After all the pieces of armor — the belt, the breastplate, the cleats, the shield, the helmet, and the sword — Paul does not say, "Now go fight." He says, "Pray." Because none of the armor works without it. Prayer is not a piece of the armor. It is the atmosphere in which all of it functions.

In this final message of our series "Fullness" through the book of Ephesians, Pastor Ron opens Ephesians 6:18–24 and closes the letter with a call to prayer, vigilance, and the power of the gospel.

Praying Always — The Atmosphere of Warfare: Four times in this verse Paul uses the word all — all prayer, all supplication, all perseverance, all the saints. He is not describing a religious exercise. He is describing a lifestyle of constant communion with the God who fights for us. Jesus himself prayed always. The early church prayed and Paul walked out of prison. They prayed again and the place shook.

Watchful and Persevering: The soldier on watch cannot fall asleep at his post. The believer in prayer must stay alert to what the Spirit is doing — and refuse to give up. Pray through. Pray until. Pray when you feel like it and when you don't. The prayers of the righteous avail much.

Pray for All the Saints: Paul asks the Ephesians not just to pray for themselves, but for all the saints — and specifically for him, that utterance would be given to him to open his mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel. The greatest warrior needs the prayers of the church. So do you.

The Final Greeting — Grace and Peace: Paul closes exactly where he began — with grace and peace. The whole letter is a circle. God has blessed you with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Now put on the armor, stay in prayer, and go live it. The fullness available to you is inexhaustible.