The Essential Role of Prayer
The essential duty of the Christian, as dressed in the full armor of God: or, how the spiritual armor can only be kept polished.
"Pray all the time with all kinds of prayers and requests in the Spirit. Stay alert and keep on praying with perseverance for all the believers" - Eph. 6:18.
We have finally shown you the Christian in his armor; and now he needs nothing else for the battle or to achieve victory, except for the presence of his leader to guide him and bring him back honorably through wise leadership. To achieve this, the apostle encourages him to pray—"praying always," and so on. It's as if he said, "You now have God's armor, Christian; but be careful not to forget to involve God, who provided this armor, by humbly praying for assistance, or else you might still lose the fight. The one who gives you the weapons is the only one who can teach you how to use them and help you win with them." I know that some consider "prayer" to be a piece of armor and count it as part of the full armor. Honestly, it doesn't matter much how we view it, whether as a separate piece of armor or as a necessary duty and means to use our armor. I will follow the latter view; partly because it doesn't have a specific piece of physical armor, like the others do, to represent it; and also because it connects not only with the last words but with the whole discussion about the armor. It seems to be added as a general duty that influences all the previously mentioned pieces, and it can be applied to each one:—Take the belt of truth, praying with all prayer, etc.; having on the breastplate of righteousness, praying with all prayer, etc., and the same for the rest. The Christian’s armor will rust unless it is polished and maintained with the oil of prayer. Just as a key winds up a watch, prayer winds up our virtues and sets them in motion. In these words, observe,
First, The duty commanded is 'prayer,' with the purpose for which it is appointed, namely, as a help to all his virtues and a means to carry on his battle against sin and Satan: προσευχόμενοι—'praying.'
Second, A guide for prayer; where we learn how to carry out this duty in six different parts.
"Praying" (Eph. 6:18).
We begin with the first, the duty in general, along with its connection to the whole previous discussion about the armor, implied in the word "praying." This means, equip yourselves with the armor of God, and add prayer to all these virtues for your defense against your spiritual enemies. Let's look at the three following parts of the subject. First, prayer as a necessary duty for the Christian. Second, why it is such an essential means, along with our other armor, for our defense. Third, Satan's plans against prayer.
So the main point we can take from this is:
Prayer is an essential duty for the Christian in their spiritual battle.
Doctrine: Prayer is a necessary duty for Christians and should be used alongside all other means in their spiritual battles. It's like a 'silver trumpet' that calls on heaven and brings God to their aid (Num. 10:9). The enemies of the saints fall when God rises, and God waits to be called upon by their prayers. "Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered" (Ps. 68:1). Prayer is a universal duty and should be used in all our affairs and endeavors. Just like bread and salt are essential at our table, prayer is essential for Christians in all their actions, enjoyments, and challenges. Whatever our meal, bread and salt are always present; and whatever our situation, prayer must not be forgotten. Just as we dip all our food in salt and eat it with bread, we should act with every grace, season every enjoyment, mix every duty, and face every temptation with prayer. It has been the constant practice of the saints in all their dangers and difficulties, whether from enemies within or without, from sin, devils, or people, to turn to the throne of grace and surround themselves with prayer, considering this the only safe position for their defense. When God called Abraham from Haran into a strange country, where he wandered from place to place among strangers who might have been suspicious of him—considering the group he had with him—and this suspicion could create many dangers for him from the surrounding kings, it's notable what Abraham did for his defense. In his travels from place to place, the memorable thing recorded about him is that "he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord" (Gen. 12:7-8; 13:3-4). This was the protective barrier he built around himself. Once he prayed and entrusted himself to God's protection, he considered himself safe. But why did Abraham need to trouble himself so often? Didn't he have God's promise when he set out, that God would bless those who blessed him and curse those who cursed him? And didn't he have faith to believe that God would keep His word? We acknowledge both. But neither God's promise nor Abraham's faith in it excused him from the duty of prayer. The promise is given as a basis for faith, and faith is an encouraging help in prayer; but neither is meant to relieve us of our duty or save us the effort of that work.
In the same way that Abraham acted, all the saints have done throughout time. The greatest victories they achieved over their enemies were won through prayer. When Moses sent Joshua into the valley to fight Amalek, Moses himself went up the mountain to pray fervently to God while the battle raged below. It's clear that the victory was due more to Moses’ prayer than Joshua’s sword. Jehoshaphat, even with nearly a million soldiers ready for battle and well-prepared garrisons, prayed earnestly as if he had no one on his side: "We know not what to do, but our eyes are upon thee" (2 Chr. 20:12). If these heroes, when facing human enemies, sought help from heaven through prayer—even when they had other resources available—how much more should Christians, both out of duty and wisdom, do the same in their spiritual battles against powerful forces! The saints' virtues, even when well-trained, are far less capable of standing against Satan without prayer than they were at resisting human foes with military might. "Watch and pray," says our Savior, "that ye enter not into temptation" (Matt. 26:41). Ignoring this advice gave Satan an opportunity to attack. By not following Christ's counsel, all of them, though holy, were shamefully defeated. Most fled in cowardice, leaving their Lord in the hands of his enemies. The one who tried to be braver than the others ended up with greater guilt and shame by denying his Master, who was acknowledging him even in the face of death and God’s wrath. It's noteworthy that just as they fell into temptation due to neglecting prayer, they were rescued from it by Christ’s prayer, which he graciously made in advance for them: "I have prayed...that thy faith fail not" (Luke 22:32).
