25 August 2024 is the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost and the main text for Rev. Geoff McKee’s preaching for this day comes from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians.
In the Apostle Paul’s New Testament letter to the Church at Ephesus, he talks about prayer.
He tells them that that should pray on all occasions with all kinds of requests.
Ephesians 6:18: And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
But, to pray “all the time”: how can you do that?
Is it even possible?
There are many occasions when we don’t know what to pray.
When we don’t know what to say to God.
When we don’t know how to put our feelings into words.
On other occasions, we don’t know how to pray – we’re so mixed up.
Maybe we’re feeling low or sad or depressed. What do you do then in those situations?
How on earth do you pray “ on all occasions”?
One solution might be to employ the use of a “Holding Cross”.
Often, a Holding Cross is made of olive wood.
They come with instructions!
“This cross is designed for holding when praying. Or, if you’re not able to pray, just to hold.”
If you’re not able to pray, just hold on.
This is what Paul is talking about when writing to the Church in Ephesus. How they must make sure that they are fully ready, by putting on the Full Armour of God.
He talks about things like helmets and shields and swords but, in the end, he says put it all on so that you can stand.
Not necessarily so that you can fight.
But so you can stand.
And, he says, so that you can keep on standing.
So that you can hold on and keep holding on.
Sometimes we go through things in this life that are very difficult and we don’t have words.
We don’t have the thoughts even to be able to formulate something in our minds to offer to God.
It’s good during such times to know that our God understands.
He still hears our prayers even though we cannot speak them out or make any sense of them in our minds.
The Holding Cross is a great reminder of that fact
When there is absolutely nothing there for you to draw from: hold on. And hold on tight if you have to – because our God is faithful and He is not going to let you go.
Today’s main Bible reading
Ephesians 6:10-20 (from The Message Bible Translation)
A Fight to the Finish
10-12 And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no weekend war that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
13-18 Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
19-20 And don’t forget to pray for me. Pray that I’ll know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery to one and all, the Message that I, jailbird preacher that I am, am responsible for getting out.
Video Recording of today’s service from Lossiemouth Church of Scotland
Further reading and resources about The Full Armour of God on this website:
