Battle Plan for Prayer - Week 13

Teaching using  The Battle Plan for Prayer by Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick. Chapters 26 & 27.

Praying Offensively

They go from strength to strength,

till each appears before God in Zion.
Psalm 84:7

Praying against evil, anxiety, lust, anger, fear or jealousy are all part of a Christians prayer life. But it is also possible to pray before problems arise. To pray for God’s blessings and the advancement of light, truth, and love in the world. 

In the Lord’s prayer Jesus taught us to pray for 3 important things. God’s kingdom to come, God’s will to be done on earth, and to give us our daily bread.

your kingdom come,

your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Matthew 6:10-11

These are all things to pray for not to pray against. We pray against the gates of hell. But we should also pray for heaven to come to earth. We pray to have God’s kingdom and will increase in our world. We need to pray offensively in addition to praying defensively.

We want God to open doors for the gospel, to increase the labors of the harvest, to send revival, to show us his will, to give us Spiritual gifts for his glory, and to raise up a generation of Godly people. Not only do we stand against the enemy but we also need to take new ground for the kingdom of God.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they

may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

The author suggests we consider our families, church, and communities when contemplating the following questions.

1. What is the most loving thing I can pray?
2. For what overwhelming good thing can I pray?
3. What prayer would advance God’s kingdom?
4. What prayer would bring glory to God?

Jesus said God will give us good gifts if we ask.

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good

gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in
heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matthew 7:11

John prayed for people to be healthy and prosperous.

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that

all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
3 John 2

Pray for blessing from God. Ask God to make your family and example of Christian unity and love. Ask God to send revival to your church. Ask God to bless the voices in the choir keeping everyone healthy and on time. Ask God to bless the local teachers, nurses, and doctors who are caring for many. Pray for the church’s mission teams to go boldly into the world spreading the love of Christ.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:21

Paul prayed for Godly blessing for his followers to live an abundant Christian life.

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying
for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through
all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life
worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work,
growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to
his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving
joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of
his holy people in the kingdom of light.
Colossians 1:9-12

This is an example of praying offensively. Paul also prayed this way for the Philippians.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge

and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may
be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11

When you pray ask God for good things to come into your life. As God to shine his light into your life and through your life. Ask God to give you courage and strength to go into the world and share the love of Christ with others.

Praying Preemptively

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:4

The Bible tells us we have a enemy who wants to kill, steal, and destroy our lives. We need to pray preemptively to prevent that from happening.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
John 10:10

Jesus acknowledged the existence of Satan and resisted and rebuked him. The author states that more than a dozen books in the Bible reference Satan. He is not merely the symbol of evil but rather a fallen angel who stalks us, constantly accusing us of wrong doing before God.

He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”

Luke 10:18

Until Jesus returns, we must stand guard and resist his lies with the blood of the lamb and our word of testimony.

They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
Revelation 12:11

Jesus taught his disciples to pray preemptively.

And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
Matthew 6:13

When Jesus was betrayed, he warned Peter that Satan was after him but that Jesus was praying for Peter. Jesus warned Peter to keep watching and praying.

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed
for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back,
strengthen your brothers.”
Luke 22:31-32

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41

Peter fell asleep and when he was awakened he hacked off the ear of a palace guard. Peter reacted emotionally, attacking the guard, abandoning Jesus, and denying him three times.

Peter failed to pray preemptively and instead ending weeping bitterly. The more we pray preemptively the less often we will cry bitterly. We need to ask God to protect, strengthen, and guide us before the battle comes our way.

The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
Proverbs 22:3

The enemy has a playbook he has used for thousands of years. If we learn how he attacks us we are better prepared to offensively avoid the attacks.

Distraction and Misdirection

hear me and answer me.

My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught
because of what my enemy is saying,
Psalm 55:2-3

Satan will attempt to refocus us on something other than God’s perfect will for our lives. Even good things that are not God’s best become lures to send us in the wrong direction. While Jesus was having his last Passover meal, the disciples were arguing about who was best. Earlier in Jesus’ ministry, when visiting Lazarus’ house, Jesus was talking to the people and Martha was to busy preparing food to stop and listen. She even complained that Mary would not help her.

Dozens of times a day we get text messages, Facebook updates, and email notification. All these good things can be distractions to prevent us from seeing the things of God around us. We need to stay alert and focused.

Deception.

Jesus tells us Satan is a liar. Sinful strongholds, addictions, and numerous sins are based on lies. A lie is a perversion of God’s truth.

When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
John 8:44

Satan will show you the pleasure of sin and withhold the truth of the consequences of sin. He will tell you its all good, nothing really bad will happen, everything will work out for the best. We are not able to stand against these deceptions unless we remain in prayer.

Derision

When not lying Satan is accusing someone of not being good enough, or of committing a terrible sin. He will bring up things from the past which God has forgiven. He continues to scrap old wounds. He is the accuser.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

“Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.
Revelation 12:10

He will accuse you of not being good enough to be saves, not loving enough to be loved, not eloquent enough to pray. All the time trying to convince you God is not strong enough to help you.

Division

The Gospel of Jesus brings unity to people from various backgrounds, cultures, churches, and communities. But Satan tries to make us a house divided.

If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
Mark 3:25

Anger, disputes, lack of unity does not destroy the gospel but it makes spreading the gospel difficult. It harms our reputation as Christians and brings dishonor to God. When families are at odds with each other or church members are in disputes then Satan may be there stirring division among the people. Leading us to see the worst in each other rather than praying for the best from ourselves and others.

We must not live with our eyes and ears closed, ignoring what is happening around us. We should pray for God to keep us in his will, to keep us walking the path God has chosen, to maintain truth and unity in our relationships.

The armor of God is given to us so that we can take a stand against Satan and his schemes. The belt of truth around our waist to dispel his lies. The breastplate of righteousness across our chest which allows us to live out a bold and active faith. Our feet covered with the gospel of peace allowing us to walk through a broken and troubled world having the peace that defies understanding. The shield of faith on our arm to defend our self from attack. The helmet of salvation to guard our head from believing we are not worthy to be saved or our sin is too great. A sword to slice through distortions by using the word of God to break down any lies.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring
lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith,
because you know that the family of believers throughout the world
is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
1 Peter 5:8-9

Pray preemptively. Don’t what for temptation and disaster to come. Prepare yourself in advance through pray and Bible study, that you will stand firm no matter what happens.