Model Behavior: How Jesus Taught Us to Pray
Senior Pastor David Rose continues our “This Means War” series by examining the role of prayer in spiritual warfare. Focusing on Ephesians 6 and Matthew 6, he reminds us that spiritual battles are fought and won not by our own strength, but by relying on God’s power. He calls the church to become a praying people—interceding not only for our own needs but for each other, our community, and the lost.
Prayer is the active use of the spiritual armor given to us by Christ, transforming us into a church that stands firm against the forces of darkness.
Key Takeaways
- Jesus says prayer begins with an attitude adjustment. (5:5-8)
- Jesus says prayer offers worship and submission. (5:9-10)
- Jesus says prayer addresses needs and relationships. (5:11-12)
- Jesus says prayer concludes with dependence. (5:13-15)
- Prayer is the way disciples treat God as if He is God.
Further Study
- Pastor David said that prayer isn’t about informing God of our needs (Matthew 6:8). How does this truth connect to the Gospel reality that God initiated our salvation before we even knew we needed it? Take a minute to meditate on Romans 5:8 and jot down what you learn there.
- Pastor David talked about how forgiveness in prayer (Matthew 6:14-15) flows from recognizing how much we’ve been forgiven. Spend some time reading through Matthew 18:21-35. Prayerfully consider whether there is someone you need to forgive.
- How does Paul’s request for boldness in Ephesians 6:19-20 (while in chains) demonstrate that our primary battle isn’t against physical circumstances? (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:7-12)
- Pastor David said that God “intends for our prayer to be a time of joy and not drudgery, to be an interaction and not just a transaction.” How does this reflect the Gospel truth that Christianity is about relationship rather than religion? (cf. John 15:15)
The Gospel
If you have questions about what it means to be a Christian, we would love to talk with you about it.
Reach outThe fundamental truth of the Gospel is this: we were dead in our sins, completely unable to save ourselves.
But God, in His great love, sent Jesus Christ to do what we could never do. As Pastor David said, “He transfers us by our faith in Him into His glorious kingdom and He removes our shame and gives us His honor, removes our weakness and gives us His power and removes our guilt and gives us His innocence.” This is the great exchange of the Gospel – Christ took our sin and gave us His righteousness.
We don’t come to God trying to inform Him or earn His favor. Instead, we come as children already fully forgiven, already fully loved. So salvation is not about our religious performance or prayer abilities. It’s about Christ’s perfect life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection; it’s not by our righteousness, but His. When we trust in Jesus, we are transferred from the kingdom of darkness into His kingdom of light, given His armor, and invited into communion with the Father.
The Gospel continues to work in us as we walk with Christ. We’re being saved every day, made more like Jesus. This is why we can pray with confidence, not because of our worthiness, but because Christ has made us worthy and continues to transform us through His Spirit.