The Power of God through Prayer

October rains and the color of autumn would be our typical description of our earthly landscape for most of us here in CT.  But how would you describe the spiritual landscape?  Increasingly, I am convinced that we dwell in the midst of a very real and devastating battle ground, where the enemy is seeking to literally destroy people’s lives, tear apart marriages, extinguish all faith in Christ, disarm the church, and satisfy us with much lesser measures of progress.  When God makes me aware of this reality, several convictions are affirmed:  My hatred of evil, our need for Christ and the place of prayer in our lives and ministry.  

I commend at least two passages for your reading.  The first, Mark 9:14-29, describes a boy who has an unclean spirit.  Among the many insights related to ministry in this story is the central place prayer amidst a very real battle.  Another passage complementary to this one is Ephesians 6:10-20, which affirms the nature of our battle as Christians (spiritual) and outlines the armor need to face this battle.  But not to be forgotten or minimized is the activity of prayer (v.18) Prayer becomes the unceasing practice among the saints which summons and gathers the power and a protection of the Almighty (see Ephesians 3:14-21).

Let me encourage us to pray, be it in our "closet", with our spouse and kids, in our life groups, with our friends, and on Wednesdays at the church (between 7-8pm).  We face a lethal enemy, but we serve a mighty God, who calls us to pray.

In Jesus Name,
Pastor Chad
October 2010