WATCH AND PRAY (EPHESIANS 6:18)

Dear Members in Christ,                                                                                                                   

Watch and Pray                      

Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

When we believe in Christ, we prayed to God through Jesus’ name.

We asked God to forgive our sins and save us. Since then, we learn to pray. We give thanks to God when we eat, we call upon God when we face troubles. Praying is part of our daily living.

As Christians are involved in a global spiritual warfare, it is very important for us but to depend on the Lord. The Lord cares for us, He is willing to hear our prayers and answer them. We can pray to Him any time and in any location. He is not only with us in the church building only.

We are facing regular attacks from our spiritual foes, let us watch and pray. We need God’s help. We are weak, only with God’s grace we can be delivered from temptations. We cannot live proper Christian life apart from divine help.

Praying regularly

The apostle writes, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” Eph. 6:18. “Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;” Eph. 1:16.

Though the Apostle Paul is in prison, he kept thinking of Christ’s witnesses out there. They were ex-worshippers of many gods and servants of sins. They were living for their own glory. Now, they are in Christ, in the kingdom of light. Will the Master of the kingdom of darkness spare them? Certainly, these Christians will face the attacks from the kingdom of darkness. The Christians will be tempted to serve sin regularly. Then we need to pray for fellow Christians and ourselves. May God help us in the spiritual battle. Remember to set some time in a day to pray.

Psalm 55:17 “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”

Pray with all prayer and supplication

There are many types of prayers. To begin with, we need to thank God. We are to praise and thank God for Who He is and what He has done for us. We can praise God for His righteousness and mercy. We can thank God for His salvation and sanctification.

We also need to confess our sins to the Lord daily. We need God’s help to turn away from sins. Constant sinning will turn us away from the Lord. Our heart will become harden gradually. May God save us.

How we need to make requests in accordance to God’s will. Such requests not only made for ourselves but for others also. We may pray for our spiritual renewal and growth. We can pray for daily bread and necessities in life. Some may pray for a Christian life partner. Others may pray for opportunity to work. The Apostle Paul requested prayers be made for his gospel preaching ministry (cf. Eph. 6:19-20). It would be good for church members to remember preachers, teachers and co-labourers in their prayers. Even Apostle Paul needed prayers. May the Lord grant peace, comfort, deliverance and help through the intercessions of members in Christ.

Pray for all believers in Christ

This is what the apostle wrote, “for all saints”. How many saints do we know?

We thank God that He raised up His witnesses around the world. Let us pray for one another. There are saints that are in our local fellowship. We can see them frequently. There are those who stay in other towns, we see them less frequently. We do have friends in Christ in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Africa, Europe, America, Australia, New Zealand, etc. We can hardly meet up with them. But we can pray for them. When we think of them, let us pray for them.

If we hear that they are sick, let us pray that the Lord may help them to recover. If they have gone astray, may God help them to turn back to the path of righteousness. Remember those who are living in places with many restrictions for gospel witnessing. Remember those who are struggling to witness for Christ. Pray for those who are struggling with temptations and sins. May the good Lord save them and strengthen them. Our God is ever living and mighty to save!

It is good for us to pray for some saints in family prayers. Who knows what good will the Lord do through our prayers. You are encouraged to join the weekly church prayer meeting. The adversaries are working to destroy Christian witness, may we watch and pray. God is able to save to the uttermost!

In His Service,
Rev. Lee Kim Shong