Displaying items by tag: prayer and mission

By John D Robb

1. God desires and requires intercessory prayer for the accomplishment of His salvific purpose for the peoples of the earth.

Jesus told us to pray, "Thy will be done on earth as it is done in Heaven." Abraham interceded for Lot in Sodom, Moses prayed that God would turn from His wrath against Israel, Daniel for the return of Israel from Babylon. Ezekiel was told by God, "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it but I found none" (Ez. 22:30}

Why does God desire and require His people's intercession? Most likely because God originally gave dominion of the earth to humankind. That dominion has never been revoked by God. Satan's dominion achieved through rebellion against the Creator is a false, illegitimate, usurped dominion. Redeemed through Christ, we can exercise our God-given right to influence the affairs of this world through the exercise of intercessory prayer. Like Kuwait's request for the multi-national force to come against the illegitimate dominion of Iraq, so we in prayer as God's redeemed children, pray that His will be done, His kingdom come on earth. Prayer in the power of the Holy Spirit breaks through the false dominion of the enemy, and clears the way for His deliverance and shalom to come to all peoples. Linked through prayer with the risen Christ, sitting at His side (Eph. 2) far above all authority and dominion, we share in the accomplishment of His redemptive purposes.

Dick Eastman, president of World Literature Crusade, recently shared with our staff at World Vision how early in 1988, God had led him to take a team of intercessors throughout Eastern Europe. Their mission was "to confront the strongholds of Communism." In obedience to God's leading, they carried out a "prayer walk" around the Politbureau building in Bucharest where less than two years later, Ceaucescu made his last stand after pridefully announcing his regime would last for a thousand years. While in Berlin, God led Dick to go out with a German friend in the middle of the night to face that still forbidding wall. Moved in intercessory prayer, they both laid their hands on the wall and prayed, "In the name of Jesus, come down!"

In the dramatic events of the last year in Eastern Europe God has used the prayers of His people to shake the nations. He can do the same thing in the unevangelized world. He is seeking those who will stand before him in the gap for the 2,000 major unreached peoples, the 1,000 unevangelized cities, and the 30 unevangelized countries.

2. Victory in the spiritual realm is primary, and it is won by prayer.

Remember Moses' intercession as he held up his hands before God while Joshua and the army of Israel fought the Amalekites in the valley below? Each time Moses' arms grew tired and faltered, Israel's army was pushed back. But as he sustained his stance in prayer with uplifted arms, the Israelites were victorious.

Later in Israel's history. King Jehoshaphat relied on the weapons of united fasting and prayer, public worship and praise which brought God's intervention against the invading armies of Israel's enemies. Bible teacher, Derek Prince, writes: "These weapons, scripturally employed by Christians today, will gain victories as powerful and dramatic as they gained for the people of Judah in the days of Jehoshaphat.... Victory in the spiritual realm is primary. It is to be obtained by spiritual weapons. Thereafter its outcome will be manifested in every area of the natural and material realm."

These two Biblical episodes vividly portray intercessory prayer as being the winning factor. Why should this be any different in today's battle for world evangelization?

3. Prayer has always undergirded and extended the missionary outreach of the church.

Prayer is mentioned over 30 times in the Book of Acts alone, and generally it is mentioned as occurring just before major breakthroughs in the outward expansion of the early Christian movement. For the Apostles extended times of united prayer and waiting on God together were pivotal in their mission to the unreached. Before the first great outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost and Peter's mighty sermon that brought 3,000 into the church, it is recorded that the Apostles "all joined together constantly in prayer" (Acts 1:14). Then, as the Apostles and their new converts "devoted themselves to prayer," signs and wonders occurred, the city was filled with awe, and people were added to the church daily (2:42-44). It was "after they had prayed" that the place where they were meeting was shaken, all were filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke the word of God with boldness (4:31).

The Apostles early on let it be known what their priority in mission was- "We will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word" (6:4). The result of the Apostles determined adherence to this priority was that "The word of God spread and the number of disciples increased rapidly, and a large number of the priests became obedient to the faith" (6:7).

