The Power of Prayer 

Scripture Reading: James 5:13-18.

Memory Verse: "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it" (John 14:14).

INTRODUCTION: One of Jesus' most revealing statements about prayer and evangelism is found in Matthew 9:37,38: "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."
  One of the most powerful and effective evangelistic tools we have is not in speaking to the sinner about God, but in speaking to God about the sinner. It is wise to recognize that there is a constant spiritual battle raging for the souls of men. The Lord of the Harvest has given it into our hands to pray for the salvation of people, and to also intercede to the Father to send laborers to proclaim the good news and reap the harvest of souls. However, even though prayer is so powerful in evangelism, it also seems to be one of the things the church struggles to do. Perhaps if churches, families, and individuals spent more time on their knees with their heads buried in their arms, crying out earnestly for God's moving upon souls for their salvation, we'd find a new success in reaching people for Christ that is rarely seen.
  The use of prayer is multiplied in effect when the prayers spoken are utterly unselfish. So much time is spent praying for our predicaments and for our families and their predicaments, that real selfless prayers get little time. How many "Christians" commonly spend a whole hour praying earnestly for the salvation of one particular soul?
  We can organize concerts, put on dramas, go door to door, begin a community prayer effort, hold home bible studies, take our youth to witness in the park, visit the resthomes and hospitals, or pass out tracts at the park. Without prayer, most of the effort will be wasted time. But if, by hearing our prayers, God is engaged with us in pulling down spiritual walls and hindrances to the good news of salvation, much of our evangelistic effort will bear fruit.
  What better way to have our prayers heard, than to be praying for someone's salvation? What better way to work for God, than to make the major effort not of preaching and witnessing, but an effort of praying!

LESSON QUESTIONS:

1. Is it unusual to be unresponsive to the gospel news? Mark 16:11-14.

2. Paul boldly shared the gospel. Was he just a natural orator and outspoken person? Ephesians 3:7,8.

3. What request did Paul make of the brethren in Ephesus? Ephesians 6:18-20.

4. Where can we find help to open our lips and share the good news? Psalm 51:15.

5. Discuss the errors the disciples made in witnessing to others. Mark 10:13,14; 14:29,30; Luke 9:54,55; John 11:21,23.

6. What is the only way we can be prepared with the right words at the right time? I Corinthians 2:10-13.

7. We fail to witness because we're afraid of the response of others. Was this Paul's fear? II Corinthians 11:23-28.

8. How can prayer conquer our witnessing fears? Philippians 4:6,7.

9. How will God respond when we pray for those who need to hear His message? I Timothy 2:1-4.

10. What should be the focus of our prayers, concerning witnessing? Colossians 4:2-4.

11. What practical pointers did Paul give to help us become effective witnesses? Colossians 4:5,6.