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As we mentioned in our last email on spiritual warfare, it’s vital that we proclaim the truth of the Word of God. We must also remember how important it is to pray.
Paul prayed for Ephesus, but he also went to Ephesus at great personal sacrifice to proclaim the truth. His prayers focused on the people of Ephesus perceiving the truth that they heard. He prayed that the Ephesians would have a spirit of wisdom and revelation so they might know God, and he prayed for the eyes of their hearts to be enlightened (see Eph 1:18). A key form of spiritual warfare praying, therefore, is intercessory prayer for those who will hear the truth. Over the years, I
have found this kind of prayer to be very powerful alongside the proclamation of the gospel. We know that “the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Cor 4:4). When these blinders come off, unbelievers can understand the gospel that is proclaimed.
The apostles were not stoned for praying; they were stoned for preaching. First-century riots were not caused by prayer meetings, but by the public proclamation of Christ and the
corresponding demonstration of his power. We’re tremendously encouraged by the increased focus we see on prayer. Prayer conferences and houses of prayer are emerging everywhere. Younger people in particular have a new zeal for prayer. But we can’t stop there. We need to accompany it with going and proclaiming Christ to a lost world.
Most of us don’t pray enough, particularly for the lost. Jesus sometimes prayed all night. The apostles had a lifestyle of praying every morning. And the Scriptures command us to pray without ceasing. The problem is that some have replaced the command of Jesus to “go and preach” with “prayer evangelism,” somehow thinking this is enough. When we don’t want to be troubled with the rejection, misunderstanding, and persecution associated with proclamation, we ignore the most powerful weapon we have: public proclamation of truth. We must use both prayer and evangelism in their proper roles.
So, let’s pray. Let’s go. Let’s wage war on the ways of the world.
“For the
weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds” (2 Cor 10:4).
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