Biblical Spiritual Warfare - 13

Subject: Armed Servants

by Rick Welborne

Ephesians 6:5-13 (NIV)
⁵  Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.
⁶  Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
⁷  Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men,
⁸  because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
⁹  And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
¹⁰  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
¹¹  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
¹²  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
¹³  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 

--It is very difficult to get away from this subject of the armor of God and tonight will be no different.

--Tonight I want to talk to you about being armed servants...soldiers with the full armor of God on willing to serve their God and people.

1. Armed servants must be inspired to serve!

Isn't it interesting that our military branches are called the armed services...see what I found on this military website: Today's Military: 

Inspired to Serve. Every day, many thousands devote themselves to protecting-freedoms, maintaining peace, providing relief and supporting policy around the globe. For many young Americans, the benefits of serving can be tremendous: training, honor, education, travel, pay, and self-discovery. However, military service is not for everyone. It requires self-discipline, intense physical work and time away from family and friends while protecting America and its citizens at home and abroad. For some, these commitments impose too great a burden. Young people need a plan for their lives.

—Protecting freedoms - we serve to help people find their freedom. Maintaining peace - serving to help people find peace that passes all understanding. Providing relief - serving the poor and hurting in our church and community...world! Supporting policy around the globe - serving thru missions around the globe.

—The benefits - training (discipleship), honor (serving our King Jesus), education (studying God's Word), travel (missions), pay (Jesus - My reward is with Me), and self-discovery (finding our purpose).

—However, military service is not for everyone...putting on the full armor of God and praying in the Spirit doesn't appear to be what everyone chooses...why? 

—It requires self-discipline, intense physical work and time away from family and friends while protecting America and its citizens at home and abroad...as we said last week, there is a full price that we have to pay...we must count the cost.

 —Protecting our families and brothers and sisters in Christ will absolutely take armed servants who are disciplined (disciples) and it will take sacrifice.

—Young people need support as they consider their life path - Armed servants are willing to lead the generation coming after them...Legacy...Leading every generation...adults, children, and youth!

2. Armed servants must be leaders!

—Tom Clancy is known for his dramatic military novels but years ago he wrote a historical account on the art of warfare: Into the Storm: A Study in Command

—It is a profile of General Fred Franks...did not look like a war hero...short in stature, mild mannered, slight of build...but on the inside...General Franks is the epitome of competence and confidence.

You read this book and your mind is stretched as you learn about the life and death nature of this thing called leadership.

—You follow Franks early in his career as he leads his troops thru firefights in the jungles of Vietnam.

—You suffer with him as he steps on a land mine that blows off his foot and confines him to a VA hospital for a never-ending recuperation process. Wounded Christians quit! 

—You hope with him as he petitions the US army to allow him to serve as one of the few amputee commanders in the US Military history.

—You strategize with him as he puts together the entire ground operation for the 1991 Gulf War, involving hundreds of thousands of troops and thousands of tanks and other supply vehicles.

—You pray with him throughout the long restless night before the invasion.

You agonize with him as he visits the front lines and sees US soldiers being zipped into body bags, others being carried away on blood soaked stretchers.

—You celebrate with him as he congratulates every soldier he can get an audience with as Desert Storm goes down in history as one of our nation's greatest military victories.

—Bill Hybels in his book Axiom says: Every soldier deserves competent command.

Franks: Air conditioned officers' quarters are no place for a leader whose troops are under fire...You gotta get in the fight...Franks would often say. They must be present in order to ignite the soldiers' resolve. They must provide a bottomless supply of courage for soldiers to feed on when their own supply begins to dry up! 

— We should be there for each other. Jesus is our Commander in Chief and He leads us by an example of sacrifice and willingness to lay down His life.

Your Lord and your pastors here have been and are in the trenches with you...we are armed servants and we are fighting soldier to soldier...shield to shield…side by side.

—We are not only in a battle to help each other...we are in a battle for the souls of men!

