THE ARMOR AND PRAYER

Scripture:  Ephesians 6:11 & 18  "Put on the whole armor of God .... Praying with all prayer and supplication in the spirit."

Paul instructed the people to pray with all kinds of prayer in the spirit.  However, he told thembefore they prayed to put on the whole armor of God.  He emphasized that we do not wrestle with flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness.  He then listed the various pieces of the armor of God that are necessary to fight against these spiritual forces.  They are truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. (Ephesians 6:13-17).  The first thing that we need to consider is that the armor is the "armor of God."  It is not our own armor and does not depend upon our own personal abilities.  This spiritual armor is supernatural.  It comes from God and it bears witness of His strength.

Every piece of the armor of God is necessary and has a definite purpose.  When we wrap ourselves in God's truth, the spirit of deception has no place or authority in our lives.  So the devil cannot deceive us into praying for things that are outside of God's will or contrary to His Word.  The devil will come against us while we are in prayer and tell us that we have no right to pray because we have sinned or fallen short in our daily walk with the Lord.  But when we stand with the breastplate of God's righteousness protecting us, the devil has no room for accusations against us.  Our own righteousness, which is as filthy rags, is displaced by the pure righteousness of God.  Although our sins be as scarlet, we are made as white as snow because Jesus cleanses us from all sin.  This forgiveness allows us to approach God's throne with boldness and without any condemnation.

When our feet are shod with God's gospel of peace, we have a peace that passes all understanding.  This peace enables us to yield ourselves to God in prayer, unreservedly, because we know that all things are going to work out for our good.  As we pray, we can cast all of our cares upon the Lord, knowing that He cares for us.  When faith becomes our shield, it quenches the fiery darts of the devil.  Every doubt that comes against us is destroyed by our faith in God.  Mark 1:24 says, "When you pray, believe."  Doubts may come later, but at the time we pray, our faith must reach out and touch the heart of God.  Faith is supernatural.  It pleases God and receives God's rewards.

Paul also said, "Put on the helmet of salvation."  When you pray you must allow God's helmet of salvation to cover your mind and control your thoughts.  You must focus on God and believe that He will deliver you from every adversity that is coming against you.  Then finally, when you pray, you must take the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  God's Word is your only offensive weapon.  There is no mightier weapon than to speak the Word of God in prayer because it silences the voices of evil.  Even Jesus used the Word of God when He stood against the devil and declared, “It is written.”

Prayer does make a difference and definitely changes things.  It is a mighty force, and like the force of gravity, we may not be able to explain it, but prayer works.  Prayer is simple communication with God.  A small word of prayer to the Heavenly Father can move a mighty mountain of difficulty.  You can stand, sit, kneel, walk, or run when you pray.  You can be alone or in a vast crowd when you communicate with God.  Your voice can be loud or your whispers can be soft.  It does not matter.  You are communicating spirit to Spirit.  The important thing is that your spiritual man is adorned with truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and also armed with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  Your prayers will then be victorious because the forces of Hell cannot come against this mighty armor of God. +++