Highlight:
(18) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Ephesians 6:18
Explanation:
Paul is bringing the paragraph, and even the book to a conclusion. The context is still in regard to spiritual warfare. The sentence continued in verse 18 started in verse 14 with “Stand therefore”. The way to stand has been explained by things that should be put on- the armor of God, and things that should be taken up- the helmet of Salvation, the Shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. He continues to explain how we make a stand by stating that we ought to be “praying”.
Here he gives the occasion of praying. In Paul’s mind, praying is part of the activity of spiritual battle. When is spiritual battle happening? All the time. This is why he uses this important word, “always”. When is the believer to pray? The answer is “always”. He even gives the kind of prayer that should be prayed at all times with two different words for prayer.
The first word is “προσευχομενοι” “prosuechemenoi”. This is a general word for prayer that definitely includes the idea of worship as part of the prayer. It is a worshipful prayer where the person praying understands the God He is going to.
The second word is “δεησεως” “deseos”. This word has the idea of a prayer request or petition. It is translated here as supplication. This is all about asking God to supply the needs that we have.
Application:
Think about the occasion of these two aspects of battlefield prayer. When we are in spiritual battle there are two things we need to remember through the action of praying.
In worshipful praying, we must remember who God is. He is worthy of our worship. He is greater than we are, and He is certainly greater than our enemy.
(3) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
(4) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1 John 4:3-4
In supplication, we are remembering that everything we need comes from God. He is the one who will supply the victory. He is the one that will supply our needs. He is the source of strength in the middle of the battle.
Response:
Lord, God, would you please help us to pray as if the victory depends on you today. We are here confessing that it does depend on You. God give us victory through worshipful, and supplicative prayer. Amen
