The Spear of Prayer Knocks out Your Enemy’s Defenses

You hurl the spear of prayer when you pray with all kinds of prayer and supplication in the Spirit before and during the battle. Prayer works like a spear as you pray the Word to deal with problems at a distance.

The Spear of Prayer Scripture

The Active Element in the Spear of Prayer

Proactive prayer, praying against the problem while it is still small and at a distance before it becomes up front and personal, requiring hand-to-hand combat.

What Does the Spear of Prayer Protect Against?

Prayer takes care of attacks at a distance before they become personal and all-consuming.

Why You Need the Spear of Prayer

Our prayers are the basis of God’s intervention. (See Chapter 7, "Why You Must Pray," in my book The Armor of Light.) We have not because we ask not. (James 4:2) For best results, everything we do should be covered with prayer. When we pray at all times and on every occasion, our lives are easier. Praying in advance eliminates or minimizes the opposition we face.

The Spear Is Part of the Whole Armor of God

Paul instructed us to use the whole armor of God. The word for “whole armor” refers to both the soldier’s armor and weapons. We are to use all available gear, leaving no piece out. Though Paul did not mention the spear by name, he didn’t have to. Roman soldiers usually carried one. See my article "How Many Pieces Are in the Armor of God."

The Roman spear was made for throwing, and soldiers often carried two of them into battle. Spears were wooden-shafted throwing javelins with a two-foot iron shaft and a pyramidal point. A strong soldier could hurl one 100 feet.

The pilum, as it was called, would penetrate the enemy’s shield or armor. The enemy’s shield became worthless if the spear could not be removed quickly. Roman generals often launched a mass spear throw to disable the enemy’s shield wall before engaging them directly.

The Spear of Prayer

Throwing a spear and praying at a distance are similar in many ways. The spear of prayer is the Christian’s second offensive weapon after the sword of the Spirit. Like a spear, prayer has a long reach to it. It can touch any person or situation worldwide.

Paul taught that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against invisible principalities and powers. (Ephesians 6:12) In prayer warfare, we want to disable the spiritual entity that stands behind the human opposition. When you hurl the spear of authoritative prayer and disable the spiritual force, the flesh and blood opposition softens and changes its attitude.

The mass spear throw has a clear parallel in corporate intercessory prayer. The battle that begins with much prayer destroys the enemy’s defenses. When prayer warriors pray in unity, they launch a barrage of prayer spears that render the shields of the adversary useless.

All Kinds of Prayer

Roman soldiers had various kinds of spears and lances for different enemies and battles. Likewise, God calls us to use all kinds of prayer based on the situation. Here are examples of different kinds of prayer we can use:

• The Commanding Prayer of Authority: When an enemy challenges us personally, we combine declaring the Word (the sword) and praying the Word (the spear). In Jesus’ name, we bind the enemy and command him to cease and desist his operations.
• Preemptive Prayer: When watchfulness sees a problem on the horizon, we use the prayer of authority to nip it in the bud.
• Prayer in the Spirit: When we don’t know how to pray as we ought, the Spirit will pray through us with groaning or in other tongues, praying the perfect will of God. (Romans 8:26-27) We are to pray with the Spirit in our prayer language (other tongues) and pray with the understanding (mind) also in our native tongue. (1 Corinthians 14:15)
• Intercessory Prayer: When praying for others who do not know the Lord or are not living as they should, we “plead” the blood. This legal term means pleading a case before God by presenting the evidence of the body and blood of Christ for their acquittal and to receive help from God. (For a fuller explanation, see Chapter 9, "What Does It Mean to Plead the Blood," in my book The Armor of Light.)
• Protective Prayer: We activate the “Passover protection” around us and our family by “applying” the blood of Christ our Passover Lamb to our house. (1 Cor. 5:7) (For a fuller explanation, see Chapter 9, "What Does It Mean to Plead the Blood," in my book The Armor of Light.)

How to Reduce the Amount of Warfare We Face

Paul encouraged us to be spiritually watchful for all saints.

Those who watch see potential problems coming. That allows them to use their spear of prayer to intercede proactively before the problem manifests. (#2 above.) Potential problems are solved or minimized as we pray. The amount of hand-to-hand combat Christians face can be reduced significantly using the spear of prayer.

It’s especially important to pray before you go places, so that things go well when you get there. Spend some time in prayer before that next family event where some family members tend to get carried away. Proactive prayer makes a difference.

Use Sword and Spear Together

We have two offensive weapons, not just one. They are speaking the Word and praying the Word.

As we’re thrusting with the spear of prayer, we can slash with the sword of the Spirit. With the sword, we declare like Jesus, “It is written…” and then quote God’s Word, which is lively and powerful. (Hebrews 4:12)

With the spear, we pray the Word. God’s Word is His will. When we pray according to the Word, we pray according to the will of God. God's Word is His will! When we ask according to His will, He hears us and grants our request. 

Praying the Word

Here’s an example of praying the Word for our children:

All my children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of my children. (Isaiah 54:13) My sons and daughters shall prophesy. (Acts 2:17) In my seed shall all the nations of the world be blessed. (Genesis 22:18) In Jesus’ name. Amen.

In all things and on every occasion, we wield both sword and spear with a confident expectation of victory!