June 7, 2026
OPENING
Ephesians 6:12 (NLT) — “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly places.”
INFORMATION: The War You’re In
Matthew 7:7-11 (NLT) — “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You parents — if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”
Three things from this passage we don’t want to miss:
1. Prayer Is How the Battle Is Actually Fought
Matthew 7:7 (NLT) — “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”
2. Persistent Prayer Is Built on Trust
Matthew 7:9-10 (NLT) — “You parents — if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not!”
3. The Father Gives Good Gifts
Matthew 7:11 (NLT) — “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”
INSPIRATION: Heaven Is Listening
1. The Lord hears your prayers.
Daniel 10:12 (NLT) — “Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.”
2. We are in a battle.
Ephesians 6:12 (NLT) — “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly places.”
3. We have a weapon that is supernatural.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NLT) — “We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.”
MOTIVATION: Pray Truth
Obstacle 1: “I don’t know what to pray.”
Isaiah 55:11 (NLT) — “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”
Obstacle 2: “I don’t know how to pray.”
Hebrews 4:15-16 (NLT) — “This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
TRANSFORMATION
Ephesians 3:16-19 (NLT) — “I pray that from God’s glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”
THREE CALLS TO ACTION:
- This week — Lock into praying scripture over whatever you’re facing. Scan the QR code and tap “Prayer” — there’s a tool there to make it easy.
- Daily — Pray out loud. Even five minutes. There’s something about speaking your prayers that changes everything.
- This week — Invite one person into your prayer life. Pray together for personal breakthrough, and pray for someone who doesn’t know Jesus yet.
Following Jesus, Sent On A Mission
The Community