PRAYER AND EVANGELISM

Nothing in the realm of the spiritual can succeed without prayer. As a believer, you are
part of the Body of Christ sent out to a lost and dying world to share the good news of the
Gospel. But this spiritual body is directed, controlled, and energized by the head,
functioning like a natural body which is guided by the head.

Just as a natural body must be attached to the head in proper alignment of nerves, bone,
and muscle in order to function, the spiritual body must be in contact with the spiritual
head, the Lord Jesus Christ. This contact is made through prayer.

To use another illustration: Jesus is the vine and we are the branches where the fruit is
borne. Jesus is the stalk and root that gives life to the branches. The picture is one of
mutual dependence. He depends on us to bear the fruit, we depend on Him for spiritual
life and energy (John 15.). This relationship cannot exist without proper contact between
you and the Lord. There is an example of this in the account in Matthew 17:14-21. The
disciples were unable to minister to a young boy because of lack of prayer. Prayer is not
a preliminary to the actual work--it is the work.

Prayer should precede evangelism. In Luke 10:1-24, Jesus tells His disciples to pray
(verse 2), then He tells them to go (verse 3). Praying precedes the going. Perhaps if we
prayed more we would win more. In Acts 2 they prayed 10 days, preached for ten
minutes, and 3000 were saved. Today, we pray for ten minutes, preach for ten days, and
only a few get saved.

Praying "evangelistically" means that you pray for:

(1) Laborers in the harvest (Luke 10:2).

(2) The Gospel to have "free course" (II Thessalonians 3:1-2). "Free course" means to
"run or swiftly advance."

(3) Opportunity: In Colossians 4:3, Paul asks for prayer for himself that God would
open a "door of utterance" that he might share the Gospel.

(4) Boldness: Paul asked the Ephesian Church to pray that he might share the Gospel
boldly (Ephesians 6:19).

(5) Salvation: It is Biblical to pray for people to get saved. Romans 10:1 indicates
Paul prayed for Israel that they might be saved.

(6) Peace: In I Timothy 2:1-4, Paul tells us to pray for those in authority so we can
lead a peaceful life. He says to do this because it is good in the eyes of God who
"desires all men to be saved." The Gospel spreads more rapidly in peaceful
conditions when it is not hindered by persecution, war zones, travel restrictions,
etc.

A measure of success may follow our prayerless undertakings for the Kingdom of God,
but our efforts fall short of what could be accomplished if we were to recognize the vital
function of prayer.
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