Hybels: It's high time that leaders in the local church got crystal clear on the intensity of the battle we are in and on what it will take to win...thus our teaching and exhortation on putting on the whole armor of God!

Hybels: We are engaged in a wild spiritual battle for the hearts and minds and souls of human beings. As tragic as it is to see soldier's dead bodies being stuffed into black bags, the stakes of our battle are infinitely higher.

—Cont. Our effectiveness, or lack thereof, seals men's and women's eternities: for us, it is not just a life or death deal. In our leadership battles, the stakes are eternal life and eternal death, a reality that has always been present in kingdom warfare. Jesus knew it, the Scriptures preach it, and we must believe it.

—God is the giver of the leadership gift, and he fully expects us to keep heading straight into the fight until such time as He changes our orders or takes us home.

--We are in the highest stakes battle in existence on the broadest battlefield of engagement ever imagined. Those we lead within the faith deserve our most competent, confident efforts. And Christ's instruction to reach the rest (lost) demands them.

—I guess the question is this: Will we be armed servants or will we make excuse of why we can't? Will we be good soldiers of the cross or not?

3. Armed servants must serve!

Helen Keller – I am only one, but I am still one. I cannot do everything but I can still do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do something I can do!

—You cannot do everything when it comes to being an armed servant for Christ...but you can do something...you can serve! You can be faithful and consistent!!

—Wasn't it the army who had the slogan...An Army of One...

—When God is on my side or more correctly...when I am on the side of God's army...we are an incredible force. We are one and we are powerful when we are together for the Lord.

Romans 8:31-39 (NKJV)
³¹  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
³²  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
³³  Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 

³⁴  Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
³⁵  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
³⁶  As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
³⁷  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
³⁸  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
³⁹  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Do we really want to serve in God's army, do we want to put on the full armor of God, and do we want to pray in the Spirit so that we can stand against Satan's attacks?

Matthew 20:25-28 (NKJV)
²⁵  But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.
²⁶  Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.
²⁷  And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave--
²⁸  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

—We don't need more lords...we need more soldiers who are willing to serve...armed soldiers willing to fight for the souls of men and women!

Willing to fight for our families, our church, our community, and our country! 

—Barclay's Daily Study Bible (NT) - What Jesus calls upon his followers to do what he himself did. He came not to be served, but to serve. He came to occupy not a throne, but a cross. It was just because of this that the orthodox religious people of his time could not understand him. All through their history the Jews had dreamed of the Messiah; but the Messiah of whom they had dreamed was always a conquering king, a mighty leader, one who would smash the enemies of Israel and reign in power over the kingdoms of the earth. They looked for a conqueror; they received one broken on a cross. They looked for the raging Lion of Judah; they received the gentle Lamb of God. Here is demonstrated the new glory and the new greatness of suffering love and sacrificial service. Here is royalty and kingship restated and remade. Jesus gave everything to bring men back to God; and we must walk in the steps of him who loved to the uttermost. 

Passionate Evangelism – 3

Subject – The Witness of Peter

by Rick Welborne

Acts 10:34-43 (NLT) 

³⁴  Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. 

³⁵  In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. 

³⁶  This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 

³⁷  You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. 

³⁸  And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 

³⁹  “And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, 

⁴⁰  but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, 

⁴¹  not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 

⁴²  And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. 

⁴³  He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.” 

--This story has so many messages for us but for this series “Passionate Evangelism” we want to concentrate on how Peter was led by the Lord to reach Cornelius and his household.

--You, if you listen to my heart, know that reaching the lost is one of my passions and witnessing for Christ is one of the joys and privileges of my life.

--I pray for opportunities to share Christ every day and God is always so faithful to provide opportunities. Last Tuesday before our Board Meeting I was walking out of my office to go to Bailey Hall.

--There was my opportunity right in front of me…I am sure all of you have seen the gentleman who rides his bicycle all over the county…He always has on his orange vest…I have seen him for 28 years.

--There he was with his bike and his little dog (Terrier I think) and of course his dog’s name was Rikki…I made him laugh about his dog Tricky Rikki and I told him about Screwy Louis…our Beagle.

