Jesus’ apostles shared the Gospel, and lives were powerfully transformed. When you share the Gospel, are lives dramatically changed for the better? The apostles observed Jesus while they walked, talked, ate, and learned from Him. They learned two secrets to sharing the Gospel.

The Good News, the Gospel, is that the Son of God, Jesus, came to the earth, took our sins upon Himself to pay the price we owed for those sins, died on the cross, was buried, and rose from the dead. He now sits at the right hand of God speaking to God the Father for those who follow Jesus.

Great knowledge that needs to transfer to our hearts to transform our lives.

Jesus Prayed Intensely

“Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.  And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles” (Luke 6:12-13, NKJV)

He prayed all night and then chose His disciples who He would teach how to minister the Word of God to others.

Prayer and Ministry of the Word

Jesus is the Son of God! Why did Jesus find it necessary to pray all night? To be in the presence of God His Father all night?

Before these Scriptures, Jesus had been challenged by the Pharisees because His disciples had gone through the grain fields and plucked the grains, rubbing them in their hands and eating them on the Sabbath.

Then, He was in the synagogue and healed the man’s withered right hand – on the Sabbath. The Pharisees were furious and plotting what they could do to Him.  

Now, He was about to choose the men who, in the Holy Spirit’s power and leading, would turn the world upside down after He ascended to heaven.

Jesus went to His Father to talk … Son to Father.

Jesus would pour His life into the men He would choose the next day. They would usher in the birth of the church and spread of the Good News (except for Judas). 

Two Secrets: Prayer and God’s Word

The 12 apostles observed Jesus and His prayer life. They saw a difference in how He prayed and asked that He teach them to pray. That transformed their prayer lives.

The early church leaders understood their purpose and what it took to fulfill their purpose: prayer and the study of God’s Word. They also recognized that the Greek widows weren’t being taken care of sufficiently.

Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. [emphasis added]” (Acts 6:2-4 NKJV)

The leaders of the church recognized that prayer and the Word of God were to be their focus in serving God and His people. 

Prayer and the Word of God.

Secret 1: Prayer

God has blessed us with the privilege of talking with Him as sons and daughters would talk with their earthly fathers.

Are we taking advantage of talking with our Father in Heaven? To a Father who wants the best for us. Who desires to empower us to accomplish big, bold things that we can’t do on our own. A Father who wants us to bask in His love and know His heart. 

In “Putting Passion and Personality into Your Teaching” Nancy Guthrie emphasized that without prayer, a message is all about what we want to see. Prayer is an act of dependence and desperation for God. Desperate for something supernatural to happen. We’re asking God to do something eternal and real in the lives of others. 

Do you long for a transformation in your life? In the lives of the people you’ll be sharing the Gospel with?

What Prayer Is

Prayer: Proseuchē: We pray to acknowledge God’s majesty, to make requests, to thank Him for His work in and through us, to pray for others, and to listen to Him.

” Fellowship with God is the heart of prayer.”
GotQuestions.org

J. Kent Edwards was a colleague of Haddon Robinson. His office was next to Robinson’s. Edwards says that “The secret of the apostles’ preaching lay in the utilization of the classic spiritual tools: prayer and meditation. Thinking and praying their way through Scripture. In meditation.” [emphasis added] (Deep Preaching course on Logos.com)

It’s like we’re chewing on the Scripture, like cows chewing their cud.

Have we asked ourselves how deep our love for God’s Word is? Are we willing to wrestle with the Scripture and dig deeply into it, praying and meditating on the passage?

“God has made the spread of his fame hang on the preaching of his Word; and he has made the preaching of his Word hang on the prayers of the saints. … The triumph of the Word will not come without prayer.” (John Piper, “The Strategic Role of Prayer in Preaching“)

Secret 2: Scripture Meditation

We’ve read the Scriptures many times. The previous verses and the verses after the passage we’re concentrating on have pointed to God, the culture, the circumstances, and the people in the Scriptures. We’ve asked God to show us what He wants to teach us and what He wants us to share with others.

Meditation. Chewing on the passage.

We’re seeking God’s will and wisdom. 

Nancy Guthrie emphasizes that our love for the Scriptures, our passion, should overflow onto others. 

Are we passionate about the Scriptures? Is our love for the Scriptures evident? Our desire to understand the Scriptures is contagious.

Tim Keller aimed to cause the people he shared the Gospel with to adore Christ.

“And how does that happen? You and I can’t make that happen. But as we declare the person and work of Christ, most particularly in his life, death, resurrection, ascension, and promised return that causes people to adore Christ. We want to use our own passion to point to his passion. (Nancy Guthrie, “Putting Passion and Personality into Your Teaching“)

Passionate Prayer

Let’s stir up our passion for God like David prayed in Psalm 145:1-7.

“A psalm of praise of David. 
I will exalt You, my God and King, and praise Your name forever and ever. I will praise You every day; yes, I will praise You forever. Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure His greatness. Let each generation tell its children of Your mighty acts; let them proclaim Your power.  I will meditate on Your majestic, glorious splendor and Your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim Your greatness. Everyone will share the story of Your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about Your righteousness.” [Psalm 145:1-7 NLT]

David focuses on God and His majesty and great works. Jesus tells His disciples to begin their prayers with focusing on the majesty of God.

What happens when our prayers begin as Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name”? 

We’re focused on God and His majesty. We are asking that God be exalted. Our problems seem small after we focus on our Mighty, All-Powerful God. This was the way Jesus prayed.

Hours before the cross, Jesus prayed to the Father.

“Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You’” (John 17:1 NKJV)

Jesus focused on glorifying God knowing what was coming. He did not ask for the cross to be taken away. He asked that through the cross, God would be glorified. 

Focused on Jesus and God’s Word, we can pray big bold, passionate prayers that turn the world upside down for Jesus.

Jesus said in Luke 18:27, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” 

“The faith which creates powerful praying is the faith which centers itself on a powerful person. Faith in Christ’s ability to do and to do greatly is the faith which prays greatly,” (E.M. Bounds, The Necessity of Prayer.)

Unceasingly Meditating on God

Let’s look at a few more verses from Psalm 145.

“The LORD is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all His creation. All of Your works will thank You, LORD, and Your faithful followers will praise You.They will speak of the glory of Your kingdom; they will give examples of Your power.” (Psalm 145:8-12 NLT)

First, we meditate on God’s glory and majesty, His works, His compassion and lovingkindness. Then, we speak of it and give examples of His mighty deeds. That takes knowing His Word. 

Meditating on God’s Word and prayer—big, bold prayer. 

Meditation on God’s Word and praying without ceasing lead us to surrendering to the Holy Spirit’s guidance as we prepare to share God’s Word with passion—transformational passion. Passion that transforms us. Passion that transforms the lives of others.

Thinking about God’s Word throughout our day. Praying the Scriptures. Listening to the Holy Spirit. Unceasingly, passionately meditating and praying.

Points to Ponder

• Ask the Holy Spirit to help you chew on God’s Word throughout the day.
• Thank God for His mighty deeds in your life, the lives of your family, neighbors, and CCB.
• Examine your passion for God’s Word. Ask God to increase your passion.
• Pray the Scripture.

Related Links

Praying Passionately & Powerfully

The Power of Prayer in Marriage

How do you prepare to share the Gospel with others? Please share in the comments.

Featured photo by Pexels.com