Ephesians 6:18-20

Ephesians 6:18–20 KJV 1900

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Introduction

The Lost Battalion is the name given to the nine companies of the US 77th Division, roughly 554 men, isolated by German forces during World War I after an American attack in the Argonne Forest in October 1918. Roughly 197 were killed in action and approximately 150 missing or taken prisoner before the 194 remaining men were rescued. They were led by Major Charles W. Whittlesey. On 2 October, the 77th launched an attack into the Argonne, under the belief that French forces were supporting their left flank and two American units including the 92nd Infantry Division were supporting their right. Within the 77th sector some units including Whittlesey's 308th Infantry were making significant headway. Unknown to Whittlesey's unit, the units to their left and right had been stalled. Without this knowledge, the units that would become known as the Lost Battalion moved beyond the rest of the Allied line and found themselves surrounded by German forces. For the next six days, suffering heavy losses, the men of the Lost Battalion and the American units desperate to relieve them would fight an intense battle in the Argonne Forest.

The battalion suffered many hardships. Food was scarce and water was available only by crawling, under fire, to a nearby stream. Ammunition ran low. Communications were also a problem, and at times they would be bombarded by shells from their own artillery. Attempts to resupply the battalion by airdrop failed, with all the supplies going off target, either getting lost in the woods or falling into German hands. As every runner dispatched by Whittlesey either became lost or ran into German patrols, carrier pigeons became the only method of communicating with headquarters. In an infamous incident on 4 October, inaccurate coordinates were delivered by one of the pigeons and the unit was subjected to friendly fire. The unit was saved by another pigeon, Cher Ami, delivering the following message:

We are along the road parallel 276.4. our artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heavens sake stop it.

This lost battalion is a graphic example of how important it is for soldiers to keep an open line of communication.

We have looked at the reality of our spiritual warfare.

We have examined the armor and armaments that God has equipped us with.

Today we are going to look at the importance of communication between a soldier and their commander.

Prayer is the means by which the Christian soldier calls their divine ally to our side in the battle that we fight.

Prayer communication must not be intermittent.

All of us know the frustration of trying to talk to some with an unstable connection.

Paul directs the Christian soldier to maintain a steady communication connection with God.

He says to pray always with all prayer and supplication.

The word that is translated praying and prayer in this phrase is a word that specifically describes divine communication.

It is never used to describe human to human communication.

Somethings we don’t consider to be “news-worthy” when we talk to other humans.

Don’t apply the same criteria for what is news-worthy when you talk to God.

Praying always with all prayer does not mean you never stop praying; it means you pray on every occasion for all kinds of occasions.

Even those occasions where you estimate that other persons might not be interested, God is always interested.

So pray always about everything; big or small.

This doesn’t mean we can’t talk to God about the things we share with one another too.

Supplications is word commonly used to ask favors of men.

Prayer is unique speech between you and God.

You say things in this conversation that you wouldn’t say to anyone else.

Especially in terms of worship.

But, prayer is also a normal conversation where you tell God the thoughts and concerns that you would share with your closest friend.

We are invited to go to God about all the things that are going on in our lives.

Big or small.

We can be specific in our requests as well.

Supplication has within its definition the suggestion of a definite, specific request.

It is totally fine if your prayers sound like this.

Lord, please help me family to be safe today.

God, please speak to me from your word today.

It is also totally fine for your prayers to sound like this.

Lord, please watch over Alicia as she drives today. Help her to reach her destination and make it home safely today.

God, I am struggling with fear and unbelief, would you strengthen my spirit from your word right now.

We can be specific with God in our prayers.

George Mueller was being interviewed by a friend one day. He was a busy man and so while the interview was being conducted, He was also writing a letter asking for more funding for his ministry. All of a sudden, both activities lost his focus as he instinctively bowed his head and began praying. When he looked up, the interviewer asked Mueller who was known for his prayers what he had just prayed for. Mueller told the interviewer that his pen was not working right and he had asked God to make it last a little longer as it was his only pen.

The interviewer left that meeting and wrote that Mueller was “A man who trusts God for millions of pounds but also prays about a scratchy pen point.”

Soldiers of God can and should go to Him for everything.

Paul reminds us to pray in the Spirit.

To pray “in the spirit” is to pray in union with the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is given to us as a helper in prayer.

He helps us when we pray according to God’s will.

Prayer is not seeing our will accomplished in heaven.

Prayer is seeing God’s will accomplished on earth.

The Spirit enables our prayers when we are seeking to live right.

If we regard iniquity in our hearts the Lord will not hear us.

A necessary feature of prayer is confession.

Prayer is personal, but it is also others-focused.

The whole army of God is depending on your prayers.

We are a local-church focused ministry.

We believe that every true church of God is an outpost, a detachment, a garrison of the whole host of God’s army.

If a church is preaching the Bible, preaching the gospel, and lifting up Jesus, then they are our brothers and sisters in arms.

We need to participate in the battle and support one another through prayer.

There are only two armies in this battle.

One stands against the other.

All the saints stand as a unit, none can stand alone.

They are depending on us and we are depending on them to watch.

