R How to Pray for Si N Missionary Kids
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TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS …………………………………………………………………….. 3 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………. 4 SECTION 1 – INTERCESSORY PRAYER: WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? 5 INTERCESSION IN THE OLD TESTAMENT……………...................................................... 6 INTERCESSION IN THE NEW TESTAMENT....................................................................... 7 JESUS AND THE HOLY SPIRIT AS INTERCESSORS………………………………………… 9 SECTION 2 – LEARNING TO PRAY MORE EFFECTIVELY 11 THE UPSIDE-DOWN PRAYER……………………………………………………………… .12 HOW TO MAKE EFFECTUAL AND FERVENT PRAYER FOR MISSIONARIES……………….. 14 HOW TO PRAY FOR MISSIONARY KIDS……………………………………………………. 18 HOW TO PRAY FOR NATIONS WHERE PERSECUTION IS PREVALENT…………………… 19 LET’S BE SPECIFIC WHEN WE PRAY……………………………………………………… 20 SECTION 3 – LIVING PROOF OF THE POWER OF PRAYER 22 THREE REASONS TO PRAY FOR MISSIONARIES………………………………………….. 23 A CALL TO PRAY FOR MISSIONARIES……………………………………………………… 24 TRAVELING ON MY KNEES…………………………………………………………………. 25 IT HAPPENS EACH JANUARY……………………………………………………………….. 26 DON’T PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE WATER………………………………………………….. 27 THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES NOT SLEEP………………………………………………………. 28 A MIRACLE IN BRUSSELS…………………………………………………………………... 29 GOD WATCHES OVER HIS OWN BOTH DAY AND NIGHT…………………………………. 30 GOD CARES ABOUT REFRIGERATORS TOO……………………………………………… 30 GOD USES REGULAR PEOPLE (LIKE YOU) TO PRAY……………………………………… 31 DAY OR NIGHT – GOD ANSWERS PRAYER……………………………………………….. 32 LIFE SPARED THROUGH INTERCESSORY PRAYER…………………………………………33 GOD SEES OUR TOMMOROWS……………………………………………………………. 33 LED BY A CHILD…………………………………………………………………………….. 34 SECTION 4 – INCREASING MISSIONARY EFFECTIVENESS 35 HOW OTHER CHURCHES PRAY FOR MISSIONARIES………………………………………. 36 AVAILABLE PRAYER RESOURCES………………………………………………………….. 41 A LOOK AT THE PRAYER TASK FORCE…………………………………………………….. 42 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Without the assistance of others, we accomplish very little in this life that is worthwhile. This was certainly true in preparing this manual about intercessory prayer for missionaries. Most books or manuals contain the author’s own thoughts and opinions, but in this case I felt it necessary to seek input from others. Little is mentioned in these pages regarding the techniques of prayer. Instead, the emphasis is on inspiration, ideas and resources, involving scores of committed individuals who believe in and practice intercessory prayer. Testimonies by missionaries regarding answered prayer were critical to the manual’s effectiveness. I searched for accounts of missionaries who had a great need that was unknown to others, yet the Holy Spirit led obedient saints to intercede. Many times these faithful intercessors did not know the missionary personally and had no detailed knowledge of the need. They only knew that the Holy Spirit led them to pray. The testimonies were later confirmed when the missionaries met the intercessors and confirmed the dates and circumstances of the Holy Spirit’s involvement. That is the Holy Spirit in action! Hundreds of pastors across the nation encourage intercessory prayer for missionaries and create opportunities for believers to participate collectively and individually in prayer. I am grateful for the scores of pastors who took the time to share their experiences and ideas for keeping believers active in intercessory prayer. Members of the Missions Awareness Team have also shared invaluable ideas gleaned from their collective visits to hundreds of churches. Many of the suggestions in this book may be new; others are quite familiar. In either case, pastors and church leaders can benefit from the experiences shared. My deepest gratitude is directed to the Holy Spirit for His guidance, not only in writing and compiling this material, but also for His daily presence, direction and empowerment. May we all become increasingly conscience of His strength and enablement to live more victoriously. His power makes it possible for each of us to go to the ends of the earth, either on our feet or on our knees, with the eternal message of God’s love. 3 INTRODUCTION Almost everyone will pray – at least in times of difficulty. When a son or daughter is on drugs, we pray. When the doctor says, “You have three months to live,” we pray. The question is: What kind of prayer are we involved in and is it really effective? Contrary to some people’s understanding, there are many kinds of prayers. Some prayers are true worship to God; others prayers are a way to commune with Him by talking and then listening. There is soul-searching prayer concerning our spiritual walk with God, or prayer for our physical, financial or emotional needs. There is also prayer for others who are close to our heart. Finally, we pray for people and circumstances that do not directly affect us. This kind of selfless prayer is called intercessory prayer. We don‘t hear much about intercessory prayer in most Christian circles, but it is biblical, very effective and desperately needed by missionaries. So why don’t we dedicate ourselves more to intercession since we know that God responds to our pleas in behalf of others? Perhaps the reason is that we don’t understand the importance of intercessory prayer. But we only have to look at the demonic forces at work against missionaries and national church fellowships to recognize the extreme need for intercessory prayer. We may not know how to pray effectively for missionaries initially, but with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and help from available resources, we should soon learn to listen to the still, small voice of the Spirit. If the truth were known, the likely reason we fail to pray for others is not because we are selfish, but because we are too busy. It seems that the more labor-saving devices we accumulate, the busier we become. But are we too busy to intercede for others, including missionaries? Without prayer support, the battle is lost before missionaries ever leave for the field. Intercessory prayer takes time and can be hard work! While this manual does little to address the issues of time management and a work ethic, it does include information and resources about praying more frequently and more effectively for missionaries. The testimonies of answered prayers and the ideas shared by pastors regarding how to promote prayer for missionaries offer fresh ideas that missions leaders may adapt to local congregations. My desire is that in some small way the following pages will make missionaries’ labors more effective through increased intercession of local congregations in their behalf. Your partner in the harvest, Paul Brannan 4 SECTION 1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. (1 Timothy 2:1-2, NIV) INTERCESSION IN THE OLD TESTAMENT Scores of examples of intercessory prayer are recorded in the Old Testament. Few, however, match these two accounts in their intensity and boldness: Abraham's Intercession for Sodom The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing--to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" The Lord said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake." Then Abraham spoke up again: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city because of five people?" "If I find forty-five there," he said, "I will not destroy it." Once again he spoke to him, "What if only forty are found there?" He said, "For the sake of forty, I will not do it." Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?" He answered, "I will not do it if I find thirty there." Abraham said, "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?" He said, "For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it." Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?" He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it." When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home (Genesis 18:22-33, NIV). Abraham meant business! He actually spoke to the Lord six times, each time reducing the acceptable number of righteous that might be found in Sodom in order to spare it from destruction. That’s what you call being goal-oriented. But Abraham’s effort to convince God to spare the city for the sake of the righteous was not just because he was focused. Abraham had this kind of influence with God because he was a “Friend of God” (James 2:23, KJV). How did Abraham know that the Lord was preparing to destroy Sodom? Because the Lord told him! That is the kind of relationship they had. Moses' Prayer for the Israelites A book on Moses’ intercessory prayers would be interesting reading. Imagine having the spiritual responsibility as well as the daily load of handling the logistics for more than 3 million displaced people wandering through the wilderness. The problems they faced would force any leader to his knees, pleading to God for help. 6 Probably the most purposeful and potentially damaging of Moses’ prayers took place when he came down from Mount Sinai with two tablets of stone on which the Ten Commandments were written.