THE PLACE OF PRAYER IN EVANGELISM

TOPIC: THE PLACE OF PRAYER IN EVANGELISM 


TEXT: Matt.  28: 79,20; Mk. 16: 15; Act. 1:8; 6:8; 2 Cor. 4:3-5; Isa. 66:8

Evangelism is bringing the good news of Jesus Christ as Saviour to sinners with the intention of winning them to Christ or accepting Him as the Lord of their life. The commission to all believers to preach the gospel is universal and this can only be effectively carried out in the power of prayer. Prayer and evangelism are two inseparable arms of gospel commitments. 
Praying for sinners without preaching will not suffice, also preaching in the absence of prayers makes our preaching of non effect and powerless (read Ps. 2:8; Rom. 10:14). Witnessing without prayers makes it uninteresting, brings arguments, discouragement and fruitlessness. For the message of salvation to be convicting, awakening, opening sinners eyes to Christ’s sufficiency, quicken faith in the hearer and draw him to sincere and meaningful decision, it takes earnest, effective, persevering and agonizing prayer. 

1. EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM: 
Jn. 4:5-26; Acat.  8:4-8, 35; 10:34-43; 2 :14-40. 

Evangelism bathed with prayer is result-oriented. Whatever the form of evangelism we are involved in, it may be Jesus’ type of personal evangelism with the Samaritan woman, Peter's evangelistic preaching on the day of Pentecost to the multitudes or Philip’s outreach to the Samaritans, they will yield fruitful results if there is adequate prayers before the preaching.

READ ALSO:
   EFFECTIVE PERSONAL EVANGELISM
 WINNING NOMINAL CHRISTIAN FOR CHRIST

2. ESSENTlALS OF PRAYER
Gen. 18:20-33; Isa. 62:5-7; Ezek. 22:30; 2 Cor. 4:3-5; Isa. 66:8; Ps. 2:8; Ps. 126:5.

Result-oriented preaching is borne out of effectual fervent prayer. For an evangelist (Gospel preacher) to succeed in leading sinners to the Lord, he must recognize the following: 
(a). That Satan keeps sinners in bondage to sin and has blinded their eyes to the gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Before the sinner can be saved, the yoke of Satan in their lives must be broken through prayers (2 Cor. 4:3-5). 
(b). The heart of sinners are deceitful and desperately wicked. It is only through prayers we can soften such hearts to enable them understand and receive the gospel (Jer. 17:9). 
(c). Before a message can burn the heart of sinners and convict them of sin, it must be soaked in prayers (Lk. 24:32). 
(d). For unction and anointing to flow through a preacher in order to preach the gospel effectively, it will cost ceaseless praying. Prayer and the word bring the Holy Ghost into action (Acts 10:38). 
(e). For the free flow of the word from the source to the audience, prayer must have removed all likely hindrances, spiritual or otherwise that will adversely affect the reception of the word. Furthermore, it is essential to note that the centrality of effective and accomplishing message is prayer, therefore, witnessing must begin and end with and in prayer; thus: 
(i). Saturating yourself with power through prayer before going for evangelism. (ii). Praying for the heart that is going to hear the word. (iii). Praying on the message before, during and after delivery (iv). Praying until the fruit is seen. 

3. PRAYING FOR EVANGELISTIC OUTREACH: 
Acts 4:24-31; 13:1-3; Lk. 6:12; Eph. 6:19, 20; Matt. 18:18,19. 

Various prayers such as intercession, prayer of commands, prayer of binding and aggressive spiritual warfare coupled with fasting must be employed. Gospel preaching is spiritual warfare. Such a prayer should be all involving the pastors, Church workers and all members. 
Prayer points should include both human agents and the electronic gadgets to be used during an evangelistic outreach. Planning, getting money and gadgets, and other forms of preparation are good and essential, but the place of prayer in evangelism cannot be substituted with any of these. As we PRAY and PLAN we shall see success in all our outreaches. 

My name is Ubong Kingsley Nsini. I am a preacher in Bible Christian Evangelical Church Inc. I am called by God to preach His good news and to help other preachers spread the good news all over the world.

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