Ephesians: A Prayer and Declaration

     Understanding that our ability to pray in faith and boldness is dependent upon our experiential knowledge of what God has done for us through His Son, Jesus, I read through the book of Ephesians and wrote out its summary in a prayer of thanksgiving for all He has done for us. But when I got to chapter 6 where we are commanded to take up the armor of God, thanksgiving transformed to a declaration of our stance and ended in a supplication for transformation. 

     As you read, please consider placing yourself and/or your congregations, or friends in the lines of this post for this is a crucial time for the body of Christ.

May the Lord our God bring deeper revelation of His goodness and the fullness of His Kingdom.

Sincerely,

Renee

Ephesians Chapter One

Thank you, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for blessing us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ; for You chose us in Him and predestined us to adoption as sons & daughters by Jesus Christ.

According to the good pleasure of Your will, You have made us accepted in Your Beloved Christ Jesus, having redeemed us through His blood and the riches of Your grace which You make to abound toward us in all wisdom.

We have trusted in Him when we heard the gospel of our salvation and in Your graciousness, you have sealed us with the Holy Spirit of Promise who is the guarantee of our inheritance.

Therefore Father, give us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of YOU (Father, Son & Holy Spirit). Give us understanding of the hope of YOUR calling and the exceeding greatness of YOUR power toward us who believe.

Ephesians Chapter Two

Thank you, GOD, for you made us alive in Christ Jesus even when we were dead in our trespasses and sin and YOU have made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. For by Grace YOU saved us through the gift of faith that we might become YOUR workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for the good works which You have prepared for us to walk in by faith.

Thank you, God and Father for Christ Jesus who is our peace, having removed the wall of separation that keeps us from You, for through Him we all have access by one Spirit to you Father. And now, in Jesus, YOU are fitting us together in love to become a dwelling place for YOU in the Spirit. Therefore, come close that we may look into your face and be transformed – that we might love each other as You love.

Ephesians Chapter Three

Therefore, Father, help us understand the unsearchable riches of Christ and see the fellowship of the mystery that has been hidden in YOU and revealed through Jesus Christ, that the CHURCH might make it known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.

Grant us, according to the riches of YOUR glory, to be strengthened with might through YOUR Spirit, that we would be grounded in Love and that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith, that we may be filled with all the fullness of God and that we, the church would bring glory to You by Christ Jesus.

Ephesians Chapter Four

Thank you, Father, that through the power of Your grace and presence of Your Holy Spirit, we by faith, can walk worthy of the calling with which we have been called; that we can walk in humility, gentleness, patience and kindness toward one another; always endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Thank you, Father, for the gifts to the Body of Christ, that we might be equipped for the good works of ministry; for the strengthening and building up of the Body of Christ, for the maturing of the saints and for defeating the works of darkness, trickery and deceitful platting that stand against the Lordship of Jesus Christ, His Kingdom, the increase of His government and His Bride.

Thank you for Your great mercy, for through the blood of Jesus we have been set free from the deceitful lusts of the flesh so that we may be renewed in the spirit of our mind and putting on the new man which was created according to God, holy and righteous, we put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander and lying, knowing you have empowered us to be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving.

Ephesians Chapter Five

Because of all that You have done for us, we desire to be imitators of You, Father, for You have made us You dear children. Give us faith to receive the empowerment of Your grace to walk in Love as Jesus did, that we might offer our lives as a sweet-smelling aroma to You and a testimony of Your goodness to the world.

Give us revelation and wisdom to understand Holiness that we might stand on the solid ground of experiencing the redeeming power of Christ’s grace and freedom from sin that allows us to walk in the light as children of light, producing in our lives the fruit of the Spirit.

You have called us to redeem the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, we will seek to understand the will of the Lord; we will seek Your presence that we might continually be being filled to over flowing with Your Spirit; we will continue to give thanks to You, God our Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus; and we will humble ourselves and submit to one another in the fear of God, learning to honor one another as You have honored us by giving us Your Name and empowering us by giving us permission to act in the Name of Your Son, and our Lord, Jesus the Christ.

Ephesians Chapter Six – The Declaration

Therefore, we, your people, declare, that our strength is our Lord’s strength and we stand in the power of His might!

We have put on the whole armor of God, for we are clothed in Christ Jesus, therefore we are able to stand against the deceitful schemes of the devil.

Knowing that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, we cover the body of Christ in prayer and the unbeliever in the love of God. We take up our spiritual weapons of warfare against the rulers of darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Our waist is girded with truth-the reality of the spiritual condition of this universe and Jesus is the Truth, the one who manifested the true nature of our Father in Heaven. It is He that opened our eyes to the true enemy of our soul, the devil and his army.