--I asked him how he was doing and he told me his story…something you must understand about everyone you witness to; they all have a story…we just have to be willing to listen…I listened.

--He shared how he has been battling pancreatic cancer (he is still riding his bike so what is our excuse for not exercising). He told me about doctors and chemo…losing weight and fighting this dread disease.

--Witnessing is largely listening…finally when he paused I said, “Can I pray for you?” His eyes became a fountain…Many are praying for me and I am trying to pray too…He thought I would pray later.

--Witnessing is not missing the opportunity to pray right now! He willingly let me pray…you see when people are hurting or going thru a crisis they are vulnerable to the gospel…don’t miss it. He wept more.

--Of course I invited him to church but I also invited him to stop by the church anytime he wanted prayer and I would take the time to pray for him.

--You see, I believe he was like Cornelius, he was searching…all these years I have seen him riding, I have never seen him in our parking lot…do you suppose he was searching. What about the timing? Perfect!

--I could have just waved and said hello but I made a b-line straight to him hoping for an opportunity and God gave it to me…Please pray for Ralph every day…let’s pray now!

1. Peter shows us, to be a good witness we must deal with our prejudice.

Acts 10:28-29 (NKJV) 

²⁸  Then he said to them, "You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 

²⁹  Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?"

--Listen to what Peter said to Cornelius…It is unlawful for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation.

--Let me point out here that this is one of God’s Apostles, he is saved by the blood of Jesus, and he is baptized in Holy Spirit, yet he is bound, to some degree by his prejudice.

--He was actually saying that according to his law he could not even talk to or be around Cornelius and his family…how many of you know that we have some of the same laws.

--Oh, they may not be written but they are laws that are written on the hearts of many who claim Christ…we do not speak to certain people because of fear or misconceptions…because of prejudice.

--Several years ago we had a missionary and his wife on a Sunday night and Tricia and noticed that both of them were distraught and upset…we were concerned and asked what was wrong?

--They shared that the pastor they had been with that morning asked them why were they going to Africa to be missionaries…didn’t they know that “those people” do not have souls! We were in shock!

--We definitely encouraged them in the Lord and we have supported them for close to 20 years in Africa where many of ‘those people’ have received Jesus as Lord and Savior. Of course, I called that pastor!

--When we look to Jesus’ own words we can say…Enough said about all people.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV) 

¹⁸  And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 

¹⁹  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

²⁰  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

2. Peter shows us, to be a good witness we must be people of prayer.

Acts 10:9-10 (NKJV) 

⁹  The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 

¹⁰  Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance

--I personally am glad for the honesty of the scriptures…Peter goes up on the roof at noon to pray and he fell into a trance…he fell asleep…thank you, Lord, You can speak while we are napping.

--I read several translations and some say trance, some say he had a vision, and some say he fell into a deep sleep…that is my favorite version…how many of you need your nap?

--Hear me, when we earnestly pray we are in a place where God can speak to us either thru dreams or visions!

Know this, if we are really listening to Him He will speak to us about the lost. It is His top priority!

Luke 19:9-10 (NLT) 

⁹  Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 

¹⁰  For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.”

--These verses are speaking about wee little Zacchaeus…Jesus was praying and looking for him.

--How much do you pray for the prodigals in your life…how much do you pray for opportunities to share Christ with others. As we pray in Holy Spirit God will set up divine appointments. Like Ralph.

--When we truly pray God can break down walls of prejudice, walls of hurt, walls of addiction, walls of bitterness…God specializes in tearing down walls…ask Joshua. 

--Peter has been praying and now God has him in a place where he can be used in a tremendous way to take the gospel to the Gentiles…how many of you are glad that wall was broken down.

 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (NIV) 

¹⁷  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 

¹⁸  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 

¹⁹  that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 

²⁰  We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

3. Peter shows us, to be a good witness we must be people of power.

Acts 10:43-48 (NKJV) 

⁴³  To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins." 