But what really highlights the importance of this duty is Christ’s own example. Besides his regular practice of it, whenever he faced a major challenge or opposition from Satan and his followers, he engaged in it even more. At his baptism, as he was about to begin his public ministry and face Satan's intense attacks—where he would confront Satan directly after forty days of solitude—we find him praying (Luke 3:21). This prayer was immediately answered, with heaven opening and the Spirit descending on him, accompanied by the voice saying, "Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased" (Luke 3:22). With this, Christ confidently went to meet his enemy, who awaited him in the wilderness. Again, when he planned to send out his apostles to preach the gospel—knowing this would provoke Satan and bring the world's anger upon his messengers—he first instructed his disciples to pray (Matt. 9:38), and then he spent the entire night in prayer before their mission (Luke 6:12). But most importantly, when he was about to face his final battle with the prince of this world and endure the wrath of his Father, which was ready to be poured on him for humanity’s sins—whose cause he had taken up—the success of this great task determined the fate of his mediatory kingdom. How fervently he prayed then! It is said, "He prayed more earnestly." Like a wrestler straining every muscle, he put forth all his strength, "with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard" (Heb. 5:7), so that he won the battle, even though he was slain in the process. Believers now share in the spoils of this glorious victory and will enjoy it for all eternity. And what does all this mean? It shows us both the necessity and power of prayer. Without it, no victory can be achieved, even if we have our armor; but with it, we will be conquerors over all.
Why Prayer is Necessary for the Christian in Their Spiritual Battle
Now, to move forward and explain why prayer is such a necessary tool along with our other armor for our defense, let's lay out these reasons in order. First, because prayer is coordinated with all other means for the Christian's defense by divine appointment. Second, because of the influence that prayer has on all our virtues. Third, because of the great power prayer has with God.
The need to combine prayer with other means for the Christian's defense makes it necessary.
Reason #1: The first reason comes from the way prayer is coordinated with all other means for a Christian's defense, and this is by God's design. The same God who tells us to put on the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness also tells us not to neglect prayer. What God joins together, we must not separate. The effectiveness of these coordinated means lies in their combination. The strength of an army doesn't come from just one troop or regiment, but from all the parts working together. If any single troop or company tries to fight the enemy alone, they can expect to be defeated by the enemy and punished by their general as well. Don't say you use this method and that one. If you willingly neglect any one duty, the golden chain of obedience is broken. "Bonum non nisi ex integris"—nothing is truly good unless it is complete in all its parts. Just like a good action requires all the necessary ingredients and causes to come together, making a good Christian requires a conscientious effort to use all the appointed means. You must follow the Lord "fully" (Num. 14:24), not skipping here and there. It's not the least of Satan's tricks to get between one duty and another, so that a person cannot unite their efforts and be consistent in their pursuit.
Few are so bad that they use no means at all, and not many are so faithful to God and themselves that they conscientiously use all means. One person might claim sincerity and dare to appeal to God, saying they mean well and have a good heart. But when it comes to wearing "the breastplate of righteousness," they find it too heavy and cumbersome. Another person seems very just and righteous, not willing to wrong their neighbor even by a penny to gain many pounds. But they never seek faith in Christ. A third person boasts of their faith and hope, as if they have no doubt about their salvation. However, they don't care how seldom they read the word of God at home or hear it in public, which should nurture and grow their faith. A fourth person might say, "I am a constant churchgoer, my seat is rarely empty, and I often have the Bible in my hands at home." But when it comes to prayer, their private space, if it could speak, would testify that they seldom or never engage in it. This half-hearted effort will lead to many souls' complete downfall. Samuel asked Jesse, "Are all your children here?" (1 Sam. 16:11) Even though only a young one was missing, he had to be sent for before Samuel would sit down. Similarly, I could ask many who are very busy and eager in some specific duties and means, "Is this all that God has given you to do?" If even one is missing, God's blessing will also be missing. Just as the son Jesse was missing was the one God intended to crown, the duty and means we most neglect might be the very one God would especially bless if we were faithful in our efforts.
The impact of prayer on Christian graces makes it an essential duty.
