THE PLACE OF PRAYER IN SHARING THE WORD OF GOD
13 AND ON THE SABBATH DAY WE WENT OUT OF THE CITY TO THE RIVERSIDE, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.
14 Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.”
Acts 16:13,14 (NKJV)
Everyone who preaches or teaches the Word of God should always pray before they share the Word: that God should open the heart of those who will hear or read the word to heed it.
The Bible says if the gospel we preach, the Word of God we share, is not heeded; it means the god of this world, the devil, has blinded the minds of those who do not believe—those who do not heed the Word:
3 BUT EVEN IF OUR GOSPEL IS VEILED, IT IS VEILED TO THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING, 4 WHOSE MINDS THE god OF THIS AGE HAS BLINDED, WHO DO NOT BELIEVE, LEST THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL OF THE GLORY OF CHRIST, WHO IS THE IMAGE OF GOD, SHOULD SHINE ON THEM" (2 Corinthians 4:3,4 NKJV).
The devil would not want the people under his bondage to heed the Word, lest they become free (John 8:32).
For a preacher, a teacher, of God’s Word, or someone who witnesses Christ, not to labour or toil without any result; such should learn to wait on God in prayer and soak the message, the Word, they wanted to share in prayer, that God would open the heart of those who hear the Word (Acts 16:14).
Preaching or teaching the Word of God or witnessing Christ cannot be done with the arm of flesh, it has to be with prayer (2 Chronicles 32:8).
“FOR BY STRENGTH NO MAN SHALL PREVAIL.”
1 Samuel 2:9 (NKJV)
The place of prayer in sharing the Word of God is significant.
• The veil that the devil has used to blind the minds of the people can be removed through prayer (2 Corinthians 4:3,4).
• Prayer should be an integral part of evangelism, preaching and teaching of the Word of God.
Even if you did know what to preach, you have studied and prepared yourself on what to share; you still need God’s help for the heart of those who hear you to be opened.
It is good to prepare as in studying of the Word—knowing and having the understanding of what you want to share—“BE DILIGENT TO PRESENT YOURSELF APPROVED TO GOD, A WORKER WHO DOES NOT NEED TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH" (2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV).
However, you would still need God’s help all the same, for the hearts of the people to be opened. This is where prayer comes in, where it is importantly needed.
Paul said he was like going through labour for the Galatians in prayer:
“OH, MY DEAR CHILDREN! I FEEL AS IF I'M GOING THROUGH LABOUR PAINS FOR YOU AGAIN, AND THEY WILL CONTINUE UNTIL CHRIST IS FULLY DEVELOPED IN YOUR LIVES" (Galatians 4:19 NLT).
The truth is:
• For the hearts of the people to be opened to the Word of God as the case of Lydia in our text, you need to travail in prayer.
• The success you have in your preaching and teaching would be determined by your prayer in the closet.
• How responsive the people are to your preaching and teaching is determined in the place of prayer (Acts 16:14).
Note the following in summation:
• Do not lean on your own understanding, acknowledge God by going to Him in prayer, asking for His help to back you up in the assignment committed to your hand:
5 TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND LEAN NOT ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING; 6 IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT YOUR PATHS" (Proverbs 3:5,6 NKJV).
• God opened the heart of Lydia to heed the Word spoken by Paul, because Paul had done his own part in prayer, in the closet before God (Acts 16:13,14).
• If you give yourself to prayer and the Word before you go out to minister or preach to people; God will show up to prove Himself. He will back up His Word that you preach. Peter said:
“BUT WE WILL GIVE OURSELVES CONTINUALLY TO PRAYER AND THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD" (Acts 6:4 NKJV).
This statement of Peter is the primary assignment of every minister of God.
You will not fail in Jesus’ name. Peace!