1. Ephesians 6:10-20 10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we [a] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.a

2. Ephesians 6:10-20 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15

3. Ephesians 6:10-20 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. [b] 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. [c] 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.bc

4. Ephesians 6:10-20 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. [d] 19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. [e] 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.de

5. Pray As If Because (Y)our Life Depends Upon It Rick Wright 13 th Sunday of Pentecost (B) Church of the Nations

6. Child 44 Soviet Union Time of Josef Stalin End of World War Two Soviet army fights to take the Reichstag in Berlin Vasili! Fire your weapon!

7. Ephesians 6 Finally keep being made strong in the Lord. Put on the whole armor of God so that you will be able to stand against the plans of the devil. Concludes instructions of Ephesians 4-6a Last thing that Paul says about how to live as a Christian By asking for their prayers (our Bible reading) shows that the discussion has brought its audience to maturity as members of the body of Christ (Pheme Perkins)

8. Ephesians 6 Because we do not struggle against flesh and blood but against the rulers the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Spiritual battle

9. Cosmic powers of evil??? What are these forces? Intelligences? Satan? Ideologies and structures? Human beings are not the enemy Enemies are metahuman Outside and around us Within each of us!?!

10. Put on the armor of God What weapons? Battle is defensive Not attack but stand Except sword of the Spirit = word of God Keep being made strong Strength + armor come from God

11. Pray in the Spirit at all times Theme in Ephesians = Holy Spirit Most important thing we do as Christian church How we defend How we put on armor of God Yes also action But first… most… (1) Pray (2) in the Spirit (3) at all times

12. At all times?!? Two-four times each day = just a start Pray the Jesus Pray 500 times each day (Rod Dreher, How Dante Can Save Your Life 60 Minutes report on monks of Mount Athos in Greece (LINK)LINK We can disagree about exactly how prayer works We cannot disagree that we must pray!