Ephesians 6:17 - The Word of God, Prayer and Faith

Now we are not only holding up the shield of faith, but we arealso taking the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. We have alreadysaid many things about this but today is especially important as we talk aboutthe Word of God and prayer—the Word of God and prayer. Youcannot separate the Word of God from prayer. If you are praying as you should,you will be reading the Word of God as you should. You will be in the Word, andthe Word will be living in you. If you are not in the Word, you will not bepraying as you should. There is another very important truth: you must pray infaith. So we have faith, the Word, and prayer. These three are interdependentupon each other. You will not continue to do what you ought to do in any one ofthem without the others. Ilove what Mark 11:22–24 says: “So Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Havefaith in God. For assuredly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, “Beremoved and be cast into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart, butbelieves that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that youreceive them, and you will have them.’” They go together. If you want powerin prayer, pray the Word. If you want boldness in prayer, pray the promises ofGod. Iwant to encourage you—if you have never read it before—you can find it onAmazon: Faith’s Checkbook by Charles Haddon Spurgeon. It is available as adaily one-minute devotional book. I encourage you to get it. I used it foryears, and I continue to use it. It contains 365 promises that you “cash in.”It is like a checkbook—you take that promise, make it yours, and pray it backto God. When you pray the promises of God, it gives you boldness. God has mademany promises. Pray those promises. Ifyou want clarity in prayer, pray the Scriptures. One of the best books I stilluse every day—and I have given it to hundreds of people—is The Power of Prayer,a little one-minute devotional by E. M. Bounds. It is like a catalyst. It islike priming the pump. You read it, and you are motivated and encouraged topray. Justyesterday’s February 24th reading was based on Romans 12:12: “Rejoicing inhope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.” Prayer andGod’s promises are interdependent. The promises inspire and energize prayer,but prayer isolates and locates the promise, giving it realization andapplication. I love this illustration: The promise is like blessed rain fallingin full showers, but prayer is like the pipes that direct the rain—focusingthese promises until they become direct and personal, until they bless,refresh, and fertilize.Prayertakes hold of the promise and guides it to its marvelous end. It removes theobstacles and makes a highway for the promise to reach its gloriousfulfillment. Thereis always a little prayer at the end: “Dear Lord God, thank You for Yourpromises. Thank You that our earnest prayers can put Your promises to bless andrefresh in action. I praise Your name. Amen.” SoI want to encourage you today and understand that when you pray God’s Word backto Him, you are praying according to His will. Because 1 John 5:14 says: “Andthis is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything accordingto His will, He hears us.” Oh, the precious promises, the Word of God, andprayer—this is the sword of the Spirit. My friend, it energizes. It carriesprayers to the place where they are needed in the lives of people. Menlike Andrew Murray wrote books such as, “With Christ in the School of Prayer”.Get hold of those books. Read them—but more importantly, pray as you read them.Listen to what God is saying to you. Be encouraged today to take up the shieldof faith, to hold up the sword of the Spirit, and to pray always. Godbless you, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day.