The Whole Armor of God
Praying with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit
Eph 6:18-20
I have been puzzled by the placement of verse 18 at the end of “the armor of God” section, Vs 10-17. Vs 18 is not usually included in the “armor” discussion but is often made a part of Paul’s benediction to his epistle. I wish to offer an alternative.
Rev 1:5b-6 “Unto Him that Loved us, and washed us from our sins in His Own Blood, and has made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Having put on (by faith) our Kings armament (all the benefits of His Saving Work), we now enter into His Priestly activity (Vs 18), prayer and supplication, for He has Made us kings and priests unto God and His Father, to Him be Glory and Dominion. This “prayer and supplication is integral to the armor and our standing fast in the Body of Christ. It is through this prayer and supplication that our individual perseverance worked in us by Christ’s armament exceeds our own selves and brings us into our priestly ministry for the needs of the rest of the Body of Christ.
And as our Victorious King ascended to the Father’s Right Hand to Be our Great High Priest, eternally Mediating the benefits of so great a Sacrificial Salvation, so we are called to live in our role as priests in the House of God. Romans 8:23-28 lays out a beautiful description of our priestly ministry, and makes it plain that our intercession is made effective only by the Indwelling Spirit and our Great High Priest. It is only as we by faith enter into this “co-intercession” ministry with the Most High God that we can truly know and appreciate that “all things do work together for good.” vs28
Vs 18 Notice: “Praying always”– Paul’s not talking about an occasional “prayer meeting”
Phil 4:6 “Be full of care about NOTHING, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” “Pray without ceasing.” I Thes 5:17
“With ALL prayer and supplication”–Praying biblically contains these elements:
Prayer (#4335 worship prayer) is the heart posture of dependance on the Most High God,
Supplication (#1162) is prayer for particular benefits. OT-plea for Mercy!
Phil 4:6 adds Thanksgiving (#2169 eucharistia-grateful language to God, acknowledging His past Mercies) This thanksgiving is the “faith garment” (Heb 11:1) of prayer.
“In the Spirit”. Remember Romans 8:23-28? In reality, all of our needs are the groaning because of the fallen-ness of the old creation and the groaning cry for the New Creation. Our best (supposedly) prayers are mere groans because we don’t know how it all works. But the Creator Spirit dwells in our hearts and He specializes in “moving upon the face of the waters” (Gen 1:2) of this world of chaos in which we live. He takes our blundering, most often selfish “prayers”, and fashions them according to the will of God and places them in the Bosom of our Interceding, Mediating High Priest Who bears them in a God honoring form (covered in His Righteousness) to His Loving Father! Sometimes, it would be best if we would just shut up and groan!!!
“Being watchful to this end”. To what end? What have we been talking about in our last studies, what is our context? The armor! Again, this isn’t a one time prayer, disposable prayer–which isn’t prayer at all! This is vigilant prayer, expecting an outcome in God’s timing. Contextually, it would seem to be watching in prayer that our and others armor is on good and tight, that our faith is steadfast in our Jesus and all He has clothed us with!
“With all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Here is that theme of perseverance again. Contemporary christianity knows little of the truth of perseverance. Here it is in the context of persevering prayer for the people of God. No matter what the visible circumstance, we persevere before the Throne of Grace as commanded by our Great High Priest.
Supplication: What will benefit those in need. The vast amount of our time is spent praying for material need when the real need is spiritual. God stresses time and again in Scripture that the “Babylonians” in our midst are there to turn our hearts toward Him, bring about a yearning and hungering for Him, humble us before the Mighty Hand of God, His Loving Hand!!!
For all the Saints: This requires that we get out of our selfish little world and grow into true fellowship with the saints. You can’t bear one another’s burdens if you don’t know what the burdens are! Yes, it is messy– love is messy and bloody–just ask Jesus!
Vs 19-20 Here is Paul’s personal request that illustrates the prayer activity he is talking about.
He is asking for boldness, repeated twice, in the face of Satan’s “archers”.
II Cor 1:8-11 This is a beautiful example of this “warfare praying” on behalf of Paul, and his testimony of its effectiveness.
