Warrior - Firepower
Last weekend I was in Washington DC to ask lawmakers to fast-track cell therapies proven effective in other countries against Type One Diabetes. I shared with them the stories of my three warrior daughters who battle against T1D every minute. Before insurance, the cost of insulin, and their supplies is over $24,000 for a three-month supply. So, I also asked them to help get the cost of prescription drugs lower. I hate saying these words, but I am going to say them:
Without insulin, my children will die.
And, without Prayer, followers of Jesus grow cold and ineffective. We can wear all the armor, hold the sword, and carry the shield, but if we do not pray — we are just standing there waiting to get hit. And for many, they believe in Jesus. They try to do what is right. But they do not pray. And prayer is where the firepower is.
Paul wraps up his teaching on the armor of God with a command to pray.
Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT2)
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT IS OUR AMMUNITION
(1 John 5:14-15, Rom 8:26-27)
Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:18, “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.” This phrase "praying in the Spirit" has been widely misunderstood. Some believe it refers to praying in tongues, while others think it means praying with strong emotion. However, if we look closely at the Greek text and the context of Ephesians 6, we see a clearer meaning.
The phrase “in the Spirit” comes from the Greek words which means to be under the direction or influence of the Holy Spirit. Paul is not introducing a separate kind of prayer but rather describing how we are to pray, prayer that is Spirit-led, Spirit-empowered, and Spirit-aligned. This fits within the larger context of Ephesians 6. In the previous verse, Paul calls the Bible “the sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17). The Spirit operates through the Word of God, which means praying in the Spirit is prayer that aligns with God’s Word, and God’s will.
I want to be clear: When I say prayer is our ammunition, I do not mean that prayer is just about firing back at the enemy, or we pray just to attack. Prayer is not a weapon we launch, prayer is how we stay connected to the One who holds all power. Prayer is not just ammunition, prayer is how we stay supplied, how we communicate with our Heavenly Commander, and how we remain alert on the battlefield.
The Apostle John explains this in 1 John.
1 John 5:14-15 (NLT2)
And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.
He will give us what we ask, if what we ask for aligns with his perfect will. Praying in the Spirit means praying according to God's will—not just listing our own desires, but seeking His purposes. The Holy Spirit will not lead us to pray selfishly, but always according to God’s will. Prayer is powerful because it aligns us with what God has already promised, and that is why prayer is our firepower in Spiritual warfare.
When the enemy tempts us with fear, we fire back with prayer. When the enemy whispers lies, we fire back with truth-filled prayer. When the enemy attacks those we love, we fire back with intercession. And when we do not even know what to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us.
Romans 8:26-27 (NLT2)
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.
The phrase “helps us in our weakness” comes from the Greek and it means to take hold of something together with someone else, to assist by sharing the burden. This means the Holy Spirit does not pray instead of us, He prays with us. He strengthens our prayers when we are weak, and aligns our prayers with God’s purposes.
This is crucial in spiritual warfare because the enemy works through lies, fear, and confusion. Without Spirit-led prayer, we may end up praying in the flesh, reacting emotionally instead of seeking God’s will. A Christian who does not pray in the Spirit is like a soldier carrying a weapon but never loading it. Prayer is how we advance. It is how we stand firm. So let me ask you…are you praying in the Spirit? Are you praying with an open Bible, allowing God’s Word to shape your prayers? Are you relying on the Holy Spirit to guide your prayers instead of just praying what you want? Are you engaging in spiritual warfare through persistent, Spirit-led intercession?
If we want to walk in victory, we must be people of prayer.
PRAYER STRIKES THE ENEMY BEFORE HE STRIKES YOU
(2 Corinthians 10:3-4)
Most people wait until the attack comes before they start praying. When life falls apart—then they pray. When the doctor gives bad news—then they pray. When their marriage is in trouble—then they pray. Prayer was never meant to be a last resort, it was meant to be your first strike.