⁴⁴  While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 

⁴⁵  And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 

⁴⁶  For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 

⁴⁷  "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"

⁴⁸  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days. 

--Maybe you have never thought about it like this before but many times when you are witnessing to people, suddenly they will begin to weep, couldn’t that be Holy Spirit falling on them?

--Sam Jenkins, who is in the hospital now, was in the hospital about 20 years ago and he did not know the Lord. I prayed as I went to see him…when I went into the room He said the presence of God overwhelmed him.

--He has been faithful to God and church ever since then because he had an encounter, not with me, but with Holy Spirit…we must be people of the Spirit…people of power.

--A few years ago I got the call every pastor loves to get…Pastor, mom and I are here in the hospital with dad and he is in bad shape. We won’t you to come and pray for him. Oh, yeah, he hates preachers! I said ok!

--I prayed in Holy Spirit (tongues) the whole way up there…I prayed in the Spirit even walking down the hall way to the room…He hates preachers…oh, joy!

--Everyone say…This was the power of God…within 3 minutes after getting into the room he is already asking me to pray for his healing…he grabs my hand as I pray and you could feel God’s presence!

--As soon as we finish that prayer…I say to him…you really want Jesus in your heart, don’t you! Tears begin to flow and he says yes! You could see the transformation on his countenance. He was born again.

--The wife and daughter are amazed by God…we all rejoice for a while and then I go back to my office. Fifteen minutes later I get a call from the daughter…Pastor, will you do dad’s funeral…of course, when he dies.

--The last thing I had heard was the doctor say to him…we are sending you home for 3 months to get stronger and then we will do surgery…I was in shock…when the power of God shows up people are saved!

--Do you want the power of God? He is available! He is Holy Spirit!

Biblical Spiritual Warfare – 12

Subject – The Lance of Praying in the Holy Spirit

by Rick Welborne

Ephesians 6:10-21 (NIV)
¹⁰  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
¹¹  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
¹²  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
¹³  Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
¹⁴  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
¹⁵  and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
¹⁶  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
¹⁷  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
¹⁸  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
¹⁹  Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,
²⁰  for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
²¹  Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 

--I pray that you are being intentional about putting on your armor every day and how it represents (every part) the Lord Jesus Christ. Please understand that when you are putting it on you are putting on Jesus!

Romans 13:11-14 (NKJV)
¹¹  And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
¹²  The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
¹³  Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
¹⁴  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

--Put on the armor of light…put on the Lord Jesus Christ and do it every day! Someone trying to be funny asked “Why do I have to put on the armor of God every day if I do not take it off?”

--Part of being intentional is forming good godly habits every day…how ridiculous…Well, I brushed my teeth yesterday, I bathed yesterday, I used deodorant a week ago…please do them every day! Wake up every day!

--First, it is a spiritual battle:

Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
¹²  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

--Second, we honor Jesus by putting Him on every day and by praying in the Spirit! Not putting Him on daily implies that you do not have that personal intimate relationship with Him.

--As I continued to meditate on the armor of God my mind kept going back to the Roman soldier’s lance, his spear. I wanted to be careful not to imply what the Word was not saying.

--Two ministers of whom I have great respect for their wisdom of the Word and their walk with God…both speak of the lance of prayer according to verse 18…Pray in the Spirit!

--Rick Renner Dressed to Kill is where much of the information has come from in this series and Robert Morris at Gateway Church in his message The Power of Words speaks of the lance of prayer.

--I believe the Apostle Paul obviously studied all the armor of the Roman soldiers who were assigned to watch over him in prison…I personally believe he saw their spears and that was his inspiration here.

--Renner points out different lengths and shapes of lances and their purposes. He shares about lances that were five to six feet long and others as long as telephone poles.

--He speaks of spears used for close combat and others made to be thrown at the enemy…some were made for holding ground when the enemy would come in like a wave.

Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV)
¹⁸  praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…

--This verse can be translated “Pray with all manner of prayer.” “Pray with all kinds of prayer.” “Pray with all kinds of prayers that are available for you to use.”