1. Vs 8-9 The circumstances so dire, that they despaired of life itself. Perhaps the event recorded in Acts 19:21-41–Demetrius the silversmith and the idols of Ephesus. Note God’s purpose of the trial as far as Paul was concerned, Vs 9, “that we should not trust in ourselves, but in the God which raises the dead.”
2. Vs 10 God was pleased to deliver Paul, but notice Vs 11, “You also helping together BY PRAYER FOR US”.
3. Vs11 Now note: the gift of deliverance Paul received by the means of the prayers of many saints, now results in the thanksgiving of many saints unto the Lord Who delivered Paul!
Phil 1:19-20 Here again Paul is assured that even the preachers of envy and strife shall not harm his proclamation of the gospel,”For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” Vs 20 Again, his need for boldness.
Col 4:2-3 In a section of the epistle very similar to Ephesians 5, Paul says, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the Word, to speak the mystery of Christ....”
James 5:13-18 In the midst of James exhortation to pray, in Vs 13 he says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another that you may be healed. The effectual fervant prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (Praying that our armor is on straight!)
I Tim 5:5 Paul tells Timothy that true widows have a high calling, “trusting in God and continuing in supplications and prayers night and day.” This is not a concession, but a calling!
Psalm 110 This is the Psalm of our Victorious Savior being called to sit at His Father’s Right Hand, “until I make your enemies your footstool.” In Vs 4, the Father also proclaims the Son as the Priest after the order of Melchizedek. Remember Rev. 1:6, Christ Jesus has made us kings and priests “unto God and His Father.” I wonder if the saints, clothed in the Armor that Is Christ Jesus in all His Sufficiency, praying with prayer and supplication without ceasing–If this is not the warfare that the Father is waging, laying Christ’s enemies at His Feet. Undoubtedly His greatest enemy is our own unbelief.
I John 5:4-5 “For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, OUR FAITH. Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that BELIEVES that JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD.”
Eph 5:21-22–Paul is concerned that the Ephesians might know how the ministry is going–that they might pray!
Vs 23-24 Notice his desires for the Ephesians” Peace, love, faith & grace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” They are the only Source of such blessings!!!
Praying with all Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit
Eph 6:18-20
I have been puzzled by the placement of verse 18 at the end of “the armor of God” section, Vs 10-17. Vs 18 is not usually included in the “armor” discussion but is often made a part of Paul’s benediction to his epistle. I wish to offer an alternative.
Rev 1:5b-6 “Unto Him that Loved us, and washed us from our sins in His Own Blood, and has made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Having put on (by faith) our Kings armament (all the benefits of His Saving Work), we now enter into His Priestly activity (Vs 18), prayer and supplication, for He has Made us kings and priests unto God and His Father, to Him be Glory and Dominion. This “prayer and supplication is integral to the armor and our standing fast in the Body of Christ. It is through this prayer and supplication that our individual perseverance worked in us by Christ’s armament exceeds our own selves and brings us into our priestly ministry for the needs of the rest of the Body of Christ.
And as our Victorious King ascended to the Father’s Right Hand to Be our Great High Priest, eternally Mediating the benefits of so great a Sacrificial Salvation, so we are called to live in our role as priests in the House of God. Romans 8:23-28 lays out a beautiful description of our priestly ministry, and makes it plain that our intercession is made effective only by the Indwelling Spirit and our Great High Priest. It is only as we by faith enter into this “co-intercession” ministry with the Most High God that we can truly know and appreciate that “all things do work together for good.” vs28
Vs 18 Notice: “Praying always”– Paul’s not talking about an occasional “prayer meeting”
Phil 4:6 “Be full of care about NOTHING, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” “Pray without ceasing.” I Thes 5:17
“With ALL prayer and supplication”–Praying biblically contains these elements:
Prayer (#4335 worship prayer) is the heart posture of dependance on the Most High God,
Supplication (#1162) is prayer for particular benefits. OT-plea for Mercy!
Phil 4:6 adds Thanksgiving (#2169 eucharistia-grateful language to God, acknowledging His past Mercies) This thanksgiving is the “faith garment” (Heb 11:1) of prayer.
