BIBLE STUDY - Spiritual Warfare Pt. XV (02/01/12)
( All Scripture NKJV)
What is Prayer?
There is no specific piece of armor noted by the Apostle Paul in our text (Eph 6: 13-20) which is specifically linked to Prayer. But, his desire and request for prayer as noted here and throughout his writings, reveals the importance of prayer in Paul's mind and ministry.
In looking at the armor of a Roman soldier the one piece that Paul does not include is the Lance. Most commentators agree that there were seven pieces of weaponry common to Roman armor. Although the lance is not mentioned by name, we find it in verses 18-19 as the Lance of Prayer and supplication.
1. " … praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for ___ ___ ______ - 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,…" Eph 6:18-19
As already discussed, prayer is a powerful spiritual tool. By bringing this weapon to bear against the enemy, you experience the power God has given you to stop major obstacles from developing in your life.
Historically, the lance had been a part of every army and were varied in size and style, based on the need and available materials. Lances of up to seven feet were hurled from a distance, rather than wait for the enemy to come upon them. The shorter lance was used at close range to strike deeper than hand to hand distance.
Likewise there are many kinds of prayer as there were lances of various sizes, lengths, and purposes. Paul is imagining the entire range of lances and spears as he comes to the issue of prayer. By revelation he begins to compare these various lances to the various kinds of prayer that God has made available to us. That is why Paul said,"praying always with all prayer and supplication…."
The phrase "all prayer', is taken from the Greek phrase "dia pases prosecutes", and it would be better translated, "with all kinds of prayer".
Just as the Roman soldier had a short lance for thrusting at an enemy at close range, nothing can compare to a believers prayer of faith that is filled with authority. Similarly, just as the soldier had a long lance to hurl at his opponent from afar, we have intercession that allows us to thwart an enemy attack before it ever occurs.
We are constantly bombarded by unseen spirits, making prayer an indispensable offensive weapon for believers to use to ward off the enemy's attacks. We simply cannot maintain a victorious position apart from a life of prayer.
Eph 6:18 could also be translated "pray with all the kinds of prayers that are available for you to use." This means, no one kind of prayer is better than the others. Rather, each serves a different purpose and is necessary for the life of faith.
How often should we pray? Paul says "Praying always…." The word "always" is from the gr. "en panti kairo", en-better translated "at". The word "panti" means each and every, an all encompassing word that embraces everything including the smallest and most minute of details. The word "kairo" is the Greek word for times and seasons.
With this word "en panti kairo" Paul is saying this ,"anytime you get a chance, no matter where you are or what you are doing, at every opportunity, every season, and every possible moment. Seize that time to pray!
By this we are to understand that prayer is not optional, yet prayer is the most ignored piece of weaponry the Body of Christ possesses.
We will look at six different types of prayer that are available for our use. Each form of prayer is different from the others, just as the multiple types of Roman lances varied from each other. Each form of prayer is also continually at our disposal to use in our fight of faith.
Prayer of Consecration: The most common word for prayer in the New Testament is taken from the Greek word "proseuche". This word is used 127 times in the New Testament in it's various forms.
The word "pros" is a preposition that means "Face to Face". This was the word used in Jn 1:1 when it says "…Word was with God".
One translation says "In the beginning was theWord, and The Word was face to face with God…."
The same word is used in Eph 6:12 to picture our close contact with unseen demonic spirits. It carries the meaning of a close, up-front, intimate contact with someone else.
The second part of the word "proseuche" is "euche" which describes a wish, desire, prayer, or vow.
The person would vow to give something of great value to God in exchange for a favorable answer to prayer. Many would offer a prayer of thanksgiving and/or a sacrifice in advance of the answer. The perfect example is Hannah.
2. " And she was in __________ of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. I Sam 1:10
3. " Then she made a vow and said, "O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a ____ _____ , then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head."
I Sam 1:11
This was a "euche". The compound word "proseuche" tells us that prayer should bring us face to face and eyeball to eyeball with God in intimate relationship. The following are a few examples of the Prayer of Supplication.
4. " But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the ______ place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."
Matt 6:6
5. " So Jesus answered and said to them, Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, "be removed and be cast into the sea," it will be done. And ________ things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
Matt 21:21-22
6. " Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and _________ all night in prayer to God."
Lk 6:12
7. " And in that day you will ask __ _______. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name, Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full." Jn 16:23-24
8. " Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not _____ to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers." Eph 1:15-16
9. " For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be ____________ with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length, and depth and height- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Eph 3:14-19