“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil…Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore…” Ephesians 6:13
The Command of the prayer warrior is, “Stand firm!” Well-equipped, impeccably uniformed, and fully informed saints will always panic in the face of a relentless enemy. The Warrior stands firm, and offers resistance. The deserter panics in fear.
Note to self: Wisely expect an attack from your enemy. Don’t seek applause from your friends. Pray for courage to resist the enemy attack. Chasing after the approval of your friends, or running from the enemy will leave you breathless and prayerless. Obey orders. Stand firm! Take a deep breath. Pray.
The Stand: Prayer Warriors find peace and grace when they stand firm. They stand by kneeling and praying. The enemy fears, The Champion, Lord Jesus, The Risen Christ
Paul’s final words to the Ephesians contain their only hope for peace in the face of spiritual warfare. Peace comes to the heart of a warrior when they receive “love with faith.” There is no substitute for the unmerited, undeserved favor of God that He provides through His Spirit to those who love His Son, “with incorruptible love.” Prayer is the purest form of this love.
“Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.” Ephesians 6:23-24
The Strategy: When Prayer Warriors identify the enemy through the fog of war, they cut off the head of the snake’s body. They never try to pull the teeth, milk the venom, or drink the poison of the snake to build up an aversion or an immunity to sin. They resist the schemes of the devil, by attacking the source of evil, not by dissecting the symptoms or discerning the signs of evil.
“Stand firm against the schemes of the devil…” v. 13
The Warrior: Prayer warriors are Spirit-filled believers, fully informed about the enemy, properly uniformed with God’s armor, and standing firm in battle formation with The Champion.
“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit,” Ephesians 5:18
The Armor: Fully equipped warriors with all of the weapons of warfare are not ready for battle until they are full of The Spirit.
“Put on the full armor of God…therefore, take up the full armor of God.” Ephesians 6:11, 13
The Sword: The essential weapons of warfare are all defensive in nature, except one. The double-edged sword, able to remove the cancer of sin from the body of the warrior, and cut off the head of the enemy. When Satan attacked Jesus, he distorted Scripture. When Jesus resisted the devil, He quoted Scripture. Prayer warriors are adept and attack with The Sword.
“…The Sword of The Spirit, which is The Word of God.” Ephesians 6:17
The Duty: PRAY! It is not for just for Special Forces. Charge!
“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” Ephesians 5:18
The Courage: Without boldness, well-informed, well-armed, and impeccably uniformed saints are empty suits that strike no fear in the enemy, and have no peace in their hearts.
Paul humbly asked people to pray for him. He was not focused on finer clothes, a bigger home, a larger salary, better health, but greater boldness to share the greatest secret, “the mystery of the gospel.”
“Pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 5: 21
Prayerless people are prideful people. They are never fearless warriors. Running around in panic at the sight of the enemy or in the face of an attack encourages the enemy to keep up the fight. Prayer calls for The Champion to take the field. Out of breath and tired of running? Take a knee. Stand firm! TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!