Day 5: Victory Over Satan Through Prayer
Today’s Reading: Ephesians 6:10–20
Welcome to Day 5 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2023. This is Week 1, Walking in the Fear of the Lord.
The Focus: “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. . . . And PRAY IN THE SPIRIT ON ALL OCCASIONS WITH ALL KINDS OF PRAYERS AND REQUESTS. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:10,18)
The Meditation: “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”
A Real Battle
The Bible does not pretend that the Christian life is easy. Paul says plainly that we have an enemy. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). The person who is making your life difficult is not your real opponent.
Paul’s first instruction is about where our strength comes from. We are to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power (Ephesians 6:10). We do not fight for victory. Jesus disarmed the powers of darkness at the cross (Colossians 2:15), and we stand in what He has already won.
What God Has Provided
Paul describes the armour piece by piece: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet made ready by the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:14–17). Every piece is something Christ has given. Our part is to put it on and to stand.
Praying in the Spirit
The armour is worn in prayer. Paul tells us to pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with every kind of prayer and request (Ephesians 6:18). Praying in the Spirit means praying as He leads and in His power, and not only from our own lists.
When we do not know what to pray, the Spirit helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26). As a Pentecostal church we also thank God for the gift of praying in tongues. Paul said that he would pray with his spirit and also with his understanding (1 Corinthians 14:14–15). Both kinds of prayer build us up for the fight (Jude 20).
Paul finishes by asking for prayer for himself, that he would speak the gospel without fear (Ephesians 6:19–20). Even an apostle needed other people to pray.
Pray It Through
Put the armour on. Read Ephesians 6:14–17 aloud and thank God for each piece.
Pray in the Spirit. Give time today to pray as the Holy Spirit leads you, in your own language and in tongues if you have received that gift.
Cover someone else. Paul asked for prayer. Who needs yours today? Pray for boldness for one of our leaders.
Prayer for Today
Lord Jesus, thank You that You have already defeated the enemy at the cross. I put on the armour You have given me today. Holy Spirit, teach me to pray as You lead. Keep me alert, and help me to keep praying for all Your people. Make me strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Amen.
Listen and Watch
Pastor Ras shares a short message for Day 5 in the audio and video below.
Keep going
See every day of this guide on our Prayer & Fasting page.
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