Theology and Motivation of Prayer in Evangelism
Praying in God's Purpose and Praying towards God's Purpose for World
Evangelization
1. God summons us to pray in the pursuing of His purpose in evangelization of the world.
Article One of the Lausanne Covenant states: ‘We affirm our belief in the one eternal God, Creator and Lord of the world, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who governs all things according to the purpose of His will. He has been calling out from the world a people for Himself, and sending His people back into the world to be His servants and His witnesses, for the extension of His kingdom, the building up of Christ’s body, and the glory of His name.’ God’s people are clearly commanded to pray for the fulfillment of His purpose. The role of prayer in evangelization is integral to God’s purpose in these five ways.
a) God's calling
God ˜has been calling out from the world a people for Himself." God's call is the heart of His saving work. We are to pray to God to do what no evangelist can do – to draw people to Himself. We ask in our prayers for Him to continue to do all that He will do in bringing people to Himself. We pray for God's word going forth in a global cry in order that all the earth hear His voice, that none of His words will return void. (Genesis 12:3; Acts 2:39; 1 Corinthians 1:9)
b) God's sending
God is "sending His people back into the world to be His servants and His witnesses."™
Christ instructs us to pray that God will thrust His people into the communities and lives of people in all the world, to accomplish the work of evangelization. (Matthew 9:37-38)
c) God's kingdom
God sends His people back into the world for the "extension of His kingdom." Christ teaches us to pray for the fulfillment of His purpose in bringing forth His rule on the earth amongst every people within the days of this age. To pray for His kingdom to come is to pray for Christ to be obeyed in faith, to pray for signs of His kingly rule to be displayed openly, for the powers of darkness to be subdued, so that whole communities begin to exhibit features of His righteousness and His peace for the transformation of society that they might demonstrate the love of God, the righteousness of God and the peace He intends for His people. It is good and right to pray for His blessing for all the peoples of the earth, for all people to submit to Him as King. (Genesis 12:3; Matthew 6:10)
d) Christ's body
God sends His people back into the world for "the building up of Christ's body." Praying for Christ's church is a critical dimension of evangelization. Scripture summons us to pray that Christ's body will be revived, renewed and built up in order to clearly reflect the glory of Christ in all things. By God’s grace prayer-revived churches are ready to welcome and nurture new followers. (Psalm 85:6; Philippians 2:5-7; Ephesians 6:18-19)
e) God's Glory
God sends His people back into the world for "the glory of His name." Our Lord tells us to pray that the name of God would be sanctified, that is, to be revealed, distinguished and honored. This prayer is the beginning point for all effective evangelization. We are to pray that God will be known clearly even by those who reject Christ as Lord and Savior. The ultimate purpose of an evangelized world is that God will be worshipped and glorified by some from every tribe and tongue. (Matthew 6:9; Philippians 2; 2 Thessalonians 3; Revelation 21)
2. Christ our intercessor, teacher and example for prayer in evangelization
a) Christ' intercession
Christ enables us as a priesthood of all believers in helping Him in His priestly work and advocacy for others. God welcomes prayer from all people, as a Father receives from His own children. God initiates and helps all prayer by His Spirit, giving us confidence to approach God personally when we cry "Abba Father." We are led by Christ Himself, who intercedes continually for us and invites us to join Him before God's throne in His work of intercession. We learn how to pray from the teaching and example of Christ. We are summoned to pray for others and not just for ourselves at the throne of grace. As we pray in Christ, as advocates before God for individuals, cities and nations, God is pleased to advance His eternal purpose toward completion.
b) Christ's teaching regarding prayer
Christ's teaching about prayer moves far beyond personal devotional prayer. He taught His followers to pray for God's purpose to be fulfilled and sent them to pray for others. Prayer is related strongly to Christ's teaching about the kingdom of darkness, about the nature of spiritual blindness and of how people are freed from spiritual bondage to become children of God that is foundational for pursuing the task of prayer towards evangelization.
c) Christ's example
It is not always noted that Jesus prayed in preparation for his next preaching/ministry event. The works of power which accompanied Christ’s ministry were recognized as answers to His prayer and the work of God in response to faith. (John 11:38-44; Luke 18:38-43; Matthew 9:35) Jesus clearly linked prayer as essential in subduing the enemy in the work of evangelization. (Luke 10:17-20; Matthew 17:20-21) We will find our best approach to the human questions and issues raised by spiritual warfare in the example and teaching of Christ.
3. Declaration with demonstration in prayer
a) God answers prayer
In John 14:13 Jesus sums up the purpose of prayer: that the Father would be glorified in the Son, whether we do power evangelism, servant evangelism or relational evangelism.
Whatever we do, we offer to pray with and for someone revealing our love, and communicating the very love of God. As God moves in response to prayer it reveals His hand to those who will or have heard the gospel. Prayer demonstrates the gospel, communicates the love, the interest and hope that often opens the way to proclamation. Even the offer to pray for people who have yet to follow Christ displays God’s love as reflected in the good will of His people.
b) The acts of prayer
As God's people offer to pray for others, His love, His hope, and His blessing are communicated. Answers to prayer may draw attention to Christ and illumine the gospel with clear communication of the whole gospel which is essential for evangelization.
4. Prayer is essential for the work of world evangelization
a) The whole Church
God invites the whole church, every member, every Christian to be a witness and a servant. Every believer has a role and a work to accomplish in prayer. Everyone is summoned to join in the work of praying for the world and for others. (2 Chronicles 7:14; Matthew 28:18-20; John 17:20-21; Acts 2:42-47). There are special callings and ministries of prayer and we have come to recognize these by the current term "intercessors." These ministries and intercessors are to strengthen and encourage the whole church to accomplish God's work in prayer as a priesthood of all believers. God is pleased with united prayer (Matthew 18:20). The unity of the Father and the Son is our unity in Christ. Together we say the words "Our Father"; we cry out "Abba" Father, demonstrating that the Spirit is bearing witness to us as children of God and heirs with Christ. As we pray in agreement we are glorifying Him, as we align ourselves together with His purpose. (Romans 8:15-17; Acts 4:23-31; Acts 6: 4-5)
b) The whole gospel
In Matthew 25, in the parable of the sheep and goats, our Lord speaks of ministering to those who are hungry and thirsty and are strangers and need clothing and need to be cared for in sickness and in prison. The gospel reaches out to the total needs of humanity – physical, emotional and spiritual. It is a whole gospel that is to be related to our prayer in evangelism. As the Lausanne Covenant (clause 5) states: "The salvation we claim should be transforming us in the totality of our personal and social responsibilities."
c) The whole world
The fact that prayer has a strong connection with the spread of the gospel ought to urge us to see its crucial role in evangelization today. In 2 Thessalonians 3:1 Paul asks for prayer. "Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere, just as it is among you." We ask for God's gracious provision that the gospel will have a continuing transforming effect locally, nationally and globally. God will surely hear our cry: "let the earth hear His voice." He will bring forth an evangelized world in which we will hear a rising song coming to a grand crescendo: "Let all the peoples praise Him."
Resources
Graeme Goldsworthy, Prayer and the knowledge of God
Steve Hawthorne, Fresh Prayer (www.waymakers.org)
Sarah Plummer, Forty days with the risen Lord; an all age resource for churches to pray towards God's purpose.
