Day 21: Intercession

Paul's analogy goes beyond the individual soldier's armor. Beginning in 101 BC, the Roman army was organized around the “cohort.” This block of several hundred men was a very familiar image to residents in conquered territory (like Israel). A cohort entered into battle in strict rows and columns. There was minimal space between soldiers, they synchronized their movement, overlapped shields to form a continuous front, and they operated as one unit. The security of every soldier in the cohort was enhanced as a collective. It made the Roman army extremely effective and difficult to penetrate when in the arenas it was designed to fight in.

In the epistle to the Ephesians, Paul relates Christian resources to the soldier's armor. Then, immediately he follows…

Eph 6:18: With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and petitions for all the saints. 19 Pray for me also, that I may be given the right words when I begin to speak—that I may confidently make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may be able to speak boldly as I ought to speak. (NET)

Considering this passage, jot down your thoughts on the possible connection between prayer and the cohort battle strategy.

Intercession is the idea of intervening on the behalf of another. We pray for others, taking their concerns to our Father in heaven. It's not that God doesn't already hear our brothers and sisters. It's not that he cares more for some than others. God tells us to pray on behalf of others because:

Praying aligns our heart with God's. (1 Tim 2:3)

Praying for another helps us sympathize with that person. (Col 2:5)

If we agree together and ask, it will be done. (Matt 18:19)

It makes a very real difference. (James 5:13-16)

It is one way we love others following Christ's example (John 17:20-26)

The Roman soldiers' equipment was designed with their battle strategy in mind. Outside the unit, each soldier was less effective and less secure. Similarly, Christians must share common interests.

Phi 2: 3: Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. 4 Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. 5 You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had…(NET)

What are some practical ways to make prayers for others more specific and more significant?

What are the most significant similarities and differences between how sheep and soldiers deal with an enemy?

Our recent topics (truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, faith/hope, salvation, and The Word) are the resources that Paul included in what he called the “armor of God” (Eph 6:13-17). Because we recognize Satan as roaming around like a lion seeking those he can devour (1 Pet 5:8), Christians should embrace these resources in our daily struggle. Though the idea of a sheep wearing armor is a strange thought indeed, it remains an important analogy for every believer to consider.

Interdependent