Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
TOAM10 – Terry Virgo on Prayer from Ephesians 6

TOAM10 – Terry Virgo on Prayer from Ephesians 6

Last updated on: October 14, 2025 at 3:54 pm by Adrian Warnock

TOAM10 – Terry Virgo on Prayer from Ephesians 6 2025-10-14T15:54:06+01:00 Adrian Warnock

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Terry began by recommending Lou Fellingham’s new CD, and Lex Loizides‘ new resource on making and using your own personal tract. We had sung one song form that CD which although I had enjoyed hearing it, had never really hit me before today. “Christ in me! My hope and my glory!”

Ephesians 6
First we saw the call to be strengthened with the might of God. Then we saw the need to be protected by the armor. Now we get to “finally, praying.” It is not part of the armor, but each part should be put on with prayer. We pray at all times. It is a present continuous. Prayer was intimately connected to warfare. Eg When Joshua was fighting, Moses went into the mountain to hold the staff of God and pray. The battle is won in prayer. Terry spoke about his first pastor. Every Saturday night was the beginning of the Sabbath. He gathered the church on Saturday nights. On Sundays he would raise his hands when he made an appeal, as though he had a staff. He taught his people about prayer. Terry never forgot that emphasis. When they said of Elijah and Elisha, “the chariots and horseman” it was like saying, your prayers are better to us than an army to defend us. The Old Testament shows us that again and again people got through to God on behalf of the nation.

Jesus modeled prayer, insisted on it. When the early church burst on the scene, they devoted themselves to the apostles doctrine, and to prayer. It was at the center of their life together. It is a present continuous. “Praying” here stands under everything else that has gone before.

1. Constant and diverse prayer.

Praying Alone. NIV says all occasions, with all kinds of prayer. There is a whole rainbow of ways we should pray. Regular, sustained, talking to the father. We can talk to our heavenly father. When Ananias was told to go and see Paul he was told not to be afraid “Behold, he prays” We could translate that “check it out!” Prayer is the privilege of sons, the proof of sonship. McChene says, “what a man is on his knees before God, that he is, nothing more.” He died when he was 29, but had wide impact while he lived. Carson says much prayer is not done because we don’t plan to pray. If we see the priority of it, we need to work at it. Got to make choices. If you are going to be up early to pray, you have to begin by going to bed early. Fraser was a great missionary pioneer saw prayer “like a business man sees a line that really sells, I will give my best energies to it” Watch and pray. Develop good habits, make good choices.

Nehemiah prayer. Lord help me now. To be in touch with God, be aware of him. Calling on him in ordinary life. Arrow prayer.

Focused prayer Extended specific times of prayer. Jesus prayed throughout the night sometimes, or get up a great while before dawn. He fasted for 40 days. Sometimes we need to really go for this. There is something specific that need to be grasped. Fasting is not a hunger strike, it is coming to him with real intention. Lord I am after you. I want to get to know you.

We are told to pray with out ceasing, but we need to be careful with this one, as we can feel that this is all we need to do. If we are not careful we will forget actual praying. We need seasons when we shut the door and are with our father in secret. It is WRESTLING with God. It is like a battle of wills. Make some decisions, build some strategies to diary in prayer.

Praying as a church Eg when they cried in Acts “o despotis” He is the despot of the universe. We must gather to cry out to God together. Pastors must lead people into believing prayer. When Peter was taken into prison, they gather to cry out to God. The prayers were answered and Peter was released by angels. A believing praying church is powerful.

Praying in twos and threes. This is one of Terry’s favorite ways of praying. In a prayer meeting we have to wait our turn, although we should get into one anthers prayer. But when two or three gather together there is a power.

We are a grace people. We don’t pray to impress, or to get a browny point. We are trying to accomplish something. We are already righteous as a gift. It is all free. We want to pray and get ahold of this wonderful weapon.

