I delivered this message at Calvary Baptist Church in Findlay, Ohio in 2003.
Prefer what I actually said? Read the transcript (lightly edited for readability).
Introduction:
This morning I introduced the subject for the two messages today—the two primary tasks of missions. I asked the question, “What is missions all about in its most basic form?” And I answered that missions is primarily about (1) the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ and (2) praying for God to bless that preaching.
I said that gospel proclamation, apart from prayer, will likely result in a message falling on dead ears and not bringing forth fruit. And prayer, apart from gospel proclamation, will likewise not have the necessary means for conversions to take place. So these two things must be united together to successfully carry out the work of world evangelism.
Oftentimes people feel like they really cannot play a significant part in the work of missions. “That is for super Christians,” so the mindset is. But such a thought is based on some fatally flawed misconceptions about missions. Everyone in the church has a vital role to play in God’s work of getting for Himself a people from every tongue and tribe and people and nation.
Why is it that Christians feel like they cannot play a significant role in missions?
(1) The first misconception is a misconception of location: namely, that missions is almost exclusively foreign missions. And though there is some legitimacy to a foreign focus, because missions is always concerned with going to where Christ is not named, missions is simply a proclamation of the gospel in any and every location. And that is something that any and every Christian should be involved in!
(2) The second misconception is a misconception of activity: namely, that missions is almost exclusively a proclamation of the gospel. It is true indeed that there can be no missions without gospel proclamation, and there is a sense in which it is central, but there are other activities in missions apart from which there can be no success and no conversions.
The first of these is financially supporting those whose lives are given to the work of the gospel and thus do not have time to support themselves and provide and income for their own needs. There is much to say about this, and it is certainly of vital importance in the work of missions (e.g., 3 John 1:5–8). You may have an important role in missions in this way as God financially blesses you. This will not be my focus in the message this evening.
I’d like to focus on the primary activity that each of you have in the work of foreign missions. That is the work of prayer. Prayer functions as just as vital a role in the salvation of sinners and the building of the church as the proclamation of the gospel. The preaching of the gospel without prayer lacks power to change lives. Prayer without the preaching of the gospel lacks the necessary tool or means apart from which salvation is not possible.
In this message I’d like to set forth and answer two basic and simple questions: first (1) Why should you pray for missionaries?, and second (2) What should you pray for missionaries?
But before we get there, I’d just like to remind you of the centrality and importance of prayer in the purposes of God. Prayer has to be one of the most difficult disciplines of the Christian life, but I believe that it is so because it is the most powerful and Satan and all His forces fight with all their might to keep God’s people from praying.
1 Peter 4:7 says, “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.”
Prayer played such an important part in the NT church. And not only that, but all the substantial revivals and workings of God since the Reformation were fueled by the prayers of God’s faithful people. Frequent meetings of prayer were at the start of almost ever significant revival that the church has ever seen. If we are to see a similar working of God in our day, it will not happen apart from prayer.
What really stood out to me in preparing this message is the place of importance that Paul puts on prayer for the accomplishment of what he was doing. He asks nearly every church to whom he wrote to pray for him, because he viewed their prayers as a vital part of the accomplishment of the work of missions. The prayers of God’s people are not small thing for accomplishing world evangelism.
- Why pray?
First of all, why should we pray for missions? Is it really necessary for the success of the gospel? The answer that the Bible gives us is that apart from prayer the work of missions will fail.
That may seem like an overstatement. I mean, isn’t God sovereign and can’t He overrule and accomplish His work in spite of the prayerlessness of His people? Before I answer that question, let me first show the biblical data for the necessity of prayer for the success of missions.
Biblical data:
Romans 15:30–32 “I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.”
The very fact that Paul asked them to pray for this seems to imply that Paul believed that apart from their prayers He might not be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea and his service from Jerusalem would not be acceptable to the saints. So for Paul, the success of the work of the ministry swung on the hinges of the prayers of God’s people.
If prayer was not necessary, then why would Paul ask the people to pray at all? If God will accomplish His purposes apart from prayer, then it seems that prayer really is a non-essential.
This raises an interesting question: if God has already promised to do the things being prayed for, how can our prayers be necessary? It seems like it must be one or the other. Either God has promised and will accomplish that purpose OR the prayers of God’s people are essential to accomplishment of the work of God. But I think we will see in just a minute that it is both.
