Fighting From Our Knees

18 To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. – Ephesians 18b-20 ESV

Paul ended his description of the armor of God with a call to prayer, strongly advising his readers to “pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion” (Ephesians 6:18a NLT). Constant communication with the Father is essential for our spiritual survival. Prayer is not simply a tool we use to get what we need from God.

As Paul will show, prayer is not to be used for our own selfish desires either. Throughout this letter, Paul has been addressing God’s mysterious doctrine of the church, the body of Christ. In chapter one, Paul addressed Christ's headship over the church, which He had earned through His sacrificial death and resurrection.

And he [God] put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. – Ephesians 1:22 ESV

And all believers are members of that body because they share a common faith in Christ, and that faith was a gift from God, “not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:9 ESV). The church was the mysterious or previously undisclosed plan of God to miraculously join Jews and Gentiles into one body, “that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross” (Ephesians 2:14 ESV). 

It was God who made us “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19 ESV). And it is through the church that “the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 3:10 ESV). It was Paul’s prayer that the Ephesian believers would “know the love of Christ” and be “filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19 ESV). Paul knew that God had a divine plan for the church. He also knew that the future success of the church, including all those who would become part of it through faith in Christ, was totally dependent on the work and glory of God. That is why he ended his prayer in chapter three with the following words:

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. – Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV

The body of Christ, the church, is a powerful force, but only as long as it remains dependent upon God. It is a divinely ordained agency of change in the world, but only when it remains committed to the will of God and connected to His power made available through His Spirit. When we lose sight of the fact that God saved us and placed us within the context of the body of Christ, and begin to see our salvation as something individualistic and isolated, we miss the whole point.

A self-centered, what’s-in-it-for-me attitude has no place within the body of Christ. Even the armor of God is of little use to the Christian if worn in isolation and utilized as a one-man army. As Christians, we must come to grips with the fact that we are in this battle together. Even the best-equipped, most highly trained army will fall to its enemy if its members fail to fight as one. And without constant communication with and obedience to its commander, even the most powerful army will suffer defeat. So Paul calls the army of God to “pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere” (Ephesians 18 NLT).

There is a sense of camaraderie and co-dependent community in his words. We are to pray not only for ourselves, but for one another. We should desire that every believer on the planet live in the power of the Spirit and in accordance with God’s will. The body of Christ requires members who are healthy, whole, and committed to the cause of Christ. That is why Paul even asks for prayer on his behalf.

And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. – Ephesians 6:19 NLT

Paul knew he needed the prayers of the saints to remain committed to the call God had given him. He coveted their prayers, and he longed for them to pray for one another.

What more selfless, loving thing can we do than pray for God to protect, guide, strengthen, and embolden our fellow believers? We must realize that our strength, while provided by God, depends on our unity with other believers. Together, we form a powerful force that can dramatically alter the landscape of the world in which we live. Solitary soldiers, even though well-armored, will have little impact “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12 ESV).

So we must pray. We must seek God’s face, determined to know His will, lift up our fellow soldiers, and rest in His divine strategy for ultimate victory.

Father, I am amazed at how prayerless I can be at times. My prayer life always seems to ebb and flow based on the severity of my circumstances. When times get tough, I turn into a veritable prayer warrior. But when things are going my way, I tend to go radio silent in my prayer life. In those moments are comfortable in my life, I talk with You less because I think I need You less. But nothing could be further from the truth. I desperately need You at all times, and prayer is not intended to be an emergency response system I use in times of trouble. That is why Paul said, “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:15-17 NLT). And Paul reminds me that prayer is not solo-sport with me as the focus. It is a group endeavor. That is why he said, “Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere” (Ephesians 6:18b (NLT). I am part of the divine team You have created and I fight alongside a host of other Christ followers who deserve my support and supplications. I need their prayers and they need mine, so that the body of Christ might remain strong, unified, and able to “resist the enemy in the time of evil” (Ephesians 6:13 NLT). Thank You for this much-needed reminder. Now, help me to live, not as an army of one, but as a prayerful and properly equipped member of the army of God. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Eyes Wide Open.

