The Role of Prayer In Spreading The Gospel
[By Reed Gurchiek]
We must all be ready to defend our faith (1 Pet. 3.15); unashamed (Luke 9.26, Rom. 1.16) and able to verbalize the gospel. While this need not require elaborate speech (1 Cor. 2.1-2), preaching and teaching in the formal sense may not be everyone’s strong suit. However, that does not exclude anyone from contributing to the evangelism: you can devote yourself to prayer.
A resolute devotion to pray for evangelistic efforts is not a cop out. It is a serious mistake to underestimate the power of prayer. James uses Elijah, “a man with a nature like ours” (Jam. 5.17, NASB), as an example to bolster confidence in the power and efficacy of prayer. In Acts chapter 6, the apostles recognized a need within the church and appointed other men to address it so that they could focus their efforts on spreading the gospel. They associated that evangelistic work with a devotion to prayer: “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6.4, NASB). It was important then, and it still is now.
Consider that the greatest teacher the world has ever seen, Jesus Christ, recognized the utility of prayer in spreading the gospel. Matthew chapter 9 describes his compassion for those in need physically and spiritually. He healed the paralyzed, dined with sinners and outcasts, raised the dead, cast out demons, and healed “every kind of disease and every kind of sickness” while at the same time “teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel” (Matt. 9.35, NASB). He recognized they needed a shepherd in their life (Matt. 9.36) – guidance from God’s word and the hope of the gospel. There was much work to do: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few” (Matt. 9.37, NASB). Notice the immediate resolution that follows is to pray: “Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest” (Matt. 9.38, NASB).
So, what does a prayer for spreading the gospel look like? The example from Matt. 9.38 suggests praying for God’s aid in providing teachers and guiding the effort. This, of course, may have implications for you! That is, prayers for yourself, that you might become more able to teach and speak the word with confidence (as was done in Acts 4.29) and boldness (a prayer Paul requested from the Ephesians in Eph. 6.19). We can pray for wisdom and clarity in the way that we speak God’s word. Paul requested similar prayers for himself in Col. 4.4 and Eph. 6.19. We can pray that God direct the hearts of others (as Paul does in 2 Thess. 3.5), perhaps those that might hear the word. We can pray for the success of evangelistic efforts, “that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified” (2 Thess. 3.1, NASB). We can pray for the opportunity to teach, or in Paul’s words, for “a door for the word” (Col. 4.3, NASB). It was important that Paul was able to recognize those opportunities when they arose, what he called doors “for effective service” (1 Cor. 16.9, NASB). Thus, we might pray for an awareness, on our own behalf and of others, to recognize when the fields “are white for harvest” (John 4.35, NASB).
Note that in the context of the quotation from John chapter 4, Jesus had to tell this to his disciples, “lift up your eyes and look on the fields” (John 4.35, NASB), because apparently, they had not already recognized the opportunity. What blinded them? Was it because they were in Samaria? This motivates a prayer that we be not blinded by our own prejudice in recognizing opportunities. Maybe they thought it wasn’t the right time and hence Jesus instructs them: “Do not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’” (John 4.35, NASB). This motivates a prayer for assistance in prioritizing our time and to make the most of our opportunities today (Jam. 4.13-17).
Prayer is critical in spreading the gospel. It requires serious effort, diligence, and careful thought. Jesus, Paul, Peter, John, and the rest of the apostles recognized its utility. Let it not be forsaken.