Something Some people think of prayer as an open request line from us to God, but the Bible describes prayer as an essential weapon in spiritual warfare.

So is there a way for us to pray that is most effective?

Well, we'll get guidance from the Apostle Paul today on Truth for Life.

Alastair Begg is teaching from chapter 6 in the book of Ephesians.

We're looking at verse 18.

In the spiritual battleground, prayer is absolutely essential.

And one of the ways in which we can gather that from Paul's letter here is simply in the amount of space he gives to this matter of prayer. You will notice, and you could some of you put together that way, may even count the number of words that we have in English,

but it is clearly disproportionate. And it is also important for us in recognizing that

to remind ourselves that he is not addressing this, first of all, to us as

individuals. In fact, he's not writing to an individual. He's writing to a community of believers.

He is writing to those whom he addresses at the very top of his letter as the saints who are in

Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus. Now, when

he uses that word saints, it's important for us to understand that what he's describing

there is not some unique group of individuals separated from all the rest, but it is simply

a New Testament word for all who have become the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

And they are saints, they are set apart as holy in Jesus.

So it is to these individuals that he issues this comprehensive call.

A call that is as important for us today in 21st century Cleveland

as it was for the first readers in first century Ephesus.

Praying at all times in the Spirit with all prayer and supplication,

to that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for

all the saints. Those alls, and there are four of them, give to us the framework of this study.

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