The Lance of Prayer

A Quick Review

Today we complete the armor of God that Paul encouraged. 1. Spiritual Warfare - We have been called to cast out devils (Mark 16:17) and to pull down strongholds (2 Cor. 10:3-5). 2. Gear Up! - Spiritual warfare demands that we find our strength in what God has already provided for us and that we participate in the fight. 3. The belt of truth - If you want to be able to “stand” against the wiles of the enemy you need to know the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 4. Breastplate of Righteousness - All saved men and women have been provided the beautiful gift of righteousness. This message explains that gift and opens our eyes to the wonder of it. 5. Combat shoes - The Armor of God includes shoes for the Christian Warrior. These shoes speak of an excitement about the Gospel and a readiness to share the Gospel with others. It ought to be our passion! 6. Shield of faith - The Christian believer is under continual attack from the accusations of the devil. The Shield of Faith is an amazing defense against those fiery darts. 7. The Helmet of Salvation – We need to be clear minded about what God has done for us and what is going on around us. 8. Sword of the Spirit - The Word of God is the primary offensive weapon in spiritual warfare. 9. The final element of the armor of God is prayer. Although not mentioned in Ephesians 6, the final weapon of the Roman soldier is the lance or javelin. In 1989 the movie Glory came out. It was a historical war drama and the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. The 54thwas one of the earliest African American military units. I remember watching the brave men race across the beach as they assaulted a Confederate fort. I thought about the 1st guy – the fastest guy – that met the enemy and thought, “I bet he would have liked to have some weapon that wouldn’t require he go hand to hand with the enemy”. I mean we now have drones and smart bombs. We can fire from ships over the nap of the earth. Who knows what is in space. The Roman lance or javelin was both powerful and had some range. Olympic athletes throw the javelin about the length of a football field. It is almost certain that the Roman lance would not go that far but it would cover enough ground to be lethal or disruptive enough to take out the defenses (ie. the shield of the enemy). The power of prayer reaches to the heavens and around the world.

A Call to Prayer

Although Paul never mentions the lance, it would have been the final common weapon for the Roman soldier. Paul writes:

Ephesians 6:18–20 NIV

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

In these 3 verses we find 4 powerful truths about prayer: (1) it is for ‘all times; (2) it comes in many forms, (3) it is the work of the believer, and (4) it unites us. Heroes of Christianity knew its power.

"God does nothing except in response to believing prayer."  - John Wesley

"We must begin to believe that God, in the mystery of prayer, has entrusted us with a force that can move the Heavenly world, and can bring its power down to earth."- Andrew Murray

“In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart. ”John Bunyan

"The word of God is the food by which prayer is nourished and made strong." E. M. Bounds

"Talking to men for God is a great thing but talking to God for men is greater still." - E.M. Bounds

"Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work." - Oswald Chambers.

The Lance of Prayer

The Roman lance was called the pilum. There were two types: think and thin. The thin one had a long iron head, that fit to the long handle by way of a socket. The thin pilum was about 2 m long, with a barbed point. The thick pilum was of similar length and was attached to the shaft with a 5 cm wide tang. The tip of both weapons had a pyramid-shaped barb. The shaft of both was about 7.5 mm in diameter. On the thick pilum was a wooden block to secure the metal head. The block also protected the hand in hand to hand fighting. Soldiers carried both types of spears.[1]

Prayer is for ‘All Times’

As we have just learned, the lance was used as a thrown weapon and as a fighting weapon in close combat. The Roman soldier learned to use it in whatever circumstance he was in. Paul makes the same point to the church in Thessalonica.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 NIV

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

We try to offer our TruLife Encounter once a month. It is a time when we can get together and worship and pray. These are wonderful times…but truthfully, my flesh will try to resist. I don’t hear about many churches that have prayer meetings anymore. For the early church it was a lifestyle:

- Prayer in the Upper Chamber · Prayer for a Successor · Prayer and Worship · Prayer As an Observance · Prayer for Boldness of Witness · Prayer and the Ministry of the Word · Prayer of the First Martyr · Prayer for Samaritans and a Sorcerer · Prayer of a Convert · Prayer for Dorcas, · Prayer of Cornelius · Prayer for Peter in Prison · Prayer of Ordination · Prayer with Fasting · Prayer at the Riverside · Prayer in a Dungeon · Prayer of Committal · Prayer in a Shipwreck · Prayer for the Fever-Stricken

The early church had learned to lean on the lance of prayer. It preempted the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, directed decisions, emboldened them with power, set prisoners free, and much more.

