Prayer is a privilege, a way of communicating with God. It is also a necessity. It strengthens us for the great work of God. “Men ought always to pray and not to faint.” God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world, to die on the cross and pay the sin debt for all of mankind. He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God wants “all men everywhere to be saved.” Christians have the privilege to share the message of the Gospel with those that do not know Jesus as Savior. To do this, they need God’s wisdom and power. The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make know the mystery of the gospel,” “For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:18-20. He wrote to the church at Thessalonica, “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:” II Thessalonians 3:1. When Paul was giving his testimony before King Agrippa, he said that God had sent him, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” Acts 26:18. To do this, like Paul, we need God’s power. To do this we need prayer!
Samuel Chadwick wrote, “The one concern of the devil is to keep Christians from praying. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work and prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but he trembles when we pray.” Charles Spurgeon wrote, “The man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history.” Dr. D. James Kennedy wrote, “One of the saddest statistics of our day is that 95% of all church members have never led anyone to Christ.” Paul Harvey wrote, “Too many Christians are no longer fishers of men but keepers of the aquarium.” This is why Jesus encouraged His followers to, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:38.
“Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:” II Thessalonians 1:11.
A young man who had heard the Gospel accepted Christ. A little while after this, a Christian teacher asked him: “What have you done for Christ since you believed?” He replied: “Oh, I’m a learner.” ‘Well,” said the questioner, “when you light a candle do you expect it to give light after it is half burned, or when first lit?” He replied, “As soon as I light it.” Shortly after there were more Christians in town as a result of the man’s work.
PRAY