POWER OF PRAYER IN EVANGELISM

POWER OF PRAYER IN EVANGELISM

Introduction

We shall be doing no good, if we overlook the position of prayer in Evangelism work, prayer serves as the backbones of every successful evangelism.

Every Evangelism work without prayer cannot have a divine support actually, it achieves nothing as to the divine purpose and expectations for it. Every evangelism work that is backed-up with prayer, either hooking or dragnet type, will surely be a fruitful work and such will accomplish the very real reason for it.

Evangelism is a deliverance work and it must be seen as that (Matt.10:5-8). The degree of achievement that any evangelism records, depends on his prayer life. The word power interprets strength, ability or capability. The strength that prayer gives to the evangelism work and the evangelist himself should be earnestly considered if we shall be relevant in this field of Evangelism which Jesus Christ has commissioned us into (Mt.28:19-20).

What is Prayer?

Prayer is the way of communicating or having a discussion with God. (1Sam.1:9-15). It is the act of outpouring of the heart concerns before the Lord. 2Kings.19:14-21, 34-37, 2Kings.20:1-6, Heb.5:7.

Prayer is the staff of a Christian to walk with the Lord- Those who ever walked with God without fainting or wearied did it successfully through praying. Ish.40:31

Prayer remains the only chain that creates link with God.

Classifications of Prayer

There are two major means of praying and we shall be discussing them in the light of this teaching

1.     Group Prayer: Group prayers is an acts of joining faith together with other believers in the same place, to agree on a matter and discuss it with God. Acts.1:14, Acts.4:24-31.

Group prayer is divided into two major forms.

        i.            Congregational Prayer. Acts.1:14

      ii.            Family Altar: Act of praying together with one’s family. Father, wife & children.

2.     Alone with God: This is a deliberate act of turning aside. Leaving all behind and going out into a quite, private, lonely or solitary place to discuss or outpour issues before the Lord. Exd.3:3, 34:1-3, Mk.1:35-36, Exd.24:12, Matt.14:23,26:36.

Types of Prayer

There are many types of prayer but we shall only be discussing these that are relevant to the matter of Evangelism.

a.     Intercessory Prayer: This is an act of standing in the gap. The expectation of God on everyone who desire to be an evangelist is to enter into the shoes of Jesus’ ministry here on earth. Ezr.9”1-9, Ezek.22:30, 1John.2:1-2, Heb.7:25, 1Tim.2:1, Dan.9:4-6

b.     Warfare Prayer: It is an act of waging war against the power of darkness, to deliver the captives from Satan’s cruel bondage.

What Prayer does in Evangelism

Since evangelism is nothing but a divine instruction through Christ Jesus to every believer to arise for the deliverance of the sinners from the power of darkness that ravages them. It is to set them (sinners) free from their blinded mind (2Cor.4:4) and bring them unto Jesus for the renewing of their minds (Rom.12:2) to set them into the will of God Jesus which is our perfect example in evangelism work, will not set out for a daily fishing except he had prayed. Mk.1:35-36, Matt.14:2.

        i.            Prayer brings open heavens. Lk.3:21

      ii.            Prayer draw God’s hand 2Chro.30:27

    iii.            It wrought deliverance. Jh.11:38-44, Acts.16:25-26.

   iv.            It turns away captivity: Those that are still captives of the devil could only be set free through Prayer: Jer.29:12-14, Mk.9:39.

     v.            It gives direction. Mk.1:35-39, Dan.6:10, 9:1-4

   vi.            It edifies: The boldness to walk with the Lord in agreement concerning this assignment can only be received through prayer. Acts.1:4; 8. 2:1

 vii.            It helps in  locating God’s interest: Mk.35-39, Acts.1:23-26.

viii.            It renew strength: Prayer Altar is always the place of renewing one’s strength. Ish.40:31

    ix.            Prayer heals: healing the sick is one of the major parts of the evangelism work and it is done with prayer. Jam.5:16, Mk.9:39, 2Chr.30:13-20

Postures in Prayer

There are different postures one could maintain in praying and we shall be considering some of the postures in the light of the Bible.

        i.            Standing. Mk.11:25

      ii.            Kneeling. Dan.6:10, Lk.22:41

    iii.            Falling on ones face. Matt.26:39

   iv.            Turning to the wall. 2 Kings.20:2

There are other postures apart from these that could be maintained in praying.

