Behind Enemy Lines (10)

Battle Plan for Life (1)

Text: Ephesians 6:10–20

Ephesians 6:10–20 (ESV)

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Focus: The Battle Plan

Rees Howells’ Prayer War Room

During the darkest days of World War II, Nazi forces were sweeping across Europe, and the British army was trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk. The threat of invasion was real, and the nation’s survival seemed impossible.

Hundreds of miles away, in a small Bible college in Wales, a man named Rees Howells led a different kind of battle. They didn’t have weapons. They didn’t have armies. They didn’t have resources to send. But they had something far greater — a war room of prayer.

When military leaders were strategizing, these believers were on their knees, praying with intensity and perseverance. They prayed over specific battles, specific days, even specific weather conditions. Eyewitness accounts tell of sudden shifts in weather or unexpected delays that lined up exactly with what they had prayed for.

While newspapers credited military decisions and luck, those in that prayer meeting knew that heaven’s army was on the move. Rees Howells later said:

“The battle was won in the prayer room before it was won on the battlefield.”

Introduction:

That’s exactly the kind of strategy Paul gives us in Ephesians 6. After describing every piece of the armor of God, he doesn’t tell us to rush the field or swing the sword wildly. 

He tells us the battle plan is this:

“Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance…” (Eph. 6:18)

For nine weeks, we’ve studied the armor God provides so we can stand in the face of evil. 

We’ve seen that every human being — saved or lost — is born behind enemy lines. We are in a war whether we realize it or not.

We face three enemies:

Our own sinful nature.

Satan and his demonic forces.

A world system opposed to God.

Paul has shown us how to put on the armor. But there’s one more question: 

How do we actually fight? How do we use the armor?

The answer is God’s battle plan — simple, but often neglected: Stay alert, and pray.

Let’s read it again.

18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.  To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Equipping ourselves with God’s armor is not mechanical like picking something some the closet and putting it on, there is a life altering interaction that must be utilized if you would overcome the fiery darts of Satan, the world or your own failings.

Prayer must pervade every aspect of our spiritual warfare

Paul names four “alls” in verse 18:

At all times

With all prayer and supplication

With all perseverance

For all the saints

John Stott - Chaplin to the Queen of England - pastor of All Souls Church in London and leader in the world wide evangelical missions movement during the 70’s, up to his death in 2011 said this in his commentary on Ephesians:

The Message of Ephesians 3. The Armour of God (Verses 13–20)

“Most Christians pray sometimes, with some prayers and some degree of perseverance, for some of God’s people. But to replace ‘some’ by ‘all’ in each of these expressions would be to introduce us to a new dimension of prayer.”

There is great danger when we do not pray consistently - regularly and alert.

A lack of prayer led the disciples into their disastrous disloyalty. And the same failure leads us into disloyalty today.

Like exercise strengthens us and enable our bodies to do more than we might otherwise could, prayer strengthens - hones - hardens us against the attacks that we face.

Being an effective warrior - wearing the armor daily - living out the life of a true Christian will requires a commitment that we must walk daily.

It requires that we pray!

1.Prayer for All Situations

“…with all prayer and supplication…”

God has given us a full range of prayers:

Prayers of blessing - Bless your enemies bless and curse not. . .

Praise - I will praise the Lord at all times

Thanksgiving -

Confession & repentance - I always take l pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. . .

Petitions & requests - Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. . .

Intercession for others - First of all, then I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people. .

Seeking clarity - Do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is. . .

Affirmations of trust - Not my will but yours be done. . .

This can’t be ritualistic or rote, it must be empowered by the Spirit. True, prevailing prayer is impossible for the lost or the carnal man. 

Only a Spirit filled son or daughter of God can pray these prayers.

Our Lord wants us to be praying so He provides to us the means of prayer for all occasions.

2. Prayer for All Seasons

“…at all times…”

There is never a time in life when we cannot pray. The Bible overflows with examples:

Daniel prayed three times a day — so faithfully his enemies could only accuse him concerning his devotion to God.

David prayed for cleansing when his relationship with God was broken.

The psalmists prayed morning, noon, evening, and even at midnight.

Elijah prayed for three years that it would not rain.

Elisha prayed for a double portion of God’s Spirit and saw twice as many miracles as Elijah.

Jabez prayed for God to enlarge his territory without pain — and God granted it.

The apostles and early disciples prayed for ten days before Pentecost, and the Spirit came in power.

Negative example: Joshua attacked Ai without first seeking God — and thirty soldiers died. 

Only after a season of prayer and repentance were they able to return and win the battle.

If we want to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might”, we must be praying in all seasons.

3. Prayer with All Steadfastness

“…keep alert with all perseverance…”

Alertness in prayer is staying spiritually awake, aware of the enemy’s presence and schemes.

Perseverance means we keep praying — even when it’s hard, even when the answer seems delayed.

Illustration: In the Old West, cattle drivers sometimes smeared tobacco juice in their eyes at night to irritate them so they wouldn’t close. Why?  Because the cattle were their responsibility, and they’d give an account if they were lost.

We are reminded by Paul that our mission is far more important — souls are at stake - the unity of the church is at stake - the work of Christ is at stake!

We must be stedfast for a day is coming when we will all give an account. Have I persevered in prayer and the fight for God, for Christ, for His church and Testimony.

Perseverance is a constant vigil of alertness. When we drop our guard, we miss what we ought to pray for.

Jesus speaking of the last days told His disciples 

Luke 21:36 (ESV) 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

4. Prayer for All the Saints

“…making supplication for all the saints…”

You can’t pray for everyone, but you can pray for someone. 

None of us can fight this war alone — we need each other’s prayers, not just for physical needs but for spiritual battles:

Discouragement

Anger

Sin struggles

Wrong thinking

Decision-making

Commitment to Christ

Ephesians 4:15–16 reminds us the body grows strong when every part works properly.

God wants His church working properly and that happens when every aspect, every member is permeated with prayer filled with the Spirit - 

Walking by the Spirit - Wearing the Armor of God and carrying the shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit.

Conclusion

We are in an all-out spiritual war. The power to wear the armor, to wield the sword, to stand firm — all comes through prayer.

One man who understood this was Watchman Nee, a Chinese Christian leader in the early 20th century. 

In 1952, the Communist government arrested him for his faith. They accused him of being a “counter-revolutionary” because he refused to compromise the gospel.

He was sentenced to prison — and never saw freedom again. For twenty years he endured forced labor, poor food, sickness, and isolation. 

Yet even in those harsh conditions, he continued his ministry through prayer. Fellow inmates said he was a man who prayed as naturally as breathing. Prayer was his lifeline.

He prayed for the church in China - he prayed for fellow believers that they would stand strong in their evil day.

A cellmate would later testified that Nee shared the Scriptures and counseled fellow prisoners, stirring him to take the claims of Christ seriously.

We don’t have the state’s records of conversions—but we do have the witness of a man who wouldn’t stop pointing people to Jesus, even when the door was locked.”

On May 30, 1972, at age 68, Watchman Nee died in that labor camp. When the guards allowed his family to collect his body, they found a small scrap of paper under his pillow with these words:

“Christ is the Son of God who died for the redemption of sinners and resurrected after three days. This is the greatest truth in the universe. I die because of my belief in Christ.”

He couldn’t preach publicly. He couldn’t gather a congregation.  Yet even in chains, his battle plan never changed: stay alert, and pray in the Spirit at all times.

If we are to stand in this evil day, we must do the same. Not just when it’s easy. Not just when it’s convenient.

But at all times, with all prayer, in all perseverance, for all the saints.