Lausanne World Pulse – Themed Articles – Prayer – The Secret to an Open Door
By David Morel
May 2006
Many people came to know Jesus Christ through these open doors. When God opens a door, people come to Christ. Why did Paul have so many open doors for the gospel of Jesus Christ? We can trace these open doors directly to Paul’s prayer life as exemplified in Colossians 4:2-6: “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”
This passage clearly shows us the importance of prayer in evangelism. Verses two and three tell us to be earnest and vigilant in prayer. If the Bible tells us to pray a certain way, then we are praying according to God’s will and we can expect God to hear and answer our prayers. This is evident in 1 John 5:14-15.
|
We must learn to pray that we may “speak the mystery of |
Verse three tells us one of the things for which to pray: “that God would open to us a door for the word.” This is why Paul had so many open doors for the gospel. God simply answered his prayer. If you and I pray this way, we too will have open doors for sharing the gospel with unbelievers. Prayer is the secret to an open door.
Verses three and four tell us to pray that we may “speak the mystery of Christ” and “make it manifest as I ought to speak.” In other words, we are praying that God will give us the very words that will unveil or reveal the mystery of the gospel. Since God must reveal the gospel to the unbeliever, it is vital that God put his words in our mouth, just as he did for Moses in Exodus 4:12 (“Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.”) and Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:9 (“Then the LORD put forth his hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: ‘Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.’”).
God will still do this for us today according to John 14:26: “But the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” Finally, verse six enhances this prayer for our speech to be always with grace and that we would know how to answer all of their questions.
Testimony of Prayer
One day I boarded a plane and prayed the above Colossians prayer. Within minutes a young man sat in the seat next to me. The plane took off and I soon found myself engaged in a pleasant conversation. The young man seemed very bright. I said, “You sure have your head screwed on right for a young man.” He replied, “No, you don’t know me very well,” and he began to pour out his heart.
He was besieged with personal problems and was hurting deeply. I pulled out a New Testament and after some discussion, shared the plan of salvation with him. He looked at me and said, “God put you next to me, didn’t he?” I said, “Let me tell you what I prayed as I got on the plane,” and I quoted the Colossians prayer. Tears began streaming down his face.
This could not be orchestrated. This was the handiwork of a sovereign God in answer to specific prayer. Prayer is indeed the secret to an open door.