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Mystery of the Gospel Some of the best sellers on New York Times are the mystery book series and the intrigues. We love mysteries. There are two kinds of mysteries. There are revealed mysteries and there are mysteries that still remain mysteries. What is the mystery of the gospel that Apostle Paul referred to when he requested the Ephesian Church to pray for him? If it is so important to Paul and we are to pray for it, then we must in the simplest way understand the mystery of the gospel. Here is Paul’s instruction on prayer and his prayer request in Ephesians 6:18-20: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. We note that Paul wants the Ephesians and al

What Are You Praying for? Pray for my boldness to make known the mystery of the Gospel Here is a dearly beloved family member who is in jail and imprisoned for no fault of his. He has just written you a very encouraging and challenging letter. He never for once mentioned feeling sorry for himself and the injustice he is receiving. He ends the letter by making just one request for you to pray for. Surprised! He is not asking you to pray for his release from prison. He is not evening asking you to pray for his daily up keep and food. Just one thing –“boldness to make known the mystery of the gospel”. What are you and I praying for? What fuels our prayers? If all our prayers are listed, what will be the most common theme? I submit to you that most of our prayers are motivated by fear. Unlike Paul, his prayers were motivated by love for His Lord. These are two different perspectives and two different results. Listen to Paul in Ephesians 6 on spiritual warfare and prayer: 14 S

Pray, Pray and Pray The highest form of pride and arrogance is not to pray to the almighty God, maker of heaven and earth. Pride goes before fall so when you stop praying or rarely pray, watch out for a big fall. Pride equals prayer-less-ness. When I am not praying, I am declaring myself a mini god because I want to be in control and take care of all situations and their outcomes. Prayer is worship and we are worshippers. 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[c] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, ha

Wield Your Sword of the Spirit – the Word of God Have you been pushed to the wall by Satan to be tempted and tested? Well, Jesus was and He is our example. How did Jesus respond? “It is written” simple. Listen to the conversation: “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” You can read the rest of the account in Matthew 4 and Luke 4. In Luke, it says, “13 Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time”. If Jesus faced temptation and testing so must we His followers. Satan and his demons don’t not give up easily because they will come back at “an opportune time”. Satan came back for Jesus at Gethsemane wanting Jesus not to go to the Cross. Jesus said, Father, your will be done and it was done. If Jesus the Son of God used the Word of God, so must we. It is war time. Let’s wie

Take Your Helmet of Salvation. I had a recent conversation with a car dealer’s shuttle driver who gave me ride while my car was being fixed. The gentleman said that whenever one of his relatives dies and it rains during the funeral, that he is assured that the relative is heading to heaven. Woo! What an assurance of salvation. I asked him where hardened criminals go to when it rains during their funeral. He had no answer. Salvation is only in Jesus and there is no other way. I told him to stick with the Word of God for assurance of salvation for him or for any other. In our study today, we must put on one of the whole armor of God – the helmet of salvation. Unlike the shuttle driver, we must understand what salvation is, whether we have been saved and what we have been saved from and for. The purpose of this is to stand against Satan and his host of demons in our daily spiritual battle. Let’s hear Apostle Paul on our marching orders: 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lo