"The General Instructions" (Eph. 6:18)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11/9/2019 10:21 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                        Focus:  The General Instructions

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Ephesians 6:18

 

            Message of the verse:  “18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”  “18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” (KJV).

 

            In this SD what we will look at kind of is an introduction to Ephesians 6:18, and then look at only one sub-section to this main section entitled “The General Instruction.”

 

            John MacArthur introduces this section with the following paragraph:  “The four ‘alls’ introduce the five emphases Paul makes regarding the general character of the believer’s prayer life: the variety, the frequency, the power, the manner, and the objects of prayer.”

 

            So we will only look at “The Variety of Prayer” in this SD, and I want to warn you that it is very short, but certainly worth looking at.

 

            In this the word translated as “prayer” is the Greek word proseuche, and this refers to general requests, however the word deestis which translates “petition” refers to those that are specific.  As we look at both Greek words we can see that they point to the idea that we are to be involved in all kinds of prayer which is appropriate.  MacArthur elaborates in this “Scriptural precept and allowance suggest we may pray publicly or privately; in loud cries, in soft whispers, or silently; deliberately and planned or spontaneously; while sitting, while traveling; with hands folded or raised; with eyes open or closed; with head bowed or erect.  The New Testament, like the Old, mentions many forms, circumstances, and postures for prayer but prescribes none.  Jesus prayed while standing, while sitting, while kneeling, and quite probably in other positions as well.  We can pray wherever we are and in whatever situation we are in.  ‘Therefore I want the men in every place to pray’ (1 Tim. 2:8), Paul said.  For the faithful, Spiritual filled Christian, every place becomes a place of prayer.”

 

            Lord willing we will look at the next sub-section “The Frequency of Prayer” in our next SD.

 

In our quotation from “Love in Action” we will look at Job 4:7-8:

 

Remember now, who ever perished being innocent?

Or where were the upright every cut off?

Even as I have seen, those who plow

iniquity and sow trouble

reap the same.

 

11/9/2019 10:41 AM