Sharing Jesus Begins With Prayer
“Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38.
Prayer is the first ingredient of an authentic life with God. Not only is prayer important for our own relationship with God, it is the first step, the foundation of our sharing with others. Through prayer, God causes the seeds that people plant in others’ lives to grow (1 Cor. 3:6-7).
There are many reasons to pray. First of all, we pray because Jesus prayed. Jesus serves as our main example when we are learning to share God with others. As we look at Jesus’ life we see that he prayed frequently (Matt. 14:23; 26:36; Mark 6:46; Luke 5:16; John 17). Another reason to pray is that God allows us to influence Him with our prayers. God listens and responds when we pray. You can actually influence God with your prayers. 2 Kings 20:1-7 tells the story of King Hezekiah. He asked God to spare His life and God responded by allowing him to live for 15 more years.
Just like Hezekiah’s prayer, our prayers make a difference. We have influence with God and He moves when we pray. We can help lead people to eternal life.
What should you pray for? Pray for more people to witness. Jesus specifically asked you to pray to the Father and ask Him to send workers into the field (Matt. 9:37-38). What is the field? It is the world of sinners. Who are the workers? They are people like you. Jesus wants people to find salvation and enjoy eternal fellowship with Him. He wants you to preach the Gospel. He has given the command “Go therefore and make disciples of all the na-tions…” (Matt. 28:19). Your witness for God may or may not be verbal. But either way, you need to pray and ask God to give you strength, love, and insight.
Pray for compassion for the lost. Compassion is a necessary element in witnessing. It motivates you to speak, to teach, and to pray for others to come into the kingdom of God. Compassion helps you to cry over the lost and to come to God in humble re-quest for their salvation. Paul said, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and by prayer to God for them is for their salvation.
Pray for the desire to witness. Pray this regularly and watch the Lord change you and give you a de-sire to reach out and tell people about Jesus. God will grant your prayers and joy will fill your heart as you fulfill the command of God by witnessing.
Pray to the Lord to bind Satan and his angels. There is a hierarchy of demons seeking to hinder your witness and steal the seeds of the Gospel that you plant. You cannot fight spirits with reason or flesh and blood, but you can ask the Lord to fight. With prayer you can assault the camp of the enemy and weaken his false kingdom. Prayer is a mighty tool, a powerful tool. You need it if you are going to witness.
Pray for your needs. Do you have a close walk with God? Do you need a deeper fellowship with Him? Do you have sins you need to confess and forsake? If so, then pray. Enjoy your privilege of coming to the Creator of the universe who meets your every need. He loves you. He wants to hear from you and He wants you to make your needs know to Him. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6).
Prayer is a privilege. It is a powerful tool. With-out it you will be a foolish worker in the fields of the dead. Pray and ask the Lord of the harvest to raise the dead to life. Bend your knees in fellowship with your Lord. Let Him wash you in His presence and fill you with the Holy Spirit. Prayer is where you meet Him. Prayer is where you are shaped. Pray
