The Church’s Most Powerful Weapon
With evening network(s) news reporting daily military struggles around the world, it becomes increasingly difficult to ignore the possibility of additional wars spreading like wildfire across the world’s stage.
I recently came across an article about the United States Army’s most lethal weapons of war. The article detailed several of the Army’s weapons in arsenal, but most agree that the AH-64 Apace helicopter stands at the top of the list. Armed with a 30-mm cannon, missiles, and state-of-the-art sensors, the AH-64 helicopter has the firepower, speed, and range to strike enemies long before they can fire or attack U.S. ground troops. One quote especially grabbed my attention when the writer penned, “The U.S. ground troops can call in their own air support. They do not have to rely on the United States Air Force or United States Navy aircraft. The ground troops appreciate the support the Apache can provide.”
The Most Powerful Weapon
What would the church describe as its most powerful weapon? I imagine (and hope) that we would quickly list the Holy Spirit who dwells in the lives of believers and empowers us for Christian living, guiding us into a deeper understanding of God’s will, comforting us in sorrow and strengthening us in weakness. Certainly we would list Jesus, the cornerstone of our faith and the head of the church. We would likely include the fellowship of His people which connects, motivates, and saturates our walk with the Messiah. We could continue to list at length spiritual weapons at the Christian’s disposal, but our most powerful weapon must be prayer.
A Direct Line to God
Through prayer’s supplication, believers access a direct line with Almighty God, paved by the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, a personal mediator between the church and the Creator. Prayer costs us nothing and provides us everything. Prayer does not search for a Wi-Fi signal, but a willing heart. Prayer does not get disconnected unless we, the “caller,” hangs up.
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Prayer can be formal or informal, planned, or spontaneous. Prayer can be loud, and prayer can be silent. Prayer can be worshipful, and prayer can be raw. Prayer can be smooth, and prayer can be stuttered. Prayer can be simple, and prayer can be complex. Like the Apache AH-64, prayer can ward off trouble long before it ensues, and prayer can bring reinforcement of fellow soldiers of the cross, calling on the King to provide victory that is so desperately needed. The only thing prayer should not do is retreat.
Prayer is Life Changing
When we struggle to know how to support our brothers and sisters in a terrible storm, it is easy to utter with an apologetic tone, “All I know to do is pray.” An understandable sentiment, but prayer should never be offered with regretful helplessness. Prayer is life changing, both for the Kingdom and for the world.
Prayer is our strongest weapon.
Prayer Unites Us
I have personally been the beneficiary of Christian’s prayers from around the world, and every time, it grabs my heart and brings tears to my eyes. I hope and pray that you have (and will) as well.
Prayer can be launched by a sweet child in grade school, or a seasoned veteran in their final years. Prayer can be fired from an office building or from a nursing home. Prayer can be embraced by a professor or by a student, by a president or by a peasant. Prayer unites us all.
The apostle Paul reminded the Ephesian church, “[P]ray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6: 18) It was the church’s most powerful weapon then, and it is the church’s most powerful weapon now.
So, keep calm and pray on.
Jacob Hawk currently serves as the Young Adults and Singles Minister at Prestoncrest Church of Christ in Dallas, Texas. He holds both bachelor and master’s degrees in Bible and Ministry from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. He speaks at seminars and lectureships around the country. Jacob has a burning passion to preach the gospel which was first discovered at the age of nine years old when he delivered his first sermon.
He is the author of five different books: Image of the Invisible God; The Hawk’s Nest: 90 Lessons for Faith and Family; When Mountains Won’t Move: How to Survive a Struggling Faith; Blinded by Darkness; and BOLD: Statements that Changed History.
