CoD V.1.4.6- Prayer- (contd)...
I wrote in my earlier post about prayer in life (you should really read it before you read this post), I wanted to continue by writing about prayer in mission. Forgive me for breaking the two posts, but I think I write too much anyways, I didn't want all my posts to be super-gargantuan.
Now, I have heard a lot from short and long-term missionaries about prayer, and how important prayer is in missions. I have read even more on the subject- enough to convince me that prayer is indeed vital to the work of missions, but I have no clearer explanation for this than the one presented in the writings of John Piper (which he borrows from Paul, and ultimately from Christ's writings).
Now, one of the clearest calls to Missions in Scripture (besides, of course, the famous one given by Jesus) can probably be found in Romans 10:12-15a:
'For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?'
This, then, would be the work of missionaries- to go where people have not believed and have not heard, and to tell them. To thus pursue God's glory by challenging the nations to glorify the One True God, for their great joy. However, inasmuch as God usually uses human vessels to carry His message, missions is, supremely, the work of God- He has not left the Great Commission to the uncertainties of the human will. In Matt 16:18, Christ states: "I will build my church".
Over and over in scripture, God makes it clear that while He may use us to do His work, the work cannot be done without His strenght, His grace, and His power (Rom.15:18-19, 1 Cor.15:10, 1 Cor.3:6, 1 Pet 4:11, Heb 13:20-21, etc).
Where does prayer come into this? Prayer, Piper writes, has a crucial place in the mission of the church. The purpose of prayer is to make clear to all the participants in this war that the victory belongs to the Lord. Prayer is God's appointed means of bringing grace to us and glory to Himself. Prayer shows us just how helpless we are, and how much we need Him. When the mission of the church moves forward by prayer, the supremacy of God is manifest and the needs of the Christian troops are met.
According to Christ (John 14:13) and Piper, however, the ultimate purpose of prayer is that the Father be glorified. How do we glorify God through prayer? We pray, we ask God to do for us through Christ what we can't do for ourselves- bear fruit (John 15:7-8). Prayer is the open admission that without Christ we can do nothing, and prayer is the turning away from ourselves to God in the confidence that He will provide the help we need. Prayer humbles us as needy, and glorifies God as all-sufficient. If you consider the early church- they attempted nothing without prayer (Piper actually has pages of references supporting this claim, but again- too much for me to copy- buy the book!) God was supreme in the church- she would not live on her own strenght or her own wisdom or even her own faith- she would live on God. God is the one who would give everything, and therefore God would get the glory.
Prayer then is crucial in reaffirming the great goal of God to uphold and display His glory for the enjoyment of the redeemed from all nations. For me (or anyone) to attempt to do any ministry, but most especially missions, without relying on God's power through prayer, would be ludicrous.
I would ask then, as I commit to pray- earnestly- for the ministry that I will be going into, that any of you who would be willing, would join me. I would also love to commit to pray for God's glory in your lives- email me for my prayer requests and with your requests- if we pray with our hearts and our minds and our strenght and with passion, that God be glorified in our lives and that we bear fruit, would our Father- who gives good gifts to those who ask Him- refuse us?
And now, and completely unrelatedly, but just because I've writen so much about Piper, prayer, power and passion I need to get this out of my system:
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper;
A peck of pickled pepper Peter Piper picked;
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper,
Where's the peck of pickled pepper Peter Piper picked?
Now, I have heard a lot from short and long-term missionaries about prayer, and how important prayer is in missions. I have read even more on the subject- enough to convince me that prayer is indeed vital to the work of missions, but I have no clearer explanation for this than the one presented in the writings of John Piper (which he borrows from Paul, and ultimately from Christ's writings).
Now, one of the clearest calls to Missions in Scripture (besides, of course, the famous one given by Jesus) can probably be found in Romans 10:12-15a:
'For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?'
This, then, would be the work of missionaries- to go where people have not believed and have not heard, and to tell them. To thus pursue God's glory by challenging the nations to glorify the One True God, for their great joy. However, inasmuch as God usually uses human vessels to carry His message, missions is, supremely, the work of God- He has not left the Great Commission to the uncertainties of the human will. In Matt 16:18, Christ states: "I will build my church".
