The Weapon of All-Prayer
Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
At the end of listing the pieces of the Christian’s armor, Paul speaks of, what I consider the last “weapon” in our protection…..all-prayer.
Bunyan pictures this as a bag, out of which Christian can take things he needs….
…and he uses it after his battle with Apollyon….to restore his strength.
……but however you picture prayer….it is a weapon we must become intimate with….we must be able to use it aright.
There are prayers which are short and sweet….(Psalm 12:1). “Help, Lord”
And Peter’s “Lord, save me.”(Matthew 14:30)….when he was sinking.
There are prayers which are based on a certain Name of God….prayers of healing (Jehovah Rapha)….the Lord will see to, or provide (Jehovah Jireh Genesis 22:8,14)
To the God of all grace (1 Peter 5:10)….when our need outweighs what we can see for an answer.
To the God of all peace….when our boat of circumstances, rocks to and fro, and there seems no peace….then our God is our peace.
(In Romans 15, Paul prays to “the God of patience” (verse 5), “the God of hope” (verse 13), and “the God of peace” (verse 33))
These are prayers….
…..our coming before the throne of grace and laying things out before the Lord…..
….and prayer is also waiting for an answer.
“ and supplication in the Spirit”
This is knowing a need for someone….and relying only on the Holy Spirit’s guidance….seeking the Lord for the supply they need….until it is met.
(Jude 21) “…praying in the Holy Ghost.”
“And watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints:”
These prayers are where we bring before the Lord….certain people, certain churches,…..not knowing the full need of these….
….but expecting the Lord to “warn” us….for their good….to pray in a certain way, for what the Lord shows us.
(It is like a watchman on a tower….waiting, ready to be used for the good of the city.
Isaiah 62:6-7 “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day or night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence,
And give Him no rest, till He establish, and till He make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”)
Just what is perseverance? to be persistent….to be constantly diligent….to earnestly stay with the means God gives….to see the answer come.
(It is interesting….that perseverance is only used once in scriptures….here, where prayer is concerned.)
God has given us prayer both for fellowship and communion…..
…..and as a weapon against the world, the flesh and the devil…where we and others are concerned.
Let us learn to be used of God in our prayers, whether near or far to those we pray for…..that He might have all the praise.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 