Pray and Obey: Keys to Successful Ministry
Photo by Susan Shanklin
Have you ever wished that your ministry could be more successful, that you could reach more people, see more miracles, and help others to see Jesus more clearly?
I have. In fact, it’s the cry of my heart.
I’m not only talking about reaching the multitudes in Africa or building a big church in America. I’m also talking about ministry right where we live—in our home, with our family, in the place where we live and work. I want people to see Jesus in my life.
I can think of no better place to find the keys to successful Gospel ministry than in the Word of God, particularly in the Book of Acts.
Those who opposed the Gospel complained that the Gospel preachers had turned the world upside down. A more accurate assessment would be that they had turned the world right-side up. In any case, I think you would agree that the followers of Christ in the early church dramatically changed the world and the course of history.
We can do the same thing. After all, we have the same Gospel, the same Holy Spirit, and the same Jesus. And He is, after all, the same yesterday, today, and forever.
What did the Early Church Do?
So, what exactly did the early church do to change the world so dramatically?
In the first chapter of Acts, Jesus instructed his disciples to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came to empower them. In obedience to the Lord, they gathered in an upper room and prayed.
These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. (Acts 1:14, MEV).
As they prayed together in one place, the Holy Spirit descended upon them like a mighty rushing wind and filled them all. Tongues of fire sat upon each of them, and they all spoke in tongues as the Spirit enabled them to speak.
People from various nations were amazed when they heard them speak in their own languages and glorify God. Some thought that they were drunk because they were filled with so much joy.
When the crowd gathered, Peter stood up with the other apostles and began to preach the Gospel to them. He told them about Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, and he told the people that they had crucified the Lord. They then became convicted of their sins. When Peter told them to repent and be baptized, 3,000 were baptized and added to the church.
Talk about successful Gospel ministry! I’d say this is an accurate picture.
Now, let’s think about what they did. We know that God did the heavy lifting. He sent Jesus to die for our sins. He raised Him from the dead. He sent the Holy Spirit to empower the believers. But what did they do?
They prayed and obeyed. These are the two greatest keys to successful Gospel ministry. Praying and obeying the Lord.
First, they obeyed Jesus’ command to wait for the promise to come. Then they prayed. On the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon them, a crowd gathered, and Peter obeyed the Lord, preaching the Gospel. Jesus had told them to “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel,” so Peter preached that day in obedience to the Great Commission.
God did His part. The disciples did their part, and there were great results.
The Hour of Prayer (Happy Hour!)
Let’s look at another example:
Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. (Acts 3:1, MEV).
This tells me something about Peter and John. They were men of prayer. They didn’t just pray on the day of Pentecost. They didn’t just pray when there was a tremendous outpouring of the Spirit. They lived a life of prayer. As a result, they were ready when they saw the lame man at the gate of the temple begging for alms. Then Peter said:
“I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” He took him by the right hand and raised him up. Immediately his feet and ankles were strengthened. Jumping up, he stood and walked and entered the temple with them, walking and jumping and praising God. (Acts 3:6-8, MEV).
What a miracle! What a demonstration of God’s power! Peter told the crowd, who were astounded by the miracle, that it was not their own power or holiness that had healed the man.
“And His name, by faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. And faith which comes through Him has given him perfect health in your presence.” (Acts 3:16, MEV).
So Jesus was glorified by this tremendous miracle, and once again, Peter began to preach and call the people to repent. As a result, 5,000 people came to believe in the Lord.
We’re talking about successful Gospel ministry! Again, God did the heavy lifting. He sent Jesus. He gave them His name to use in ministry. But the disciples also did their part. They ministered to the sick in obedience to the Lord’s command (See Mark 16). They followed the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and they preached the Gospel.
They prayed and obeyed!
Pray and Obey When You’re in Trouble
As a result of this miracle, the Jewish religious leaders became jealous and fearful. They threw the Apostles in jail, threatened them, and commanded them not to preach in the name of Jesus. When they let them go, Peter and John returned to the other disciples and reported all that the chief priests had said to them. Then, they prayed in unity:
Now, Lord, look on their threats and grant that Your servants may speak Your word with great boldness, by stretching out Your hand to heal and that signs and wonders may be performed in the name of Your holy Son Jesus.” When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:29-31, MEV).
Notice that they didn’t pray for a place to hide and escape persecution. They prayed for more boldness to speak the word of God and that God would do more miracles in the name of Jesus. As a result, they were once again filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God with boldness. The Bible also tells us that with great power, the Apostles gave witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In other words, their preaching was powerful, and they demonstrated that Jesus is alive through miracles, signs, and wonders.
That’s successful Gospel ministry! What did they do to precipitate it?
They prayed and obeyed!
There are many other examples in the Book of Acts. Like when Peter went up to the housetop to pray and had a vision that led him to accept an invitation to preach the Gospel to Cornelius, a Gentile man, this encounter opened the door for ministry to non-Jews. (Acts 10) Or, for example, when the church at Antioch prayed and, at the direction of the Holy Spirit, sent Paul and Barnabas to preach the Gospel to the nations. (Acts 13) Or the time that Paul and Silas were trying to preach the Gospel in Asia but kept getting a check in their spirit until Paul had a dream in which a man from Macedonia pleaded with him to “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” This is how the Gospel was first preached in Europe.
Do You Think This Could Help You?
Successful Gospel ministry happens when we pray and obey. When we hear God’s voice and follow his direction, powerful things happen!
Do you think this method could help your local church fulfill its mission? Could you reach more young people if you received creative direction from the Lord? Could you see the chains of addiction broken in people if you followed God’s plan? Could you see miracles that would astound the people of your town?
Could you find more freedom in your own life? How about wisdom for raising your children or ministering to your grandchildren? Would this be a way to receive direction from the Lord, the senior partner in your farming operation or business?
When I spend time in prayer each morning, especially praying in the Spirit (praying in other tongues), I am more successful in my ministry. When I do this, I have more revelation of the Word of God. I am more sensitive and know what to say when I preach or talk to people individually. And I have a greater sense of direction, whether it be by the prompting of the Holy Spirit, dreams, visions, or prophetic words. Prayer sensitizes my spirit to the Holy Spirit and enhances my ability to work with the Lord.
I encourage you to set aside time to pray. Make up your mind to be a man or woman of prayer. Enjoy God’s presence and fellowship. Pray alone, and pray with other people. And then, take the next step—obey!
Pray and obey! There’s no other way. It’s the key to successful Gospel ministry—and life.
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