Having put on the breastplate of righteousness, we stand in boldness before our King. We no longer fear his condemnation for we have been made righteous by faith in Jesus and the power of His grace that He has abundantly poured out upon us.

Our feet are shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, Jesus is our Peace and He has given us authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy whose only desire is to steal, kill and destroy those who are made in the image of God.

We take up the shield of faith to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one, understanding that the LORD is our rock and our fortress and our deliverer; our God, our strength, in whom we will trust; Our shield and the power of our salvation, our stronghold. [Ps 18:2}

We now march forward, wearing the helmet of our Savior, having been sealed by the Holy Spirit, the insignia of our Lord and King, we take up the sword of the Spirit which is the spoken word of God, that we might execute the written judgements against the enemy of our souls who plot our destruction and rebel against their Creator. [Ps 149]

Lastly, we wield this sword of the Spirit by seeking Your face in supplication and studying the scriptures, listening for Your voice to direct our prayers according to Your spoken word in our hearts; declaring Your will in boldness knowing that what ever we ask in faith, believing, you will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

The Request...

Therefore, we humbly ask you, Holy Spirit, to teach us how to pray in this season. We lay down our prayer habits, preferences and rituals and we acknowledge that the battle has changed, and we, your people, are in disarray upon the battle field. Though many have followed closely behind you, still many more have been lost in the fog of war, or captured by lies and shipwrecked, or grown weary and hopeless. Arise, in us, and set us on solid ground, that we might move in the fullness of unity in the bond of peace. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. Establish your people as a people of prayer who listen for Your direction and proclaim it in faith with power and authority to release Your will upon the earth.

TITLE: PRAYING THROUGH THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – PREAMBLE PART 4

The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America sets forth the purpose for which the constitution was written and established. This is where we will begin praying through this document.

The Constitution of the United States of America Preamble:

                We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America 

Provide for the common defense, Promote the general Welfare, and Secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity

Scriptures: Gen 1-3; John 1:1-5; Rom 1: 28-32; Gal 5:13; James 1:8, 4:8; Isaiah 59; Proverbs 29:25; Matthew 24:10, 12; Acts 1:4; Matt 28:18-20; 2 Tim 2:15; Isa 61:1-4

Prayer:

Heavenly Father and my Lord Jesus, I declare your Name over this nation. Creator and Savior of the world, You and You alone are GOD for You are the god who created the Heavens and the Earth, the seas and the dry land; You Created every beast of the field, every bird in the air and every creature that swims in the seas; You created MANKIND and in Your image your created him – male and female, you created them. You have established nations and You have caused them to fall. You are God and there is no other.

Having secured the Blessings of Liberty, we have used our liberty as an opportunity for our flesh and in so doing we have bowed our knees to false gods and human opinions that have been raised up against the knowledge God. In our arrogant pride We the People of the United States have not retained the knowledge of God and have become a people of a debased mind. Now we have become a double-minded people, unstable in all our ways. We have been caught in a spider’s web and we have no hope in ourselves, any longer. How can this nation’s government provide for the common defense when we do not know who are the true enemies of this nation? How can this government promote the general Welfare of We the People, if we do not know who We are and what promoting the general Welfare means?

We the People of the United States of America have lost our way and have followed a path that has brought us back into slavery. We have been ensnared in our own opinions and captured by the foolishness of our own judgements. Through the fear of man, we have been ensnared by political correctness and because of the lawlessness of our hearts, our love has grown cold making us easily offended and inclined to betray one another.

This is the state we are in, but You, God and Father of us all and You, Jesus our Lord and Savior; have not left us to our own devises, nor have you left us as orphans for You have poured out Your Holy Spirit of Promise upon Your people and you have commissioned us to disciple nations. Therefore, forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Give us grace and wisdom to obey You; gift us with faith to believe You and with understanding to rightly divide the word of truth. Establish Liberty with Love and self-control in our hearts and minds so that we may walk unashamed before you as we continue to pray for our nation and disciple its people. Shake us if we need shaking, but establish your kingdom in our hearts.

Again, I declare your Name over this nation. Creator and Savior of the world, You and You alone are GOD for You are the god who created the Heavens and the Earth, the seas and the dry land; You Created every beast of the field, every bird in the air and every creature that swims in the seas; You created MANKIND and in Your image your created him – male and female, your created them. You have established nations and You have caused them to fall. You are God and there is no other.

