Completing the Armor and Final Greetings
The Final Piece of Armor.
The Whole Armor of God.
We are in a spiritual on a daily basis.
God has made spiritual resources available to us through Jesus Christ, and we need to use them in our battle against evil.
The spiritual resources mentioned in the previous passage were the truth (belt), righteousness (breastplate), the Gospel (shoes), faith (shield), salvation (helmet), and the Word of God (sword).
The final piece of our armor is prayer.
Without prayer we are not properly armed for spiritual battle.
Without prayer, our armor is incomplete.
Ephesians 6:18-24 NLT
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.
Final Greetings
21 To bring you up to date, Tychicus will give you a full report about what I am doing and how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper in the Lord’s work. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you.
23 Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters, and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. 24 May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.
Examine the scriptures:
Ephesians 6:18-24 NLT
18 Pray in the Spirit
We are in a spiritual warfare.
- Without prayer, our armor is incomplete.
Pray in the Spirit.
Pray with divine help.
- Pray with the assistance of the Holy Spirit.
Jude 20 NLT
20 But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,
Praying out of hearts and souls that are filled with the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:26 NLT
26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
Pray for things the Spirit wants us to pray for.
Praying in the Spirit is praying for things the Spirit leads us to pray for.
Verses to reflect on.
Matthew 6:10 NLT
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
Colossians 1:9 NLT
9 So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.
1 John 5:14 NLT
14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him.
at all times and on every occasion.
- Pray continually in all situations.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT
17 Never stop praying.
Philippians 4:6 NLT
6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.
Romans 12:12 NLT
12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
Prayer is crucial in spiritual warfare.
- Prayer is essential at all times and on every occasion.
Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers
Stay alert and be persistent.
Matthew 26:41 NLT
41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”
Mark 13:33 NLT
33 …, be on guard! Stay alert!
Luke 11:9 NLT
9 “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
- Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers. “…, keep on asking, … keep on seeking, … and keep on knocking, …”
for all believers everywhere.
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- Scripture tells us to pray for all believers everywhere.
- Scripture tells us to pray for all people.
Pray for all people.
1 Timothy 2:1 NLT
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
Apply the following to prayer.
Galatians 6:10 NLT
10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
- Request prayer for specific needs.
19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.
20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador.
So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.
As a teacher, ask God to give you the right words as you are addressing your students.
Ask God to help you to be bold in sharing Biblical principles.
Final Greetings
21 To bring you up to date, Tychicus will give you a full report about what I am doing and how I am getting along.
Apparently Tychicus was the person who brought this epistle to the Ephesians.
He is a beloved brother and faithful helper in the Lord’s work. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you.
Paul’s salutation to the Ephesians. (An expression of goodwill.)
23 Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters,
and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness.
Peace, love, and faith are gifts from God.
“Keep on keeping on” seems to fit here.
1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT
13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.
These are gifts that will last forever.
Paul’s benediction to the Ephesians. (Bestowing a blessing.)
24 May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul concludes the letter much like he began the letter.
Ephesians 1:2 NLT
2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
- Paul’s closing words are both encouraging and motivating,
For the faculty and staff at Redeemer Day School
1 Thessalonians 1:2-4 NLT
2 We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. 3 As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.
4 We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.
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- Without prayer, our armor is incomplete.
- Pray with the assistance of the Holy Spirit.
- Pray continually in all situations.
- Prayer is essential at all times and on every occasion.
- Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers. “…, keep on asking, … keep on seeking, … and keep on knocking, …”
- Scripture tells us to pray for all believers everywhere.
- Scripture tells us to pray for all people.
- Request prayer for specific needs.
- Paul’s closing words are both encouraging and motivating,
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