There is a danger on both sides that we need to steer away from: (1) that God is sovereign so we don’t need to pray, and (2) that God can be frustrated because we do need to prayer.
The certainty of the fulfillment AND the necessity of the prayer.
In a number of passages there is an interesting juxtaposition of the certainty of the answer and the importance, if not necessity, of the prayer.
2 Corinthians 1:9–11 “Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.”
1 Thessalonians 5:24–25 “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 25 Brothers, pray for us.”
2 Thessalonians 3:1–3 “Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.”
READ THIS: Though the promises of God are certain and will be fulfilled, they will not be fulfilled apart from the prayers of God’s people. How are we to make sense of this? Does this somehow limit God and make Him dependent on man? No! The God who has determined to accomplish certain things is sovereign over both the end and the means. The purposes of God in world evangelism cannot be thwarted because God is sovereign over the church and will get prayers from His people so that He might answer them and accomplish His purposes. So yes, God will accomplish His purposes, but yes, the prayers of God’s people are absolutely essential to the success of those purposes.
Illustration: Let me illustrate it this way. The Scripture provides a parallel example to prayer and the purposes of God. It is evangelism and the salvation of sinners. The Bible is clear that God has chosen an elect people from ever tongue and tribe and people and nation who will most certainly be saved. All that the Father has given to the Son will come! Does this mean that evangelism is unnecessary since these people are certain to be saved? Absolutely not! Some have wrongly concluded so. Even though all of God’s people will be saved, they will not be saved apart from hearing and believing the gospel. Paul is clear on this point in Romans 10:14–15. So how can both of these be true? How can God guarantee the salvation of all the elect and at the same time make salvation contingent upon hearing and believing the gospel? Very simple. He guarantees the salvation of all the elect by guaranteeing that the gospel will be preached to all of them and that they will savingly believe. In the same way God both guarantees the success of His purposes while at the same time making those purposes contingent upon the prayers of His people. How? He guarantees the success of all His purposes by guaranteeing that His people will pray for the fulfillment of those purposes. So let us pray!
So I conclude again, that God’s purposes will succeed and the prayers of God’s people are absolutely essential to that success.
Why does God make the success of His mission depend on the prayers of His people?
The glory of God’s power:
John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
The rejoicing and gratitude of God’s people:
2 Corinthians 1:11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
- What to pray?
There are many things that we can pray for missionaries, and the Bible is not an exhaustive list of prayer requests, but I think a very good and practical way to pray for missionaries and to pray for us is to consider the things that Paul requested the churches to pray for Him. That will at least give you a good and biblical place to start.
Romans 15:30–32 I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.
2 Corinthians 1:8–11 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
Ephesians 6:18–20 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Philippians 1:18–20 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
Colossians 4:2–4 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison- 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
1 Thessalonians 5:24–25 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 25 Brothers, pray for us.
2 Thessalonians 3:1–5 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
1 Timothy 2:1–4 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Philemon 1:22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.
Hebrews 13:18–19 Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience, desiring to act honorably in all things. 19 I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner.
- For deliverance from those who would oppose the spread of the gospel (Rom. 15:31; 2 Cor. 1:10–11; Phil. 1:18–19; 2 Thes. 3:2)
- For the unity of believers (Rom. 15:31)
- For clarity of words to be given to those who are proclaiming the gospel (Eph. 6:19; Col. 4:4)
- For opportunity to preach the gospel (Col. 4:3)
- For boldness in proclamation (Eph. 6:20)
- For the success of the preaching of the Word (2 Thes. 3:1)
- For there to be no hindrances to the spread of the gospel due to government or persecution (1 Tim. 2:2)
- For the safe arrival of the missionaries (Rom. 15:32; Phile. 1:22)
- For God to send forth full time missionaries (Mat. 9:37–38)
There is much more that you could do to expand upon this, but this will give a good start to praying biblically and effectively for us, for missionaries, and for each other.
Conclusion:
So why should we pray? Because God has ordained that He will accomplish His purposes in the evangelization of the world through the prayers of His people. And what should we pray? Use the Scripture as your pattern and pray ultimately for that God would give fruit to the preaching of the Word.
I would like to challenge each of you to take one of our prayers cards out on the table and pray for us for one minute a day. Think of the things God may choose to do through the prayers of so many of His people! Prayer is such an important and vital part of the work of missions, because it gives God the opportunity to put His power on display and for God’s people to rejoice in answered prayer. Brothers and sisters, let us join together in prayer!