Prayer As the Secret Weapon
By Janet Nordlund --
This is COMMUNITY SUNDAY! Four times a year we get to be all together as a whole faith family and we love it!!! We will be doing Battle through Prayer using The Armor of God from Ephesians 6:16-20 as our inspiration!
The imagery used in Ephesians 6 is one of Battle. It includes six pieces of Armor that God gives us as His “Church Army” so that we can join Jesus in his fight against Evil and for the Salvation of Everyone! On Sunday, we are going to focus on three pieces: the Shield of Faith, the Sword of the Spirit, and the Helmet of Salvation.
I am an ENTHUSIASTIC ACTION person so this Battle imagery appeals to me because of the implied movement, physical engagement and advance. Yeah, Jesus, let’s go fight, Evil!!! Props for the Armor, I’m in!!
Honestly, though, no matter how many times I have read these verses in Ephesians 6, I am not expecting God to say, “Ok, everyone, suit up and GET to PRAYIN’!” But those are exactly our Marching Orders.
“Prayer is essential in this on-going warfare. Pray Hard and Long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. And don’t forget to pray for me. Pray that I will know what to say and have the courage to say it at the right time, telling the mystery of the Gospel to one and all, the Message for which I am an Ambassador in chains, pray that I get it out fearlessly, as I should.” Ephesians 6:16-20 The Message
I have much to learn about the Battle that God is fighting for the souls of people everywhere and about how He fights it. I am clear from Ephesians that Prayer is Essential in this battle. I am equally clear that I need all of you praying for me so that I will stay engaged and not fall behind or drop out of God’s Great Story.
And, I want to pray for you as you pray for me, like Paul and the Ephesians prayed for each other, that we will not only stay in the fight but we will boldly and fearlessly speak the Good News of Jesus as our daily battle cry.
Have I beaten the metaphor enough?!?
Last one, ATTENTION GPBC, FALL IN!!! We are going to Battle together on Sunday through Prayer!!!
Feel free to get a head start on getting your Armor on by praying through Ephesians 6:10-20.
See everyone Sunday,
Janet and your Community Sunday Team