Too many followers of Jesus are fighting defensive battles when they should be fighting offensive battles. We get comfortable in our relationship with Jesus and fall out of the routine of having a daily prayer time, and open up the door for the enemy to attack. But consistent daily prayer is how we go on the attack before the enemy even has a chance to strike.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NLT2)
We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.
Did you catch that? We do not fight with human weapons. We do not battle in the way the world battles. We do not rely on strength, strategy, or willpower.
But let me be honest with you…I struggle with this. I have taken so many personality tests over the years, and do you know what they all say about me? Joe is a problem solver. Joe is a strategist. Joe is an activator. Joe gets things done.
I am wired to see the problem, analyze the situation, and execute a solution—fast. That is how God designed me. I can walk into a room, spot what is broken, and immediately start thinking of how to fix it. I understand that this is a gift. Not a lot of people are wired this way.
And here is where giftedness gets in the way. Because I am so wired to solve problems, my first instinct is to “fix” not “pray.” I think I can move mountains through my own wisdom. I think I can figure it out on my own. I think I can strategize my way through anything.
But if I am not careful, I can remain stuck in “Joe Fix-It” mode and fail to be dependent on the Spirit of the Living God. That is why “Praying in the Spirit” is so important. When I rely on my problem-solving ability without prayer, I fight battles in my own strength. But when I pray in the Spirit, I am fighting with the power of God.
If you want to solve the problems in your life, pray. If you want to fix the problems you are facing in life, pray. If you want to overcome the attacks of the Devil, pray. And, your prayer will tear down the strongholds of the devil.
A stronghold could be anything that has a grip on your life. A stronghold could be any lie that the enemy has convinced you is true. A stronghold could be any sin, addiction, fear, or shame that keeps you from walking in victory. And Paul says when we pray, we knock them down. So, go on the offense and prevent those strongholds from ever developing in the first place.
Prayer does not remove every battle, but it gives you the power to overcome. When you pray in advance, you are ready before the attack comes. When you pray consistently, you are not caught off guard by the enemy. When you pray without ceasing, you are not waiting for an emergency to seek God.
So, pray for your marriage before it starts falling apart. Pray over your children before they wander away. Pray for our church before problems ever arise. Pray for the city of Myrtle Beach before the enemy takes more ground.
PRAYER KEEPS US LOCKED IN FORMATION
WE STAND STRONG TOGETHER
(James 5:16)
None of us are in this battle alone. If you are a follower of Jesus, you belong to the most supplied army in history. There is nothing our Father does not own. There is no resource He cannot supply. There is no battle too great for Him.
But the enemy loves isolation. If he can separate you from other believers, he can weaken you. And one of the most effective ways he does this is through unconfessed sin. Some sins you may confess easily. But there are other sins—the ones that have taken root, the ones that have become strongholds—that feel impossible to talk about.
Strongholds do not just happen overnight. They start as a temptation, a struggle, a moment of compromise. Then, before you realize it, they become chains. You feel stuck. You feel powerless. And over time, you start to believe the lie that this is just who you are. That change is not possible. That freedom is out of reach. And if that stronghold remains, you will never be free.
But James 5:16 tells us how to destroy strongholds at their foundation.
James 5:16 (NLT2)
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.
Confession is your path to freedom and victory in spiritual warfare. The enemy wants you to believe that if people knew the real you, they would reject you. That if you were honest about your struggles, you would be alone. That if you admitted your weakness, people would think less of you. But the moment you drag that sin into the light of confession, you win because strongholds cannot survive in transparency.
At Beach Church, we believe God desires us to be real, open, and honest about who we are and allow others to do the same. That is why Transparent Living is one of our guiding values. Transparent Living does not mean calling out people’s sin. Transparent Living means creating a culture where confession leads to healing, not shame. When we pray, we tear down strongholds together. When we pray for each other, we stand in formation. We carry one another’s burdens.
The enemy wants you isolated. Prayer locks you into formation with others. The enemy wants you ashamed. Confession sets you free. So let’s be a people that confesses, prays, and stands strong together.