30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 18 1-8 Persistent prayer of faith 10 Waging war against the enemy through persistent prayer
📖 Luke 18:1-8
06Sep2020 - *Waging war against the enemy through persistent prayer* - _Luke 18:1-8_ - PERSISTENT PRAYER OF FAITH 10 – Bible reading: _II Corinthians 10:3-6_
_Luke 18:6-7 Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. (7) And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?_
Persistent prayer of faith is also a matter of warfare. We as the church are here to wage war against the enemy. Satan is holding sway over the world. _I John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one._
We are sent out into the world by the Lord to bring the good news of His kingdom. If we are here to do that then we are immediately in a confrontation against the enemy, who is angry that we are here on earth, (where he is the ruler), with the intention to bring in the kingdom rule of God. _John 17:18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world._ We are under the prayer cover of Jesus as we engage with the enemy. _John 17:15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one._
We, therefore, have a major task at hand to defeat the enemy and release people, who are in his captivity. _Hebrews 2:14-15 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, (15) and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage._
We can engage the enemy for he has been defeated at the cross. _Colossians 2:14-15 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (15) Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it._
The handwriting against us is that all of us have sinned and fallen short of the standards of God. This is the document that the devil is holding against us and he keeps waving this document against us before God that we are his prisoners to the law of sin and death, which is in our members. Jesus abolished this document in His sinless body, which was sacrificed for us on the cross. Therefore, when we appropriate the death of Jesus for ourselves, by faith, we receive His victory. The cross is the place of our victory over Satan. We must repeatedly confront the enemy by the victory of Jesus on the cross.
This victory has been given to the church. _Ephesians 3:9-11 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; (10) to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, (11) according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,_
The church is the pillar and ground of the truth. People shall know the truth and the truth will set people free. The church, has an immense role to engage with the enemy, with the victory of Jesus on the cross, release people who are in bondage to the enemy and set them free by the truth. _I Timothy 3:15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth._
This warfare is the persistent warfare prayer of the church. _II Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. (4) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, (5) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, (6) and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places._
The church is mandated by the Lord to engage with the enemy and establish His kingdom. _Matthew 16:18-19 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (19) And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."_
*Thought to ponder*
```When the church begins to pray, to bring in the kingdom rule of God on the earth, the enemy shudders, for when we resist him, he flees.```