National Prayer Connection
Prayer Targets
Prayer Leader: Bishop Ray Green, Part 2
July 23, 2020
NOTE: Bishop Green added this discussion after the completion of our prayer call. Enjoy!
Paul admitted that some in the church at Ephesus were formerly children of disobedience (verse 3 and following) and how God in His mercy saved them, raised them up, and made them to be seated in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. Their salvation was effectuated after they heard the gospel- the Word of Truth — Eph. 1:13.
Also, they were saved in order that God might show them the exceeding riches of His grace and kindness in the ages to come. Later in Ephesians, chapter 2, Paul points out they had formerly been strangers and aliens without hope and without Christ, but now in being saved they have been brought near by the blood of the cross.
The purpose for them to be brought near was so that the desire and determination of God to have one new corporate man or humanity would be fulfilled. All of this would be possible only by grace through faith in Christ.
However, the Word of Truth coupled with the affirming witness and work of the Holy Spirit would facilitate this unique and essential new creation. No longer are they strangers, foreigners, and far off, they are now near (close, intimate, covenant) members of the household of faith, citizens of the Kingdom, a corporate habitation of God.
The Word of Truth under the anointing of the Holy Spirit announced and effectuated this desire and determination of God in the lives of those who were made certain and believed (trusted). Thus, the Word declared the settled decree of God.
They (members of the church at Ephesus) believed God and His Word and so they were saved. No longer were they under the dominion of the prince of the power of the air (the devil) as they had been formerly. No longer were they children of disobedience.
In Ephesians, chapter 3, Paul goes deeper by unveiling the source of this message (Word), his delegated authority, his stewardship and more. So, like Paul, we as believers have a joint role in the heavenlies as proclaimers of the manifold wisdom of God to principalities and powers.
As you recall, he prays more here and moves into what for us is chapters 4-6 to deal with the practical out working of this eternal purpose of God in our lives.
Eph 4:7-16 & 6:14 point out the role of God’s truth with respect to the newness of life they and we have.
My intended point was to show how the truth of God is penetrating, convincing, and prevailing against a spirit of disobedience. That through the proper understanding gained from God in prayer, we can echo His settled decrees on earth and see people freed or liberated from the spirit at work in the earth to keep them imprisoned in disobedience (Ephesians 2:2 — “a refusal to be persuaded” and 2nd Corinthians 10:3-6 — “hearing amiss or as one alongside or equal in authority”).
The Word declares that as we obey (hear as one under authority and are willfully submissive — and thus following through as commanded) disobedience is punished or avenged.
So, in prayer tonight, I was trying to lead us to be a bit more skillful in opposing the prevalence of disobedience in the Church and among outsiders via our repentance and later through echoing God’s Word and Will regarding those in disobedience.
I wanted to deal more with the responsibility and practical tactics and admonitions we have to let the Word of Christ dwell richly in us (Colossians 3:6-17) and prayer enabled by the Spirit (1st Cor 14:13-15; Jude 1:20-25).
These aspects are viably and essentially related to skillful (wise, effective) prayer (conversing and communing with God) and ministry in God.