November 12, 2017

Dear heavenly father, as we come before you, we just want to take a moment and thank you for your word, thank for this passage that we looked at this morning.  Lord, as people who are here today, who are followers of Jesus Christ, and have put our faith in trust in Jesus, we are thankful that we know ultimately that Satan’s power over Christians is broken.  The battle is won through Jesus crucifixion and resurrection, which forever conquered the power of sin and death.  We also know that as we live here on earth, we will battle temptation.   This place is a spiritual battlefield, it is not against flesh and blood, but against Satan and his spiritual forces that the battle rages.

Thank you that you have given us armor in this battle.  I know that as believers, as we walk in the spirit, we will be attacked, and we will be tempted.  Satan is not like the world makes him out to be.  He is an amazing deceiver, and twists and turns things in ways that we don’t even know, when we are being deceived.

Lord, we are called to put on your full armor and keep it on.  It’s a lifetime battle.   Help us to recognize that we are not on a holiday cruise, we are on a battleship, and we need to have your full armor on both individually and as a committed local body here in Simi Valley.  Together, we are able to stand firm against the wiles or schemes of the Devil, using your armor.  

???So Lord, it is a struggle and it is a battle, and it is a battle that goes on all the time around us.  So Lord, help to use all the armor that you have provided for us.

• The Belt of Truth
• The Breastplate of Righteousness or Holiness
• The Shoes that ground us in your Good News
• The Shield of Faith
• The Helmet of Salvation
• The Sword of the Spirit (Your Word)

Help us to stand firm, arm and arm, with each other. Help us to walk in obedience as we do that.  Lord help us to walk in faith, not in doubt, to understand your truth.

Help us to be immersed in your word, the sword of the Spirit.  It is the only offensive weapon we have.  Lord, help us to show Grace to our brothers and sisters around us, that we might be able to restore one another, as we all are susceptible to Satan’s deceit.

In closing, Lord, Paul does not ask for his personal well-being.  He asks for boldness and faithfulness in proclaiming the Gospel, no matter the cost.  Lord we can’t do this on our own, we can’t.  We need your holy spirit to guide us and direct us.  We need each other to stand on that battle line together, as a body of believers here at Cornerstone.

Lord that is my prayer this morning for us as a church, that you would help us to fight this battle with courage and boldness.

I just pray this in your son Jesus name this morning.  

And all of Gods people said, Amen.

NOTE: Prayer room is open