Peter's prayer resulted in signs and wonders such as the raising of Tabitha. Later it was a time of prayer that opened his eyes to the revelation that the gospel was also for the Gentiles, making him willing to go and preach to Cornelius. It was also the church's prayer that brought the release of Peter from prison.

A period of prayer and fasting by five leaders of the Antioch church led to the setting apart of Paul and Barnabus for their frontier mission to the Gentiles. Afterwards they were sent out with more fasting and prayer (13:1-3). It was through prayer that Paul was not allowed by the Spirit of Jesus to enter Bithynia, but redirected into Macedonia. And it was through the prayer and praise of God by the imprisoned Paul and Silas that an earthquake helped to originate the church at Philippi!

The whole European side of the modern Protestant missionary enterprise grew out of Pietism, a revival movement that was steeped in earnest prayer. From its influence the Danish-Halle Mission to India went forth and the Moravian movement under Count Zinzendorf emerged. One author writing about the Moravians said that "the glorious movement of the Spirit... among the Moravians at Herrnhut in 1727 [which] transformed them into what has been the mightiest evangelizing force in the world for the past two centuries, was borne in prayer."

The prayer meeting which the Moravians began in 1727 went on 100 years! By relays they offered unceasing prayer for the church and needs all around the world. This prayer effort kindled their desire to proclaim Christ to the unreached and led to the beginning of modem missions. And from this one small village, over 100 missionaries went out in 25 years.

Decades later, William Carey, while still employed as a humble shoe repairman to support his part-time preaching, drew a homemade map of the world, entering all information he could find about its regions and countries. As he mused over the world's appalling needs and problems, he turned the information gathered into heartfelt intercession. His biographer reveals: "Often in the silence of the night... by the dim rush light, he would scan that map and then kneeling before it, pour out his soul to God." Prayer for the world was a definite motive force in the call and service of the one who came to be known as "the father of modern Protestant missions."

In 1806, a few college students from William's College took refuge from a sudden rainstorm beneath a haystack. Sitting in the midst of hay, they used the time to pray for the world and its needs. Out of that unlikely venue for a prayer meeting, the American mission movement was born.

Robert Glover sums up the role of prayer in the history of missions:

"From Pentecost and the Apostle Paul, right down through the centuries to the present day, the story of missions has been the story of answered prayer. Every fresh outbreak of missionary energy has been the result of believing prayer. Every new missionary undertaking that has been owned and blessed of God has been the germinating of seed planted by the divine spirit in the hearts of praying saints."

John Robb, IPC Chairman

(Excerpted and adapted from the article by John Robb “Prayer as a Strategic Weapon in Frontier Mission” Published in the International Journal of Frontier Missiology in 1991)

In May, the IPC convened an international consultation for prayer and mission leaders to focus on how we can link the two movements more closely and thereby more effectively reach the unreached peoples of our world with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Mission is a supernatural business; therefore, we need supernatural equipment to do it effectively.

The early church understood this and at the clear command of Jesus, they tarried at Jerusalem in constant, united prayer (Acts 1:14). They did this not only until the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost, but all through the book of Acts and into the first centuries of the Church, so that they “turned the world upside down”.

This first tarrying experience in Jerusalem developed into a culture of prayer through which the Spirit facilitated and enabled every mission breakthrough. The glorious outpouring at Pentecost was followed rapidly by 3000 Jewish priests turning to the Lord and the Gentile mission of Peter, Paul and other apostles that took the Gospel to the limits of the then known world.

About 30 times in Acts alone, we observe breakthroughs of one kind or another happening after united prayer. The same pattern has occurred in church and mission history since then though not as often as we would have liked.

Revival and breakthroughs emerge from small groups praying and believing God together in the spirit of Matthew 18:18-20. There Jesus tells us that “whatever”, “anything” will be given when we come into agreement with Him and one another in united intercession.

