Prayer and Spiritual Warfare: Evangelism

This week, as we gather together to pray as God's people for the advance of God's kingdom, we look at the final verses of Paul's treatise on spiritual prayer as found in Ephesians 6:

"Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I  may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak." (vv.18-20)

The Scriptures clearly teach us that God's purpose for His people, that is, His charter for His church, is that they make it their "business" (and "busyness") to be about making disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18-20) for the sake of His glory (Eph. 1:6,12, 14) in Christ (1:10). 

To guarantee this, the Father has put all things under the feet of His resurrected and ascended Son, who is given as Head over His church (1:21-22), that His greatness and fulness will fill all things in every way (1:23).

Furthermore, the risen and ascended King of kings generously doles out His gifts to His church, equipping her to accomplish the ministry entrusted to her, namely the building up and furtherance of Christ's body and reign to the ends of the earth (4:7-12, 16).

But nowhere does God promise us that just because this mission will be accomplished, that this mission will be easy or without opposition (Eph. 6:10-12). Yes, Jesus promised that He will inexorably build His church (Matt. 16:18). But in that very promise He tells us that the forces of Hell will be warring to impede and retard and resist the advance of Christ's reign to the ends of the earth.

In this great battle we have been enlisted as soldiers into (cf. 2 Tim. 2:3-4), it is not enough that we seek only stay alive; we have been divinely sent on a rescue mission. And thus, the armory Christ entrusts to us (6:10-18) is not only for the safety of the church, it is also (and especially) for the salvation of the lost. 

As Paul teaches in Ephesians, the sword of the Spirit (that is, the Word of God) is exceedingly powerful as the means by which the Spirit (6:17) will not only protect us, but will also save those whom we are called to reach out to (cf. 1:13).

However, Paul would have us remember that just as powerful - and just as necessary - for effective evangelism is the weapon that John Bunyan refers to as "All-Prayer." Simply put, the armor of God, including the sword of the Spirit in evangelism, is useless apart from prayer.

Paul knew this. And so he asks the believers in Ephesus to pray for their fellow soldiers doing evangelism, and to especially to pray for him as the apostle whom God had commissioned to reach the Gentiles with the saving gospel of Christ. 

As astounding as it may seem to us, Paul - like us - was often tempted to remain silent with the gospel. Struggling with the fear of man and the desire to be accepted, he knew that things would be far less uncomfortable for him if he just didn't talk so much about Jesus (remember, he was writing this letter from a prison cell, to which he was incarcerated for preaching the gospel). He knew he would not be mocked or rejected if he didn't harp so much on the exclusivity of the gospel. Or the universality of the depravity of mankind. Or the inability of sinners to merit salvation through good works. 

Since the gospel has always been - and will always be - offensive to sinners (cf. 1 Cor. 1:18-31), we must be intentional to pray for each other when it comes to the effective and consistent witness and proclamation of the gospel to our families, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and even enemies.

As we learned in our study of the book of Acts, for evangelism to be truly effective, our sovereign Triune God must sovereignly open the following:

1. Doors of opportunity to present the gospel
2. Our mouths to unashamedly proclaim the gospel
3. Our hearers' hearts to receive the gospel

Thankfully, we have the omnipotence of God Almighty on our side. None of these things, which are seemingly impossible obstacles to us, are obstacles to Him. And thus we need not fear any of them.

But we must remember that the God of ends is the God of means. And the means by which God opens doors and mouths and hearts is the faithful and fervent prayers of His people.

And so, brothers and sisters, let us pray for each other in this regard: let us pray for opportunities; let us pray for courage; and let us pray for conversions as we proclaim Christ's unsearchable riches to the ends of the earth (3:8).

Beloved, we are in a cosmic battle for the eternal souls of people. Let us never forget that, in the words of John Piper, "We will not know what prayer is for, until we know that life is war."

In Christ and for His glory to the ends of the earth, through His church,

pastor ryan

* It may be quite fruitful for us to be specific in our prayer requests. I think of a brother who sent a text to me on Monday asking for prayer for (the names of) two JW's he met, and who are coming back on Saturday. Knowing these details helps me to pray for open doors, open hearts, and open mouths. Share the names and circumstances of those whom God has placed in your life and upon your heart, that your fellow soldiers may pray Ephesians 6:19-20 for you.