Over and over in scripture, God makes it clear that while He may use us to do His work, the work cannot be done without His strenght, His grace, and His power (Rom.15:18-19, 1 Cor.15:10, 1 Cor.3:6, 1 Pet 4:11, Heb 13:20-21, etc).
Where does prayer come into this? Prayer, Piper writes, has a crucial place in the mission of the church. The purpose of prayer is to make clear to all the participants in this war that the victory belongs to the Lord. Prayer is God's appointed means of bringing grace to us and glory to Himself. Prayer shows us just how helpless we are, and how much we need Him. When the mission of the church moves forward by prayer, the supremacy of God is manifest and the needs of the Christian troops are met.
According to Christ (John 14:13) and Piper, however, the ultimate purpose of prayer is that the Father be glorified. How do we glorify God through prayer? We pray, we ask God to do for us through Christ what we can't do for ourselves- bear fruit (John 15:7-8). Prayer is the open admission that without Christ we can do nothing, and prayer is the turning away from ourselves to God in the confidence that He will provide the help we need. Prayer humbles us as needy, and glorifies God as all-sufficient. If you consider the early church- they attempted nothing without prayer (Piper actually has pages of references supporting this claim, but again- too much for me to copy- buy the book!) God was supreme in the church- she would not live on her own strenght or her own wisdom or even her own faith- she would live on God. God is the one who would give everything, and therefore God would get the glory.
Prayer then is crucial in reaffirming the great goal of God to uphold and display His glory for the enjoyment of the redeemed from all nations. For me (or anyone) to attempt to do any ministry, but most especially missions, without relying on God's power through prayer, would be ludicrous.
I would ask then, as I commit to pray- earnestly- for the ministry that I will be going into, that any of you who would be willing, would join me. I would also love to commit to pray for God's glory in your lives- email me for my prayer requests and with your requests- if we pray with our hearts and our minds and our strenght and with passion, that God be glorified in our lives and that we bear fruit, would our Father- who gives good gifts to those who ask Him- refuse us?
And now, and completely unrelatedly, but just because I've writen so much about Piper, prayer, power and passion I need to get this out of my system:
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper;
A peck of pickled pepper Peter Piper picked;
If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper,
Where's the peck of pickled pepper Peter Piper picked?
posted by dan at 8/31/2006 10:48:00 a.m.
5 Comments:
Amen, Dan! I will stand with you in prayer. It is the only way we can go forward effectively. Imagine if the church caught on to this principle and practised it!! I think of the many great men (and women) of God that were behind great moves of awakening and revival in the church... they were all people of prayer. Perhaps lack of prayer is a large part of why the Western church has become largely ineffective and complacent in many respects. "Pray without ceasing". Now that is an interesting command. Well, I pray that our lives would always be in this attitude of prayer. Like Brother Lawrence described... always pursuing and being in the blessed Presence of God, always turning our hearts to Him, disciplining ourselves to, as much as humanly possible, to be in constant communication with Him. lol Now my posts are starting to get long like yours... :) so I shall close. Shalom!
Such simple answers, my friend:
Peter picked.
Post picking peck of peppers, Peter partook.
Pickled peppers past, Peter pacified,
Poem past perfect.
alright dan, so i'll admit right off, that i probably read a total of three sentences from your entire blog. mmm... maybe i'll read more one of these days :) anyways, just wanted to say namaste and all that jazz. saw your link off suzana's blog. are you in suzanan withdrawal too???
and i heard you're going to africa! crazy! cool! congrats! :)
talk to you later,
joyce
Wow joyce, what a whirlwind post! I'd love for you to read whatever you can, whenever you can- and be praying for me!
Are you in Suzanan withdrawal, you poor thing? Alas, I've undergone the withdrawal a long time ago- it's been several years now that I've only seen my sister for a couple of weeks/year - I've learned to weather hardship and plod on. As will you, soon - remember, you must be strong. For suzana's sake...
Aww my poor friends, I can only imagine how hard this difficult time must be for you both. Danny boy you can pretend all you want that you have developed a toughened shell but I know that deep down you are soft and chewy like soggy bread. Miss you both! Don't worry joyce, i havent read more than 3 lines either and i'm related to him. I mean...I am working on catching up on my blog surfing. Love Sue
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