2 Kings 5-6, 2 Corinthians 12

When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” – 2 Kings 6:15-16 ESV

Do you see God at work around you? Is His participation in the daily affairs of life apparent to you, or do you fail to recognize His involvement in what is happening in the world today. In the Old Testament, we see a God who was active and engaged in the lives of His people. He parted water, provided food from the sky, water from a rock, and unlikely victories over more powerful foes. He did this on a fairly regular basis, and yet the people of God continued to doubt His love and His capacity to do great deeds on their behalf. In the case of Elisha, he had witnessed God's handiwork in the life and ministry of his mentor and predecessor, Elijah. Elisha had enjoyed a first-row seat from which to witness the miracles of God. Now, in chapter six of 2 Kings, we see him passing along his understanding of and belief in God's power to one of his own servants.

What does this passage reveal about God?

As a prophet of God, Elisha tended to make a lot of enemies. He spoke on behalf of God, and a lot of his prophecies had to do with the kings of Israel. He sometimes had to say the difficult things that the wayward kings of Israel did not want to hear. But in this case, Elisha had actually been giving King Jehoram some warnings regarding the less-than-loving intentions of the king of Syria. It seems that every time the Syrians made plans to attack Israel, God would let Elisha know in advance so he could warn King Jehoram. Every time the king of Syria would plan a secret raid, the Israelites would find out. He was baffled and thought there must be a spy in his court or a traitor. But when he was informed that it was all because of Elijah, he sent a large army to capture the prophet of God. But God intervened again. Elisha was in the city of Dothan, and the king of Syria “sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city” (2 Kings 6:14 ESV). Things looked bleak. In fact, that next morning, the servant of Elisha woke up to a troubling sight. The city was completely surrounded by Syrian. In a panic, he asked Elisha, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” (2 Kings 6:15 ESV). And Elisha simply responded, “Do not be afraid” (2 Kings 6:16 ESV). Elisha knew something about God that his servant had yet to learn. Rather than trust God, this young man was focusing on his circumstances and assuming the worst. How could they stand up against an entire army by themselves?

What does this passage reveal about man?

Elisha's servant was blind – not physically, but spiritually. So Elisha told him, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16 ESV). The text doesn't tell us what the servant's thoughts were at hearing this statement from Elisha. It also does not give us his reaction. But because of what Elisha prayed, we can assume that this young man had a hard time understanding or putting into practice what his master was telling him to do. How could he NOT be afraid when surrounded by so many hostile enemies? He could see them with his own eyes. They were as clear as the nose on the end of his face. But Elisha knew that he was blind to another reality, so he prayed, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see” (2 Kings 6:17 ESV). The problem wasn't what the man COULD see, but what he COULDN'T see. He was focused on the wrong reality. He could see the army of Syria, but not the army of God. “So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17 ESV). They had not been alone. The army of God was also there, but the young man had failed to see it. This had been a spiritual battle, not a physical one. It was just what Paul was talking about in Ephesians 6:12: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

How would I apply what I’ve read to my own life?

It's interesting that the army of God did not attack the army of Syria. There was not a big, epic battle fought outside the city of Dothan that day. Instead, God struck the Syrian army with blindness. While the servant of Elisha could see, but somewhat imperfectly, God completely blinded the eyes of the enemy, and Elisha was able to single-handedly lead the entire Syrian army into Samaria, where there eyes were suddenly opened and they found themselves standing as captives before the King of Israel. Rather than have them slaughtered, God commanded Jehoram to feed them a great feast and then send them on their way. “And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel” (2 Kings 6:23 ESV). No shots were fired. No blood was spilled. But God brought about a great victory that day.

Over the 2 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul talks about boasting in his own weakness. Surprisingly, Paul took great pride in his weaknesses, not his strengths. He knew that God worked best through his own insufficiencies and weaknesses. God even allowed Paul to experience regular, ongoing attacks from the enemy, so that Paul might learn to trust in God. He was developing Paul's spiritual vision. God had even told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV). God was telling Paul that the circumstances of his life were not the criteria by which to judge God's power or presence. Paul was to see God even in his own weaknesses. Which is what led Paul to claim, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ hen, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV).

