perfectly seen in Heaven. Jesus prayer to the Father that we see recorded in John 17, He prays for Himself, for His disciples and all who will follow Him. He prays for unity, truth and love to be given to us. For what purpose or goal does Jesus pray for these things to be evident in those who believe in Him? That God may be glorified and that His righteousness might be evident in and through our lives.
Friends, prayer that will tear down the kingdom of this world and see the kingdom of God extended is the target and purpose of our prayers; it is the reason we go into battle. When we pray for the salvation of our family members, colleagues and people in our cities and nations we are praying with the purpose of God’s kingdom being extended; that they would be taken out of the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of light. When we pray for holiness and righteousness for the people of God we are coming against the powers of this world that would hinder God’s people from living a pure and powerful life. We are praying that the kingdom of God would be expanded in our lives so that we would glorify God and bring honour to His name. We are seeking first His righteousness!
We are to see the enactment of Christ’s victory in our lives, homes and community for the purpose of the extension of God’s Kingdom and that Jesus might be glorified throughout the earth. Jesus has given us the authority to stand in His name and push back the realm of the
devil. “Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but ratherrejoice because your
names are written in heaven.”[4] Wow! Like lightning from the sky the devil fell and was defeated. But in this Jesus again tells us our purpose and the reason that we should rejoice and be glad… that the Kingdom of Heaven is being populated with our names!
As the church of Jesus Christ and the people of God we have been given the authority to forbid and permit things on earth to be as they are in Heaven.[5] We have been given the armour, we have been given the authority and marching orders and we have the purpose and target. Let us battle in prayer and see the extension of God’s Kingdom. Let’s fight the good fight for the souls of men and women. Let’s declare the healing of those who are down and out so that God might be glorified. Let us fight for the righteousness of Christ to be evident in and through our lives, so that the world might sit up and take notice as we draw attention to our holy God! Stand up soldiers, it’s time to get serious about prayer and take ground through the power of prayer and the authority given to us in Jesus Christ!
“God we right now determine in our hearts to pursue the extension of Your Kingdom in our lives, in our homes, in our families, in our places of work and study and in our communities through the battle ground of prayer. Holy Spirit teach us what it means to pray. Teach us what it means to take ground for Your glory. Teach us how to pray in such a way that Your Kingdom is extended through the coming in of souls. Hallelujah we love and in everything want to be obedient to You, our Great and Mighty Warrior King!”
[1] Ephesians 6:18
[2] Matthew 6:33
[3] Matthew 6:9-13
[4] Luke 10:17-20
[5] Matthew 16:17-19; Matthew 18:18-20