The Moravians shared the same experience of the outpouring of Holy Spirit in 1727, and out of that erupted a more than 100-year prayer chain that sent out the first Protestant missionaries from their tiny village in SE Germany. Eventually they touched about 5000 locations on earth. Like the early church, they correctly perceived that mission is a supernatural endeavor and can only done effectively with dependence on God the Spirit through a culture of ongoing prayer.

Michael Lienau, an award-winning film maker was with us for the Herrnhut consultation and has now completed the superb video attached below for your use. You may play and download “The Spirit of the Moravians” from the attached link with the password ‘spirit’.

We hope you enjoy it and can share it widely with those in your prayer and/or church and mission networks so that it gets out around the world and can be used of the Lord to impact many.

Especially, we pray that the Lord will raise up churches, prayer groups and individuals who will feel called to adopt and pray for the remaining unreached peoples of our world and the fulfillment of His Great Commission among them.

Spirit of the Moravians 9-min

Spirit of the Moravians 3-min

As you see the video, please pray with us for the following:
1 That we ourselves will be instruments of mission and deliverance for one or more unreached people groups.
2 That God will use us to mobilize churches, prayer groups and individuals to adopt UPGs.
3 That all the 1347 unengaged UPGs on the current list (seewww.finishingthetask.com) will be adopted for prayer and mission efforts by 2025. Pray for adults, youth and children to hear His call and get involved in reaching a UPG.

“Ask of me and I will make the peoples your inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth your possession.” (Psalm 2:8) Would you prayerfully help make sure that each of the remaining UPGs have someone- preferably a corporate body- church, prayer group or organization- that can adopt and pray for them until they are reached?

John D Robb – Chairman
IPC Connect

Click here to access the video (password 'spirit'): https://vimeo.com/244739881

Some IPC folk joined a second gathering at Herrnhut this year, with complementary themes to the May 2017 IPC gathering.  Here is the report…

When the Earth Shook....

To the Global Watch family:

The Global Watch carries much of the spiritual DNA of Herrnhut Germany.  As such, we are relaying a summary of a significant landmark gathering in Herrnhut, Germany August 11-18th, 2017 on the 290 year anniversary of the outpouring. People from 30+ nations (including villagers) gathered in Herrnhut, Germany to seek the Lord and "Re-dig" the well of revival that took place there, August 13, 1727. The Lord took us to this defining moment surely pointing to a "set time."  The supernatural connections and events that led us to the convening were marked by "Only God could do" confirmations.  The gathering was a distinct call of God, and those in attendance came as a response to that call at significant price and sacrifice.  We are humbled by the numerous stories of God’s obvious hand and provision on how many heard from God and provided supernaturally for their journey.  None came for any recompense, even speakers, and worship leaders.  Most came with a stated desire to “Encounter” God.  It has been our experience that when we ask for such experiences, often the “Encounter” comes in ways we do not expect or understand.  Our sense from the beginning with the lightning strike on God’s acre (confirmed by some of the youth who were there when it happened), to the end, there was a divine message and “Power encounter” with God that ensued and sense of spiritual birth and shift in atmosphere.  Signs followed.

Scripturally, the earth shook when Jesus died; the waters parted when Israel was delivered from Egypt, and when the priests stepped into the Jordan to take Israel into the promised land, to name a few.  During creation God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years."  Suffice it to say, signs can emphasize "set times" of the Lord.  In set times, such as in Abraham's time, the promises of God come true, Genesis 17:21.  They are times when God is emphasizing His purpose and need for focus, perhaps a correction of course (Habakkuk 2:1).  It is not "super spiritualization," but rather an apprehending the times of the Lord, to be noted and to draw our attention to Him, the Lord of Hosts.  Not to underestimate, but rather give focus, the acronym “PRICE" has come to mind describing the experience at “Watchmen Rise and Build” week in Herrnhut.  We experienced the following, each in our distinctive way:  

