Day 28 - Things To Do (part 3) by Pastor Philip Olubakin: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

Honour Your Parents

Ephesians 6:1-3

Children, obey your parents in the Lord — for this is right. The phrase "in the Lord" is significant. The instruction applies within the scope of God's word. If a parent instructs something outside the boundaries of God's word, you are not bound. But honour — regardless.

This is the only commandment in all of scripture that came with a specific promise attached: that it may be well with you, and your days may be long on the earth. Honour your parents. Value them. Give them what is due them.

Be Strong in the Lord

Ephesians 6:10-12

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. There is no beauty in a weak posture. Do not push vulnerability forward. Do not dress yourself in pity and go about asking people to feel sorry for you. The Bible says to be strong.

Put on the whole armour of God — so you may withstand the wiles of the devil. Not the power of the devil. The schemes. The strategies. The lies.

Satan's primary weapon is not force — it is deception. He tries to sneak in while your guards are down, while you are not watching.

We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, and rulers of the darkness. The enemy is still active. The devil is not dead. He is still throwing things. That is why we wear armour. If the battle were already over with nothing left to fight, we would not need any armour.

Praying in the Spirit — The Final Piece

Ephesians 6:18

Praying always, with all prayers and supplication in the spirit. The armour is complete, but prayer activates it.

You cannot pray all prayers in the flesh. It takes the Holy Ghost to pray all prayers.

When you pray in the Spirit, you pray beyond the limitations of your doubt. Beyond the limits of your imagination. Beyond the boundaries of your knowledge. You are praying the very thoughts, the very will, the very mind of God — because you are praying in the language of God.

And he says to pray for all saints. There is no way you can pray for all saints if you are limited to what you know about each person. The Holy Spirit takes you beyond that. He prays through you for people whose names you do not even know, situations you have not been told about, needs you could not have anticipated.