Women of the Bible Lesson 10 Jael: A Story of Courage Part 8 Armor of God

Today we will look at the final piece of the armor we have been provided through Holy Spirit to protect us in our spiritual battles.    

Ephesians 6:14-18 gives us a list of the armor we have been provided through Holy Spirit. “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” (NLT)   

Prayer is the last weapon we find in Ephesians 6:18. John Wesley said, “God does nothing but by prayer, and everything with it.”  

Paul knew that prayer could not be equated to a single piece of weaponry because it is more powerful, accurate, and unstoppable than anything a Roman soldier had in his arsenal.    

First, prayer could be compared to air support.  “When a platoon is under heavy fire, they call in air support. They get on their radio, and give the coordinates of where they need some bombs dropped, and as quickly as possible, jets fly over and drop bombs onto the coordinates.”i 

Air support is most effective when accurate.ii Praying God’s Word gives Holy Spirit accurate coordinates on which to focus His aim.  The Word is full of passages that can be applied to any situation we face.   

When we are struggling it can be helpful to use a concordance or Siri or Google (LOL) to look up scriptures that deal with our current situation. Ask Holy Spirit to guide you to the correct scriptures (coordinates). Psalm 25:4-5, Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.  (NIV) 

Once we find the verse(s) that cover our situation, we pray it back to God. The level to which our minds are controlled and directed by the Word is in direct proportion to the degree of our prayers being answered.  John 15:7, But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! (NLT)  

“The word of God is the food by which prayer is nourished and made strong.” E.M. Bounds  

1 John 5:14, This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. (NIV) His Word IS His Will! 

“Prayer is such a privilege. Prayer literally brings the power of heaven to earth!”  Joyce Meyer 

Secondly, prayer can also be compared to a walkie-talkie or radio transmitter.  “Prayer is our battlefield transmitter to keep us in touch with the Commander in Chief of Heaven’s Army.”iii 

From the front lines of any battle, it is necessary to be able to communicate with the superior officers to both send information and receive orders.  Prayer is this type of communication for the Child of God.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, tells us to “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  (NIV) 

By maintaining a constant “open line” of communication with Christ, we are ready at every moment to pray His word and/or receive our orders.   

Third, prayer is our battle plan or strategy against our enemy, the Devil! 

John MacArthur said, “Prayer is the very spiritual air the soldier of Christ breathes. It is the all-pervasive strategy in which warfare is fought.” 

We pray that we might stand against the devil’s schemes and withstand in the evil day.  

We do this by: 

1. Standing in God’s strength-Psalm 46:1-3, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 

2. Knowing the Enemy – Ephesians 6:12 

3. Taking up the whole armor – Ephesians 6:13 

4. Pray!!!! - Ephesians 6:18-20 

    a. At all times –1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray continually.” (NIV) 

        i. Wherever – 1 Timothy 2:8, "Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger and disputing or quarreling or doubt [in their mind]." (AMP)  

        ii. Whenever-- Ephesians 6:18, “With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people.” (AMP)     b. In the Spirit – Ephesians 6:19, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions...” (NIV) 

    b. In the Spirit – Ephesians 6:19, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions...” (NIV) 

        i. Pray in Tongues/Prayer Language. 1 Corinthians 14:14-15a, “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding...”(NIV) Romans 8:26, “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” (NLT) 

        ii. Praying the Word. Psalm 12:6-7, The words and promises of the Lord are pure words, Like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times. You, O Lord, will preserve and keep them; You will protect him from this [evil] generation forever. (AMP) 

        iii. Praying those things that are in alignment with God’s Word. 1 John 5:14-15, This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. (NIV) 

        iv.  Praying in Jesus’ Name. 1 John 14:13-14, “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” (NLT) 

    c. With all prayer and supplication 

        i. Prayer – an address (such as a petition) to God. iv   

        ii. Supplication - to ask for earnestly, to plead. v  Philippians 4:6,“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (ESV) 

    d. Keeping alert, being watchful 

        i. Alert - a state of careful watching and readiness especially for dangervi 1 Peter 5:8,”Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 

        ii. Watchful - carefully observant or attentive: being on the watch. vii Matthew 26:41,”Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 

    e. With all perseverance 

        i. Perseverance - continued effort to do or achieve something despite difficulties, failure, or opposition. viii     

            1. Colossians 4:2, “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.” (NLT) 

            2. 2 Timothy  1:3, “Timothy, I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.”(NLT) 

            3. Philippians 4:6, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” (NLT) 

            4. James 5:16b, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (NKJV)  

        ii. Prayer should be our first thought in every situation. It should steer our lives. "Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” Corrie Ten Boom   

    f. For all the saints – Galatians 6:2, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (NIV) 

"The prayer of the feeblest saint who lives in the Spirit and keeps right with God is a terror to Satan. The very powers of darkness are paralyzed by prayer... No wonder Satan tries to keep our minds fussy in active work till we cannot think in prayer." Oswald Chambers 

In conclusion, prayer is the most important weapon in our arsenal.  Prayer is the weapon that holds all the other pieces of armor in place.  Prayer provides the believer with air assault, a direct bead on the enemy’s location!!  Prayer is our walkie-talkie or open line of communication with the Father!! Finally, prayer is our strategic battle plan against our enemy!  As we go into this week, let us Put on All of Our Armor and Pray!!!!!!!! 


Works Cited: 

i https://redeeminggod.com/sermons/ephesians/ephesians_6_18/ 

iii https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/the-weapon-serves-the-wielding-power 

iv https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prayer 

v https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supplication 

vi https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alert 

vii https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/watchful 

viii https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/perseverance

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