"Prayer in the Spirit"
(Eph 6:18-20)

"With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints" (Eph 6:18, NASB)
 
There are 4 “All”s. All prayers, all times, all perseverance, and for all the saints. And it is the Holy Spirit who makes this prayer possible. In the Holy Spirit, we pray at all times. In the Holy Spirit, we pray for all the saints. In the Holy Spirit, we pray with all perseverance. We pray all prayers in the Holy Spirit.
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For LifeNet groups and personal reflection:
 
1) “Hallowed be your name, may your kingdom come, may your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” What kind of help from the Holy Spirit do you need in order for your life to be integrated with this prayer? Whom do you ask to pray for what in order for your life to be integrated with this prayer?
 
2) Have you ever be disappointed because you limited what God would do? Though you were disappointed once, have you ever realized later how great God is?
 
3) Let’s pray based on Psalms this week. (e.g. Ps 8:1-5; 13:1-6; 25:4-7; 31:1-4; 51:1-4;10-12)
 
NLIF is an international church in Yangon. Come and join our English Sunday worship service.

"Be ready" (Eph 6:10-17)

As long as we are on this earth, we are in the spiritual warfare. How do we deal with Satan’s attacks? Be aware of Satan’s attacks. The major issue is not how he attacks, but that we are ready. The only thing that does matter is that we put all of God’s armor on. By doing that, we can be ready for the battle by the great mighty power of God.
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For LifeNet groups and personal reflection:
 

• Read 2 Tim 2:3-4. Do you view yourself as a soldier of Christ? If you don’t see yourself as a soldier, then how do you see yourself?

 

• Read Rom 8:31-39. Meditate on the victory you have in Christ.
• How do you respond to each of the following darts of Satan: impurity, selfishness, doubt, fear, disappointment, lust, greed, vanity, and covetousness? How would you use the shield of faith to defend yourself against each of those attacks? Record your answers and prepare to use them for the next attack.

 

• Look up the following verses: John 5:26; 10:28-29; 14:19; Rom 8:34-39; Col 3:3-4; Rev 1:18. List as many securities as you can.
• What are some of the ways that Satan has tried to discourage you? How would you use the helmet of salvation to defend yourself against his attacks? How would you use what you have learned to encourage someone else who faces discouragement?

             (Taken from John MacArthur, The Believer’s Armor, Word of Grace Communications, 1986)

NLIF is an international church in Yangon. Come and join our English Sunday worship service.

"In His Mighty Power" (Eph 6:10)

In the prison, where Paul felt the sentence of death, what his care is the church in Ephesus. In Ephesus, there was the great shrine of Artemis (Acts 19:35). The city of Ephesus was the guardian of the temple of Artemis and of her image. The whole city was worshipping Artemis, the goddess. And many practiced kinds of witchcraft (Acts 19:19). The church in Ephesus was in the midst of all these.
              Paul had heartache when he thought of the church which is fighting in that kind of circumstances. While in the prison, he had the presence of God beside him. He had confidence in God’s support and protection. “Oh, how are they doing?” He sent a letter and said, “Be strong in His mighty power.”
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For Lifenet groups and personal reflection
1) The power of resurrection, of transformation, of victory and of love. Which one do you feel you need most? Why? What would you do to be empowered?
2) Read Mark 4:35-41. How can you identify you with the disciples? When you hear Jesus says “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” is there anything God deal with specifically in you? How would you respond? 
 
NLIF is an international church in Yangon. Come and join our English Sunday worship service.

2 Corinthians 4:7-11
Building the Kingdom in Weakness
 
Insignificance and Struggles – Work, ministry, relationships, family, life, etc. are often challenging. Things don't go as anticipated, plans change, projects fail, people disappoint or even attack us, sickness strikes, etc. Then we come to church or read the Bible and hear that we are a Kingdom of Priests, the Salt and the Light of this World. We feel we can't match up to it. Have ever felt unworthy, insignificant for these reasons?
 
What was Paul's Secret?
How can Paul be so confident with total abandonment to Christ? (Phil. 1:21; 4:11)
How can we come to such a place of contentment and abandonment in Christ?
 
Let's focus these 4 areas, among many secrets:
1)  Lordship (Phil. 3:7-8) – Who or what sits on the throne of our life? Is there anything greater than Jesus in our lives? What are we clinging on to, to give us security, value, purpose, fulfillment, contentment, righteousness?
- Jesus needs to be above/ in control of all, otherwise we will often feel shaken.
- We need to surrender everything to Him, to gain such a contentment and confidence in our lives.
 
2)  Brokenness (Phil. 3:7; Psalm 51:17) – Jesus was broken for our sins, which is His most powerful ministry.
- Joseph was broken after spending years in prison – delivered nations.
- Moses was broken after tending sheep for 40 years – delivered Israel.
- Paul was broken – his pride breeding anger, violence was broken by the grace of Jesus.
- Likewise, we can only be powerful ministers, bringing hope, deliverance, lasting transformation to a broken world, if we are broken over the sinfulness and pride in our hearts (1 Pet. 5:5).
 
3)  Spiritual Warfare (Eph. 6:10-13) – The devil and his agents are out to cause us to fail, to accuse us, to discourage us, to bring destruction to lives and communities.
- When evil takes on flesh and blood form, it causes war, cruelty, poverty, racism, crime, etc. We have to both, not overestimate (superstition) or underestimate (denial) dark spiritual realities around us.
- The devil has no power without us giving it to him, by obeying him.
- 2 practical ways the devil lies to us: (1) Temptation -  too high view of ourselves over against God's holiness, and (2) Accusation – too low view of ourselves over against God's love.
- How to stand? Know how the devil deceives you (your weaknesses). The armour of God (Eph. 6:14-18) is applying the truth of the Gospel to our lives. It is not a mantra to be chanted over us.
 
4)  Throne Room (Rev. 4 & 5) – Whom are we impressed by most? We constantly need to renew and refresh our view of who God is, what He promised and what He is doing.
- Life is busy and challenging. It is a battle to spend time in/with God.
- Having "throne room" time and experience will give us the new perspective we need to trust God and to be content in Him.
- We are weak (jars of clay), but we have Jesus who has and is the power.
 

Come join us at our English service of the International Church in Yangon!