Why Pray?

     Many of us may have had this question come to our minds or may have been asked it of us: "Why pray? What is the point of prayer when God knows the future and is already in control of everything. If we cannot change God's mind, why should we pray?"

     I thought this was a very good, thought-provoking answer from the website http://www.gotquestions.org/:

     For the Christian, praying is like breathing. It is easier to do it than to not do it. We pray for a variety of reasons. For one thing, prayer is a form of serving God (Luke 2:36-38) and obeying Him. We pray because God commands us to pray (Philippians 4:6-7). Prayer is exemplified for us by Christ and the early church (Mark 1:35; Acts 1:14; 2:42; 3:1; 4:23-31; 6:4; 13:1-3). If Jesus thought it was worthwhile to pray, we should also. If He needed to pray to remain in the Father’s will, how much more do we need to pray?

     Another reason to pray is that God intends prayer to be the means of obtaining His solutions in a number of situations. We pray in preparation for major decisions (Luke 6:12-13); to overcome demonic barriers (Matthew 17:14-21); to gather workers for the spiritual harvest (Luke 10:2); to gain strength to overcome temptation (Matthew 26:41); and to obtain the means of strengthening others spiritually (Ephesians 6:18-19).

     We come to God with our specific requests, and we have God's promise that our prayers are not in vain, even if we do not receive specifically what we asked for (Matthew 6:6; Romans 8:26-27). He has promised that when we ask for things that are in accordance with His will, He will give us what we ask for (1 John 5:14-15). Sometimes He delays His answers according to His wisdom and for our benefit. In these situations, we are to be diligent and persistent in prayer (Matthew 7:7; Luke 18:1-8). Prayer should not be seen as our means of getting God to do our will on earth, but rather as a means of getting God's will done on earth. God’s wisdom far exceeds our own.

     For situations in which we do not know God's will specifically, prayer is a means of discerning His will. If the Syrian woman with the demon-influenced daughter had not prayed to Christ, her daughter would not have been made whole (Mark 7:26-30). If the blind man outside Jericho had not called out to Christ, he would have remained blind (Luke 18:35-43). God has said that we often go without because we do not ask (James 4:2). In one sense, prayer is like sharing the gospel with people. We do not know who will respond to the message of the gospel until we share it. In the same way, we will never see the results of answered prayer unless we pray.

     A lack of prayer demonstrates a lack of faith and a lack of trust in God’s Word. We pray to demonstrate our faith in God, that He will do as He has promised in His Word and bless our lives abundantly more than we could ask or hope for (Ephesians 3:20). Prayer is our primary means of seeing God work in others' lives. Because it is our means of “plugging into” God's power, it is our means of defeating Satan and his army that we are powerless to overcome by ourselves. Therefore, may God find us often before His throne, for we have a high priest in heaven who can identify with all that we go through (Hebrews 4:15-16). We have His promise that the fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much (James 5:16-18). May God glorify His name in our lives as we believe in Him enough to come to Him often in prayer.

The Hope of a Coming World Revival

Do you know that more people have come to know Christ in the last 100 years than in all the centuries before that combined? That is a staggering but exciting thought! Even though we may not be very aware of it in America, the Holy Spirit is moving and bringing salvation to untold millions throughout the world. That is just what the Bible said would happen as we anticipate the Lord's return. "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit," (Joel 2:28, 29). In this post, I hope to encourage you and excite you about what the Lord will do. Isn't it exciting to think that it may be done in our generation!

     So often the news tends to focus on the bad. And in reading the Bible we know that things will get worse as the end approaches (2 Tim 3:12; 2 Thes 2:1-3). "Famines, pestilence and earthquakes of staggering proportions will occur. Wars and intrigue will fill the earth. Hate will bind the hearts of men. No one will feel secure. As moral integrity breaks down, apostasy in the Church will increase. Those who do not conform to the spirit of the age will be hard pressed, and many will be martyred. (As you are reading this, many examples of these truths have probably come to mind.) Clearly, the cost of discipleship will be high. Yet, amid this terrible adversity, Scripture indicates that revival will sweep across the earth...the terrors will actually create an environment for earnest heart searching," (Robert E. Coleman).

     We are seeing this today in countries like China, Iran and Vietnam, where greater persecution of Christians is leading to greater growth in the Church! "Through the purging of revival, God's people will be brought to the true beauty of holiness. Our Lord expects to present His bride unto Himself 'a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless,' (Eph 5:27; 1 Jn 3:2-3; 2 Cor 7:1; 1 Pet 1:13-16; 3:4). The trials of the last days will serve as fires to refine the gold of Christian character. A purified Church will be able to receive unhindered the power of the outpoured Spirit, and thereby more boldly enter into the mission of Christ" (Coleman).

     God has never promised that He would save every Christian from suffering on this earth. That belief is easy to come by in the relatively safe Church of America but is not found in the Church in much of the rest of the world. Instead, Jesus promised His followers hardship at every turn. But in that hardship, He also promised to be with us, to refine us, and to use us for His glory and to draw others to Himself. We must not fear the affliction but understand it when it comes. This is a message for the Church in America! I believe our time of ease may be soon over. We, as a Church, need to prepare to suffer affliction as our brothers and sisters in Christ are doing throughout the world. And we must not fear this affliction but see it for what it is - a means for growing the Church of Christ, growing closer to the Lord on an individual level and ultimately glorifying Him as we show the world that our Lord and Savior, who suffered for us, is worth suffering and dying for!

     But in this suffering is the hope of a coming world revival! People who are full of the Holy Spirit as a result of their suffering, are committed to God's work. Do you know where there is a huge movement of people to bring the Gospel to the Muslims...China! A country of great persecution is burning with the desire to see those, lost in a religion of great persecution (Islam), come to Christ. An example of this is the ministry Back to Jerusalem. You can learn more about them at http://www.backtojerusalem.com/  When you go to the website you may notice that the pictures of many of the Christian leaders of this movement need to be obscured so as to protect them from a government who would like to destroy them. Where is this same passion for the Muslims in America? I believe that passion often comes with persecution, thus we see that the persecution that God allows His church to undergo is not in vain. It has a purpose!

     I believe that God's passion to get out the message of Jesus to the lost nations of this world will increase. You are reading this blog and I am writing this blog because He is growing in us a passion for the lost! Be encouraged that the greatest day of evangelism, what Joel 2:23, Hos 6:3, Zech 10:1 and James 5:7 refer to as the "latter rain," is before us. "The harvesting may be short in duration and may require enormous sacrifice, but it will be the most far-reaching acceptance of the Gospel this world has ever seen. The massive turning of Christ by people from the four corners of the earth will prepare the way for the coming of the King," (Coleman)

     "Anticipation of our Lord's return is a summons to action. We must cast off anything that blocks the flow of the Holy Spirit and commit ourselves to being about the Father's business. World evangelization now is the responsibility around which our lives should be centered. Whatever our gifts, we are all needed in the witness of the Gospel," (Coleman).

     Let's make this more personal for a moment. What trials are you facing in your life right now? For me, I struggle with the day-to-day challenges of raising a family of six, homeschooling, meeting the needs of my husband and involvement in outside organizations. When the daily trials occur, it is so easy to forget all about the Lord and act in the flesh...to get irritated, angry and then feel guilty. But what if I asked God for a new perspective? What if I asked Him to help me see the trials He allows in my daily life as ways to be purified in Him? As opportunities to pray more, trust more and grow more in the grace and knowledge of Jesus? He may be using the daily struggles of motherhood (or fatherhood, work, singleness, etc.) as periods of refinement to grow compassion and patience in us, compassion that may one day extend beyond our own homes to the nations; patience that may one day be manifested in mission work for the Lord.

