PRAYING for the NATIONS

07 Dec 2007

"My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."  ... Isaiah 56:7

HOW can I pray?

1.  By praying for those carrying the message into cross-cultural settings.

"I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me,
for they are yours."  ... John 17:9

  • Pray that those who carry the message will DECLARE the gospel.

"Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me
so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel."  ... Ephesians 6:19

We can live our lives for Jesus and the lost can see Jesus in us,
but we must TELL them who Jesus is.
  • Pray that those who carry the gospel will be COURAGEOUS in intimidating circumstances.
     
  • Pray that God will OPEN DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY for the Gospel to be proclaimed.

"And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that
we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should." ... Colossians 4:3-4
  • Pray for EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS.
     
  • Pray that those who carry the Gospel will maintain a CLEAR CONSCIENCE.

"Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience,
and desire to live honorably in every way."  ... Hebrews 13:18

  • Pray that those who carry the Gospel will PRACTICE INTEGRITY in all things.
     

  • Pray that those who carry the Gospel will SUCCESSFULLY BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
    WITH THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE.

"My prayer is not that you take them out of the world
but that you protect them from the evil one."  ... John 17:15
  • Pray that Satan will not have victories over those who carry the Gospel.

2.  By praying for those who hear the gospel message.

Anytime we share the gospel, it is not a lost witness. God uses the composite,
so be faithful to share when the Father gives you the opportunity to do so.

  • Pray that the message will be RECEIVED by those who hear it.
     

  • Pray that those who believe will TELL OTHERS rapidly (2 Thessalonians 3:1).
     
  • Pray that those who speak will be PROTECTED from those who would destroy them and
    the work of the gospel     (2 Thessalonians 3:2).

3.  By praying for more laborers.

We need to pray for the nations by praying
that God will "cast out" more workers into the mission field.

Matthew 9:36-38 states,

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless,
like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers
are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

 Jesus doesn’t ask for more shepherds; He asks for more laborers.