Father, I don't want to live my life with limited vision, only seeing what I believe to be is the reality of my life. I want to have spiritual eyesight that allows me to see You in the midst of anything and everything that happens in my life. I want to see Your power surrounding me at all times. You are always there. You are always in control and completely powerful enough to help me in any given situation. Open my eyes that I may see! Amen

Brothers In Arms.

Ephesians 6:10-24

Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemesof the devil. – Ephesians 6:10-11 NET

This is one of those passages in Scripture that we tend to particularize and personalize to such an extent that we end up missing the whole point of its meaning. For six chapters, Paul has been addressing the corporate body of Christ in Ephesus. His emphasis has been on the unity of the body and the relationships they share with one another. He has gone out of his way to drive home their shared experience in Christ and the unifying presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives, who provides them with a capacity to live lives of mutual submission and love. Now he turns his attention to the spiritual battle in which these believers find themselves. Together, they are lights shining in a dark and desperate world. And as Jesus promised, that world hates them. So Paul warns them to be prepared.

But this is where we do this passage a disservice. In our me-centered, modern mindsets, we attempt to take every passage and make it a personal statement for our benefit only. In doing so, we miss out on the community context of these verses and the corporate nature of the Christian life. At the end of his letter, Paul is not suddenly changing his emphasis to the individual. But that is the way we typically read these verses. We see every personal pronoun as an opportunity to insert our name and make the passage about us. For instance, it would be so easy to read this passage as "Ken is to put on all of God's armor so that he will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For Ken is not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities in the unseen world, against might powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." There is no doubt that this would be a true statement for every believer. But Paul's message throughout this letter has been on the unity of the body of Christ. He has been speaking to believers as a whole, not to individuals. If I read this passage as a personal charge to me as an individual believer, I miss the whole point of Paul's message, and I set myself up for failure. The spiritual battle in which we are engaged is not meant to be fought alone. This is not about me strapping on my spiritual armor and marching off into battle by myself. But that is how most of us read this passage and how many of us attempt to live the Christian life. We attempt to wage war with the enemy alone. We try to go mono y mono with Satan and then wonder why we come back bloodied and battered far too often. Spiritual warfare was never meant to be a solo sport. But in our individualized, it's-all-about-me mentality, we end up battling all alone, with no one to watch our back or to help us when we fall.

The New English Translation is the only one that seems to keep the gist of Paul's message. "Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." Yes, each individual is to put on their individual armor, but we do battle together, not alone. When Paul refers to the struggle in which we are engaged, he refers to it as "our struggle." When we strap our armor and stand to fight the enemy, we do so as an army, not as individuals. We stand out ground together, not alone. We fight side by side, using our shields of faith to protect one another. Together, equipped with the weapons God has provided and standing side by side, we make a formidable army. There is strength in numbers. We are to fight together. Stand together. Pray together. And experience the joys of victory together. The body of Christ is an army. It is made up of individuals who have been chosen by God and placed into His service and equipped with all the resources they need to do battle in His name. We fight for a common cause and against a common enemy. We are not individual gladiators doing battle by ourselves in an arena, but members of the King's army, waging war together.

And lest we believe that victory is up to us, we must always remember that ultimately, the battle and the victory are His. Even as an army of many, we are helpless and hopeless apart from God. So even as we strap on our armor and prepare for battle, it pays to remind one another of this very important reality: "This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s" (2 Chronicles 20:15 NLT).

Father, remove the curse of individualism from our midst. The enemy's greatest weapon against us is to divide and conquer us. We are far too self-centered and prone to fight alone. Our arrogance and pride cause us to run off and do battle alone. We want to experience individual victories. We want the glory. But the battle is Yours, and the victory is only possible because of You. Give us a mindset that allows us to see ourselves as members of an army with a common enemy and a common cause. Together, we can stand firm and resist the enemy in these evil times. Amen.