Prayer as Warfare

In Ephesians 6:12-13, Paul tells us, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

There is an invisible spiritual reality behind all abuses of authority. Namely, these authorities aren’t submitted to God. They are at war with Him and often with his people.

But it's a spiritual war. Listen to Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ...”

Prayer is a powerful weapon in spiritual warfare. That’s why it must be given priority.

The goal of war is peace. Do you want to be able to live a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity?

Then pray.

We will conquer those who oppose God by preaching gospel and prayer.

Warfare involved ground warfare and air support.

Colonel C.M. Westenhoff in his book on Air Warfare said, ”...that command of the air is of first priority to any military success in war.”

You can think of preaching the gospel as ground warfare. It’s close quarters. It’s hand to hand.

If you want it to work, you need air support and that is what prayer is. It’s like air warfare. It preps the field of battle for ground assault.

It’s through prayer we gain opportunities. It’s through prayer that hearts are softened and prepared to receive the Word of God. It’s through prayer that the Lord rises up one ruler just as he brings down another.

Why do we lack peace and tranquility?

Why is our evangelism weak and pathetic in its results?

Because we lack prayer.

We cannot have any military success spiritually speaking without prayer. God not only ordains the ends but also the means. And He has ordained that we will take ground through prayer.

Church, do you want to see our neighbors and rulers “come to the knowledge of the truth?”

Do you want them to realize that through Christ alone—not Buddha, Mohamed, Joseph Smith, or any other—can they be made right with God?

Do you want them to be at peace with God through the only mediator, Jesus? Do you want to lead a tranquil and quiet life?

What does your practice say about your theology of prayer?

What does our practice, as a church, say about our theology of prayer? All practice is theological and all theology is practical.

Does your practice say that prayer is more powerful than bombs dropped from planes and rockets shot off from silos?

Is that us?

Are we praying that our rulers would allow us to live a godly and dignified life?

Are we praying that they would know Jesus Christ as Lord?

Are battling spiritual wickedness through prayer?

Are waging spiritual conquest through entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings?

If yes, praise God. If not, let your next prayer be one of repentance and then get back in the trenches.