Therefore, Hear the word of the Lord the God of all Creation, “Bow down all you, His Saints, and acknowledge the Holy One of Israel, Jesus our Lord and Savior. Bow down all you citizens of the United States of America and acknowledge the righteousness and justice of your Creator.”

The Lord say, “No longer shall the twisting of truth prevail in this land. No longer will you have authority to twist what is right into that which is wrong, nor shall you have the power to establish what is wrong as if it were right, for I the Lord God who created heaven and earth have declared the end of the reign of leviathan over this nation. In a wave of my fury I shall snap its neck and in the outpouring of My Grace I shall establish Truth. It is not for you, O man, to say who is God, for you have no power to create that who has been for all eternity. In the wink of My eye you acknowledge Me and in the release of My lovingkindness you come to Me. Only in Me will you find satisfaction and only in Me will you find peace. I will establish justice and I shall build upon the foundation of My kingdom. I Am raising up a generation of believers who will rebuild the old ruins and they shall raise up the former desolation and they shall repair the ruined cities. I AM GOD and there is no other.”

PRAYING THROUGH THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – PREAMBLE PART 3

The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America sets forth the purpose for which the constitution was written and established. This is where we will begin praying through this document.

The Constitution of the United States of America Preamble:

                We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America

To Insure Domestic Tranquility:

Scriptures References: Proverbs 10:12; 13:10; 17:19; 15:18; 29:22; 16:28; 26:20-21; 28:25; Galatians 5:19-26; Isaiah 58:1-4; James 3:13-18; Hebrews 12:11

Heavenly Father, as I ponder this preamble of the United States, considering your scriptures, I find that domestic tranquility cannot be insured by a government for no law can change the heart of man and wherever hatred, pride, envy, selfish ambition is found in the heart of man, strife and contentions will begin to overflow as voices twist the truth, whisper accusations and overturn justice. Our only hope is You and the power of the blood of Your Son, Jesus, to bring healing to our hearts.

Father, forgive us for our pride and arrogance that has justified our anger and our stubborn self-righteousness. Forgive us for taking the bait of Satan by picking up and hanging on to offense, joining in on useless arguments over things that have no eternal value and are purely bound up in the arrogant opinions of mankind and fueled by selfish ambition and jealousies.  Cleanse us from offense as we renounce agreement with the spirit of leviathan who twists the truth, who whispers accusations, who stirs of fear and anger until we begin to bite and devour one another.

Father, this nation was birthed on the supposition that by Your grace and the redeeming power of the work of the cross, mankind could govern himself by yielding to your indwelling Spirit. In the book of James, it states that “the fruit that consists of righteousness is planted in peace among those who make peace.” Have mercy upon this nation and restore peace to the hearts of your people, that we may become makers of peace that plant peace in the hearts of our neighbors so that the fruit of righteousness might once again rule this nation. In the book of Hebrews, we are told that discipline seems painful and is not joyful, but later it produces the fruit of peace and righteousness in those who yield to its training. LORD God, Almighty, the ONE who formed us into the likeness of Jesus, have mercy upon us and deliver us from our own folly. Let Your character prevail in us that we might become ambassadors of Christ and those who disciple of nations. Give wisdom from Your throne and courage to walk humbly before You, but bold to deliver the gospel of Your Kingdom that the increase of Your government and peace would continue in our hearts and in our nation.

LORD GOD ALMIGHTY make us peace makers, for Your names sake, for your glory to be seen in the church.

PRAYING THROUGH THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - PREAMBLE PART 2

The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America sets for the purpose for which the constitution was written and established. This is where we will begin praying through this document.

The Constitution of the United States of America Preamble:  

     We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America

Part 2: "in Order to establish Justice" The second purpose of this constitution was to set in motion the continued establishment of Justice. This preamble implies the continued working towards these ideals, not a specific date of arrival and then maintenance of this Utopian society. We see this happening throughout our nations history as slaves were freed, women were given the right to vote, segregation was outlawed. 

Scriptures References: Deut. 32-3-4; Micah 6:8; Psalm 89:14; Psalm 103:6

PRAYER: Today, Father and God of our Lord Jesus, we proclaim YOUR Name. You are the ROCK and Your works are perfect; for all Your ways are justice. You are the God of TRUTH and You are without injustice; Righteous and upright are You. Righteousness and Justice are the foundation of Your throne and Mercy and Truth go before Your face.

You have shown us what is good and what You require of us: to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with You our God. And in this, we have fallen far short, having presumed that it was our government’s responsibility to establish justice and mercy in our nation. But we are wrong, for Your scriptures tell us that You, LORD, execute righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed through your people who humble themselves before you and walk with you.

Father, this Constitution of the United States of America was ordained for the establishing of Justice in this Nation, but we, as a nation, have forgotten what justice is and we have allowed people who have forsaken the needy and oppressed the weak and have twisted the words of the righteous for a bribe to become leaders in every mountain of society. Have mercy upon us and our nation and forgive us. Let Your Kingdom come and be established in our hearts and in our minds that we might pray for our nation according to Your perfect will. Give us spiritual discernment to recognize those whose hearts are humble before you, whose desires are to establish justice and unity within our nation; that we might recognize those whom You have called to positions of authority to lead this nation according to the purposes set forth in this document.

Father, set these purposes in the hearts of Your people within this nation and within the hearts of those around the world who have been called to intercede for our nation, that we would mature in character and live according to these principles that our a part of your Kingdom. For as I read this preamble that defines the purpose of this Constitution, I see that You placed upon the hearts of the founders a blue print of government that creates an unobstructed road to the establishment of Your Kingdom within the hearts of Your people, guaranteeing us all the liberty to good, to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly before you; to become a sheep nation that influences the world for good and justice and mercy.

Move powerfully upon the hearts and minds of your people, convict us of the pride and arrogance of our own hearts and minds, that we might lay down our opinions and humble ourselves before you. Bring revelation of the work of the cross of Jesus as we yield to the transforming power of Your grace upon our minds, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ, our Lord, that we might begin to see how the passions and gifts and callings of Your people fit together to accomplish the establishment of Your Kingdom upon the earth. Help us to acknowledge injustice without the need to justify our stance. Shine Your light upon the true injustices within our nation, help us see the root problems and give us wisdom and understanding and just solutions that enable mercy to triumph.

Thank You, Father and our Lord Jesus, You are so good. 

PRAYING THROUGH THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - PREAMBLE PART 1

The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States of America sets for the purpose for which the constitution was written and established. This is where we will begin praying through this document.

The Constitution of the United States of America Preamble:  

     We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America

Part 1: "in Order to form a more perfect Union" The first and foremost purpose of this constitution was to form one sovereign nation from many individual and sovereign states. To accomplish this there are two elements needed - IDENTITY and UNITY. A glimpse of these can be seen in our Pledge of Allegiance: "One Nation under God, Indivisible with Liberty and Justice for All" 

Scripture References: Ephesians 3:14-21; 1:15-23; 4:11-16; Romans 12:1 

PRAYER:  Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and God over the Nation of these United States of America, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named and we ask you to grant this Nation, according to the riches of Your glory, strength and might through Your Spirit, that Christ may dwell in the heart of Your people, through faith and that we would be rooted and grounded in love, so that we might comprehend what is to be the manifestation of the height and width and depth of this Union of States so that the Love of Christ would displace carnal knowledge and the wisdom that comes from below and that the fullness of God might be seen upon the landscape of this nation.

Thank you Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ for the Love you have for this Nation for You are the Father of glory and we ask that You would give our Nation the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus. We ask You, Father that the eyes of our understanding would be enlightened so that we, as a Nation, would know what is the HOPE of our Calling and what are the Riches of the Glory of our Inheritance as a people and that we might know the exceeding greatness of Your power toward this Nation. Renew the vision you gave the founding Father’s and bring it to maturity in the hearts of Your people that we may stand as One in prayer and intercession for this Nation, United under God, unified by Your Grace 

Father, you have given your people gifts for the edification and maturing of your people so that we would no longer be tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine – Be merciful to us Father and give us grace to humble ourselves and allow You to bring discipline and instruction to us that we might become a catalyst of unity. Lord God, we have fallen far short of Your Glory, have mercy upon us and for Your Name’s sake, give us grace to mature; to become the people who can speak the truth in love and bring to bear the gifts and wisdom from heaven in the reformation of your Church and the restoration of this Nation to the end that we as a Nation fulfill the call to glorify your name and we, as people of God, be effective in the edification of the Body of Christ. Open our eyes to your scriptures and our hearts to the instruction of Your Spirit that we may rightly divide the Word of God in prayer for our Nation and in faith inspired action. Without Faith it is impossible to please you and Faith without works is dead, therefore by Your grace and mercy we present our bodies, our lives as living sacrifices to You that we might become a force of redemption and deliverance, a voice of wisdom and justice and a people of Love in action that will strive for unity in the body of Christ and in our Nation to insure liberty and justice for all.