Methods of Evangelism: Part 1

The first method of evangelism we'll focus on is one we didn't get a chance to focus on during our evangelism kickoff, and that's public prayer. Did you know that public prayer is a method of evangelism? Paul wrote this to Timothy:

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— "

One of the first things he charged Timothy, a beginning pastor with was prayer. Now you may look at that verse and say "that passage doesn't say anything about saving souls", and you would be right. This verse alone doesn't say that and prayer isn't just a method of evangelism. Prayer is an act of faith and communication with God, but let's read on...

"for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth".

And later on it says this:

"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing."

The question we ought to ask ourselves is this: why do the men have to lift up their hands to pray?

Lifting up our hands doesn't mean we're any more holy than anyone else, and it doesn't increase the odds of our prayers being answered but it does accomplish this: it lets people know that these people are praying.

I've said this before but prayer is an act of faith. When we pray before others, when we demonstrate the faith we have in our Lord Jesus Christ and the power he has to answer our prayers in a way that impacts others. Our God is a refuge, our God is a good father who gives good things to his children, our God hears our prayers.

The psalmist says this:

"Help me, O LORD my God;
save me in accordance with your love.

Let them know that it is your hand,
that you, O LORD, have done it."

Look at that second verse "Let them know that it is your hand..." - we want the unbeliever to know that God acts, we want them to see the power of God so that they fall on their knees and worship the true and living God. We want them to see a God we trust for our salvation because He delivers every time. He never fails.

So how do we do this? How can we use public prayer to reach the lost? Well we must first get saints willing to lift up holy hands, saints willing to pray out loud, and then we need to go to a public place and pray big prayers, prayers full of faith. Don't go before the unbelievers and limit God before you've even asked him, go before the throne of grace boldly.

Elijah was confronted with the wicked and he had an opportunity to pray before them, but Elijah wasn't satisfied with that. He told the evil king to bring 450 prophets of Baal to compete against him. Then Elijah proposed a contest: whichever God answered his people's prayer with fire was the real God. The prophets of Baal prayed their best, and they cut themselves until they bled, but their god didn't answer. Then Elijah had them pour water all around his sacrifice and prayed this:

"At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again." "

God answered him with fire and the people saw the power of God and a revival began in Israel.

Do you want to see people saved? Do you want to see souls led to Christ? Let's be Elijah's and pray that bold prayer before the unbelievers, let us say "Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God"!