    P-    Power Encounter with God
    R-    Re-setting and re-aligning us with our
    I-    Identity in Christ individually and corporately
    C-     Commissioning  and
    E-    Empowering us forward

In very "Brief" review, a few hours before the meeting in Herrnhut started, the area encountered a lightning and thunder strike that "Shook" the earth.  The testimony of the lightning strike that "Shook the earth" hit "God's Acre" has come through young adults on sight at the Watch tower when it happened.  Many of the residents in Herrnhut and those of us there were suddenly riveted to attention.  Residents of Herrnhut said they have never witnessed anything like it.  That was the beginning of the Lord of Hosts taking command of a meeting that only time will tell of its significance.  Suffice it to say; the "Summit" was at the very least provoking, if not life changing for many of those in attendance.  Why? Because the Lord of Hosts met us.

Getting serious with God, Tuesday evening, August 15th a travail broke out that led many into the wee hours of the morning weeping in surges across the room.  The meeting was closed to allow God to "deal" with each one of us individually as deep repentance took over the convening.  The sense of spiritual birth was real.  This spiritual nature of the travail was confirmed when reports reached us of similar manifestations happening at the same time on a University campus in Egypt and in two prayer groups in California.   That night a massive thunderstorm hit Europe, shutting down many of Europe's airports.

In very "Brief" review, a few hours before the meeting in Herrnhut started, the area encountered a lightning and thunder strike that "Shook" the earth.  The testimony of the lightning strike that "Shook the earth" hit "God's Acre" has come through young adults on sight at the Watch tower when it happened.  Many of the residents in Herrnhut and those of us there were suddenly riveted to attention.  Residents of Herrnhut said they have never witnessed anything like it.  That was the beginning of the Lord of Hosts taking command of a meeting that only time will tell of its significance.  Suffice it to say; the "Summit" was at the very least provoking, if not life changing for many of those in attendance.  Why? Because the Lord of Hosts met us.

Getting serious with God, Tuesday evening, August 15th a travail broke out that led many into the wee hours of the morning weeping in surges across the room.  The meeting was closed to allow God to "deal" with each one of us individually as deep repentance took over the convening.  The sense of spiritual birth was real.  This spiritual nature of the travail was confirmed when reports reached us of similar manifestations happening at the same time on a University campus in Egypt and in two prayer groups in California.   That night a massive thunderstorm hit Europe, shutting down many of Europe's airports.

Key concepts and ‘take home’ messages from Herrnhut:

• Revival begins with us; many commented on a new desire and call to prayer and intimacy with God.  Psalm 34:18
• God is retrieving seeds, past vision, purpose, plans that have fallen to the ground and have died to now raise them up.  John 12:24; Isaiah 58:12
• Watchmen are key to the formation and release of the government of God and peace in our communities and cities. 2 Kings 11; Isaiah 9:7
• Not only is ongoing corporate prayer and informed intercession important, but the infrastructure of relationship is vital to a sustained move of God and transformation.
• Gender and generational integration is integral to the formation and sustenance of communities of committed prayer, i.e. "Watches." Malachi 4:6
• Small groups meeting in homes, or houses of prayer are included and should not be intimidated in this grass roots call.  They are vital parts of the building necessary to bridge our cities/states/nations.
• The harvest time includes re-alignment of personal and corporate identity.  Part of that alignment will include the church coming into its fullness of the understanding of Ekklesia.  Watchmen will be key in facilitating that shift as they align with their God-given identity and call.  Habakkuk 2:1-3; Isaiah 62:6-7; Romans 11:25
• Commitment to core values forms solid foundations for healthy relationships, bred in a culture of honor, and continued growth and expansion.

Key Scriptures:

John 12:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain."
John 15:1-15
Isaiah 58:12 "Those from among you shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, and Restorer of Streets to Dwell in."
Isaiah 54
Psalm 46
Isaiah 9:7
2 Kings 11

INVITE GOING FORWARD: Whatever your take on the convening, understanding the role and construct of the “Watch” and being “Watchmen” in repairing the breaches, and restorers of the understanding of Ekklesia are powerful transformational concepts.  It was a message that shook the earth, and the heavens declared its impact and import.  Now the commission is to go forward.   It's time to carry the seed of Herrnhut forward into the nations and nurture it to fruition.

