Forgotten Soldiers

Last night I went to visit the Newbury Street Pastors and I shared with them a word regarding the passage in where Jesus goes into the Garden of Gethsemane, He is very aware of His impeding trial and crucifixion even if the disciples are not fully aware. And Peter, James and John are falling asleep, unable to stay awake and pray. At the time that they were there in the garden, before the mob had arrived to arrest Jesus it would have been very calm and quiet (at least for the apostles, not so much for Jesus). And I spoke to them a little bit about the importance of prayerful in the midst of all things, whether in calm or in unrest.

But as I continue to ponder this, I think more about the contrast between what they were experiencing in the flesh and what was happening in the heavenlies, outside of their own vision.

Ephesians 6:12 NKJV

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:

This week unless you have been living under a rock you will no doubt have been seeing the memorials and commemorations regarding the D-Day anniversary. We are so incredibly thankful for the bravery of the men and women that were involved in all various aspects of that incredible event.

This week

I am always astounded at how vast and complicated the whole operation was and it seems that every year I find out a little bit more that I never previously knew about. West Berkshire and Newbury specifically was of course highly involved with even Eisenhower himself coming to Greenham on the eve of the landings.

Yet, there are one group of soldiers that we very seldomly ever hear about and yet I believe that they were absolutely critical to the war effort as a whole and especially to D-Day, and that is the Prayer Warriors!

It might astound you to know that there were in fact across the country spirit-filled Christians praying round the clock, many had words of knowledge about situations going on in the battle fields that were simply far outside of their own natural understanding but as days passed and reports came back from the front lines they were able to see how the Lord had been guiding their prayer efforts.

The well-known intercessor Rees Howells who experienced the Welsh Revival and mobilised people to prayer and the study of scripture used to hold all night prayer meetings at the bible college he ran near Swansea for the sole purpose of interceding for the soldiers. He wrote about a month after D-Day saying how he and his group had prayed through the night:

“ I don’t think there is anything to compare with the night we invaded Normandy. We said that God was going before our men, and it wasn’t going to be like Dunkirk. The Daily Telegraph reported that it was only that night the U-Boats did not patrol the channel. The way we went over to Normandy was beyond imagination - 4,000 ships and 11,000 planes and they never met a single ship or plane of the enemy! God said, ‘I am going over and there won’t be a setback’; and, although while I am preaching there is a big battle on, I go back to His Word that there will be no reverses.”

Rees Howells describes many such prayer meetings during the war, he recalled how in one meeting the group felt led by the Holy Spirit to pray for Allied troops in Italy and that they were in great danger. Howells describes how they prayed into the night for the men fighting and how surprisingly at 11pm they all felt that somehow their prayers had been answered and that they were to no longer pray for the safety of the men but instead spend the time thanking and praising God. He recalls how the next morning the headlines on the newspaper read ‘Miracle at Salerno’, that the allied troops were completely surrounded and out-gunned but that for some unknown reason the enemy guns went silent at precisely 11pm allowing safe passage for the troops.

Ephesians 6:10–20 NKJV

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness 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. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Ephesians 6:

I think it’s important that we learn from people like this and that we become accustomed to listening to the Holy Spirit, making time to be with Him and to hear what He has to say about even situations unknown to us. And that we learn not to be like Peter, James and John in the garden, let’s not get caught napping when the Lord is trying to nudge us and get us up into the spiritual fight.

Finish in prayer

pray thanksgiving for the Lord’s hand in guiding us through the war

prayer thanks for the fallen and survivors

pray for those in conflict around the world

pray that we as a church will be responsive to the guiding of the Holy Spirit

pray for the peace of God upon all people