Ephesians 6:18 Commentary and Bible Study

This great exhortation to prayer closes the passage on the Christian armour. Some even call it the seventh item of armour, but it is not part of the illustration. ‘Praying always’ – this is the general term for prayer. First and foremost it refers to the putting on of each piece of armour, to those six pieces of armour which he has described. ‘Each piece put on with prayer’, says Charles Wesley in his hymn. But you may also take it simply as an isolated exhortation: praying all the time.The words, ‘all prayer’ throw light on what the apostle means by ‘in the Spirit’. It means every conceivable type of prayer. It would not be right to narrow down the definition of prayer in the Spirit to just one particular kind of prayer. It includes the focused, intense prayer, the emergency prayer, the prayer out of sorrow, or when feelings have fled, as well as intercession for others. And then ‘supplication’. Supplication means begging, pleading, asking for things. Of course there is praise, there is adoration of God, and thanksgiving, but then there is asking. ‘In the Spirit’ – some say this means you need a second blessing, a distinct experience of the Spirit filling you in addition to conversion. Some have had it and some have not, so you end up with two classes of believer. No, a true convert has the Spirit from the time of conversion. It does not mean you need some super blessing with tingling going down your spine and speaking in tongues. In the Spirit means that you are praying according to the mind of the Spirit, in a way that is agreeable to him, in a way that the Holy Spirit will be happy to take up for us. How can I go to prayer and pray for me only, or for luxuries, or for worldly pleasures? That is entirely selfish. Yes, I can pray for strength, for help, for light, and for understanding, but not unnecessary things, and things that feed my ego. Nor can I pray for assistance in dubious things. We must also ask this: ‘Can I pray for this at the neglect of other things?’ Yes, you could go to God and pray for your healing, but God may not hear you if that is all you pray for. If you are not interested in your husband, your wife, your children; if you are not interested in the illnesses of others and their need of salvation. Maybe if I had a broader spectrum of prayer then God would hear that prayer for me as well.‘Watching thereunto’. The way our translation runs, our minds naturally go to, looking for the answers. That is certainly included. Don’t pray and then forget you prayed and take no interest in what God does. The Greek is ‘sleepless’. Watching is a good translation, but actually the original helps us too: be always on the watch for things you need to pray for. Watching afterwards is included, but the Greek means looking out for opportunities to pray. What a picture of the life of the Christian. I set out today with my eyes open and I am awake for opportunities to pray. When I get into my car I pray; I embark on my job, I pray; I speak to somebody socially, I pray to witness.‘With all perseverance.’ Perseverance is derived from intense desire for a thing. When you pray, you desire it, and you will pray despite tiredness, despite discouragements and distractions. You won’t allow them to get in the way. It is our calling, and sometimes God keeps us waiting for things lifelong to deepen our trust and our faith. ‘And supplication’, says the apostle, ‘for all saints’, far and near. Every church should have a missionary arm: all saints, all nationalities; those who are free, those who are persecuted; all Christians everywhere.