Prayer is warfare. Paul makes this explicitly clear in Eph 6:10-20, but so often, we pray halfheartedly, not fully realising the power of prayer. A recent film from America called ‘War Room’ shows very clearly that prayer is a battle. The film focuses on the problems faced by one couple who, despite apparently having all they could wish for, are in a marriage which has become more like a war zone than a place of harmony and love. It takes the wisdom of an older prayer warrior, Miss Clara, to reveal to them the transformative power of prayer.
As we continue to pray for salvation to come, longing for Acts 2:47 to be repeated in our day (‘And the Lord added daily to their number those who were being saved’), let’s understand that our intercession for people to be saved is crucial and cannot be done halfheartedly or with no commitment. We are called to be like Solomon’s mighty warriors, ‘experienced in battle, each with our sword at our sides, prepared for the terrors of the night.’ (Song of Songs 3:7-8) We are called to pray for the Holy Spirit to convict people of sin, righteousness and judgment (John 16:8), to open blind eyes (2 Cor 4:4-6), to confirm the proclamation of the Gospel with signs and wonders. (Rom 15:18-19) We are called to pray using the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests, to be alert and keep on praying for all God’s people so that there can be a fearless proclamation of the Gospel in our country. (Eph 6:18-19).
Let’s pray this month especially for:
- the outreach ministries our church is involved in to yield spiritual fruit (Monday night youth group, Friday morning Parent & Toddler group, Friday night badminton, Saturday coffee morning)
- opportunities to share the gospel with people who come to these outreaches and with people who hire the building (Slimming World, autism group, Dearne Stay Fit and other occasional hire)
- people to ‘cross the corridor’ from the community hall to the worship room, to come to meetings on Sundays and be saved
- opportunities to ‘gossip the Gospel’ with our family, friends, neighbours, work colleagues and all our acquaintances