As we come to the end of the list of the items of spiritual armor in Ephesians Chapter Six, we come to verse 18: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. . . .” It is important that we understand this verse to be part of Paul’s discourse on the spiritual armor, because prayer is the supply line for the battle!
“Logistics” is the art of moving and quartering troops, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. It refers to the complex process of coordinating and moving resources (people, material, inventory, and equipment) from one location to another; the term originated in the military, referring to the movement of equipment and supplies to troops in the field. This principle is of utmost importance: an army is only as good as its supply line!
In fact, logistics often determines the course of the war! In other words, prayer is a wartime activity. It is the supply line of the church in enemy territory! We must NOT neglect this essential aspect of the spiritual armor of God!
The supply line of prayer is a direct line. What does a platoon do when it is under heavy fire? They call in air support! In Hebrews 4:14-16, we are encouraged as follows: “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Notice that his is a direct line into the throne room of God! And we are to come “boldly” – that is, with free and fearless confidence, with cheerful courage – into His presence through the medium of prayer. And this boldness is a “holy boldness,” secured not by our own good works but by the finished work of Christ on our behalf.
The supply line of prayer is also a secure line. The enemy has no power to stop our prayers! All other pieces of armor can be touched by the enemy: he can corrupt the girdle of truth, dent the breastplate of righteousness, trip up the boots of the gospel, diminish the shield of faith, crack the helmet of salvation, make you drop the sword of the Spirit, but he can NEVER interfere w/our prayers! Remember Hebrews 4:16? This is a direct line into the throne room of God; Satan has no place nor power there! John wrote about “the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. . . .” 1 John 5:14-15.
Finally, the supply line of prayer is an all-sufficient line. Everything we need is available to us through the medium of prayer! There is NOTHING that God cannot do – “But my God shall supply all your need according to hisriches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:19. Jesus Himself put it this way: “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Luke 11:9-13.
We will return next week to this topic of prayer, and see that not only is prayer our supply line, but it is also our “secret weapon.” In the meantime, let us seek the throne room of God through this amazing supply line that He has provided us in prayer!
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor