Pray without ceasing

“…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)

Prayer is part of our study of military metaphors because it is mentioned in the context of standing with the whole armor of God and it tells how that armor is to be used. Meyer’s New Testament Commentary says, “After Paul has [in Ephesians 6:14-17] placed before his readers in what armor they are to stand forth [v.13], he shows yet further how this standing ready for the combat must be combined with prayer.”  The Expositor’s Greek Testament Commentary explains the phrase in v.18, ‘praying always with all prayer and supplication’: “This clause is a further explanation of the manner in which the injunction ‘stand therefore’ [v.14a] is to be carried. This great requirement of standing ready for the combat can be made good only when prayer, constant, earnest, spiritual prayer, is added to the careful equipment with all the parts of the panoply.” Like the physical armor that all soldiers need for combat with the enemy, the equipment alone will not protect us against injury or death. Armor has limited value unless it is put on and used. Ephesians 6:18 explains how that equipment must be used.

The modern military has a saying, “Train the way you fight – fight the way you train.” Constant training hones the skills needed for victory over an enemy whose attacks can be relentless. When it’s time to fight the good fight of faith, we must employ the tactics we learned in our spiritual training.

“…praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” This verse is the soldier’s instruction manual for how to use the range of spiritual weapons God has given us. Prayer (in a general sense) and supplication (specifically seeking, petitioning, asking, requesting) is to take place in the realm (or will) of the Holy Spirit. As we pray, we watch with expectancy for God to answer. We cannot stop praying, petitioning, or watching. This is what it means to, “pray without ceasing.” (I Thessalonians 5:17) Don’t forget to include our fellow soldiers in these prayers. The enemy’s tactics are aimed at all fellow-soldiers. One moment we may be under specific attack and a moment later a brother or sister can be the target of our spiritual enemy’s weapon. Pray for one another! (Colossians 1:9; James 5:16)

Prayer is the training ground that teaches us how to use our weapons and to trust in Almighty God for the outcome of our spiritual warfare. If we learn to resist the day-to-day temptations of life through regular prayer with our Heavenly Commander (our spiritual training camp), we will be fully equipped for the large ambushes and attacks when they strike. Outfitted with the best armor and continuing in prayer, we can safely trust the Lord for victory in the coming battles. 

“Thus says the LORD:

‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,

Let not the mighty man glory in his might,

Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;

But let him who glories glory in this,

That he understands and knows Me,

That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness,

 judgment, and righteousness in the earth.

For in these I delight,’ says the LORD.”

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (NKJV)

Be alert! Pray without ceasing! March on!

“And take…the sword of the Spirit,

which is the word of God;” Ephesians 6:17b

Fellow soldiers, we have come to a military metaphor in the New Testament which is not difficult to interpret because we are told exactly what the sword of the Spirit is—it is the Word of God! The pieces of equipment in the complete armor of God spoken about up to now in Ephesians chapter 6 have been defensive. They protect or support the warfighter. The sword here is the Roman gladius issued to every soldier. It is an offensive weapon that, unlike a javelin, dart, or arrow which are used at a distance, is used when the soldier comes close to the enemy.

The Word of God is an offensive weapon against temptation

The sword of the Spirit is a spiritual offensive weapon given to every believer by the Holy Spirit of God to be used when (among other times) engaged in spiritual warfare with our adversary, Satan. The Scripture is our primary weapon when confronting temptation to sin.  Jesus used the Word of God when He was tempted in the desert. (Matthew 4:4,7,10) May God’s Word reside in our hearts so firmly that we can pull it out at a moment’s notice and fight off any spiritual attack. (Deuteronomy 30:14; Psalm 119:11)

The Word of God convicts of sin

God’s Word is invaluable when the enemy gets past our defenses. Overt temptations are sometimes the easiest to repel by recalling a timely verse from the Bible. More difficult to fight off are the subtle, inner temptations that we don’t see or might not even be aware of. In this case, God’s Word serves as a finely honed blade to expose our sin and bring us to repentance. The power and precision of the Sword of the Spirit protects us within, but only if we use it!

“For the word of God is living and powerful,

and sharper than any two-edged sword,

piercing even to the division of soul and spirit,

and of joints and marrow,

and is a discerner of the thoughts

and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

The Word of God is an instrument of judgment

A spiritual sword wielded in judgment by Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is a terrifying image that is expressed five times in the book of Revelation. Each time, the glorified Christ is pictured with a two-edged sword in His mouth to emphasize that the Incarnate Word (John 1:1,4; I John 1:1) is coming to judge the world with the words of His mouth. (John 5:22; 9:39; 12:47-48)

“He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.” 1:16

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword…’” 2:12

“Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.” 2:16

“Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” 19:15

“And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse…” 19:21

God will accomplish His purpose

Like a soldier’s sword that is solid metal and will never fail him, the Word of God is reliable and guaranteed to always accomplish the purpose that God intends, whether to combat temptation, reveal the innermost thoughts of the heart, or to judge all mankind in the final judgment.

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;

It shall not return to Me void,

But it shall accomplish what I please,

And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

Isaiah 55:11

Be alert! Grab your sword! March on!

The helmet of salvation

“And take the helmet of salvation…” Ephesians 6:16a

Fellow soldiers, the helmet of salvation mentioned by the Apostle Paul last in his list of defensive armor is a metaphor filled with significance. The helmet is the most important piece of your equipment for personal defense and the breastplate protecting your heart is a close second. As you were taught in basic training, the purpose of the helmet is to protect you against direct strikes to the head and the cheek pieces protect your eyes from sideways blows while giving room for vision straight ahead. Spiritually speaking, the helmet of salvation protects your mind and vision against things in the world that can disorient or destroy you, such as discouragement, distraction, or deceit. Ultimately, it is the breastplate of righteousness and helmet of salvation that will give you hope when the battle seems all but lost.

The helmet of salvation protects our minds

Salvation—the regeneration of the Holy Spirit that produces new life in the believer—produces a new mind in the new man. This new mind with the capacity to know God in a personal way, must be nourished, built up, encouraged day by day. “…that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

Part of the renewing process of the mind that preserves and develops a soldier’s thinking is only possible after the new birth that is salvation. “If [since] then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:1-3)

The helmet of salvation protects our vision

Spiritual vision allows the Christian to fix his or her eyes on the goal without distraction or detours. The Apostle Paul set an example of pressing forward with his eyes on the goal at all times, and he urged the brethren of the church at Philippi to do the same:

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14)

The soldier of Christ will keep his eyes on his Commander-in-Chief for instructions in combat and for encouragement to press on with the fight of faith:

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

The helmet of salvation gives us hope

“But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” (I Thessalonians 5:8-10)

With that helmet firmly seated on our heads, we can focus on living the life God called us to live—fighting the good fight of faith. When the apostle Paul wrote of the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation, he could have been echoing a passage in Isaiah where God, the Redeemer of Zion, puts on these same pieces of armor:

“For He put on righteousness as a breastplate,

And a helmet of salvation on His head;

He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing,

And was clad with zeal as a cloak.” (Isaiah 59:17)

Be alert! Take your helmet! March on!

“…above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” Ephesians 6:16 (NKJV)

Among the different types of shields used by Roman soldiers, the one mentioned in Ephesians 6:16 is likely the large, rectangular or oval, scutum shield used to protect front line soldiers and those behind them from the hail of arrows that rained down from a distance before the legion engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. The smaller parma shield was round and held in the left hand while fighting with a sword in the right. Shields came in many sizes depending on the function of the soldier and contrary to some stories or movies, Roman military shields were made of leather and wood and not metal.

The literal purpose of the soldier’s scutum shield was for defense from potentially fatal projectiles like arrows, javelins, or flaming darts fired by crossbows. The Apostle Paul uses the shield as a metaphor to describe faith which will protect us from the evil one—Satan. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (I Peter 5:8)

Brother soldiers, faith is your constant defense against an adversary who will fire his arrows at you when you least expect. You must believe and trust God’s Word, or Satan’s spiritual arrows will wound you when you need your strength the most. Without faith, you could be struck seemingly out of nowhere and not know what to do. You’ll be terrified when the arrows rain down on you. Don’t be a casualty! Faith in the Lord Himself and His Word must be your constant shield at every moment so that you’re ready when a trial, temptation, or calamity comes at you from “out of the blue.”

“The LORD is my strength and my shield;

My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;

Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,

And with my song I will praise Him.”Psalm 28:7

Be alert! Grab your shield! March on!