Scripture: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me … that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:18-20).
Message:
The words of Paul in this passage could well be the request of every missionary who is on the field today. In the beginning of this epistle Paul mention these to whom he was writing his prayers and he is now asking that they remember him and his needs. The very life of the missionary, physical and spiritual, depends on prayer as a most vital link between the great storehouse of heaven and his very need. Paul makes it clear that praying one for another is the secret of strength and success in the work to which we have been called.
PRAYER IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE
I does not matter what hour of the day we choose to enter the secret place and come boldly to the throne of God for He never slumbers nor sleeps. His ears are always open to the cry of His child. Paul said, “Night and day praying exceedingly…” (I Thess. 3:10-13).
Prayer is also possible in all places. While the“secret place” or prayer closet may be the most desirable, and the place in which we are most conscious of God’s presence, we can lift our heart in communion with Him no matter where we are. Many a missionary has experienced physical, financial or spiritual help from God at a crucial hour because“someone” stopped to pray at an unusual time or in an unusual place when a burden of prayer was laid upon his heart. (see chapter one in Amazing Answer to prayer, publish by World-Wide Missions).
PRAYER IS ALWAYS PROFITABLE
(1) It puts us in direct contact with God. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and and grace, to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16)
(2) It acquaints God with our needs. “Be careful for nothing; but with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God”(Philippians 4:6). It is so easy for us to say, God already knows what i need. Why do I have to Him? James said, “ye have not, because ye ask not (James 4:2). If Jesus found that prayer was such a necessary part of His life, how much more do we need to present ourselves, our needs, our desires and our burden before the throne of grace? (see story pg 18 in Prayer Adventure publish by World-Wide Mission).
(3) It opens the way for God to send the help. The book of Acts is filled with accounts of supernatural deliverances and miracles in answer to the prayers of the disciples and apostles in the early church. God has not changed his methods. He still listens to our prayers and answers them.
(4) True is always successful. Jesus said, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:13). True prayer might be describe as that which is born of real belief and positive fait, Jesus said in Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say unto , What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them ).
PRAYER IS ALWAYS POWERFUL
(1) It set in motion the power of God to perform miracles. God has always done supernatural acts on behalf of His children and the Bible is full of such accounts. Lot’s deliverance from Sodom, the provision of water and food for the children of Israel in the wilderness, the revelation of king’s dream to Daniel and other such stories reveal this dramatic fact to us.
(2) It makes Satan and his demons tremble. “Resist the devil, and he will from you” (James 4:7). The demons who possessed the man of Gadara cried out to be “let alone”and besought Jesus not to torment them. Our missionaries in the field today are confronted with demon possession and it is only the power of prayer that can protect and deliver.
(3) It frees men from sin. Jesus warned the disciples to pray so that they would not be overcome by temptations (Luke 22:40).
(4) It gives boldness and power to the message of the missionary. The words of Paul to our text contain the plea of Paul that prayer would be constantly offered for him that he might be bold in proclaiming the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The missionaries’ hands would be tied, their mouths closed and their feet stopped if our prayers for them were to be completely cut
off.
God help us to see how important it is for us to be always in prayer for them, presenting every phase of the program before the throne of God.
Message:
The words of Paul in this passage could well be the request of every missionary who is on the field today. In the beginning of this epistle Paul mention these to whom he was writing his prayers and he is now asking that they remember him and his needs. The very life of the missionary, physical and spiritual, depends on prayer as a most vital link between the great storehouse of heaven and his very need. Paul makes it clear that praying one for another is the secret of strength and success in the work to which we have been called.
PRAYER IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE
I does not matter what hour of the day we choose to enter the secret place and come boldly to the throne of God for He never slumbers nor sleeps. His ears are always open to the cry of His child. Paul said, “Night and day praying exceedingly…” (I Thess. 3:10-13).
Prayer is also possible in all places. While the“secret place” or prayer closet may be the most desirable, and the place in which we are most conscious of God’s presence, we can lift our heart in communion with Him no matter where we are. Many a missionary has experienced physical, financial or spiritual help from God at a crucial hour because“someone” stopped to pray at an unusual time or in an unusual place when a burden of prayer was laid upon his heart. (see chapter one in Amazing Answer to prayer, publish by World-Wide Missions).
PRAYER IS ALWAYS PROFITABLE
(1) It puts us in direct contact with God. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and and grace, to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16)
(2) It acquaints God with our needs. “Be careful for nothing; but with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God”(Philippians 4:6). It is so easy for us to say, God already knows what i need. Why do I have to Him? James said, “ye have not, because ye ask not (James 4:2). If Jesus found that prayer was such a necessary part of His life, how much more do we need to present ourselves, our needs, our desires and our burden before the throne of grace? (see story pg 18 in Prayer Adventure publish by World-Wide Mission).
(3) It opens the way for God to send the help. The book of Acts is filled with accounts of supernatural deliverances and miracles in answer to the prayers of the disciples and apostles in the early church. God has not changed his methods. He still listens to our prayers and answers them.
(4) True is always successful. Jesus said, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:13). True prayer might be describe as that which is born of real belief and positive fait, Jesus said in Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say unto , What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them ).
PRAYER IS ALWAYS POWERFUL
(1) It set in motion the power of God to perform miracles. God has always done supernatural acts on behalf of His children and the Bible is full of such accounts. Lot’s deliverance from Sodom, the provision of water and food for the children of Israel in the wilderness, the revelation of king’s dream to Daniel and other such stories reveal this dramatic fact to us.
(2) It makes Satan and his demons tremble. “Resist the devil, and he will from you” (James 4:7). The demons who possessed the man of Gadara cried out to be “let alone”and besought Jesus not to torment them. Our missionaries in the field today are confronted with demon possession and it is only the power of prayer that can protect and deliver.
(3) It frees men from sin. Jesus warned the disciples to pray so that they would not be overcome by temptations (Luke 22:40).
(4) It gives boldness and power to the message of the missionary. The words of Paul to our text contain the plea of Paul that prayer would be constantly offered for him that he might be bold in proclaiming the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The missionaries’ hands would be tied, their mouths closed and their feet stopped if our prayers for them were to be completely cut
off.
God help us to see how important it is for us to be always in prayer for them, presenting every phase of the program before the throne of God.