ARMOUR 4 OF GOD. Prayer, Supplications, watching.  Ephesians 6.

The apostle Paul finished his discourse on the armour of God with an impressive word on prayer and supplication.  Whatever does prayer have to do with an overcoming life? How can it be part of the armour of every believer? 

Paul’s words were’ Praying always with all prayer and supplications ( entreaties ) in the Spirit’ ( v18).  Prime minister Daniel ( 6:10 ) was an excellent pattern of resolute prayer, ‘ When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home.  And in his upper room, with his windows open to Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before His God, as was his custom from early days.’ The pagan law opposed his secret times of prayer.  He kept his vigil with his heavenly Father, despite the razor-sharp hostility.  He humbled himself to the dust, maintaining a three times each day routine. Did Paul recall Daniel’s faithfulness?

Our Lord Jesus commenced His public ministry in a similar way,’ When all the people were baptized, Jesus Himself was baptized – and while He prayed, the heaven was opened.’ ( Luke 3:21 )  Hundreds offered for baptism in Jordan, who would have seen and heard the prayer of the Messiah.  Prayer should accompany every Major event, especially the start of his ministry. It cannot be incidental – always an essential.

My godly grandfather, a blacksmith, promised me as a little boy, that He would pray for me, and whenever I taught the bible, I would know the power of his prayer.  True!

In Luke 18 our Lord told of the persistent widow, ‘there was a widow in the city. She came to him, ’Avenge me of my adversaries. Because this woman troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her coming she weary me. Our Lord concluded, ‘And shall God not avenge His own elect, who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them.’ ( Luke 18:1-7 )  Do you persist with your heavenly Father?  Hang on in prayer!

I recall five old, frail, bent women, one with a walking stick as twisted as her spine, who promised they would pray for me. They prayed earnestly, believingly, powerfully. 

Prayer was the key in the formation of the early church, for ‘ these all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication’ (Acts 1:14). The cross and resurrection were only seven weeks past, and they were resolved to make Christ known. They were devoted in prayer to their Christ.  ‘They all continued with one accord’ told of the oneness of heart in their prayer life.  Both genders prayed; verse 13 tells of the 11 men, while the following verse told how they ’all continued in prayer and supplication with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers. ‘ Jesus’ entire Nazareth family grouped in the prayer summit. Strangely, many Australian prayer groups are female.  The bible gave us a model for prayer, that saw the Holy Spirit released.

I recall my dear mother kneeling at her bedside praying ‘for her children’. Today, long after her home-call to heaven, God is saving her grandchildren.

After Pentecost, ‘the twelve ( the elders ) said, ‘It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.  Then they showed their holy intention, ‘ We will give ourselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word.’  God continues to bless whenever we observe this principle of the elder, pastor, bishop, overseer devoting himself to the King’s business of prayer.

Disaster follows when we pursue an alternative plan.  We should learn!

Herod harassed some from the church, killing James, the brother of John, and because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he seized Peter also.’ ( Acts 12:1)  He put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers.  While ‘Peter was kept in prison, constant, effectual, fervent prayer was offered to God for him. ( v5)  The church performed its highest function when it challenged the forces of hell and Rome for the liberation of one of her champions. All natural hope had gone as Herod planned to kill Peter after Easter. Nevertheless, they prayed confidently, looking to the risen Christ.

God stepped in Peter’s cell as, ‘ An angel of the Lord stood by him , and a light shone in the prison ( scattering deep  darkness ) . Then the angel of the Lord freed Peter,  leading  him through the heavily-guarded prison to the prayer meeting, released to preach His omnipotent Lord. As the Pacific war ended, I met a group of men in Everymen’s Sydney in a half night of prayer.  Incredible.  Each of these men has faithfully served their Lord fifty plus years.

In his Roman letter, Paul told his hearers that they must ‘Rejoice in the spirit, be patient in tribulation and continue instant ( steadfastly ) in prayer. ‘ ( 12:12 ) How can we be instant in prayer, while engaged in business or professional life, which absorbed our attention.  My Indian friend, a surgeon of international standing would often pause in a long operation to ‘thoroughly wash his gloves ‘ while he was alone at the throne,  speaking to his Father in heaven.  Of course he prayed through the entire surgery, even while requesting instruments and sutures.  Many mothers in home life enjoy an unbroken prayer communion, cooking, sewing or minding the little ones. Be instant!

Paul was a role model in prayer, ‘ After I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I do not cease to pray for you, making mention of you in my prayers.’( Ephesians 1:16 ) With a tender, compassionate heart, Paul did not stop praying for these dear ones.  When the Holy Spirit impresses others on our hearts, it is always for a noble reason, such as ‘praying non-stop for them.  Do not fear to follow the clear, gentle wooing of the Spirit of grace, to make you a praying man or woman. God would enrol many new members of His select army of silent pray-ers.

Don’t hide the longings of your inner life, for He has said, ‘ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.  Fear must go, for anxiety paralyses.  Our petition contains the elements of praying, supplication ( entreaties ) with the often-overlooked thanksgiving.’

God’s word balances the amazing privilege in speaking to the Lord of all the earth, so that HE would be satisfied as His children commune with HIM. And we fulfilled.

Prayer must not be sporadic but sustained, for we are to ‘ continue  earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.’ (Colossians 4:6)  We were surprised in Java to hear the entire church pray.  The leader prayed for a time and then asked everybody to take part.  It sounded like a tropical rainstorm: Chinese prayed; Indonesians also; Javanese took part; and we joined in English. Possibly other languages or dialects united.  They continue praying, with such serious-mindedness.  New converts commenced public prayer, while mature believers vigorously joined in.  Later, the leader quietly assumed control, closing the special time. Unforgettable!

Our Western world may well consider the blessing of hearing everyone cry out to the living God- or was it part of the eastern love for Him?

Paul writes in the first Thessalonian letter 5:17 , Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.’   He repeated his plea for a continual prayer life.  We cannot dismiss this as impractical, for Paul was a tent-maker as well as a mighty evangelist and bible teacher.  With every thread of his sewing, Paul would remember before God the saints of different areas he had visited.

This culminates the studies in the Armour of God.  It is appropriate the final study should be on prayer.  Must we change our life-style to allow this intimate walk with our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ in the battle with the powers of darkness?