Mobilizing Prayer
There is a rising move around the globe. A people passionate for God’s presence are rising up to be a people of proclamation. Intimacy with God is leading to impact among the nations. In this generation two streams of renewal are converging; the prayer movement and the missions movement are blending into one. Watch the video, read the notes, or listen to the podcast of Mike Bickle’s message, “The Convergence of the Missions and Prayer Movements” given in Toronto on May 13, 2010 (download it at http://mikebickle.org/resources/category/ministry-outreach/great-commission).
This should not be surprising for, throughout history, these have been inseparably intertwined at the times of greatest spiritual awakening. In the early eighteenth century the Moravians under the leadership of Count Zinzendorf saw not only the first protestant missions movement birthed out of Europe, but also saw the emergence of the first 24/7 prayer experience. In fact, the 24/7 prayer meeting that began in Herrnhut would go uninterrupted for more than 100 years!
God is at it again! Intensified prayer is super-charging missions. The prayer mountains of Korea are legendary, but there is more. An all night prayer meeting in Nigeria was attended by more than 7 million - all in one place seeking God. Prayer is held around the clock in the famous Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires facing the presidential palace. Multiplied millions have gathered around the earth in the annual Global Day of Prayer. Young people in the UK meet in prayer “furnaces” eager to “burn 24/7.” In Egypt history-making crowds gather with eagerness to pray and worship. Across America stadiums fill with young people interceding in “the Call” and are living a “fasted life-style”, setting themselves apart to seek God in a “house of prayer.” All over the world, tens of thousands of “prayer watches” are being set up and God’s people are pursuing intimacy with their Redeemer with renewed passion and purpose.
This should not be surprising for Jesus said, “my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” (first stated in Isa 56:7 and quoted by Jesus in Mat 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:46). Jesus called his disciples to follow him on a mission (Mark 1:17). Barely had they begun their journey of following Jesus when they were struck by his life-style of prayer (Mark 1:35-36). Because they observed the impact of Jesus’ prayer life on his ministry, they were eager to learn to pray like he did. So they asked him to teach them how to pray. The first request of the prayer he taught them was, “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Mat 6:10). Our prayers should be taking hold of heaven and pulling it down to earth!
Many spiritual leaders affirm the place of prayer in missions.
“The Church today needs to be mobilized with continual prayer and fasting to release the harvest of souls waiting to be garnered from among the nations” (Jack Hayford, Founding Pastor, The Church On The Way). “The Great Commission needs to be fueled with fiery, continual prayer with fasting. Our greatest effectiveness in reaching millions of souls will be seen only as our work is bathed in prayer and fasting” (Bill Bright, Founder, Campus Crusade for Christ). “When God stirs his people to pray, it is because God is planning to answer! We can only dream about what impact it will have on the nations” (Floyd McClung, Founder, All Nations). “But those who have seen global changes open doors long closed to the gospel readily acknowledge that God, in His sovereign power over nations, moves in response to the prayers of His people. Strongholds crumble and response to the gospel accelerates when we pray.” (Jerry Rankin, To the Ends of the Earth, p 18).
Check out the following books. They tell a compelling global story of prayer and missions:
Fire & Fragrance, by Sean Feucht and Andy Byrd.
Not by Might Nor by Power, by Graham Power and Diane Vermooten.
For more insights check out the resources at www.ihop.org. Links to numerous prayer initiatives movements around the world can be found at two key sites: www.globaldayofprayer.com and www.ipcprayer.org.
from the 777 Document, July 2012
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