Winning in Court (Ephesians 6:18: 1 Corinthians 14:14; Romans 8:26; Jude 20)

Ephesians 6:18 says, " Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints..."

First of all, it needs to be noted, that this verse is part of a passage that deals with our spiritual warfare with emphasis on various aspects of military armor. Without commenting too extensively on the passage, in this study, it is also important to note, that the reason for the engagement in battle, is not because our enemy is attacking us; but rather, the enemy is retaliating because they are under attack from us, as we are advancing and taking territory from them, that rightfully belongs to us.

It is crucial to view this passage from this accurate depiction of us as being the aggressor and not the oppressed. The Amplified Bible rightly translates the first portion of this verse as "Praying at all times in the Spirit...", correctly reversing the order, from the Greek, and placing prayer and supplication after "... in the Spirit...".

ALWAYS - This word means at all times or on every occasion. The emphasis is either:

1) always be praying in the Spirit, [ a term for speaking in other tongues (languages), 1 Cor. 14:14; Rm. 8:26; Jude 20], or

2) every time you pray, employ this method of prayer.

PRAYER and SUPPLICATION - The first word is the general word for prayer and devotion to God (but also specifically bold or confident assertions about one's self in prayer) and the second word relating to specific requests in prayer, based on the need of the moment.

WATCHING - This word literally means, "to go without sleep", and is taken from the visual example of shepherds "watching over" their sheep. There are two specific aspects to this word which are important:

1) the first being alertness

2) and the second being "on your guard" or "guarding something or someone".

What is also interesting, is that the imagery of "going without sleep" only applies during the night. We are of the day, but the world and time we live in is spiritually "the night", until Jesus returns.

PERSEVERANCE - The two crucial aspects of this word are that:

1) it speaks of a specific period of time. [ it isn't going to go on forever!]

2) it is an endurance that clings tenaciously and expectantly.

It is used only here in the NT, [though the root word is used in several places and contexts], and its historical use, in two areas, is significant as related to this verse on aggressive prayer:

1) there is the military aspect which deals with not giving up, but even more significant, is

2) the legal sphere, [which is especially related to the courtroom setting of prayer], which means to stay before the court [for a specific period of time, not forever], until the verdict is rendered. [What is implied, is that the verdict is rendered in your favor!]. In other words, this is tenaciously waiting before the courtroom of heaven until you obtain a favorable verdict.

PARAPHRASE

 This verse , staying true to the meaning of the Greek text, could be paraphrased to say:

"Pray all the time, in other tongues,( in the Spirit), whether you are just talking to your Father, generally, or you have specific needs that you are addressing, and stay alert, on your guard, [because you are in a battle], not giving up, until you receive a favorable verdict from the court room of Heaven, [ You win the court case], and exercise this same diligence in presenting the needs of other Believers to your Father as well."

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours