Open Heaven 9 June 2018: [Saturday] Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye
The Sure Armour III
THE SURE ARMOUR III – Saturday June 9th 2018
Memorise: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication of all saints. Ephesians 6:18
Read: Ephesians 6:10-18 (KJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Bible in one year: 2nd Kings 1-2, Acts 8:4-25, Hymnal: Sing hymn 2
Message:-
Today, we are reflecting on the final two components of the armour of God mentioned in our Bible text. These are prayer and supplication, characterised by perseverance. Regardless of the sophisticated weapons available to a soldier, If he or she cannot persevere, these weapons will have little or no effect. Therefore, it is very important to emphasise the attribute of perseverance in the place of prayer and supplication. Imagine what would have become of Daniel’s requests and fasting if He had not persevered in prayers and supplication for 21 days (Daniel 10:2-13).

PRAYER
Prayer is the key with which he unlocks the heavenly armoury in order to access divine weapons for our spiritual battles. Our Lord Jesus Christ said something about prayer that many Christians seem to ignore, particularly in spiritual warfare. At the garden of Gethsemane, He gave us this counsel:

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41

Even the Almighty God who becomes man admits here that the flesh is weak. Therefore, to overcome temptation, we need to watch and pray. Adam’s victory would have been glorious if he did not fall into the temptation of the devil. Little wonder when the second Adam came, He took the issue of prayer very seriously and also revealed the importance of prayer to us.