The lance of prayer.

“praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, “Ephesians 6:18

Our last piece of godly armor is often forgotten or added as an afterthought. But this piece is crucial; without it, we are missing a powerful weapon.

The Roman soldier’s lance

Over the years, Roman soldiers had several types of lances and spears at their disposal, and these varied in size. The short, small lances were for thrusting and gouging the Enemy up close, and the longer lances were for hurling at the Enemy from long distances.

The soldier’s lance and our prayers

Just like Roman soldiers had different kinds of lances, we also have various prayers. For our short, close-range prayer, we use the Believer’s prayer. It is full of faith and authority to thrust a mortal wound to the Enemy.

The soldier used his long lance to hurl at his Enemy from afar, and for us, our long-lance weapon is intercession. When launched at the Enemy, this weapon of intercession deals a mortal wound that thwarts any attack on our lives or the lives of those around us.

Different types of prayer

There are six different types of prayer in the New Testament. Each is different from the others, just as there are different lances a Roman soldier might carry.

Prayer of consecration

The Greek word for prayer is proseuche. It is used in some form around 127 times in the New Testament. Proseuche is a compound word from the pros, meaning face to face, and the word euche describes a wish, desire, prayer, or vow.

Prayers are more than a formula to follow or a box to check off. They are in an intimate, face-to-face relationship with God. This type of prayer also includes sacrifice, surrender, and Thanksgiving. The prayer of supplication is God’s first lance given to us, and learning to use it puts our lives into His hands as an act of consecration.

Prayer of petition

Our second-most-used word for prayer is deesis, which appears at least 40 times in the New Testament. Deesis is derived from the verb deomai, which expresses a need or desire. It is a cry for God’s help to meet our fundamental needs. It is not for tangible things like new cars or bigger homes.

Jesus prayed this type of prayer in Hebrews.

“In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.” Hebrews 5:7

Prayer of authority

The third type of prayer in the New Testament, found at least 80 times, is taken from the word aiteo. This word means “I ask” or “I demand”. It seems strange for a prayer, because we shouldn’t demand in prayer. However, with this type of prayer, we can come boldly to God.

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” John 15:7

In this verse, Jesus tells us the key to understanding this word. The word ask comes from aiteo and translates to “You can demand what you will.” The word abide is used twice and comes from the word meno, which means to stay, to dwell, to lodge, to remain, to indwell, to continue, to remain in constant union with, or to take up permanent residency.

When we study God’s Word, He fills and dwells in us. Then, when we pray these bold and courageous prayers, we pray His will.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

The 4th type of prayer is Thanksgiving, used 15 times in the New Testament; the Greek word is eucharistia. It is a compound word of the words eu and charistia. Eu describes something asgood or well. Charistia comes from the Greek word charis, which means grace.

When these words are combined, they refer to a beautiful feeling or good sentiments that flow freely from the heart in response to something.

“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,” Ephesians 1:16

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,” Colossians 1:3

Prayer of supplication

The 5th type of prayer supplication, with its Greek word, is enteuxis. We find it five times in the New Testament. The word is a compound of the root entugchano. En means “in” or “into,” and tugchano means to “happen upon.”

When these words are together, it means to fall into a situation or circumstance with someone. A prayer of supplication is when we come before God with childlike faith, freely share ourselves and our desires, and enjoy being in His presence.

Then God will meet us in these special prayers, pour out His love, and fill us with His life, transferring acceptance.

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,” 1 Timothy 2:1

“for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.” 1 Timothy 4:5

The prayer of intercession

The sixth type of prayer in the New Testament is intercession, from the word huperentugchano. This type of prayer occurs only once, making it the rarest of the words that denote the different forms of prayer.

Prayers of intercession are not offered to believers but to the Holy Spirit.

“Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Romans 8:26

Intercession is not a work we do but a work the Holy Spirit does on our behalf.

The word huperentugchano is an old term meaning to fall in on someone else’s behalf. The word we use today is ‘rescued’.

True intercessory prayer comes from the Holy Spirit. It happens when we are at a loss for words and don’t know what to pray. The Holy Spirit comes and joins us in the middle of our circumstances, beginning to work on His plan to help us.

The purpose of intercession is to rescue, renew, and deliver us from our circumstances.

It’s time to put on our armor.

We have completed our time on the Armor of God. Wow. I encourage you to read my other posts if you missed them, but we must remember our armor even though we are finished here.

The war has been won, but we still face daily battles, and our Enemy is always looking for a fight, so we need to wear our armor, covering us daily to protect us.

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,” Ephesians 6:13-18

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