Preaching The Evangel (2)

by G. Jarvie, Glasgow | Category: Preaching The Evangel | May 1975

"That they may turn from darkness to light,

and from the power of Satan unto God" (Acts 26:18).

The work of evangelism is not merely a matter of convincing men that they need a Saviour. It is much more than that. It is a warfare against the powers of darkness, who darken the minds of those to whom we speak. Against these powers of darkness the evangelist must do combat. The ability to reason with men is not sufficient. The evangelist must prevail before God for the power of the Holy Spirit before he can prevail with men for their deliverance.

The Holy Spirit has come to convict men of sin (John 16:8), and without this conviction of sin, we cannot convince men. Scripture and all experience show the vital importance of prayer in this work of the Lord. Its importance lies in the fact that we are warring against spiritual hosts of wickedness. No mere human organizing or eloquence can prevail against these. We need the strength and power of God in this warfare, and unless we realize it we may toil in vain. "Tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high", the Master said (Luke 24:4g). And so they came back to Jerusalem to wait and pray. Again in Acts 4:31, although the disciples had already received the Holy Spirit, they needed His power, and boldness to speak the word. When they prayed, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke the word of God with boldness. This is what we too must seek-the boldness that comes from the Spirit's power within us.

The outreach mg of an assembly must have assembly power in prayer behind it. The prayer meeting is the power meeting of the church. An assembly that is weak in prayer will surely be a weak assembly no matter how many disciples are in it or how great is their spiritual gift. On the other hand, an assembly that is outreaching will also be stirred in prayer and in love one to another. Outreaching and assembly prayer go hand in hand. Each helps the other.

Assembly prayers are greatly affected by the unity of heart of the disciples. When the disciples are bound together in love, and when the Amen is heartfelt and spontaneous from all, there will be an effective prayer meeting. When the Amen is lacking, the cause may be lack of unity of heart or indifference in prayer. If this is so then any outreach will lack the power and joy of the Lord. We read of the' early disciples that "the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul... and with 'great power gave the apostles their witness" (Acts 4:32-33). We must attach great importance to oneness of heart among disciples in the service of God. We must also prevail in prayer together, all taking part in the heartfelt Amen.

G. Jarvie, Glasgow | May 1975
Preaching The Evangel