PRAYER FOCUS

Missions

Today’s modern church readily recognizes the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:19-20. The universal church of God answers the call to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them all that I commanded you..." Believers of Jesus Christ have grown to understand that the call to missions — service to God and His people through love, compassion, and a desire to spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ — includes both a call to our global society and to our local communities. Since its conception, the church has answered this call to share the love of God through community service, evangelism, collaborative efforts, and global outreach. God’s people use their time, talent, and treasure to reflect His care and concern for His creation and His desire reach a lost and dying world.   

Since missions is understood to be a call to go to all nations, it should also be understood that all believers are called to the mission field. Some are called to participate in and support global projects. While others support local outreaches through church and community efforts. But, ultimately, ALL are called.

One vital way every believer participates in missions is through prayer. Prayer is the foundation and cornerstone of all effective and successful missions. After “going through all the cities and villages, teaching and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness (Mattherw 9: 35); Jesus looked upon the distressed and downcast crowd as sheep without a shepherd and felt compassion. He then turned to His disciples and said, “The harvest is {indeed} plentiful, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:37-38).

The Lord's sending of workers comes as an answer to the prayers of God’s disciples: His Church. That is all believers. The believers’ earnest and heartfelt communication with Almighty God invites His interaction with and intervention in to His creation, humanity in particular.

Believers use prayer to support the mission of Jesus Christ by seeking God for the financial means and the spiritual works necessary to meet the needs of God’s people, no matter their condition. God’s wisdom, guidance, and protection is sought through prayer. Prayer invites God’s transformative power to intervene into situations no human hands can resolve. Prayer provides the spiritual sensitivity needed to recognize the true needs of God’s people as well as where, when, and how God wants to intervene to meet those needs. Prayer also breaks down the cultural, linguistic, and social barriers that might hinder the work of the ministry by opening doors in local communities that can foster human connections and prepare hearts to receive God’s word. Prayer reinforces the believers’ reliance on God for the words and actions needed to accomplish His purposes in the earth. Prayer strengthens and encourages God’s workers as they serve His people. Prayer allows the believer to stand against and defeat spiritual forces sent to hinder the gospel of Jesus Christ. Prayer keeps believers focused, steadfast, and grounded in God’s will and purposes instead of relying on human efforts and strategic plans. 

Reflection: In my daily walk with Christ, what can I do to more effectively answer God’s call to participate in missions? And how can I start by incorporating that into my prayer life?