Battle Plan for Prayer - Week 7

Teaching using  The Battle Plan for Prayer by Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick. Chapters 13.

Vertical: The Cross of Christ

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, 

so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; 

“by his wounds you have been healed.” 

1 Peter 2:24

One reason religious people may not see evidence of answered prayers in their lives is because they are not in a personal relationship with Jesus. They know about God and about church but they do not have a relationship with God. Jesus warned us about being one of these people.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Matthew 7:21-23

This is one of the most frightening passages in the Bible. But Jesus is not being mean or judgmental, he wants us to understand the truth. Before learning all the ways to enrich our prayer life, we must ask ourselves are we truly in a relationship with God? The apostle Paul said we should examine ourselves to be sure we are in a relationship.

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. 

Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—

unless, of course, you fail the test? 

2 Corinthians 13:5

If we believe we are destine for heaven because we go to church and are a good person, or because we volunteer, and are kind to neighbors, then there is reason to examine scripture further. These are many honorable ways to live our lives. But when our honor is from our behavior we may not be including God in our lives. The scribes and Pharisees did many honorable things but Jesus warned them they would be condemned at the final judgement. He compared them to white washed tombs, empty cups, and blind guides.

God and God alone decides what is required to be saved. God is the one who created us, knows us, and holds all authority. We are the pots not the potter. Rather than telling others what we think will work we must let God tell us through scripture what is the way to satisfy God.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. 

No one comes to the Father except through me. 

John 14:6

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, 

so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 

2 Corinthians 5:21

The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John give details of Jesus birth, life, miracles, teachings, death, and resurrection. The books of Romans through Revelation tell how Jesus satisfied God’s holiness, justice, and wrath towards sin, while offering merciful kindness, grace, and love to any sinner willing to trust Jesus by faith. Hebrews tells us how Jesus alone fulfilled God’s requirement as a savior. Jesus’ salvation is all-inclusive to anyone anywhere.

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 

1 John 2:1-2

This salvation that is giving to us by grace and faith separates Christianity from every other religion in the world. God offers us the free gift of forgiveness and eternal life. God does not require we spend a lifetime trying to earn these things through religion or good works.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—

and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

not by works, so that no one can boast. 

Ephesians 2:8-9

Because scripture contains so many verses pointing to salvation through Jesus alone, it is important that we agree with God and not with our own opinions.

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see 

the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

John 3:3

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans 10:9-10

This Battle Plan for Prayer book is committed to teaching people to have a strong prayer life. Believing in Jesus is the beginning of a strong prayer life. The Bible tells us that God is our heavenly Father.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name,

he gave the right to become children of God— 

John 1:12

We are his children.

He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Ephesians 1:5-6

His Holy Spirit has entered our hearts. 

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—

to the praise of his glory. 

Ephesians 1:13-14

We have been redeemed and cleansed by the blood of Jesus.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,

in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 

Ephesians 1:7

We have freedom to approach God boldly in prayer.

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Ephesians 3:12