Effective evangelism begins with persevering prayer.   So, if we are going to reach out to people, we must first reach up to God.  In this session, we will consider why prayer is so vital.

Our text this week is from Ephesians 6:10-20.  It’s a familiar passage—the armor of God.  Paul goes through a thorough list of the equipment we need to engage in spiritual warfare.   At the end of this list, Paul talks about the most important piece of equipment of all—prayer.  And then, Paul asks his friends in Ephesus to pray for him that he might speak the word of God boldly. 

Why would the Apostle Paul ask his friends to pray that he might have boldness to speak?  Paul had seen Jesus face to face) on the road to Damascus).  He was caught up to the third heaven—the place where God abides
(2 Corinthians 12). This man was beaten for his faith.  This man almost died on numerous occasions for the sake of the gospel.  And yet he's praying that he would be given courage in proclaiming the truth.  Why?

There is a temptation for everyone who shares the gospel to fear people and their opinions.  We all face this temptation—even the Apostle Paul.  And that is why prayer is so vitally important in evangelism.  If we are going to reach out to people, we first have to reach up to God.