Transcript Community Evangelism Seminar

Build One Another
Winning Souls
for The Lord
Prayer and
Evangelism
Prayer and Evangelism
“A church that strives to evangelize its
community without saturating its
efforts in prayer is like a race car
driver that jumps into a car at the
starting line and discovers that the
tank has not been filled with gas.”
George Barna, Evangelism that Works
Prayer and
Evangelism
“The most important human factor in effective
evangelism is PRAYER.” - R.A. Torrey
“...Men may spurn our appeals, reject our
message, oppose our arguments, despise our
persons -- but they are helpless against our
prayers.” – J. Sidlow Baxter
Prayer and
Evangelism
• Prayer for evangelism is Biblical
– 1st Timothy 2:1-4
– Romans 10:1-2
– Colossians 4:3-4
• Prayer prepares the heart of the witness
- Eph. 6:18-19
• Prayer prepares the heart of the receiver
- 2 Cor. 4:3-4
Prayer and
Evangelism
• Prayer for Christian Witnesses
–Pray that the Lord would send laborers
into His harvest - Luke 10:1-2
–Pray that the Lord would send
opportunities for you to witness
–Pray that the Lord would give you
boldness to witness – Acts 1:8
–Pray that the Lord would give you clarity
to present the gospel
The Spiritual Realm
•Acts 16:16-22 and 1 Peter 5:8-9
Devil is seeking to hinder us from witnessing.
•1 John 2:13-14
We have victory over the Devil in Jesus Christ.
• Philippians 4:13
We can do all things through Jesus.
Prayer and the Holy Spirit
• Effective witnessing depends on the role and
work of the Holy Spirit.
• Prayer is the key to soul winning.
• Prayer is petitioning God to work in the lives of
lost and the witness.
• It is the avenue by which God’s power flows.
• E.M. Bounds wrote, “That prayer…helps the
mouth to utter the truth in its fullness and
freedom”.
Prayer and the Holy Spirit
•The Holy Spirit uses those who are
available. - Isa 6:8
•Romans 10:14-15 - Others cannot hear nor
believe unless someone proclaims Jesus.
•Acts 1:8 - The Spirit will empower you to
speak the gospel to others.
Casting the Net
The Spirit will impress upon you with whom
to witness.
• Acts 8 - The Spirit led Phillip to go to the
desert and witness.
• Jesus our Fish Finder: Luke 5:1-10 - Jesus
will show you where to fish.
• Since He is the guide He is responsible for
you catching the fish.
Prayer for the Lost
People apart from Jesus Christ are…
• LOST – Matthew 15:24; 18:11
• BLIND – 2nd Corinthians 4:3-4
• BOUND – 2nd Timothy 2:25-26; Ephesians 2:2
• CONDEMNED – John 3:18; Ephesians 2:3
• UNDER GOD’S WRATH – John 3:36
• HELPLESS – John 6:44, 65; Ephesians 2:1
• HOPELESS – Ephesians 2:12
Have a HEART
Praying for the Lost
• Pray for receptive Hearts
(Luke 8:5-15)
• Pray for their spiritual Eyes & Ears
to be opened.
(Matt. 13:15; 2 Cor. 4:3-4)
• Pray for unbelievers to have &
understand God’s Attitude toward
sin. (John 16:8)
Use the
acrostic
H
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A
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T
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Have A HEART
Use the
acrostic
•Pray for the lost to be Released from
barriers and strongholds that hinder
faith. (2 Tim. 2:25-26)
•Pray for unbelievers to experience a
Transforming life in Christ. (Rom.
12:1-2)
•Pray for the Lord to Send believers
to witness to lost persons. (Matt.
9:35-38)
H
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T
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Remember
•When Praying For Lost People, Always…
–Pray daily and diligently
–Pray for them by name
–Present them to the Father in Jesus’
name
–Pray for God’s kindness and mercy to be
evident in their lives (Romans 2:4)
–Pray that God would remove any false
sense of security they may be relying on.
