PRAYER #6: PRAYER AND SPIRITUAL WARFARE

• Prayer is sometimes understood as spiritual warfare. The statement is correct but often is misleading. Since the saying says that prayer is a spiritual warfare, people tend to think that prayer is an exclusively spiritual activity. Prayer is spiritual warfare in the sense that while we are praying, we interact with God in spiritual realm. Through that spiritual conversation with God, we are attacking the evil spirits. Even a simple praise to God creates a big defeat to the power of darkness. 'Satan trembles when he sees the weakest Christian on his knees,' said William Cowper. The most fragile human being is so powerful in the presence of God. God's power and might are unrivaled. The closer the attachment we have with God the more victorious our lives will be. In this framework, we understand prayer as a spiritual warfare.

• For some people, spiritual warfare is understood differently. Spiritual warfare is often perceived as a direct attack against the evil spirits, namely exorcism (casting away/rebuking the devil). Off course exorcism can be done in prayer. Exorcism, I believe is one legitimate, important, needed and actual kind of Christian ministry. But I think a simple prayer in itself is already a spiritual warfare. To some others, spiritual warfare is understood as preparing the way of doing ministries. People do believe that the very key of success to a revival meeting, evangelism campaign, church services and other Christian ministries is prayer: a prayer that is preparing the way of the ministries by casting away all the disturbing evil forces. This kind of prayer is absolutely important. As E. M. Bounds pointed, 'Prayer is the greatest of all forces, because it honors God and brings him into active aid.' But again it is important to know that even a simple prayer in itself is already a spiritual warfare.

• There is one danger in saying that prayer is a spiritual warfare. Once we do locate prayer as merely spiritual activity, we will be trapped into a 'Platonist extreme dualism' of separating what is spiritual and what is not spiritual (secular/profane). If we are not careful enough, our perspective will be very narrow. The fact that prayer is a spiritual warfare does not allow us to ignore our 'not-spiritual' responsibilities. On that issue, we are familiar with Ora et Labora, a Latin phrase means 'Pray and Labor.' Our labors (efforts, works, lives) and our prayers should be congruent, consistent and in harmony. John Wesley once said, 'Prayer is where the action is.' There should not be discrepancies between our prayers and our labors. The whole lives of us including our prayer activities are indeed a spiritual warfare.

• Therefore, those who are faithful in prayer are those who are standing in the front line of Christian ministries. Those who cry behind the scene and pray in 'hidden places' (Mat 6) are indeed the true warriors of faith.