PRAYING FOR MISSIONARIES

…ye also helping together by prayer for us – 2 Corinthians 1:11

“Strive together with me in your prayers to God for me,” pleaded the great missionary apostle (Rom.15:30). Despite his great gifts of nature and of grace, we search in vain for any sign of conscious adequacy. “Who is sufficient for these things?” Paul asks. Small wonder if his weaker successors crave the intercessions of God’s people. But what shall we ask of God for them?

A veteran missionary facing the fierce opposition of the adversary in the South Seas wrote: “There is nothing more profitable, more priceless, that you can ask for us than that in spite of physical weariness, of frequent infirmities and the care of multiplying converts, we may be enabled to remain on our knees, for there is a praying in detail to be done, if the infant churches are to grow and prosper.” Here then is a key subject for intercession, for our prayers can make the prayers of our missionary friends especially potent and prevailing.

Note in these verses the juxtaposition of the hard-pressed missionary’s extremity and his deliverance. “We were pressed out of measure, above strength…but God delivered us…ye also helping together by prayer for us” (2 Cor. 1:8-11). Our intercessions may be instrumental in delivering missionaries from “unreasonable and wicked men” (2 Thess. 3:2). Closed doors can be made to swing open on their unwilling hinges as we lay hold on God (Col. 4:2).

Though preaching presented no difficulty to Paul, he entreated the Ephesians, “Ask on my behalf that words may be given me, so that, outspoken and fearless, I may make known the truths of the Good News” (Eph. 6:19, Weymouth).

Joshua prevailed in the valley conflict only while Moses’ hands were raised to heaven. When they grew slack and fell, Amalek prevailed. Ours can be the strategic upholding ministry of Aaron and Hur.”