Prayer
Unlike the other items previously mentioned, prayer is not associated with a piece of armor or equipment. However, a modern piece of equipment does comes to mind: a walkie-talkie. Piper uses this picture in describing prayer:
We cannot know what prayer is for until we know that life is war. Life is war. That’s not all it is. But it is certainly that. Our weakness in prayer is owing largely to our neglect of this truth. Prayer is primarily a wartime walkie-talkie for the mission of the church as it advances against the powers of darkness and unbelief. It is not surprising that prayer malfunctions when we try to make it a domestic intercom to call upstairs for more comforts in the den. God has given us prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the kingdom of Christ advances in the world. (Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad, 41)
While such a device is not in Paul’s mind, prayer is the means by which we call on God to help us in our battle. What a gift it is to be able to communicate with our God.
Paul mentions four universals (four “alls”) to express the comprehensiveness of prayer. We pray “at all times.” So everywhere, all the time, we can pray. .
There is not situation or circumstance that we can not pray in. Prayer doesn’t have to be audible, God knows our thoughts. We should pray in every circumstance, good, bad or indifferent.
We pray “with all prayer and supplication” (ESV). I doubt a sharp distinction is intended here with these two words. Paul is simply emphasizing faithful prayer.
We should stay alert “with all perseverance.” Perseverance simply means to stick it out and not quit. We can see examples of this in the early church in
and in view of the return of Christ (
; 4:23–31; 6:4; 12:5;
;
We need to persist in prayer to overcome fatigue, discouragement, and hardship, and for boldness in our witness.
The last “all” is making intercession “for all the saints.” The unity of the church has been a major concern in the letter. Now Paul says we should pray for all other Christians. When you become a Christian, you get a new family, which means a new responsibility to pray for them.
The focus on “all” emphasizes the fact that because all of life is war, all of life must be lived in prayer. Since there is a war, pray. Pray all the time. Pray with all perseverance and supplication. Pray alertly and persistently. Pray for all the saints.
Paul, the prisoner in chains, humbly requests prayer from others because he wants to communicate the good news boldly and effectively. The greatest theologian-missionary of all times is asking for prayer! That should encourage you! He has the position (as do we) of being an “ambassador,” a representative of Jesus; but, he knows he does not have sufficient resources to communicate the gospel effectively, so he calls on the church to pray for him. Instead of feeling self-pity or resentment, he asks for prayer for the mission!
Pray for others as they share the gospel. Why? Satan does not want us to have the right words to say or to be bold in the face of conflict. Evangelism is spiritual warfare. The culture opposes it. So we need God’s power to do it faithfully. Paul experienced the Lord’s presence in his own imprisonment. He writes,
At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the proclamation might be fully made through me and all the Gentiles might hear. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. (
