The Soldier's Knees
November 24, 2024 • Jason Whitley • Ephesians 6:18–20, Romans 12:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, James 5:16–18, John 15:5
John Bunyan once said, “You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.” This timeless truth highlights the Christian's most powerful weapon: prayer. In Ephesians 6, the Apostle Paul exhorts believers to take up the armor of God, not merely to stand firm, but to pray. Prayer, like a soldier’s knees bent in reverence and readiness, completes the Christian’s preparation for spiritual battle.
1. Pray Continually
Paul commands us to pray “at all times in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18). This echoes his words in Romans 12:12: “Be constant in prayer,” and 1 Thessalonians 5:17: “Pray without ceasing.” Early Christians exemplified this devotion. Acts 2:42 records their steadfastness in prayer alongside teaching, fellowship, and breaking bread.
How can we, in a busy and distracting world, obey this command? Charles Spurgeon offers practical wisdom: “I always feel it well to put a few words of prayer between everything I do.” Like breathing, prayer should be woven into the fabric of daily life—whether in moments of thanksgiving, supplication, or confession.
2. Pray Dependently
Paul emphasizes that our prayers must be “in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18). This reminder humbles us, pointing to our utter reliance on the Holy Spirit. Romans 8 assures us that the Spirit helps us in our weakness, interceding when we do not know how to pray.
Scottish pastor Robert Murray McCheyne captured the essence of dependence in prayer: “What a man is alone on his knees before God, that he is and no more.” True prayer is a declaration of our insufficiency and God’s sufficiency.
3. Pray Passionately
Prayer is not a casual exercise but a spiritual struggle. Paul calls for “all perseverance” in prayer (Ephesians 6:18), recognizing its challenges. James offers Elijah as an example: “He prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain” (James 5:17). Elijah, though an ordinary man, demonstrates that passionate, persistent prayer yields extraordinary results.
Even Jesus, in His greatest agony, prayed more earnestly (Luke 22:44). If the sinless Son of God depended on prayer in His darkest hour, how much more must we?
4. Pray Selflessly
Paul exhorts believers to make “supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18). This selfless intercession mirrors the examples of Job, who prayed for his friends, and Jesus, who interceded for Peter’s faith (Luke 22:32). Paul himself sought prayer, asking the Ephesians to pray for his boldness in proclaiming the gospel (Ephesians 6:19-20).
One of Paul’s companions, Epaphras, exemplified selfless prayer. Colossians 4:12 describes him as “always struggling on your behalf in his prayers.” His dedication to interceding for others reflects the heart of true Christian love.
Conclusion
Prayer is the Christian soldier’s lifeline to the Commander-in-Chief. It completes the armor of God, empowering us to stand firm in spiritual battles. As Edward Payson said, “Prayer is the first thing, the second thing, the third thing necessary to minister. Pray, therefore, my dear brother, pray, pray, pray.” Let us, like the Apostle Paul, take up prayer as our ultimate weapon, knowing that the church advances on her knees.
