Ephesians 6:18–20 (ESV) — 18 praying 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,
19 and [praying] also for me,
• that words may be given to me
• in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
• 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains,
• that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Q: What is the purpose of an army? Why does the king, and the people of the kingdom, pay out the enormous costs of recruiting, housing, feeding, paying, equipping, training, maintaining, and fielding an army?
A: 1) It isn’t so the soldiers lead a comfortable, convenient life – for their benefit and to suit their purposes, plans, dreams, & desires. It’s just plain not so. 2) It isn’t so that the army can march in pretty formations around parade fields in peacetime. -- Rather, the purpose of the army is to accomplish any mission assigned – to protect against all enemies, to provide humanitarian relief, to quickly deploy in disaster response, to guard the freedom of lanes for global commerce, to depose tyrants, and ultimately to defeat the enemy on any battlefield in war.
The same is true in Christian spiritual warfare. Spiritual warriors accomplish the mission of our King!
PAUL asked for the prayers of the church, for boldness in that battle, courage in the face of the enemy.
THE APOSLTLE PAUL! Now on his 4th missionary journey – this one under Roman guard, imprisoned for two+ years while he’s waiting for Caesar Nero to hear his appeal. |