When and Where to Pray

Lk.18:1, 1Sam.1:12, Jh.2:1, Matt.1:35, Phil.4:6, 1.thes.3:10, Acts.16:13, 16:25, Acts.3:1, 2:15, Jonah.2:1-10.

Every available place or space is a place of prayer and there is nowhere God does not answer prayer.

Hindrances to  Effective Prayer

There are several things that could withhold the hand of God from answering prayer and such things makes the work of evangelism difficult and brings the wrath of God.

        i.            Sin/Un-confessed Sin: T  he issue of sin has messed up several men that could have moved there generation into expected revival and bring men out of the constant ravaging power of the devil. Pro.15:8, 29, 2Sam.11:1-21, Num.32:23

      ii.            Impure heart: Mk.7:21, Jer,4:4

    iii.            Overeating: Pro.23:21, 28:7, 23:2

   iv.            Oversleeping: Pro.10:5, Pro.20:13

     v.            Lack of burdens: Matt.11:30, Gal.6:2

   vi.            Malice: 1Pet.3:7

 vii.            Unfaithfulness: Rom.12:12

viii.            Faithlessness: Jam.5:15

    ix.            To much of comfort

      x.            Useful servants: 1Sam.9:6-10, 26-27, 10:12. (e.g. Telephone, car husband, wife, children, music etc.).

    xi.            Your body: 1Cor.9:27

  xii.            Anger: Exd.32:19-22

xiii.            Wrong Relationship at home: 1Pet.3:7

xiv.            Fear of Man: Prov.29:25, Dan.6-17

 xv.            Ignorance of God’s word: Phil.4:6, 1Tim.2:8, Jam.5:13

xvi.            Unsettled quarrel: Matt.5:23-26.

Other things that could serve ads hindrances to prayer are: anxiety of tomorrow (Matt.6:25-34), inferiority complex it could be of the language. Please pray in mother tongue. Selfish men, and callousness could also hinder man from reaching the throng of God in prayer.

ETHICS OF PRAYER

1.     Prayer is to intercede for the souls of men that are in the cage of the devil. Lk.22:31-32.

2.     Prayer is to deliver men from recovering of the devil, establish him and present him edible unto the Lord. John.15:7-8, 16.

3.     Prayer is not murdering equipment, it is not to call fire from heaven to consume people. Ezk.33:11, Ps.116:15, Lk.951-56.

JESUS’ MODEL OF PRAYER

Under the topic we shall be considering the model of prayer as Jesus taught his disciples, not as a rotten, but as a pattern according to the book of Matt.6:5-13.

Vs 5-6 Jesus makes us to know that prayer is not for a show or ostentation, but a secret powerful spiritual work.

Short prayer in the public is as a result of much prayer in the secret…

Vs 7 and 8 talks about the quality of what we are asking for, not just to pray but to ask for something eternal that will affect us and the coming generations.

Vs 9-13 give us a heavenly pattern of how to be praying.

1.     Prayer of thanksgiving (vs. 9)

2.     Prayer about the progress of the work of God on earth (10)

3.     Prayer about our physical need (vs.11)

4.     Prayer of forgiveness of sin: this does not give room for committing sin (1John.3:8) for God is not expecting daily sacrifices of sin from our lives, (Heb.10:36) but in case, we mistakenly sin (1John.2:1) (vs.12).

5.     Prayer of warfare against satan (vs.13).

THE VITAL INGREDIET IN PRAYER

You have to be born again (John.3:5) God cannot close his eyes when he see his correct child asking for information or assistance about something. Heb.1:13, 1John.3:6-10.