Taking it Home: The Power of Prayer Ephesians 6:18-20 1. Journal: For the next month, record your specific prayer requests, and write down God’s answers to those requests. Each time you see God “The best thing, where it is possible, is to keep the patient answer prayer, write out a prayer of thanksgiving for his specific answer from the serious intention of praying altogether.” to your request. [The Screwtape letters, CS Lewis] 1. Prayer _________________ the voice of God and __________________ the 2. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “Be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks voice of the enemy. to give the reason for the hope that we have.” Do you feel prepared to do what the apostle commands? Spend some time asking the Lord to give “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. you boldness (parresia) to fearlessly share the gospel to those in your Come near to God and he will come near to you.” [James 4:8] sphere of influence. Prayer must be ___________________ to the ___________________. Prayer Concerns: 2. Prayer _________________ the ________________________ of God. “Whenever there is prayer, there is danger of His own immediate action.” [The Screwtape Letters, CS Lewis] 3. Prayer _____________________ the ___________________________. “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly [parresia] make known the mystery of the gospel…” [Ephesians 6:19] Parresia - Outspokenness, frankness, plainness of speech that conceals nothing and passes over nothing, together with courage, confidence, boldness, fearlessness. Study/Discussion Questions 3. Dallas Willard says, “The more we pray, the more we think to pray, and as we see the results of prayer – the responses of our Father to our Getting Started: requests – our confidence in God’s power spills over into other areas of our life.” Describe a time when you saw God act in power as a result of 1. What does your daily prayer life look like? Is it consistent or inconsistent, your prayer. How did this affect your confidence in the Lord? intimate or awkward, focused or interrupted, bold or timid, expectant or dismissive? 4. Read Ephesians 6:19-20, Colossians 4:2-4, and 2 Thessalonians 3:1. What theme do you find in Paul’s prayer life? Who or what do you most often Digging Deeper pray for? What can we learn from Paul as we continue to persevere in prayer? Read Ephesians 6:10-20 1. In The Screwtape Letters, CS Lewis reminds us that one of Satan’s greatest desires is to keep the Christian from praying at all. What tactics has the enemy used in your life to keep you from praying? Read James 4:8. How does prayer help us to resist the devil and draw near to God? 5. Read Acts 28:30-31. How did God answer the prayers of the Ephesians on Paul’s behalf (Ephesians 6:19-20). When you consider praying for boldness to share the gospel, what emotions come to mind? Spend some time praying as a group asking for God to increase your boldness to advance the kingdom! 2. John Stott says, “Clarity without courage is like sunshine in the desert: plenty of light but nothing worth looking at. Courage without clarity is like a beautiful landscape at night time: plenty to see, but no light by which to enjoy it.” Why must boldness in prayer be tethered to the Word 6. What has been your greatest take away through the Armor of God sermon of God? What dangers exist when it is not? series? How has God used this series to help you stand firm against the schemes of the enemy? .