“In the Spirit”. Remember Romans 8:23-28? In reality, all of our needs are the groaning because of the fallen-ness of the old creation and the groaning cry for the New Creation. Our best (supposedly) prayers are mere groans because we don’t know how it all works. But the Creator Spirit dwells in our hearts and He specializes in “moving upon the face of the waters” (Gen 1:2) of this world of chaos in which we live. He takes our blundering, most often selfish “prayers”, and fashions them according to the will of God and places them in the Bosom of our Interceding, Mediating High Priest Who bears them in a God honoring form (covered in His Righteousness) to His Loving Father! Sometimes, it would be best if we would just shut up and groan!!!
“Being watchful to this end”. To what end? What have we been talking about in our last studies, what is our context? The armor! Again, this isn’t a one time prayer, disposable prayer–which isn’t prayer at all! This is vigilant prayer, expecting an outcome in God’s timing. Contextually, it would seem to be watching in prayer that our and others armor is on good and tight, that our faith is steadfast in our Jesus and all He has clothed us with!
“With all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Here is that theme of perseverance again. Contemporary christianity knows little of the truth of perseverance. Here it is in the context of persevering prayer for the people of God. No matter what the visible circumstance, we persevere before the Throne of Grace as commanded by our Great High Priest.
Supplication: What will benefit those in need. The vast amount of our time is spent praying for material need when the real need is spiritual. God stresses time and again in Scripture that the “Babylonians” in our midst are there to turn our hearts toward Him, bring about a yearning and hungering for Him, humble us before the Mighty Hand of God, His Loving Hand!!!
For all the Saints: This requires that we get out of our selfish little world and grow into true fellowship with the saints. You can’t bear one another’s burdens if you don’t know what the burdens are! Yes, it is messy– love is messy and bloody–just ask Jesus!
Vs 19-20 Here is Paul’s personal request that illustrates the prayer activity he is talking about.
He is asking for boldness, repeated twice, in the face of Satan’s “archers”.
II Cor 1:8-11 This is a beautiful example of this “warfare praying” on behalf of Paul, and his testimony of its effectiveness.
1. Vs 8-9 The circumstances so dire, that they despaired of life itself. Perhaps the event recorded in Acts 19:21-41–Demetrius the silversmith and the idols of Ephesus. Note God’s purpose of the trial as far as Paul was concerned, Vs 9, “that we should not trust in ourselves, but in the God which raises the dead.”
2. Vs 10 God was pleased to deliver Paul, but notice Vs 11, “You also helping together BY PRAYER FOR US”.
3. Vs11 Now note: the gift of deliverance Paul received by the means of the prayers of many saints, now results in the thanksgiving of many saints unto the Lord Who delivered Paul!
Phil 1:19-20 Here again Paul is assured that even the preachers of envy and strife shall not harm his proclamation of the gospel,”For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” Vs 20 Again, his need for boldness.
Col 4:2-3 In a section of the epistle very similar to Ephesians 5, Paul says, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the Word, to speak the mystery of Christ....”
James 5:13-18 In the midst of James exhortation to pray, in Vs 13 he says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another that you may be healed. The effectual fervant prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (Praying that our armor is on straight!)
I Tim 5:5 Paul tells Timothy that true widows have a high calling, “trusting in God and continuing in supplications and prayers night and day.” This is not a concession, but a calling!
Psalm 110 This is the Psalm of our Victorious Savior being called to sit at His Father’s Right Hand, “until I make your enemies your footstool.” In Vs 4, the Father also proclaims the Son as the Priest after the order of Melchizedek. Remember Rev. 1:6, Christ Jesus has made us kings and priests “unto God and His Father.” I wonder if the saints, clothed in the Armor that Is Christ Jesus in all His Sufficiency, praying with prayer and supplication without ceasing–If this is not the warfare that the Father is waging, laying Christ’s enemies at His Feet. Undoubtedly His greatest enemy is our own unbelief.
I John 5:4-5 “For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, OUR FAITH. Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that BELIEVES that JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD.”
Eph 5:21-22–Paul is concerned that the Ephesians might know how the ministry is going–that they might pray!
Vs 23-24 Notice his desires for the Ephesians” Peace, love, faith & grace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” They are the only Source of such blessings!!!