You can touch the world through prayer. Do you believe that?
Prayer warrior and missionary leader Wesley Duewel believed it.
In his book Touch the World Through Prayer, Duewel writes that prayer is key to world evangelization.
"The task of world evangelization is primarily dependent on witness and prayer. Prayer must prepare the way for evangelization. Prayer must saturate and cover the work of evangelization."
Yet most of us - myself included - tend to put the world beyond our doors out of our minds.
Like many Christians, I pray mostly for myself, my family and my friends with a nod to the needs of our church and our city. It's natural because I know those needs best.
But what about God's designs for this world?
Jesus spelled this out clearly in Matthew 28:19 where he told his followers: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."
We call this "The Great Commission" - our mandate to go out and reach others for Jesus so that they will become fully devoted followers of Christ.
Jesus told us to pray for people to go out and harvest those who are ready right now to give their lives to the Lord. Yet that is not top-of-mind in most of our churches.
I have prayed - and continue to pray - for friends who do not know Jesus. Once in a while, I share something of my faith with them.
But Duewel has a wider vision.
"You can have a thrilling role in reaping God's harvest. Only a small percentage of God's people are involved in seed-sowing, watering, cultivating, and preparing more harvesters, yet all of us could participate on a deeper level than we have ever dreamed. If you are willing, prayer offers you a way to be significantly involved in world harvest."
Duewel says this does not absolve us of sharing Christ with others as opportunities arise.
But God works through prayer. He responds to our prayers and his kingdom is advanced through prayer.
Duewel says we can pray for people who are involved in evangelism and he gives examples of people in other parts of the world who prayed for him daily. As well, we can pray for God to move in places far from us in other parts of the world. We can pray for people to believe in Jesus; for protection of young churches; and for God to influence world leaders to change their attitudes toward persecuted believers.
Lack of prayer for the world is a serious issue.
God says in Ezekiel 22 that he looked for someone to build the wall of righteousness in the land and stand in the gap for God's people. But he found no one and was obliged to judge the people of God.
"Standing in the gap" is a metaphor for prayer on behalf of a people.
I have found some useful on-line guides to praying for other nations.
The organization 24-7 Prayer International has some suggestions on how we can pray for the world at https://www.24-7prayer.com/blog/2693/how-do-i-pray-for-the-world.
And Operation World has very useful background information on many nations including population, religious affiliation, Christian presence, and items for prayer. This is available on-line at: www.operation world.org.
We have a great task before us.
Prayer warrior and missionary leader Wesley Duewel believed it.
In his book Touch the World Through Prayer, Duewel writes that prayer is key to world evangelization.
"The task of world evangelization is primarily dependent on witness and prayer. Prayer must prepare the way for evangelization. Prayer must saturate and cover the work of evangelization."
Yet most of us - myself included - tend to put the world beyond our doors out of our minds.
Like many Christians, I pray mostly for myself, my family and my friends with a nod to the needs of our church and our city. It's natural because I know those needs best.
But what about God's designs for this world?
Jesus spelled this out clearly in Matthew 28:19 where he told his followers: "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."
We call this "The Great Commission" - our mandate to go out and reach others for Jesus so that they will become fully devoted followers of Christ.
Jesus told us to pray for people to go out and harvest those who are ready right now to give their lives to the Lord. Yet that is not top-of-mind in most of our churches.
I have prayed - and continue to pray - for friends who do not know Jesus. Once in a while, I share something of my faith with them.
But Duewel has a wider vision.
"You can have a thrilling role in reaping God's harvest. Only a small percentage of God's people are involved in seed-sowing, watering, cultivating, and preparing more harvesters, yet all of us could participate on a deeper level than we have ever dreamed. If you are willing, prayer offers you a way to be significantly involved in world harvest."
Duewel says this does not absolve us of sharing Christ with others as opportunities arise.
But God works through prayer. He responds to our prayers and his kingdom is advanced through prayer.
Duewel says we can pray for people who are involved in evangelism and he gives examples of people in other parts of the world who prayed for him daily. As well, we can pray for God to move in places far from us in other parts of the world. We can pray for people to believe in Jesus; for protection of young churches; and for God to influence world leaders to change their attitudes toward persecuted believers.
Lack of prayer for the world is a serious issue.
God says in Ezekiel 22 that he looked for someone to build the wall of righteousness in the land and stand in the gap for God's people. But he found no one and was obliged to judge the people of God.
"Standing in the gap" is a metaphor for prayer on behalf of a people.
I have found some useful on-line guides to praying for other nations.
The organization 24-7 Prayer International has some suggestions on how we can pray for the world at https://www.24-7prayer.com/blog/2693/how-do-i-pray-for-the-world.
And Operation World has very useful background information on many nations including population, religious affiliation, Christian presence, and items for prayer. This is available on-line at: www.operation world.org.
We have a great task before us.
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