Prayer Comes in Many Forms

In his book, Dressed to Kill, Rick Renner reports an observation by the Greek historian Xenophon,

“For instance, during the time of Greek historian Xenophon, the armed forces carried a whole myriad of lances — short lances, long lances, narrow lances, wide lances, pointed lances, dull lances, jagged lances, multiple-blade lances, and so forth. The average soldier in the infantry carried five short lances and one long lance.”[2]

The Bible provides 6 basic types of prayer in the NT:

Prayer of Consecration

– Hannah dedicates her son Samuel (1 Sam. 1)

Prayer of Petition

– when we realize our insufficiency and need for God

Hebrews 5:7 NIV

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

Prayer of Authority (or the Prayer of Faith)

John 15:7 NIV

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

We should always be aware of God’s goodness in our lives and be thankful for Christ in others.

Prayer of Supplication

This kind of prayer needs explanation and going back to the Greek. In comes from the Greek word enteuxis and is used only 5 times in the NT. It means to “fall into a situation” or “to happen into a circumstance”. The word enteuxis carries the idea of one who come to God in simple, childlike faith, to freely enjoy fellowship in the presence of the Lord. It is a wonderful, intimate form of prayer whereby we learn to come before God in childlike faith to freely express ourselves and our desires…and enjoy His wonderful presence.[3]

1 Timothy 4:4–5 NIV

For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

1 Timothy 2:1–2 NIV

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

[There is a depth to this that is hard to explain but exciting to explore].

Prayer of Intercession

I grew up when there was a lot of discussion about intercession and intercessors. The Greek term (huperentugchano) for intercession is used only once but it doesn’t refer to believers. It refers to the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:26 NIV

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

Partnering with the Holy Spirit in prayer is powerful!

With all His wonderful attributes and personality traits, the Holy Spirit still feels everything you feel. He empathizes with your feelings of complete inadequacy. He understands the battles you are facing. He willingly falls into each difficult circumstance along with you, feeling your emotions of fear, anger, or frustration. Then He begins a plan of rescue!

Thus, even though the word “intercession” means to fall in with someone else, the purpose is not to have Someone with whom you can share your experience of being down in the dumps. Rather, the purpose of intercession is so you can be rescued, renewed, and delivered from the predicament you’re facing. That is exactly what the intercessory ministry of the Holy Spirit is all about.[4]

Just like the Roman soldiers had different types of lances for warfare, we have different types of prayer!

Prayer is the Work of the Believer

The armor of God is for you and me to put on.

Ephesians 6:18–20 NIV

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

A couple of years ago I preached a message titled “Teach Us to Pray”. I pointed out things that we needed to stop:

- Stop Praying without Faith

- Stop Giving Up Because You don’t feel you’re connecting

- Stop doing ALL the talking

- Stop complicating things

Then we looked at things we need to start

- Start believing prayer changes things

- Start praying at all times.

- Start changing

“To pray is to change” – Richard Foster.

It was the duty of the Roman soldier to have his lance(s) and to use them effectively on the battlefield. It is our responsibility to live prayerful lives and uses prayer effectively.

Prayer Unites Us

Paul was wise enough to know his own need of strength as he stood against the enemy and also humble enough to ask his friends to pray with him and for him.[5]Paul asked for prayer that God would supply his words and that he would be fearless.

As a church we should be united in prayer for one another. In the OT there is a description of the high priest with a breastplate covered in precious stones. I can visualize the priest taking those stones into the presence of the Lord. I have the privilege and responsibility of doing so for our church – each one of you. Moms and Dads, you have the privilege and responsibility for your children. iServe members (teachers, worshippers, leaders) you have the same privilege and responsibility. 2 of the 4 agreements that our members make is to

I Will Protect the UNITY of My Church

I Will Share the RESPONSIBILITY of My Church

A part of this is to lift one another up in prayer.

Do Not Neglect the Lance of Prayer

In the final days of Jesus life, He was so overwhelmed with sorrow that he asked Peter, James, and John to go pray with Him. He struggled in prayer with feeling overwhelmed…and, on top of that, his closest disciples failed to use their lances of prayer.

Matthew 26:40–45 NIV

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing. Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.

We are like the disciples who, instead of praying, fell asleep in the garden. As I conclude this sermon series, let’s be reminded

1 Peter 5:8–9 NIV

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

As we take time to respond to the Spirit of the Lord this morning, God has called us to be Christian warriors. Maybe you feel like the Spirit is saying

- Commit yourself to the battle in general

- Wake up and put on the helmet of salvation

- Strap on the belt of truth

- Slip on your shoes of readiness

- Pick up the shield of faith

Do something with the Word of God today!

[1] https://romanmilitary.net/tools/pilum/ [2] Excerpt From: Rick Renner. “Dressed to Kill.” Apple Books. https://books.apple.com/us/book/dressed-to-kill/id595411385 [3] Renner, Rick. Dressed to Kill. [4] Excerpt From: Rick Renner. “Dressed to Kill.” Apple Books. https://books.apple.com/us/book/dressed-to-kill/id595411385 [5] John R. W. Stott, God’s New Society: The Message of Ephesians, The Bible Speaks Today (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979), 284.