Dr. Wesley L. Duewell- The seed is sown and watered, and the tiny seedlings begin to spring up. This is another critical time, when cultivation depends upon follow-up prayer. Jesus warned that trouble, persecution, the worries of this life, and the deceitfulness of wealth would cause some to drop by the wayside and become unfruitful (Matt. 13:20 -22).
As we have mentioned earlier, pressure from nonbelieving family and friends hinders many others. In some parts of the world, where families are close-knit and traditions are sacred, those who profess belief in Christ risk severe persecution. (Google image, Sprouting seed).
In addition to being cast out of their homes, young believers realize that educational opportunities may be lost; others may lose their customers or their jobs; some may have clothing and other possessions confiscated or destroyed. In certain Muslim and communist environments the risk includes imprisonment or even loss of life for those who are known followers of Christ.
There is something you can do to help them—something extremely powerful. You can pray daily. Help in any other way you can, but above all, pray earnestly for God too protect the young believers. Your prayer can encourage, strengthen, and protect during this crucial period of new life.
Through prayer you can influence world leaders. Government decisions and decrees are constantly taking away liberty of evangelism and liberty of worship and permitting or directing the persecution of Christians. No outside government can do much to help change this picture, but we are not completely impotent.
Through prayer you can become a hidden counselor of these government leaders and authorities without their awareness. How? "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases" (Prov. 21:1).
It was the Lord who moved the heart of Cyrus, king of Persia, to issue the edict to permit the Jews living in captivity to return freely to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1). When, for sixteen years or longer, the leaders of surrounding nations prevented the building of the temple, Ezra records that it was the Lord who changed the attitude of the emperor Darius (Ezra 6:22) and caused him to order the temple to be rebuilt and the surrounding nations to cease interfering.
It was as Nehemiah prayed and fasted that God prepared the heart of King Artaxerxes, his official, to take a leave of absence and go to Jerusalem to rebuild its walls. (Neh.1:4, 6).
When Queen Esther, Mordecai, and the hundreds of Jews in Susa spent three days in prayer and fasting, God would not let King Xerxes (Ahasuerus) sleep (Esth. 6:1), and so began the series of actions which preserved the Jewish nation.
We can be sure that it was while Daniel was praying that God delivered the three young Hebrew men and changed King Nebuchadnezzar from persecutor to protector (Dan. 3).
Today, as in the past, rulers of nations plot against Christians and against the Christian church. Laws are promulgated repeatedly to restrict missionary work, Christian witness, the baptism of believers, the assembly of believers in public services, the erection of new church buildings.
In some lands Christians are repeatedly imprisoned, severely mistreated, and tortured. Thank God, persecution cannot destroy the church (Matt. 16:18)!
Seldom does the church adequately exercise its prayer privilege and prayer authority to change the attitude of political rulers and the treatment of suffering Christians. While again and again God does intervene to protect or help His own, who knows what changes might occur if the church would only unite to focus earnest, daily, prevailing prayer for authorities where there is active opposition to Christianity.
It is not always God's will that His children avoid all suffering, or that all the missionary visas applied for be granted. But until God checks our prayer, why not unite in prayer agreement and prayer warfare?
Why not use the command of faith in a united effort to change the attitudes of earthly rulers? Satan does not want you to contemplate the miracles that can be wrought through your prayer. Rise up in holy determination to oppose him and bring about God's harvest!
Father, as the seed of the Gospel is sown, and the tiny seedlings begin to spring up, may we understand that this is a critical time, when cultivation depends upon follow-up prayer. Those who've heard the Gospel may be distracted by the worries of their lives, or their dependence on their wealth, and some may be faced with persecution by family and friends for their new faith. These can cause some people to drop by the wayside and fail to grow and develop as believers in Christ Jesus.
Help us rise up with holy determination to oppose the evil one's opposition to all that the church is doing concerning God's harvesting of souls! Our using the command of faith in warfare can effect the attitudes of earthly rulers and bring about changes for their good. We are challenged to pray for all who are making an effort to win souls, to support their new believers with prayer, and to help supply their various needs as we are able.
In Jesus' name we ask for Your help to enable us to be faithful to support the work being done, and to support the souls won through our daily prayers. We ask for You to give us directions as to who specifically to pray for. Amen.
Today's Bible verses-
~ Are you impressed with how God has worked wonders in your life? Have you seen Him make impossibilities happen? Don't forget that He is working things together for your good. He is an awesome God, Who loves you unconditionally! Express your gratitude to Him today!
Today's question-
Jesus: Who is this man?
It's history that He was God in the flesh, the Almighty, God's authority and yet, was fully man. He got hungry and thirsty, tired and had emotions like any normal man. He is the Judge, King of kings, Lamb of God, Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Root of David, Lord, Messiah, Redeemer, Rock, Creator, the Way the Truth and the Life, the Corner stone, and Healer.
There never was, nor will there ever be another man like Him! (John 3:16)
The North Country Christian Fellowship Center Churches,
located in the St. Lawrence county of NY,
broadcast their Sunday services at 10 or 10:15
You can view past services too.
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