This means to keep alert.

There can be no holes in the lines of battle.

The thought so often today is “As long as I stand, I’m satisfied.”

Or, “As long as my ministry stands, I am satisfied.”

If you can’t be others-focused in your squad, here at this outpost, then how can you pretend to be for others beyond this outpost.

If you find yourself in competition with other soldiers here at the Baptist Tabernacle, that’s a good indication that you aren’t watching for each other.

Instead of infighting, we need to watch each others backs.

Watching out for each other means that we do a couple of things.

We learn about the threats that we face.

It means we heed the warnings of God’s words.

It means we remember each other in prayer.

It means we maintain communion with God and our fellow soldiers.

Watching, staying alert to what’s going on, will help us persevere in supplication for all God’s soldiers.

We’ve already talked about supplications.

They are specific requests that we bring to God.

We bring supplications for ourselves.

We also bring supplications to God on behalf of others.

Let’s talk about the need for perseverance in prayer.

We see this repeated emphasis on constancy.

Praying always.

Keeping watch.

Perseverance.

Constancy in prayer and the natural recourse of the Christian to prayer comes only as prayer has become a habit of life.

Perseverance could be connected to words like steadfastness and vigilance.

Perseverance in prayer comes when we are deeply concerned and burdened and we cannot rest until we get God’s answer.

You may pray like that for yourself…but do you pray like that for others?

We are soldiers standing together.

We need the support of one another’s prayers.

Not just for health.

For all things.

When was the last time for your fellow soldier’s marriage?

Children?

Blessings?

Faith?

When was the last time you prayed for spiritual leaders?

Paul boldly asks the Ephesians to pray for him specifically.

Paul is a prisoner when he wrote this letter.

He is under house arrest.

He is chained to a roman soldier at all times.

He is waiting for his court date.

Paul had appealed to Caesar.

As a Roman citizen, he would receive a hearing in the Imperial court.

Either Nero, himself, or an appointed representative would preside over the hearing.

Paul plans to use this moment, this audience, to proclaim the mystery of the gospel.

We can see this in his requests.

He prays for utterance.

This is a confusing word for us today.

We don’t understand or use it very often.

Utterance is a parliamentary term.

It means to give someone the floor.

Paul tells the Ephesians to pray that he will be given an opportunity to speak before the Imperial court.

If given the opportunity, Paul is preparing to open his mouth.

Again, this is a phrase that doesn’t hit us, the way that it would have hit the original readers.

Opening the mouth was a specific phrase used by the culture of the day.

It is a phrase used to describe a speech whose subject is of the gravest importance.

It was almost exclusively used of public addresses or speeches that offered detailed explanations.

Paul knows he has a date with the most powerful court in the world.

He is preparing a message with the most important subject possible.

He wants the Ephesians to pray that he will deliver it boldly.

Sometimes God’s dear children are far more ready with criticism of preachers than they are with prayer for them.

Paul doesn’t ask them to pray for an end to his imprisonment.

He isn’t asking them to pray for a more comfortable life for himself.

He is asking them to pray for him that he would be effective in ministry.

Twice he asks for boldness.

This is the liberty that every preacher desires to have liberty to say what needs to be said.

A true preacher desires the courage to speak without anything compelling him to hold back or restrain himself from speaking the truth.

Paul asks them to pray for his boldness.

Even this request is not about Paul’s personal fulfillment.

Paul identifies himself as an ambassador of the kingdom of God.

To put an ambassador in chains was an insult to the government he represented.

Paul wants to be a good ambassador for Jesus.

Which means he must use his audience with the imperial court not to advocate for himself, but for the kingdom he represents.

Paul cannot speak as a prisoner, but as an ambassador.

Paul, as a preacher of the gospel builds a case for Christians to support those who preach with their prayers.

Thank God, he did.

What is needed is not only the words of the preacher.

Sermons must be backed up by the prayers of the people of God.

Think about this, try to imagine it.

Some day we will all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ. Not to pay for our sins, but to receive the rewards of the work we did for God. All of us will watch as Paul’s name is called. He will not approach the throne as a broken and crushed man, but in his glorified body clothed in righteous robes of a saint. Imagine the buzz as we all anticipate the rewards of such a great Christian. Before God doles out any rewards to Paul, he begins to call out a list of names to come and stand next to Paul. The rest of us look around and wonder who any of these people are and why they get to stand with Paul. Then God will reveal these were the ones who faithfully prayed for Paul. He might say something like this, “You held up his hands in prayer as he preached, and now you must share in his reward.”

We are soldiers in a battle, we don’t have to end up like the lost battalion if we keep the prayer lines open and active.

Pray, people, pray!

Pray for yourselves.

Tell God the things you don’t tell anyone else.

Talk to Him as the close friend that He wants to be.

Before you ask anyone else for something, ask God first.

Pray for each other.

Watch out for each other.

Persevere in prayer until God’s will is done.

Pray for the preacher.

That he would be given the floor in people’s minds.

That he would be bold.

That he would represent the kingdom.

That God would give him success and fruit so that you can share in the rewards.

We need to pray more than we do.