What do we do with the armor, that we have been looking at and studying for over the last seven weeks?  In the earlier verses, it tells us not to war against people “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood…” Ephesians 6:12. So what is God’s armor used for?  Verses eighteen let us know exactly what the armor of God it is for, PRAYER! and not just for our self but on behalf of others.

18“praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”

Ephesians‬ ‭6:18-20‬ ‭ESV

As we did with the armor let’s break down the verse 18 in smaller bite-size, to be able to apply it to our own lives.

“Praying at all times in the spirit…”
We can all agree that we should be in communication with our Creator and Father. Praying is just that, a way for us to communicate with Him. Communication is always a two-way activity we speak to Him and He speaks to us, and back a forth. In every natural relationship, we have in our lives, can only be developed by good communication. The more we communicate with a person our relationship goes from ok to good to great. God just want the same with us not just a relationship but a great relationship.

The next part of the line has caused many believe to not be agreement. “in the spirit”. We can look at this phrase in a couple of ways. One, that our prayers are lead by the Holy Spirit that we are not praying for our own desires but God’s desires. Another way is that believers have a personal prayer langue (praying in tongues). By praying “in the spirit” everything that is uttered is God’s desires. Both of these viewpoints have one common aspect, that God’s desires be prayed. Instead of arguing about if “tongues” are for today let just pray God’s desires in the way he has us pray. 

“…with all prayer”
This word “prayer” in greek can be used for both (a)prayers to God or (b)a place of prayer. So everything we say and every place we go, we need to stay in communication with God. The Hebrew people, to this day, prays Deuteronomy 6:4-5 twice a day “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” They do this to keep God before them, to give God everything in them. The last word in this verse, “might” is translated from the Hebrew word for “muchness” or everything.

“…and supplication.” 
Supplication in Greek is defined as “a need, entreaty” (an earnest or humble request). First, we pray God desires than with a humble heart make your request known to God. God cares for every situation you are going through and every need you have. We have believed a lie of the adversary that God does not really care about the small things, we think they are too insignificant for the God of the universe to worry about.

As a father when my daughter was young, she would bring me each needs no matter how small they seem to be. I desired to help her with small things. Some of the perceived needs were things she just wanted and I had to show her the difference, but I wanted to supply all her needs as God desires to supply your needs. Philippians 4 “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

“To that end, keep alert with all perseverance…”
We need to not be ignorant to the adversary devices and with all persistence, we need to keep praying despite any difficulty or delay. It may seem like nothing is changing but even the littlest movement forward is a great success.

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 ESV

“…making supplication for all the saints…”
Like all gifts from God, prayer is not just for our own need, but we are to war for our brother and sister in the Lord (the saints). Nehemiah 4:14 says “…Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” This type of prayer is called intercession, is interceding for others need though prayer. Jesus himself is interceding of us.

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermostb those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:25 ESV

There are times when I am talking with someone and they share the problems or situation they are going through, my heart begins to breaks. I know that I need to pray (intercede) for their needs, so I intercede for them and their family. I may or may not pray for them right at that time, but I will carry their needs for days if not weeks in my personal prayer time.

One of God spiritual laws is “whatever one sows, that will he also reap.” This law has been expressed in a negative aspect, but we need to see this law is also positive. As we sow intercession for other saints we are, adding our faith with their, fight on behalf of them, and strengthening them in the Lord. So when we go through your own hardship, we will reap what we have sown and other saints will fight on behalf of our needs.

We are never alone in the fight, the Lord will not leave us or forsake us, but we have fellow soldiers (believers, saints) standing with us in the battle. When we get weary and weak we can lock our shields of faith with another that they will help take the fight back to the adversary. We do not know when the battle-weary will be coming to us. We need to be in a constant state of readiness to assist in anothers or even fight our own battle. So put on the whole armor of God daily.

Application

• Begin to intercede for others
• Maintain a personal daily prayer time
  • Set a place in your home to pray
  • Have a source of worship music to create an atmosphere
  • Prayer journal – to write down what you are hearing from God
  • Prayer list of people and their needs
• Not become discouraged
  • God’s times and season are not ours
  • God asked us to pray “His will be done”, it is not up to us if the need is to be met
  • There are other saints interceding for you right now!

“There’s a peace only to be found on the other side of war. If that war should come I will fight it!” ~ King Arthur

First Knight – 1995 Columbia Pictures