The Power
Prayer: The Source of enablement to share Christ

In the context of preparing for battle. Put on your armor.

Then aggressively engage in prayer.

First of all (and critically) a spiritual task – Must begin in prayer.

Fan - Have all the mechanics – need the power to operate it.

I.       Pray

Prayer is the means for our enablement for living. This is why Paul tells us to Pray:

A.     All the time

(NKJV) Ephesians 6 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

(NKJV) Colossians 4 2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

1.      In every situation

2.      Putting on the armor

3.      Prayer to be integrated into all you do

4.      All occasions

B.     All types of prayer

(NKJV) Ephesians 6 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication (all kinds) in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

1.      Variety – short / daily / lengthy / fasting and prayer

C.     A spiritual interaction

(NKJV) Ephesians 6 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

1.      Supernatural

2.      Personal

3.      Relational

D.    Aggressively Active

(NKJV) Ephesians 6 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

 (NKJV) Colossians 4 2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

1.      Earnest

a)      Grk means “to be courageously persistent” or “to hold fast and not let go” (like dog and a rag)

2.      Vigilant

a)      Stay awake

b)      Active engagement

c)      Intentional in conversation – engaged – thinking – being specific

3.      Persevering

a)      Implies difficulty

b)      Keep at it in face of problems

E.     Purposefully expectant

(NKJV) Ephesians 6 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

(NKJV) Colossians 4 2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

F.     For people

(NKJV) Ephesians 6 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me,

 (NKJV) Colossians 4 2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us,

1.      For all the saints

G.    For the purpose of sharing the gospel

(NKJV) Ephesians 6 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

1.      Share the gospel

II.    Pray for Opportunities to share the gospel

A.     God must do it

(NKJV) Colossians 4 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

B.     God does do it

(NKJV) Colossians 4 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

1.      Preparation of people

(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 16 9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. (in Ephesus)

2.      Awareness of opportunities

3.      Speak by faith that God has prepared even if not aware

a)      Probe for preparedness

(NKJV) 2 Corinthians 2 12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, 

C.     The Opportunities are to share the gospel

(NKJV) Colossians 4 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

III. Pray to overcome fear of sharing the gospel

A.     Pray To begin to do it

(NKJV) Ephesians 6 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

1.      Make some sort of noise

2.      Give we words to speak

B.     Pray for Courage to overcome fear

(NKJV) Ephesians 6 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

1.      Courage

2.      Confidence

C.     Pray to share in the face of intimidation

(NKJV) Ephesians 6 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

1.      In uncomfortable situations

2.      Responsible to represent Christ here too

3.      Even though sharing the gospel created his problems, he continued to share

D.    Pray to carry out responsibility to share

(NKJV) Ephesians 6 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

IV. Pray to share the gospel message

A.     Share the message

(NKJV) Ephesians 6 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

B.     Make the message clear

(NKJV) Colossians 4 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

1.      To actually speak

2.      The message of the gospel

3.      Do it with clarity (Make known)  - explain

4.      Carry out responsibility

C.     Live wisely as a foundation

(NKJV) Colossians 4 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

1.      Own lifestyle (Godly / but not better than th

2.      Understanding toward them

3.      Intentional

D.    Make the most of opportunities

 (NKJV) Colossians 4 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

1.      Invest in opportunities  (buy them up)

2.      Treat them specially with great value

E.     Speak with grace and salt

(NKJV) Colossians 4 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

1.      Kindly – pleasantly 

2.      Interestingly

3.      Truthfully – preservative /biting at times

F.     Speak the right words

(NKJV) Colossians 4 5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.