Evangelism and Prayer
In his book Prayer, John Bunyan said “You can do more than pray after you have prayed, but you cannot do more than pray until you have prayed.” I think that is great counsel when it comes to our evangelism. J.I. Packer explains why - “Preaching and praying must go together…We are to preach because without knowledge of the gospel no man can be saved. We are to pray because only the sovereign Holy Spirit in us and in men’s hearts can make our preaching effective to men’s salvation.”
With that I mind, here are some of the ways scripture encourages to pray for evangelism.
1. Pray for opportunities to witness.
Colossians 4:3-4 pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word.
2 Thessalonians 3:1 pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you.
2. Pray for specific people you want to see saved.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people…this is good and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
3. Pray for boldness and courage.
Acts 4:29 Grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness.
4. Pray for the Holy Spirit to be at work in your witnessing and in your hearers.
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses.
Acts 16:14 The Lord opened her (Lydia’s) heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
5. Pray that God would grant you a greater heart for the lost.
John 4:35 Open your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.
Romans 10:1 my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.
6. Pray that God would send laborers into the harvest field – and include yourself.
Matthew 9:37-38 The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few, therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
7. Pray for skill in presenting the gospel – clarity, joy, proper weightiness.
Colossians 4:3-4 pray…that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
One final thing. Praying is something everyone can do to participate in evangelism. We can and should “do the work of an evangelist” by teaching people how to pray for evangelism. But I would also urge pastors to use pastoral prayer on Sundays to pray in these ways. Hearing your prayers for these things will serve as a wonderful example and encouragement to those in your church to do the same.