More at: http://www.theglobalwatch.com/report-herrnhut.html

Funds will be utilized to produce a 7-8 minute compelling mobilization video that will focus on aspects of the following three directions that came out of the Herrnhut consultation. It will point the viewers to how they can get closely connected and practically involved in the fulfilment of His Great Commission and the transformation of our world:

1) Reaching the unreached with the Gospel, stirring the Church to unity, linking prayer and mission for finishing the task, adoption of every unengaged unreached people group in the coming 5-10 years (IPC is taking part in "Finishing the Task" event in early December with hundreds from mission agencies attending and expect to present the video there.)

2) Raising up the next generation of youth and children to find their unique missions in life and impact generations to come for Christ and His purposes. In the coming decade, we need to see children and youth prayer movements develop, be connected, and strengthened in every nation on earth- they are probably going in one-third of the nations now. The IPC-related Children in Prayer movement and UPRISING youth movements are helping to extend the vision currently. There are half dozen national youth assemblies in planning for the coming year from Mongolia to Bolivia, Brazil to South Africa, Europe, and Canada culminating with the Global Youth Prayer Uprising in Indonesia (Oct 2018). We would like to show the video at each assembly to challenge the youth and children to pray and follow His call to reach the unreached peoples and serve their generation.

3) Transformational prayer for breakthroughs in the socio-political realms (Global Gates, Seven Mountains, regional summits, national initiatives, wars and human suffering, etc.)

Please be in prayer specifically for:

1. Holy Spirit inspiration on best way to depict historical Moravian story (actor re-enactments vs art/graphics)
2. Acquisition of footage of children and youth praying from around the world
3. Anointed, focused selection and scripting as we review 25+ hours of Herrnhut interview footage
4. Timely finish of Whatcom Story 2 production.
5. Covering over the entire Lienau family:

Michael & Shari/Camano Island with 4 teens, Tatsi, Corina, Esther and Joshua
Jacob, Joseph, Janey/Kona, HI
Anna, husband Ben, daughter Selah, baby due 12/2, /Pasadena, CA
Bibi, fiance Joseph, sons Link, Jack  (salvation!) /Portland, OR

Film overview:

Building on the inspiration of the Moravians' experience and the recent Herrnhut prayer and mission leaders consultation, the film will take viewers in these directions and on the journey with us in the international prayer and mission movement towards its fulfillment in Matthew 24:14. It will help shift the paradigm of the average believer's materialistic, even fatalistic worldview to understand and act upon the Book of Acts model and culture of engagement with the Lord in prayer (Acts 1:14), leading to revival and breakthroughs in mission that originally "turned the world upside down" and can do so again.

This project is a collaboration of (IPC) International Prayer Council and LifeNet Media Resources, whose directors produced the highly effective short video "The Whatcom Story" for Light of the World Prayer Center, which has had a significant impact in various US cities and states and internationally as it conveys the vision for the "One Church, One Day" initiative.

There are key distribution opportunities for this film to be featured at major conferences, on websites and potentially broadcast internationally. We believe this film project will be powerfully used of the Holy Spirit. It will be an engine for the ongoing linking of the prayer and mission movements and a much used resource for the fulfillment of His Great Commission. We also hope to see it get translated and used widely around the world, especially to fire up the younger generation to the unique missions the Lord has for them.

To complete production and post-production of this mobilization video project, LifeNet Media requires $20,000.

Strategy and Project Plan

Background

Two months ago in May, 120 prayer and missions leaders from around the world came together in Herrnhut, Germany. These courageous, faithful men and women were summoned to pray, discuss, and re-focus current strategies to reach the still unreached peoples of our day unto fulfillment of Christ’s Great Commission.

This un-precedented consultation was located at the site of the historic Moravian Church, where, in the early 1700’s, Count Zinzendorf led a small band of refugees in a 100-year prayer meeting that would launch one of the greatest missionary movements since the book of Acts. Sandwiched between two of the most significance places in European Church history, lies Herrnhut, Germany. Wittenberg is to the west, commemorating the 500 year anniversary of the Reformation, and an equal distance to the east is Prague, where Jan Huss was martyred.

Our team at LifeNet Media was invited to document this unique gathering, and capture one-on-one interviews with prayer and mission leaders from around the world, including Dick Eastman (Every Home for Christ), Paul Eschelman, (CRU), Leslie Keegel, (Foursquare Int’l), and many others more obscure and hidden in mission exploits and territories. We filmed thrilling stories of Gospel advancement in the nations, and believe these testimonies are unto “fueling the prayers of the saints”.

In our media proposal, four elements combine to communicate a timely message to the modern Church.

1. The historic spiritual backdrop of this recent meeting,
2. the passionate unity of believers displayed,
3. the strategic planning of the consultation, and
4. powerful interviews testifying of the link between prayer and reaching the lost.

These components have inspired the making of this short, focused, video-story-message that will be used to multiply vision for “completing the task”.

Key Viewing and Distribution Opportunities:
There is an expressed need for this project to be completed in a timely way in order to meet key viewing and distribution opportunities at upcoming major conferences, on websites and potentially broadcast internationally. This will be coordinated closely with John Robb at IPC and through his many relationships and networks.

IPC is taking part in "Finishing the Task" event in early December 2017 with hundreds from mission agencies attending and we expect to present, if not premier this video there.

There are a half-dozen national youth assemblies in planning for the coming year from Mongolia to Bolivia, Brazil to South Africa, Europe, and Canada, culminating with the Global Youth Prayer Uprising in Indonesia (Oct 2018).

We believe this film project will be powerfully used of the Holy Spirit. It will be an engine for the ongoing linking of the prayer and mission movements and a much-used resource for the fulfillment of His Great Commission. We also hope to see it get translated and used widely around the world, especially to fire up the younger generation to the unique missions the Lord has for them.

Timeline
July 2017 - Funding, research, outlining, scripting, approvals from advisory board.
Aug 2017 - Through September - Any additional production and post production.
Oct 2017 - Through November - graphics, music, sound design, color, mastering, Blu-ray/DVD duplication.
Dec 2017 - Distribution launch. Premier at “Finishing the Task” event, December 5-7, Lake Forest, California.

Advisory Board /Key people involved in direction and approvals of this project.  
John Robb - International Prayer Council
Jason Hubbard - Light of the World Prayer Center
Tom Victor - The Great Commission Coalition, IPC
Michael Lienau - LifeNet Media Resources
Shari Lienau - LifeNet Media Resources

More at: http://www.globalnetproductions.com/

Global Prayer and Missions Leaders from around the world are linking together in unprecedented ways.

There is a great need in this season to see how we can collaborate together in more effective ways. We would like to share this opportunity with you.  

As a part of this conference there will be a Prayer Track

You will be fully engaged and embedded in this influential and impactful network conference (Ephesians 3:20). We will look at how to be more effective and intentional together (Luke 10:2).

Global prayer and missions leaders will be sharing on the value of collaborating together (John 17:20-23). You will hear from top mission leaders as they share current stats, trends and prayer needs of finishing the task (Matthew 24:14).

As we spend the week together we will become familiar with what is still needed to see a shift from NO Scripture, NO Missionary, NO Church, NO Known Believers, to adoption and an intentional strategy toward getting the Gospel where it has not been previously (Revelation 5:9 & 7:9).  

Who Should Attend?

If you identify with one or more of the following categories, this conference is for you!

Sending Organization/Church

You want to send (or help send) gospel workers to plant multiplying churches among Unengaged, Unreached People Groups (UUPGs).

Resource Provider

You indirectly engage UUPGs by gathering resources (i.e., finances, training, or media tools).

Mission Mobilizer

You promote the engagement of UUPGs by increasing awareness, vision-casting, and connecting potential gospel workers and resources with engagement opportunities.

Prayer/Prayer Leader or Mobilizer

You promote the engagement of UUPGs through prayer in building a platform of prayer, awareness building, vision casting and connecting prayer as a foundational aspect and resource with opportunities among UUPGs.

Registration Information:  

Early Registration:  $175/person (ends November 14th)   
Registration:  $200/person   
Note:  Registration cut-off is December 2, 2017

Register and find out more information about travel, lodging, transportation, etc. by visiting:  www.finishingthetask.com

Prayer is about God and His purposes for our world. It is not just a devotional activity or punching the clock to satisfy a sense of religious duty. It is getting in sync with Him for the joy of that most intimate of relationships and out of that prayer partnership to see our personal situation, community, nation, or far-off people groups changed in favor of His kingdom and values. It is the way we transact business with God to see His kingdom manifested in our day-to-day lives, our own neighborhoods, and at the other side of the world where there is pain, suffering or lostness.

Jesus taught that we should pray that His “kingdom come” and “will be done on earth as in Heaven”. He gave staggering promises about the power of prayer to groups of people, always using the plural “you” to underline the importance of united prayer for seeing breakthroughs to transform our communities and world. In Matthew 18:18-20, He affirmed that “whatever” we bind or loose on earth, even just two or three of us, will be bound or loosed in heaven. In this way, whatever we agree about, “anything”, can be affected deeply by such praying. Prayer with others is therefore the most powerful thing we can do as His followers. It is the most important way we become agents of His transformation for our darkened and desperate world because it brings the God of the impossible into situations that are way beyond human solution.

United prayer was the culture of the early church. They “joined constantly together in prayer” (Acts 1:14). All the breakthroughs, from Pentecost on, came out of this culture of prayer agreement as the Spirit led them.  In order for us to see modern-day breakthroughs in reaching the remaining unreached peoples, we also need to start with God in prayer. Missions is a supernatural business, involving His intervention in the calling of the right people to go as missionaries, the binding of principalities and powers that hinder, and the receptivity of the target people to the Gospel. The integral involvement of the Spirit of God all the way through is of paramount importance, and that is why engaging in prayer for His clear guidance, strategy and help is so essential. If we want the same results of the early church that “turned the world upside down” through their mission efforts, we need to connect with the same source of power and wisdom they had.

This year at the Finishing the Task event, for the first time ever there will be a specific track dealing with this issue-- the linking of prayer and mission. We will deliberate together as to how we can achieve a greater convergence between the prayer and mission movements and how an ongoing culture of prayer can become practically integrated in efforts to disciple the remaining unreached peoples for Jesus Christ. Please pray with us for an effective time towards these ends.

Even now, let’s obey Jesus and pray to Him, the Lord of the harvest and the Lord of breakthrough. Enlist others to pray with you. Let’s also be encouraging churches, prayer groups, and especially the younger generation of youth and children, to adopt these peoples for ongoing prayer until they are reached. (Excellent prayer cards for this purpose can be found at https://joshuaproject.net/resources/prayer.)

John Robb
IPC Chairman
www.ipcprayer.org

A conference for prayer and mission leaders from across Europe is happening right now (4 to 14 May) in Herrnhut. They are evaluating the current position of mission to the unreached peoples of Europe and praying strategic, informed prophetic prayers for breakthrough. Pray for even more anointing of prophetic sensitivity on these leaders in the last few days of the conference. Pray for a mighty move of His Church moving forward with the gospel as a result of this event. May the prayers of God’s people pave the way for the gospel to be preached, with power and miracles following, in every European language and dialect. Pray for all the networking and connections that have happened through the course of this conference to be acted on with Holy Spirit anointing. It is crucial that these delegates connect more deeply and purposefully. May fruitful networking birth new initiatives this week through closer linking of the prayer and mission movements.