We have often heard it said “Pray Big! Pray Bold!” Mostly by pastors who are comfortably positioned behind their podiums; with their tax free incomes, retirement nest eggs, some even have cleaners and gardeners. What they say is true – we have a God for whom nothing in impossible! But – there is a cost to pay.
In the Old Testament we read a prophetic word about Jesus Christ and His entry into
the world.
“Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people?
Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” – Isaiah 6:8
We in the West are a part of the “Unpersecuted church” where the biggest difficulties as a church we face is who has to park outside of the church parking lot to go to church on Sundays. When Christ entered this world He entered to suffer and die. Jesus said in the Bible: “”Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day.”
Think about our heritage as a church: where did we come from? The road of Christianity was built with the death of 11 out the 12 disciples: martyred for their faith and testimony and witness about Jesus Christ. That’s how our church got started: by the death of our Savior and the martyrdom of 11 of his 12 disciples.
I’m part of that Unpersecuted Church and try not to hold myself above anyone – but as I tread further into the Jungle of the Unreached the dangers and terrors of saving souls and ministering to new Somali converts becomes more and more real.
Hallelujah! It makes my heart sing! Because the closer I get to danger the closer I get to my deliver and King Jesus Christ. The more we suffer to reach the lost and minister to the new believers the closer our sweet Jesus appears to me; the more I see Him; the more I feel Him. Praise His Holy name!
Jesus says to us today:
“Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”
And my personal favorite:
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”
To keep it simple:
“Ask, and you will receive.”
Yes. This is what Jesus tells us. I am asking for Somali for Christ: I am asking for a nation to convert to Christ and accept Him as Lord and Savior.
So many of us take faith out of context as if faith doesn’t matter anymore; as if we don’t have to exercise our faith but simply wait to see what it is God has Sovereignly decided to give us. So why do you need faith?
Jesus said in Mark chapter 11:
“Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ is so precious to us; we know that when we pray to Him even though we have not received what we have prayed for – we know that He has heard us. We feel His peace come over us and we are comforted. Hallelujah! Sometimes we have visions of Him and sense His peace and presence. He is so kind and gentle He wouldn’t ever harm us, or mock us for our lack of faith; He only encourages us and blesses us. So when we pray we can be sure that He hears us and because He hears us He will answer us. It’s always what is best for us.
“Pray without ceasing” is what Paul tells us.
“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” Is what James tells us.
The church prayed for Peter and he was released from prison.
“Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” Is what Esther said and the nation of the Jews was saved.
Hannah prayed and she conceived a child and that child became the prophet Samuel.
“On the day the LORD gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the LORD in front of all the people of Israel. He said, “Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.” Joshua prayed and the sun stood still and the Israelites won the battle.
As long as Moses kept his arms up in the air the Israelites would win the battle.
Pray and believe. Keep on praying and keep on believing. Let’s not stop praying and trusting in the Lord for mighty things.
And my prayer is that we will reach Somali around the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.