Text: Ephesians 6:18 NKJV

Further Reading: Acts 12:1-17

praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Ephesians 6:18 NKJV

MESSAGE

You have heard the famous statement that prayer is the key, but for a soldier of Christ prayer is beyond a key that opens doors, it is an offensive weapon to combat the enemy. Prayer is beyond requesting needs from God but a means of keeping the enemy at bay and retrieving what the enemy has stolen.

Never forget that although the word of God states that we must through prayer and supplication request what we want from God, prayer is also a spiritual warfare weapon to stay above the power of darkness. One true statement is that a prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian. Also, those who do not pray ceaselessly will most like become a part of the enemy.

One of the numerous lessons that Christ us is on prayer. The Lord said that we must pray always and not lose heart or faint (Luke 18:1). Who will disagree that prayer is important when Jesus lived a life of prayer? Scripture while describing a foremost high-ranking soldier of Christ described him by his prayer life.

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.
James 5:17 NKJV

This man single-handedly confronted a sinful king and 850 false prophets to prove the supremacy of Christ. That contest was not a mere intellectual stunt, it was a great spiritual warfare and only the man of prayer prevailed.

Why do you think the enemy wants to stop you from praying? One way the enemy tries to stop a Christian prayer life is to attack his prayer life. If the enemy can get you from praying, he will succeed in getting you to sin and lose your guard. That’s why you must pray without ceasing.

In engaging demons and casting them, the Lord said that the soldier of Christ must be fortified by praying and fasting (Mark 9:29). Praying also keeps the Christian’s immunity strong. It is believed that a praying person stops sinning and a sinning man stops praying.

How often do you pray? How much of devils do you cast out according to Mark 16:17? How often do you bind things on earth and it is established in heaven? These are the normal life of a soldier of Christ who prays with all prayer and supplication in the spirit.

Never forget that prayer can fight both visible and invisible battles and give you victory. The apostles knew this and they would not ge distracted but rather give themselves to the ministry of prayer and the word of God. No wonder, when Herod took Peter and the Church prayed that the visible battle against the enemy was won by the invisible force of prayer.

Why not take up weapon of prayer today and begin to conquer the enemy in all realms.

REFLECTION

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.

Acts 16:25-26 NKJV

Prayer breaks prison doors and set captives free. Why then do many underestimate the tremendous power of prayer? Will you begin to use this weapon passionately from now?

PRAYER

Father, please make me a man of prayer.