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Be a World Prayer ... Sam Gordon |
It struck me recently that most of us are fairly parochial in our thinking - generally speaking, we tend not to see the big picture. For example, the news media brings the world into our living rooms on a daily basis, yet when I trek around the country, I don't hear much of that reflected in the average evangelical church prayer meeting on a Wednesday evening, or whenever.
So much of our intercession tends to revolve around local issues and, more often than not, on those things that impact me and my family! If you were to ask those 'faithful few' attending the midweek meeting in your church for prayer requests, I can almost guarantee that they would centre on 'personal' matters ... for me, when that happens, the alarm bells start ringing and the red lights start flashing; such a response tells me something isn't quite right. As believers, we have become incredibly me-centred.
I realise that the Emerald Isle isn't much bigger than a postage stamp on most world maps - and, when you look at the entire UK, it's not much more than the size of a man's thumb! The reality is, there's a world out there of 6.44 billion souls ... a world that desperately needs Jesus Christ. Even today there are over 6,700 unreached people groups on Planet Earth - yes, they can buy a can of Coke, but they have yet to hear the good news about Jesus. You and I delight to talk about the Second Coming of Christ when a vast multitude of teeming, untold millions is still in the dark about the First Coming!
That's what concerns me (in fact, it bothers me) ... and never more so than when I think of some countries which, in recent times, have 'elected' new leaders. Three great nations spring to mind ... I think of Kenya, and Russia, and even Cuba. I mean, when was the last time you heard those nations mentioned in earnest prayer? When was the last time you heard the country's leadership singled out for special intercession?
It seems to me that we are failing in our God-given responsibilities if we don't take the bull by the horns and pray intelligently for such men - the great apostle to the Gentiles, Paul, says as much in his first letter to young Timothy (2:1-2). His exhortation is straight from the heart; he's shooting from the hip, as we sometimes say - the preacher man spells it out in easy-to-understand language: 'I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.'
So, my friend, if you want to pray in the will of God, and you want to earn divine approval, then it's time for you to channel your energies in praying God's way! Paul tells us in verse 3 that this is what brings enormous joy to the heart of God - 'it pleases God our Saviour'. I believe the time has come for us to move out of our tiny earth mindset in order to seize the day of opportunity that God has given to us. Hey, it's more than a clich, God answers prayer!
Why not risk a few 'funny looks' from others and start praying in public for men like General Raul Castro of the Caribbean island of Cuba; and for the likes of President Mwai Kibaki and the Opposition Leader, Mr Raila Odinga, of the East African country of Kenya; not forgetting President Dmitriy Medvedev of Russia, the country covering the largest area on any world map!
Here's the challenge: Be a world prayer!
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