To Be Overcomers, We Must Pray for One Another

When war breaks out, the innocent party is usually unprepared to fight it. This was the case in World War II when the allies quickly had to rally their forces to meet an enemy much more ready for battle.

True believers in Christ Jesus are slowly realizing that they, too, are in a battle. Theirs, unlike World War II, is a spiritual battle. They battle "not against flesh and blood, but against...the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Eph.6:12 NIV). This war is an unusual one in that the true church already knows the outcome. It was won at Calvary when Jesus Christ was victorious over the powers of hell and gave to His followers the use of His name to do the mop-up operations.

There is a story in I Samuel 17:32-50 about the Israelites being threatened by an enemy much better equipped than they. The enemy was the Philistines who had in their ranks a giant who challenged anyone who dared fight him. Finally a little shepherd boy named David took five smooth stones, placed them in his shepherd's pouch, picked up his staff and sling and said he alone would fight the giant. A small boy, untrained, and without soldier's armour, killed the giant and won the battle.

Christians know the final outcome of their battle, yet they have been caught off guard. They are unprepared to fight the onslaught of evil from the occult world where Christians are the evil ones and curses are thrown against them. However, the true body of believers is quickly mustering forces to fight the war and purify herself. She, like little David, is picking up the five smooth stones, the staff, and the sling, all of which represent the battle equipment issued by Jesus to His followers. The list of items is in Ephesians 6. They are offensive weapons as well as armour for defense.

The first stone He gives us is a shield of FAITH. Much as we try to muster up faith, it is a gift for which we must ask Jesus. This stone will give us courage to begin the battle.

The second stone is a breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jesus, by His death, provided a way for us who are sinners to become a holy people. The stone of righteousness, then, is also a gift from Jesus.

Stone number three is GOD'S PEACE. We, on our own, are a quarrelsome lot. Our minds are in constant turmoil unless we have found that if we trust Jesus there is a peace which only He can give us. His peace, too, is a gift.

Stone number four is the belt of truth--to have truth we need GOD'S WISDOM. Jesus left His Spirit with us, as a Counsellor, that we might understand spiritual things. Wisdom is a gift from Jesus.

Stone number five is a helmet of salvation. We must be born into the world of the Spirit to get this gift as a PROTECTION OF OUR MIND against the powers of evil.

David's staff is the POWER OF GOD to get rid of evil. The Bible calls it a "sword of the Spirit." We can never get this power on our own, but it is free to all who read His Word and seek His face. It is a gift.

David's sling is our authority to use JESUS' NAME AND BLOOD--a gift to us from Calvary. Our part is that we must fast and pray to make use of this weapon.

Children do not usually fight wars, but even children are asked to fight this war. They, like their elders, have no strength or power on their own. They do not even know to ask Jesus for the gifts He gives as weapons. It is up to grown-ups to ask Jesus to give His equipment for battle to their children.

The pouch in which David carried his stones is the prayers of others. We must not only pray for our own weapons, but for weapons for our fellow-Christians.

Let us pray for one another to be "overcomers" in the end-time church!