Antioch Agent

Ephesians 6:10-18

v10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
v11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
v12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].
v13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
v14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
v15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
v16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
v17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
v18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints…

I was digging through some of my archived material that was created for teaching on John Bunyan’s classic The Pilgrim’s Progress back in 2004. This was the lesson where Christian (the Pilgrim in the story) got ready for battle against Apollyon and needed to suit up. As I prepared for the lesson, I realized that the final and essential piece to the teaching on the armor of God was not something to be worn or put on, rather it was something the soldier had to be constantly at. It was …. “PRAYER”, right after the sword of the Spirit is mentioned.

Imagine this. Technically one could be fully clad with the armor of God, and yet without prayer … the soldier would be truly powerless against the enemy. He would be without his true spiritual resource for strength. Prayer must be the first and final most important aspect in the spiritual warfare the saint wages. If he’s going to be ready to face the trials and temptations that are to come, the Apollyon’s, he has to “watch” and “pray” (Mark 13:33). In this all important chapter on spiritual warfare, we find that verse 18 has got similar words “praying” & “watching” (in the reverse order). We know that prayer is essential for preparation into battle, but we also read that we are to be engaged in prayer while engaged in battle. Furthermore, when we may be out of the thick of battle we are still exhorted to pray for other saints who are in the battle field. I think this helps bring home the reason why Paul reminded us that we ought to be “praying always with all prayer”

In spiritual warfare the saint should be Postured (stand v.11,13,14), be fitted with all the Pieces (the whole armor v.13-17) and persevering in Prayer (v.18).