Body Armor for the Church.

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, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:16-20 ESV) We often look to this passage in an individualistic way for the spiritual disciplines of our walk with Christ. I have known some very godly believers and leaders who have "put on the armor daily", using this passage as a guide. But somehow we tend to forget that this letter is primarily about the body of Christ, the Church. We need to have a fellowship mentality in our prayers; we need to keep temptation away from us as a group of believers; we need to be praying all the time. And foremost in our mind needs to be what Paul wraps up with: boldness and clarity in proclaiming the Gospel. As we once again look back to the early church in Acts, that is the what and why of their prayers - that God would protect His church and embolden them to proclaim the Gospel - that nothing: sickness, persecution, laziness, or any sin, selfishness or opposition would hinder that call of the Church - to be His witnesses. May we be "praying at all times" in this way.