One cannot read through the New Testament book of Acts without noticing the importance of prayer on the missionary expansion of the church. I believe the early church leaders spent more time praying than trying to develop 5-10 year strategic plans for church growth. When the leaders prayed, God’s Spirit spoke and gave direction for the next steps of the church’s mission.
Acts 13:1-3 says, “In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”
Through the act of praying, we release our life plans to God and approach Him with open hands, allowing Him to fill our hearts with His agenda, goals, and dreams. The cost of following Jesus for Barnabas and Saul was great and could not be undertaken with courageous passion without the knowledge of God’s presence and Spirit-empowering throughout their journeys. Through prayer God gave the early church leaders the necessary wisdom to move boldly into the world with the message of the gospel.
As we seek God as individuals and as a church, God will also meet us, equip us, and send us into a world in need of knowing the good news of Jesus. Praying is followed by going. Where will you be going this week? May you seize the opportunities around you to tell others about the greatness of Jesus Christ!
The connection between prayer and the development of a burden for others can be seen in this diary entry of David Brainerd, an early missionary to the American Indians:
Thursday, April 8. Had hopes raised today respecting the heathen. O that God would bring in great numbers of them to Jesus Christ! I cannot but hope I shall see that glorious day. Every thing in this world seems exceeding vile and little to me: I look so on myself. I had some little dawn of comfort today in prayer; but especially tonight, I think I had some faith and power of intercession with God. I was enabled to plead with God for the growth of grace in myself; and many of the dear children of God then lay with weight upon my soul. Blessed be the Lord! It is good to wrestle for diving blessings.
