Boldly praying

If we really want to be effective in the way that we are needed to be effective today, we need to realize that what we cannot accomplish—opportunities we cannot manufacture—God can. And we appeal to him in prayer. Let’s talk about evangelism. How often do you—I find myself this way, do you find yourself thinking like this? I have a neighbour, I have a family member, I have a friend, I have a child, and I want to talk to them about Jesus. I just don’t know how to do it. It doesn’t seem to be a good opportunity. You know, when I try to do it, it does not go well because I’m not that skillful. I have these sin issues and all these sorts of things going on. What should I do? We should get on our knees and say, Lord, you desire me to witness the gospel—that is certain. And here is this person in my life. I do not know how to do it, and there seems to be an obstacle. You know, every time I bring it up, it goes badly. What then? Father, would you give me the opportunity to witness the gospel? And while I am praying, would you give me the courage and the ability to witness it when that opportunity comes? And I am going to be looking for it.

We never want to be like they were in that great prayer meeting in Acts 12:1–25, where the saints gathered in the house of John Mark’s mother. They were praying for Peter to be let out of jail. And they prayed, and God sent the angel in answer to the prayer. And the angel got Peter out of jail. And then Peter came to the house, and knocked on the door—and they would not open it. And actually, when Rhoda said, It’s Peter, they said, It’s a ghost. They went on with the prayer meeting, not believing it could ever happen. One of the more comical scenes in the book of Acts—but it is comical to us, isn’t it? We should be praying with expectation, boldly looking forward to God answering these prayers. Pastors who want their ministry of the Word to be effective in people’s lives need to rely on prayer and need to be prayed for by their congregation.¹

Richard D. Phillips