Armor of God - Prayer

Joan Baez (Bias) singer and song writer for many years from the late 50’s to today, was a civil rights activist much of her life and was especially outspoken against the Vietnam war.

I would not and do not agree with 90% of anything she stands for, but she made an interesting statement during the Vietnam War that I think fits with what we are going to talk about this morning.

In 1972 during the Vietnam War she traveled to Hanoi with a peace delegation and was there during an American bombing campaign that lasted 12 days. “We spent the whole time in the basement of our hotel. I have never been so afraid in my life. I thought I was going to die. But I learned something—when the flames start coming towards you everyone starts praying, even the atheists and the agnostics, but when the flames start fading away we all go back to the structures and beliefs that we had before.”

We have spent the last several weeks talking about the armor of God, but Paul doesn’t just end with armor. Let’s look at verse 18-20.

Ephesians 6:18–20 (NASB95)

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,

for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Paul gives us the how to pray by pointing out 5 things in verse 18.

Pray at all times

Pray in the Spirit

Pray with Alertness

Pray with Perseverance

Pray for All the Saints

But I would like to explore 5 reasons WHY we should pray this morning.

Pray is Communication

When we are dealing in spiritual warfare, which is everyday, there must be constant and correct communication.

When I coached football I had the opportunity to coach from the sidelines and also from up in the press box.

When I was on the field working on the offensive side of the ball. I could only see the field from the field level. My view of the complete play was obstructed from the limitations of my position. I was not able to see the full field with all 22 players.

When I was up in the press box however, I could see the complete field. I could see how the defense was aligned. I could begin to see tendencies and was able to help the team succeed by communicating what I saw to the offensive coordinator.

Jeremiah 33:2–3 (NASB95)

“Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it, the Lord is His name,

‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

This is prayer… we are often in the midst of the play and can only see from ground level. But God is up in the heavenly press box and He sees everything. Not only does he see the play, but He sees the complete game.

As we pray then we are able to understand the mind of God.

Prayer is Commanded

Why are we commanded to pray? I came across a quote from speech by Winston Churchill that he gave to the people of Great Britain during WW2.

“I must drop one word of caution, for next to cowardice and treachery, overconfidence leading to neglect and slothfulness, is the worst of wartime crimes.” - Winston Churchill

Remember the story about Joan Baez, when the bombing ended everyone went back to their way of life.

Far to often you and I get to lackadaisical in our prayer life, especially when things are going good, that God has to command us to pray.

Samuel understood the importance of prayer and say it as sin if he did not pray.

He had just anointed Saul as king over Israel. This was not God’s desire for His people because God was to be their King, not man. But look at Samuels response…

1 Samuel 12:23 (NASB95)

“Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way.

We also see in 1 Thessalonians that not only are we commanded to pray but it is part of God’s will for us.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NASB95)

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Prayer is the Backbone of the Church

When we read to book of Acts, we see the importance the Church placed on prayer. Not only were they experiencing Spiritual Warfare, but they had legitimate physical treats by way of persecution.

Acts 1:14 (NASB95)

These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Acts 2:42 (NASB95)

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 6:4 (NASB95)

“But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

The Apostles saw pray so important, that the first deacons were selected so that they could devote themselves to prayer and preaching.

Prayer Activates God’s Angels

According to Paul here in Ephesians chapter 6 we are in a spiritual battle. So it would make sense that when we pray the angels are involved and fighting on our behalf.

How do we know this?

The writer of Hebrews seems to indicate that we have guarding angles.

Hebrews 1:14 (NASB95)

Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

But in the book of Daniel we see very clearly a spiritual war going on in which Daniel was praying seeking God for an answer and the Angel deployed by God to Daniel was held up by a demon trying to prevent him from getting to Daniel.

Daniel 10:10–14 (NASB95)

Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.

He said to me, “O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling.

Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.

“But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.

“Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future.”

Peter had been imprisoned by Herod, the death penalty was put in place, but the church prayed.

Acts 12:5 (NASB95)

So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.

Prayer Provides Peace

One way the enemy gets us is by robbing us of our peace. He convinces us that somehow God is not in control, and it is on our shoulders to be successful.

Philippians 4:6–7 (NASB95)

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

I will admit prayer is a mystery that in our finite minds have a hard time fully grasping and understanding. But we can see clearly from God’s Word that…

Let’s Review The Why’s to Pray

God Wants Us to Communicate with Him

He Commands Us to Pray

Prayer is essential to the growth and strength of the Church

Prayer Activates God’s Angels in this Spiritual war we are in

Prayer ultimately provides peace, as we rely on Him to do His will and not ours.

How’s your prayer life?

Do you only pray during hard times or are you in constant communication, depending on God to do what is best for us?

You might not be called to be on front lines physically, preaching, teaching, evangelizing, but all of us have been called to interceding for one another in prayer.

Today’s Take Home:

You have been called to the front lines to pray!

Can I challenge you this morning to increase your prayer life?

Let’s Pray