2. Empowered Prayer

It is the Spirit who makes it real. Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness peace and joy in the Spirit. Wallis said “any claim to a baptism in the Spirit which leaves our prayer life untouched is at best a superficial thing” Prayer is catching up another energy. Not praying alone. Not merely going through the prayer wheel. It is praying in the spirit. The Bible says we need to be taught to pray. God seems distant sometimes. How do you measure the results? Prayer is mystical. Is God listening? How do I know if it’s Gods will. Sometimes when we pray we then say “if it be your will” and it can seem pointless. We can feel like giving up. The Bible says, we don’t know how to pray as we should. Romans 8:23. The whole creation is groaning. Creation’s future is wrapped up in the full manifestation of the children of God. Meanwhile we are waiting. We are in the now but not yet. Living in the overlap of the ages. New world has started in us. v 26 the Spirit helps our weaknesses. He intercedes for us. Fellowship with the Spirit helps us to pray. We are drawn out of our inability into his ability. Puritans said “pray yourself into prayer.” Heaven is touching earth in our spirit.

We have the spirit of adoption crying out “Abba Father!” God has invaded my life. He doesn’t say here is a textbook on prayer, he comes into you and prays in you. You find yourself praying in ways you wouldn’t have prayed. Words start pouring out of you that you know are not coming out of you. Another energy comes. The Spirit mightily inspires within us. God wants to energise us in prayer. You start to care about what God cares about. True charismatic worship is awesome. It is about people engaging with the Spirit together. There is a lazy cop out sometimes about saying “if thats your will, GOd” No, we are meant to have confidence in the way we pray, praying acceding to his will. Read Chrsitian biography. REad about people who press on. We must lay hold of God. HE said, he chose us. Terry sometimes says “I am a God-appointed asker” It is praying in the Spirit.

3. Praying WITH the Spirit. Corinthians Paul says he will pray with his mind, and with his spirit. Here, Terry says, Paul is speaking about praying in tongues. Not with the understanding.There are times we slip into tongues. Terry finds he goes in and out of tongues. Its an awareness, I don’t know how to pray. It is prayer for dummies like you and me. It is for us to help us. Give him time. Let him teach you to pray.

4. Focused prayers Paul asks for prayer on his behalf. Paul and the churches were in a prayer relationship. Fellowship means partnership. We are in this together. He is not independent. He is not rootless. He is not para-church. He is rooted in the local church. The church was helping him with apostolic breakthrough. He says “through your prayers and the supply of the Spirit, I shall be vindicated” He asks that they pray for him to ask for him to speak as he should be. Paul wants the churches to be very involved with his apostolic work. Churches are caught up in what Paul is doing. It’s not about being on a list, but about being caught up on apostolic advance. Paul said, I have a crazy message to proclaim. The world says it is foolishness. He needed prayer to proclaim a mystery. We have a message that is incomprehensible unless God comes. Christ is in you! It is a great mystery. It is mindblowingly different to any other religion. Paul says I need your backing. Help us to get fully identified. Not just not the list.

Are we a missional network? Well network is not a family word. We don’t network with our children! An apostolic sphere is quite different. It has to do with relationships like we just read. You are on my heart. We are in partnership. We are engaged together. The world family then drifts into our vocabulary. First gave themselves to the Lord and to us. There is something very relational. It reflects into Trinitarian frameworks. It is about extending God’s family across the earth. It’s saying I feel under God, I give myself. It is like what we want from people in our churches when they become members. We want churches that say “I am with you on this mission”

We need to believe for fresh apostolic spheres. For a long time it has been under one umbrella here at Newfrontiers, but great new spheres are emerging. There are people who are in the ranks who have said to emerging apostles, we are yours. We are with you. We are caught up. We need real ownership, relationship. It must not be nebulous. We are extending the family. We must not just feel caught up in it here, once a year, but as a church locally you must engage. We are going into Paris, Berlin, Istanbul, Dublin, Berlin and nations beyond. We are doing it through different teams that have ownership.

