Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

“16) Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].  17) And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.  18) And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Ephesians 6:16-18 (AMP)

Scripture delineates for us who have ears to hears and eyes to see, as granted to all citizens of the Kingdom of God (Matthew 13:11-16), one of the weapons of GOD for our use in defense, protection, and victory. More specifically, the putting on or utilization of the whole (not some) Armor of God daily (not occasionally) because the fiery darts of the evil one are consistent and often pierce when we least expect or have let our guard down. Therefore, Ephesians 6:10-18 details this specific weapon of God, boiling it down, so to speak, to our:

• shield (faith)
• helmet (salvation)
• sword (Holy Bible/The Word of God)
• prayers (communication with God via the Spirit/in tongues; of supplication for the brethren; of intercession for the lost)

Perhaps it is due to the fact that prayer is one of the “things of God” (which is a weapon of God in and of itself), that discussion about the Armor of God often dwindles with the seventeenth verse. Yet, just as the Lord Jesus reiterated and exemplified re “walk-the-talk” (Matthew 5:44, 6:5,14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 18:1; John 17:1-26; etc.), the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus emphasizes prayer more than once; he reminds of the power derived from all kinds of prayer, and then a request for prayers of supplication for himself.

Now, I ask, have you ever seen a live audience sitting on the sidelines, and simply watching during actual combat? Is anyone sitting around the sidelines, and serving as an announcer of the catastrophic events about to unfold in their midst? Ah, yet a significant number of Believers do exactly that as opposed to exercising the sacred Ministry-of-Authority, in the Name above all names, bestowed (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18). The Lord Jesus didn’t announce the storm; He spoke to it (Mark 4:37-40; Luke 8:22-25). This day, all “in Him” have the same capability. Those redeemed, recreated/reborn and reconciled unto the Family of God by the blood of Jesus, replete with every right & privilege restored as heirs of God and co-heirs have been given the measure of faith (Romans 12:3) as well as the God kind of love by which faith is operated (Galatians 5:6). Our part is to endeavor to strengthen and to exercise that which we have received by the finished work of Christ Jesus to the honor, praise and glory of GOD. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” Romans 10:17 (KJV).

Speak the promise . . . Harriet