The Whole Armor of God: The Power of Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit

Name of Assembly: United Apostolic Church
Type of service: Bible Study
Date: April 13, 2021
Series Topic: The Whole Armor of God
Lesson 7: The Power of Prayer and Supplication in the Spirit
Scripture Text: Ephesians 6:10-18

“10 And Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 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. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”– Ephesians 6:10-18

INTRODUCTION

After listing six traditional pieces of Roman armor, the apostle Paul urged his readers to be "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit." How does this advice tie in with the lessons we are to learn from the armor of God?

Prayer is an important part of our day-to-day lives. But how often do we think of it in association with the armor of God? Turns out, it's one of the most vital parts!

Artur Aleksandrov, a recent high school graduate in Tallinn, Estonia, tells this story:

"Just recently I was a high school senior, trying my best to balance school, God, and various 'cares of this life.' When the new year started, I wanted to focus on picking the right national exams to take. When I decided on which ones I preferred, it did not even come to mind that one of them could fall on the day I went to Church for corporate worship. By nature, being rather forgetful and slow, I didn't notice the day of the week I was to sit for the first two exams (both were on my worship days). I lived on unsuspectingly until, about three weeks before the first exam, one of my teachers casually mentioned something that made my pupils triple in diameter. That is when it hit me!

I wrote a letter of request to the center explaining that the days selected were my dedicated days for Church attendance and then I started to wait. They tested my faith and patience for a whole month before I got a reply on the 5th of May. They also requested an affirmation from the Church as proof.

"They respected my beliefs, and although my request came way too late, they allowed me to sit the exams on the additional day appointed by them. This was another blessing from God. In that period, I was partly prepared to receive a negative answer, which meant failing to graduate and staying for another year in school, and partly really hoping that God would still provide an easier way out. I knew He could—and He did!

"...So, dear brethren, as you can see for yourselves, our gracious and all-powerful Lord responded to our collective prayers with abundant gifts... There is nothing more powerful in this world than the prayers of God's servants—His saints."

Praying Always

God's armor is comprehensive. In this series we have spent time examining it, from the ideas behind it to its purpose and
application. It is an absolutely essential part of surviving and winning our battle against Satan. However, right on the heels of his description of the armor of God, Paul adds that we should be "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:18).

Is there any significance to this admonition appearing immediately after the listing of God's armor? You bet there is!

Barnes' Notes comments, "No matter how complete the armour; no matter how skilled we may be in the science of war; no matter how courageous we may be, we may be certain that without prayer we shall be defeated. God alone can give the victory; and when the Christian soldier goes forth armed completely for the spiritual conflict, if he looks to God by prayer, he will be sure of a triumph" (Heritage Edition, Vol. 12, p. 133).

If we equip ourselves with God's armor, we must also be determined to keep a steady line of connection with Him. He is the commander of His spiritual army, and He alone knows how to lead it to victory.

How Can We Be Praying Always?

“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” – St. Luke 18:1-8.

Luke wrote that Jesus gave the above parable to teach that "men always ought to pray and not to faint," so it serves as a good starting point for understanding what praying always means.

In her quest for justice, the widow never gave up seeking help from the unjust judge. In our quest for victory, we must never give up in seeking help from our perfect God. The command to pray always is not to say that we must be in a continuous, unceasing dialogue with God every second of every day. Rather, we must develop a connection with God—one that is maintained through regular prayer, Bible study and a godly lifestyle—that allows us to instantly come before our God in prayer in times of distress and need. Every waking moment is to be lived in an awareness that God is with us and that He is actively involved and engaged in our thoughts and actions.

What is Supplication?

“Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God”- Philippians 4:6.

We come to God in prayer for a variety of reasons—to worship Him, to confess our sins and to thank Him for His blessings, to ask for things for ourselves, and to pray for the needs of others. The Hebrew and Greek words most often translated “supplication” in the Bible mean literally “a request or petition,” so a prayer of supplication is asking God for something. Unlike the prayer of petition, which is praying on behalf of others, the prayer of supplication is generally a request for the person praying.

The Bible includes many prayers of supplication. Numerous examples are found in the Psalms. David’s psalms are filled with supplication for mercy in Psalm 4:1, for leading in Psalm 5:8, for deliverance in Psalm 6:4, for salvation from persecution in Psalm 7:1, and so on. When Daniel learned that King Darius had issued an edict prohibiting prayer to any god but the king, Daniel continued to pray to God with prayers of thanksgiving as well as prayers of supplication for His help in this dire situation.

What Role Does the SPIRIT Play in the Christian’s Prayer?

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” – Romans 8:26-27.

Since we do not always know how to pray as we should, if we have the Spirit in us and are led by that Spirit (Acts 2:38; Romans 8:14), Paul says "the Spirit" will make intercession for us. This means that although we do not always know exactly what we should be praying for, God knows our hearts by living in us (John 17:23).

No matter how clumsily Christians present their requests and no matter how jumbled and confusing they are, God will always know what they are trying to say. Through His Spirit working in us, He has intimate knowledge of our hearts and minds. He understands us and will always work things out for the best in the long run (Romans 8:28).

Who or What Should We Be Praying About?

“9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for
ever. Amen.”

In what has become known as the "Lord's prayer," Jesus Christ lays out for us a framework for praying to God. It is not a strict, inflexible format to which we must adhere every time we come before God (Matthew 6:7), but rather an excellent checklist of things we do need to take the time to pray about. We should be praying on a regular basis for, among other things, God's will to be done, our needs to be taken care of, the forgiveness of our sins, and deliverance from Satan.

Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

Luke 21:36, “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Along with praying for others, it is vital to also pray for ourselves. Our lives are filled with reminders that we cannot make it on our own. It would be inconceivable to refrain from asking God for the help we so desperately require.

Our God stands ready to provide us with the strength, wisdom, and courage we need to stand against our enemy, but He wants us first to come before Him and ask for it.

Matthew 26:39, “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." When Jesus prayed fervently before His crucifixion, He knew what He wanted to happen. But He always remembered that His Father was in charge and had the eternal best interests of everyone in mind. It is important for us to pray for God's will to be done too.

Ephesians 6:18-20, “...praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

The ministers of God's Church, on whom falls the bulk of His work, are just as human as the rest of us. They, too, are subject to exhaustion, sickness and heartache. They, too, can—and at times, will—fall short of the high mark God has set for us. Also, they can face difficult trials (Paul spent time in prison for obeying God) and many challenging decisions in doing God's work. Paul was particularly concerned that God would continue to give him the courage, opportunities, and clarity to boldly preach God's truth even at the risk of suffering or death.

As this is the case, we should be sure to keep God's servants in our prayers—and not only His ministers, but all His people. We are in this battle together, and prayer is one of the most effective ways we can support each other, care for each other, and fulfill the God-inspired command given to us in Philippians 2:4.

Conclusion

How often do you pray? Throughout the Bible, we see repeated examples of people who prayed regularly. Daniel, an Israelite taken captive to Babylon, made sure to pray three times a day (Daniel 6:10). The author of Psalm 119 seems to have prayed seven times each day (Psalm 119:164). While there are no set numbers for how often or how long we should pray, we should be sure to give God adequate time on a regular basis.

If you do not already, set aside time each day to talk to God, and do not take it lightly. Do not put it off or delay it; make the time to talk to your Creator. If we fail to establish a steady, well- founded relationship with God, we will not be in the proper position to be praying always—nor will we be able to win our spiritual war.