Let our songs be full of truth. Let us be caught up in this wonderful message. Lets build a framework of truth so you think biblically. Put the armor on. pray at all times. Ponder. what is my prayer life like? Not to put condemnation on us. But lets not use cheap grace. We don’t need prayer to be righteous. But to accomplish things for God must pray. And lets join hands to do this advancing apostolic work together. It’s a wonderful adventure. The drumbeat of God is sounding.

Previous Post

July 8, 2010

TOAM10 - Dave Devenish on scattering

Next Post

July 9, 2010 TOAM10 - Joel Virgo on 2 Samuel 10

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 1 and 2 Corinthians 1 and 2 Thessalonians 1 and 2 Timothy 1 John 300 Leaders A Life of Joy Abortion Acts of the Apostles Adrian on radio Adrian on TV Adrian's Story Albert Mohler Amazing Grace Arminocalvinist Spectrum Assurance Atonement Atonement Series Attributes of God Barnabas Best of the Blog Bible Bible Software Bible Translation Biblical Inerrancy Billy Graham Bob Roberts Books C. J. Mahaney Calvinism Cessationism Charis Warnock Charismatic Spectrum Charles Simeon Charles Spurgeon Church Leadership Colossians Complementarian - Egalitarian Spectrum Complementarianism Conferences Culture Daniel Debates Deuteronomy DGM08 DGM13 Discernment Doctrine Don Carson Ed Stetzer Eddy Leo Ephesians ESV Bible Translators Interview Evangelism in a Post-Christian World evolution Exodus Expository Preaching Ezekial Faith and Feelings Family Florida Galatians General Genesis Get Wisdom - Proverbs sermons Gifts of The Holy Spirit Gifts of the Holy Spirit 2006 Global Faith Forum Godly Attitudes Gospel Gospels Grace Greg Haslam Grudem vs Piper: The Baptism Debate Healing Heaven Hell and Rob Bell Hebrews Henry Tyler Henry Warnock Holy Spirit Holy Spirit Baptism Hope Reborn Hugh Palmer Irresistable Grace Isaiah J. I. Packer Jack Hayford Joel Joel Warnock John John Lanferman John MacArthur John Newton John Owen John Piper John Smyth Jonathan Edwards Josh Harris Justification Justin Taylor Kenneth Ulmer Leadership Leadership Lessons from 1 & 2 Samuel Lex Loizides Liam Goligher Lig Duncan Limited Atonement Lou Fellingham Mark Dever Mark Driscoll Martyn Lloyd-Jones Matt Chandler Mental Health Missionary Methods: St Paul’s or Ours? My Story N. T. Wright Nehemiah NWA08 NWA09 NWA10 Opinion OT History Books Pentateuch Personal Personal Revival Philippians PJ Smyth Podcast Politics Preaching Prophecy Proverbs Psalms Raised With Christ Reformed Charismatic Regeneration Relationships Resurrection Resurrection & Salvation Revival Rice Broocks Rich Man and Lazarus Rick Warren Rob Rufus Roland Allen Romans Sam Storms Sanctification Series Sermons Sermons on Philippians Serving Jesus at Work Sexuality Sin St Paul Steve Chalke Strange Fire Suffering T4G T4G Statement TAB09 Tamasin Warnock Teamwork Terry Virgo The Atonement Debate - Chalke book The Soulwinner The Spirit-Filled Church The Traitor Within Theologcial Spectrums Theosis Tim Challies Tim Keller Titus TOAM06 TOAM07 TOAM08 TOAM09 TOAM10 TOAM11 Todd Bentley Tope Koleoso Total Depravity Video Water Baptism Wayne Grudem Worship

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 May 2025 April 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 August 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 August 2021 May 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 January 2019 December 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 June 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many loaves in the feeding miracle?

Select your answer to see how you score.

5 7 12 3

Books by This Author Books by Adrian Warnock

See All Titles »