Prayerdemic Prayers – Heaven’s Armies Are Not Cancelled

During my son’s 13-year drug addiction, I was encouraged by a statement a friend made about “angels fighting with swords” for my son. Do you think angels were really fighting for my son?

There are hundreds of references in the Bible to God’s name being The Lord of Hosts, or Lord of Heaven’s Armies (Jehovah Sabaoth). This means He’s the commander of an army. What army? An army of angels who, as Psalm 103:20 NIV says, “do His bidding and obey His Word.”

So, if there’s an army, there must be a war, right? What war? A spiritual war. Ephesians 6:12 tells us there is a battle going on in the heavenly places against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits (NLT).

What’s this got to do with you and me? After all, we’re no angels (no insinuation intended). We are to fight this war as well. There are many references about this in the Bible, but here are just a few.

• In 1 Corinthians 10:3-4, we are told, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”
• In Luke 10:19, Jesus gave us the “authority to tread (crush) on serpents (malicious, sly, cunning people) and scorpions (those who pierce with poison) and all the power of the enemy…”
• And if we were not meant to fight a battle, we would not have been told in Ephesians 6:10-18 to “put on the full armor of God so we can stand against all the schemes of the devil.”

How on earth do we fight a spiritual battle in the heavenly places? With spiritual weapons. As Ephesians 6 says, with truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, and the Word of God. All these things are found in the Word of God, so suffice it to say, we need to know our weapon—the Bible. But then the apostle Paul wraps it all up by saying, “and pray at all times.”

Prayer and the Word of God are our most powerful spiritual weapons.

This means that every time we pray, we fight this spiritual war. This also means when we don’t pray, we allow the devil and his angels to advance. They come to “steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10). Certainly we are seeing and experiencing this in our world today.

I mentioned Psalm 103:20 about angels who do his bidding, or carry out his plans and obey his commands (ESV). or obey His Word (NKJV). God showed me this verse when I questioned if angels were really fighting with swords for my son. He also reminded me I had been praying scripture for my son—the Sword of the Spirit—the Word of God. So were angels fighting with the Sword of the Spirit—the Word of God—as I prayed scripture?

Take up the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God. Ephesians 6:17

All I can tell you is my son is a pastor now.

Heaven’s armies are not cancelled!

Because God is the commander of this army, we can be sure of victory (1 Corinthians 15:57). However, just because we know who wins doesn’t mean we don’t have battles to fight in the meantime. We don’t fully comprehend what goes on in the heavens when we pray. But pray we must!

Why does it sometimes look like God is not listening or answering? Why did it take 13 years for my son to be healed of his addiction? Perhaps some battles are bigger and take longer. And I am reminded of Matthew 17:21, which implies some kinds of evil need prayer and fasting.

If you are able, and to whatever extent you are able, would you join me in fasting and praying for America? Let’s pray this scriptural prayer together and call on the Lord of Heaven’s Armies to send His angels to war for our loved ones and our country.

Lord of Heaven’s Armies, You are our fortress (Psalm 46:7). You alone are the Lord. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship You (Nehemiah 9:6). Turn us again to Yourself, O God of Heaven’s Armies. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will be we be saved (Psalm 80:7).

Lord, as we seek Your shelter, give Your angels charge of us to guard us in all our ways (Psalm 91:1&11). Let no weapon formed against us prosper (Isaiah 54:17). You have told us, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15). So if You are for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

Oh God of Heaven’s armies, You have given us Your armor. Help us to put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness; help our feet to be ready with the gospel of peace; help us to take the shield of faith to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. For he prowls around seeking to devour us. Help us to resist him with your armor fitted tightly with salvation, the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God, and prayer (Ephesians 6:13-18, 1 Peter 5:8-9).

O Lord, God of vengeance, let your glorious justice shine forth! Cause those who rise up against our families and our country to be defeated (Deuteronomy 28:7). Lord, cause our enemies’ schemes to be turned back on them (Psalm 94:1&23) as we come against them in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies (1 Samuel 17:45). Through You we will push back our adversaries, through Your name we will trample down those who rise up against us (Psalm 44:5) because the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is among us (Psalm 46:7). It is You who give us help against our enemies, for man’s help is useless (Psalm 108:12); without you, we are nothing (John 15:5).

Not by our might nor our power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of Hosts (Zechariah 4:6).

In Jesus’ Mighty Name we pray. Amen!

If you prayed this prayer with me, I would love to hear from you in the comments here or on social media. What do you think about angels fighting with swords?

Previous week’s prayerdemic prayers:

Healing is Not Cancelled

Help is Not Cancelled

Holiness is Not Cancelled

Hope is Not Cancelled

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Next post: History is Not Cancelled

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