--How often should we pray? 1 Thes. 4:17 says that we are to pray without ceasing. Tonight we will look at examples of our lances of prayer.

1. Let us first establish that the lance as well as the rest of the armor is only symbolic.

A. David wanted Goliath to know it was not the human power or strength of his weapons.

B. When we have the lance of prayer used in the Name of the Lord: We experience victory! Notice how David makes a clear distinction of where his help came from. 

1 Samuel 17:44-47 (NKJV)
⁴⁴  And the Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!"
⁴⁵  Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
⁴⁶  This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
⁴⁷  Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD'S, and He will give you into our hands."

C. David said I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel.

D. The lance of prayer has to be in the Name of the Lord...Jesus!

2. The lance of prayer surrounds us with faith to believe God will protect us when the enemy comes in strong!

A. When the soldier is attacked especially by horsemen (Egypt had many)..the long lance (20 ft long) could be anchored into the ground and pointed toward the enemy to minimize his attack.

B. When it appears as the enemy is coming in like a wave or like a flood...the lance of prayer in the Spirit will stop them.

Isaiah 59:16-21 (NKJV)
¹⁶  He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him.
¹⁷  For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak.
¹⁸  According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, Fury to His adversaries, Recompense to His enemies; The coastlands He will fully repay.
¹⁹  So shall they fear The name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.
²⁰  "The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," Says the LORD.
²¹  "As for Me," says the LORD, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants," says the LORD, "from this time and forevermore." 

C. When the enemy comes in like a flood, raise up your lance of prayer against him...do spiritual warfare thru powerful prayer! The words in our mouth are the words of prayer inspired by the Spirit of God.

James 5:16 (NLT) 

16  Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

D. God's Word will be in our mouth stopping the power of the enemy. Pastor Rick, I am fearful of what Satan's powerful weapons will do to me and my children...Listen to what happens when we pray!

Isaiah 54:11-17 (NKJV)
¹¹  "O you afflicted one, Tossed with tempest, and not comforted, Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, And lay your foundations with sapphires.
¹²  I will make your pinnacles of rubies, Your gates of crystal, And all your walls of precious stones.
¹³  All your children shall be taught by the LORD, And great shall be the peace of your children.
¹⁴  In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you.
¹⁵  Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake.
¹⁶  "Behold, I have created the blacksmith Who blows the coals in the fire, Who brings forth an instrument for his work; And I have created the spoiler to destroy.

 ¹⁷  No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me," Says the LORD. 

3. The lance of prayer can be thrown at our enemy with great results

A. This speaks to me of intercession...before the enemy can get to us or our kids the lance of prayer stops him in his tracks.

B. Put on the armor...put it on everyday...pray all kinds of prayers...pray in the Spirit...intercede for the lost...for your kids...your family!!! Send that spear!!!

C. Our prayers can be where we can't be...we can send the lance of prayer mixed with God's Word and it can accomplish God's will!!

Psalm 107:19-22 (NKJV)
¹⁹  Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses.
²⁰  He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.
²¹  Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
²²  Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing. 

--I remember many stories from our missionaries of how God sent His Word to them at rescued them just in time. A dear saint had been awakened by the Lord to pray for a missionary and his family.

--The Lord told her to pray until He released her…she obeyed. She was sending power across the ocean to recue this family who was in great peril.

--At the exact time this lady arose to pray, hostile natives were surrounding the house where the missionary’s family was…the situation looked dire until this saint of God began to throw the lance of prayer their direction.

--Just at the moment that all looked hopeless…the natives saw something and ran away terrified. Later the natives started coming to Christ in large numbers…they experienced the power of God.

--The lady who prayed sent a letter to the missionary and his family inquiring of what might have been going on. They both discovered that at exactly the same time her prayer in the Spirit and the events were unfolding.

--Thru praying in the Spirit God’s power was sent to save this family…we all need to do spiritual warfare by praying in the Spirit every day and when Holy Spirit leads us!