Prayer and Spiritual Warfare

Prayer Warriors

Eph. 6

"Put on the full armor of God..."

"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."

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

Did you know that prayer was listed with the armor of God spoken of in Eph. 6?

The book of Daniel also gives us a glimpse into the spiritual battles that are going on around us.

The angel Gabriel comes to Daniel a time or two to bring answers to his prayer.

9:22-23

"Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding.  As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed."

10:12

"Do not be afraid, Daniel.  Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God your words were heard, and I have come in response to them."

These two verses have something in common.  The angel tells Daniel that the answer was given as soon as Daniel began to pray in the first verse and as soon as Daniel set his mind to gain understanding and to humble himself before God in the second one.  Daniel was seeking God and his  heart was bowed before Him.  His prayer came from an earnest desire for God's will to be known.  

So many times others have expressed their doubt to me that God hears their prayers.  Many are of the opinion that God is fickle and is not inclined to answer our prayers consistantly.  But the verses below tell us otherwise.  They show us that when we are seeking God and calling out to Him because we trust Him, He not only hears but He also answers. 

Isaiah 65:24 "Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear"

Psalms 9:10 "Those who know your name will trust you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you."

Ps. 34:15 "The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer."

2 Sam. 22:7 "In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I called. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry came to his ears."

Ps. 94:9 "He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see?"

Isaiah 59:1 "Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear"

Psalm 145:19 "He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them."

1 Peter 3:12   "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

What I find interesting is that Daniel was praying and fasting for 21 days without evidence of an answer.  But he kept trusting that God heard his prayer and his hope was in The Lord, who he knew could save him.  The testimony of the angel was that God indeed had sent His answer from the moment Daniel had sought The Lord.   Why then, did the answer not come immediately?  The angel gives the answer to that question.   He said he was detained by the "prince of the Persian kingdom".  This "spiritual ruler" had detained the angel Gabriel and the answer he was sent to bring.  But Daniel kept praying and fasting and finally Michael, one of the the chief princes, came to help Gabriel. 

Eph. 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."  

So we are instructed;

Eph. 6:18 "pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,"

1 Thes. 5:17 "Pray without ceasing."

James 5:16b "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."  

Our enemy, Satan, will try any way he can to undermine your faith and crush you.  More and more I am becoming aware of how many people have believed the lie that God does not hear or answer the prayers of His children simply because they do not see the answer immediately.  But God is always faithful.  And He always answers.  There is a battle that we can not see going on around us.  We must be faithful to do as God has said and pray CONTINUALLY.  Your prayers of faith are powerful AND effective.  And God IS faithful to answer.  Be like Daniel.  Do not give up praying and seeking God even when you do not see the answer that God sends right away.