Power of Prayer in Cell Evangelism

Evangelism and Multiplication

By Joel Comiskey

Fall 2016

A pastor recently recommended the book How to Effectively Pray for the Lost. I bought it for 99 cents on Kindle, and I recommend that you do the same. Author Lee E. Thomas gives some important tips and examples to effectively pray for those who don’t know Jesus.

Praying for lost souls in the cell group allows us to enter the battleground and pray fervently for others. Intercession is hard work because Satan, the prince of this world, refuses to relinquish control without a battle. We must remember that intercessory prayer is spiritual warfare against demonic strongholds. The Bible reminds us that, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). Scripture also says 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 Corinthians 4:4).

Only prayer can break the hold of the enemy on people’s lives. Satan and his demons have blinded people’s minds, and they’re unable to see the glorious gospel of Christ. Intercessory prayer is the earnest request or petition to God on behalf of another. The Bible gives us various examples of intercession:

  • Moses interceded for God’s people, who were facing God’s judgment. Moses pleaded with God to act in mercy rather than judgment (Exodus 32:9–14).
  • Samuel recognized his duty to pray for God’s people. He even considered it a sin not to do so. He said, “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you” (1 Samuel 12:23).

God is looking for prayer warriors who will stand in the gap on behalf of others (Ezekiel 22:30), and the cell is a perfect place to intercede in unison for lost men and women. Don’t give up praying for lost souls each week. It will probably take longer than you expect. God doesn’t view time in the same way we do. He hears every prayer you make, and He desires that you persist until the end. At times you’ll want to give up. Don’t. God is hearing your prayers and is pleased with them. In His time the answer will come—quickly.

George Mueller prayed throughout his lifetime for five friends to know Jesus Christ. The first one came to Christ after five years. Within ten years, two more of them received Christ. Mueller prayed constantly for over twenty-five years, and the fourth man was finally saved. For his fifth friend, he prayed until the time of his death, and this friend, too, came to Christ a few months after Mueller died. For this last friend, Mueller had prayed for almost fifty-two years.

Cell evangelism begins and ends with fervent prayer. All of the other suggestions pale in comparison with prayer. Let’s fervently commit ourselves to prayer evangelism as our first and foremost resource to win lost men and women to Jesus Christ.

 

Further reading on this topic: Comiskey’s book Home Cell Group Explosion explains how cells evangelize. Cell Church Solutions dedicates one chapter to group evangelism. Reap the Harvest highlights growing cell churches. Buy HERE or call 1-888-344-CELL.