Remember
•When praying for lost people, always…
–Ask God to bring them a sense of
conviction through the Holy Spirit
(John 16:8)
–Ask God to exercise mercy and grace in
their lives
Many Ways to Pray
• Ways to pray for lost people…
– Heaven’s most wanted lists
– Prayer meeting
– Prayer chains
– Prayer groups
– Prayer rooms
– Prayer walking
Application
APPLICATION ACTIVITY: Look at the
Operation Celebration tract you
received. Take a few moments to think
about lost people in your circle of
influence. List their names in the spaces
provided inside the tract. Pray for them
using the principles you have just learned.
Continue to pray for them daily until each
one becomes a Christ Follower.
Prayer Walking
• What is Prayer Walking?
– A Lifestyle of Unceasing Prayer
– Walking While Praying
– Intentional Prayer Toward the Great
Commission
– Spiritual Warfare Prayer
– Vision-Oriented Prayer
Prayer Walking Materials by Dr. Chris Schofield
Prayerwalking
• What is Prayerwalking’s Purpose?
– Intimacy with God through Relationship
• Gen 3; John 15:16a; Matt 6:9-13
– Join God’s Redemptive Work
• John 15:16b; Rom 10:1-2; 1 Tim 2:1-4; Luke
19:10
– Strategic Prayer
• Mark 2;1-20; Acts 4:23-33
Divine Encounters
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Be prepared to Share Christ
(Acts 8:26-40) Phillip and the Eunuch
Gospel tracts
Use the gospel plan in the back of the
PWMS booklet
Preparing To Prayerwalk
• Personal preparation (pgs. 18-19)
– Pray in repentance and faith
– Pray for God’s Spirit to search your heart
– Confess and forsake all known sin
– Pray for sensitivity to God’s work
– Pray for open doors to share Jesus
– Pray for spiritual eyes to pray strategically
• Strategic/logistical preparation
Taking the Prayerwalk
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Cover the prayerwalk in focused prayer
Select date, time and location
Provide specific training for the prayerwalk
Map out strategic area
Meet together before the prayerwalk
Utilize field and support teams
Meet after the prayerwalk to Share Results
Close in specific prayer
Practical Tips
•Keep your eyes open
•Pray Biblical Prayers
•Pray aloud as much as possible
•Allow the Spirit to direct your prayers
•Pray conversationally
•Walk slowly
•Wear appropriate clothing
•Take local church contact information
Practical Tips
• Pray toward the removal of spiritual
blinders—People’s needs are primary
• Try not to do things that draw attention to
yourself
• Look for witnessing opportunities
• Avoid excessive picture taking
• Keep water bottles on hand
• Focus praying on God and people
Three Ways to Focus Your
Prayers
• Pray according to what you KNOW
– People, community, area
• Pray according to what you SEE
• Pray as the Holy Spirit INSPIRES
Final Considerations
• Use the Biblical prayer prompts in this booklet
• Prayerwalk anytime you are walking
• Prayerwalk as families
•Prayerwalk your work area
• Prayerwalk neighborhoods and stronghold areas
•Prayerwalk your school, college, university
• Take a prayer journey in another community,
city, state or nation.
“Are we not getting weary of living in
this world among so many who are
going to hell? Is it not terrible to think
that after all the church is doing,
thousands are being lost every day?
We ought to bestir ourselves for
men’s souls, and we cannot do better
for them than by praying for them. Let
us, therefore, bestir ourselves in
prayer.” - Spurgeon
Preparing for Tomorrow
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Prayer
Daily devotional time
Physical rest
Clothing
– Christian tee-shirt, Christian hat
– Jeans or pants – no shorts
– Comfortable walking shoes
Preparing for Tomorrow
• Other essentials
– Back pack or fanny pack
– Bible
– Bottled water
– Sunscreen
– Breath mints