The Whole Armor Of God - "Supplication for All Saints"

"Above All; Praying always with prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" Eph 6:18. Wow, God is so good!!! There is no way I could have even planned in advance this that God has lead me in, and the lessons He has shown me through these 16 or more days of sharing. This portion of the text that we are looking at today, is more than I can explain in my limited capacity. Paul had referenced in several times already in this book of Ephesians, and he will reference again in the next verse; the mystery of the gospel. There are some things that can not thoroughly be expressed in words, and this is one of them. Paul made mention in chapter 3:3-4, "How that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote before in few words; whereby, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ,)". The first thing we need to look at, in order in even begin to understand what is being said here, is the meaning of saints: Haglos; holy, set apart, sanctified, consecrated. It has a common root, hag-, with hagnos; predominantly used to express freedom for defilement's or impurities; virginity. Does that just blow you mind; or better yet, does it cause you to see how God looks at you. We are the Bride of Christ; and as His Bride, we are washed, holy, set apart, sanctified, consecrated (made perfect), and we are as a virgin before Him; undefiled by the things of this world. We as a Church are all saints; to the completion of this glorious, virgin body; which is adorned as a consecrated bride unto Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God. So, now with all that explained of what 'Saints' are, and what it means to be a saint, let us begin to apply; "supplication for all saints". Remember that supplication is prayer with intent and with purpose; so as we are praying for all saints (ourselves included), we are praying with intent and purpose, in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit must be applied to our prayer life; and should be guiding us through each and everything that we pray. There are some things we will just not be able to understand, and we will surely not be able to verbalize; but the Holy Spirit knows. This is why it is so vitally important to ask God to fill us with His Holy Spirit; and keep asking. Luke 11:9-13, "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he should ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Therein is the key!; To those that ask Him for the filling of the Holy Spirit! Maybe you are wondering what my point is here? Well; (that is deep); sometimes we have not, because we 'ask not'; and when I say 'ask not', I mean that we do not earnestly want to be filled. What!!! Are you kidding me? Who in their right minds would not want to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Well (deep), since you asked; anyone that is not willing to totally surrender their lives over to Christ; that's who. But you might say, "I have surrendered all over to Him!"; but have you really? Is there still something that He wants you to give Him, that you are still calling your own; anything? He wants it all; and all really means all! The problem is that we have been raised in a world that has taught us to always set something aside for ourselves, anything, no matter how stupid a thing it might be; it is something that we call "mine, and you can't have it". From a very young age we all do it, and continued to do it; if you think you don't, you really need to check yourself. We really hate to give up anything; I bet you even look into the toilet before flushing. But, there is a better way; much more glorious than anything this world can offer; and thus, the mystery of the gospel. We are no longer bound by the things of this world, we are already transformed and made holy in Christ. So now let's start to hold onto those things; the things that are waiting for us in Christ Jesus. Really, Really, Really; try it; Application; Application; Application; for everything that you have in your life that you are still not willing to give up for God, replace it with something glorious in Christ. Replace it with a treasure in heaven, that is not corrupt; and then hold onto that; not letting go; you can even claim it as yours. There are some things that are really worth fighting for... When we are totally surrendered to the Lord, then the Holy Spirit can minister into our hearts, without being hindered by those things which we are holding onto. Then we can get busy, doing the work of a saint; then we can begin to experience a holy, sanctified and consecrated, eternal life in Christ. We will be able to understand, "What is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ; to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him." Eph 3:9-12. This is more than just you or I; this is all about the virgin bride of Christ; of which we are part!!! Having done all to stand; therefore stand; watching... (next, And for me)