     Through the daily struggles and as we anticipate a coming world revival, prayer is our greatest resource. We need to be asking God daily, how do you want to use me? Who should I be praying for? What are You doing in the world and how can I get involved?

     "Something great is on the horizon. You can almost feel it in the air. Though forces of evil are becoming more sinister and aggressive, there is a corresponding cry for spiritual awakening. Across the world, never has there been more yearning by more people for spiritual reality, nor has the Church ever had the means it now has to take the glad tidings of salvation to the lost, unreached people of the earth. What a day to be alive!

     Certainly this is a not a time for despair. The King's coming is certain. And in preparation for His return we may be the very generation that will see the greatest movement of revival since the beginning of time!" (Coleman)

    

    

    

    

A Missionary's Letter

A few years ago, I was so encouraged to receive the following letter from a friend of mine who was a missionary to Mongolia at the time. It reminds me again of the importance of having our children interact with missionaries....and email makes it so easy.

My daughter Grace had written Christine with some questions (an assignment in her Awana class). Here is Christine's heartfelt response:

Hi Grace,

This is Christine, one of your mother's friends.  I would love to take some time here to answer your questions regarding missions. :)

1. Where do you work?  I am working here in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (outer Mongolia).  Mongolia is sandwiched between Russia and China.

2. What is your job?  My job, just like you, is to let Jesus shine through me.  It's to let these people know how much Jesus loves them.  One of the ways I do that is to share what I know and have.  The Bible says, "do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it".  Proverbs 3:27.  God is allowing me to practice this verse everyday, here...by helping the existing church grow even more.  We are spending a lot of time with developing leaders here in Mongolia, as we are walking with them to discover more who they were meant to be to make a difference.

3.  Is it hard to be a missionary?  This is a tough question. :)  There are times it is hard, but it's been so rewarding.  My family and I have only been here for 2 1/2 years now, so since we are still learning and adjusting culturally, there have been difficult moments because we don't understand a lot of things about the culture.  Also, we are learning getting to know the people here, their ways of life, the way they think...and many times it's so different than what we are used to.  So in that way, it's been hard.  But the beauty of being here has been that I have been able to experience and find more treasures...that's God's love...and how high, deep, and wide His love is for me AND for Mongolia.

4. What kind of food do the people eat?  Mongolians really enjoy lamb meat.  So, most of the food they eat is with lamb...fried dumplings w/lamb (called ho-shurr), noodles w/ lamb and some vegetables (called cho-woung). Mongolians love meat, and don't like vegetables.   But now, you can find many restaurants where the Mongolians are getting a taste for foreign foods.  And because their are more and more foreigners here, they are learning to eat healthy, which includes eating vegetables.  Before, they thought that only animals eat vegetables, and humans eat meat.  But this thought is changing.

Grace, I hope this helps you with your AWANA homework.  I hope that you continue to really grow to be a beautiful woman who really is not ashamed of the gospel, but continue to "march for truth...building lives for Jesus".  Ultimately, whether I am here in Mongolia or there in the USA, God calls us (you and me) to behold His beauty...because Jesus truly is the only TRUE beauty.  We are responsible to share God's love, this good news with those around us, so they can also be beautified.  Who doesn't want to be beautified?  We want people to experience the true beauty..of Christ.

God, thank you for Grace.  Thank you that she is learning and growing in you.  Thank you that you are teaching her about the nations and different peoples...that there are so many people still needing to hear about you, but also grow in you.  Thank you for teaching her that about Mongolia and your love for these people.  God, continue to make Grace more beautiful as she grows so that she may shine even more for you.  Teach her your ways, guarding her heart, keeping her pure and holy, and so near to your heart.  Keep her strong and yet tender, Jesus.  Thank  you for loving Grace so much!!!  May she experience your love even more and more.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

OK, Grace.  Let me know if you would like for me to answer any more questions.  Bye for now!!!

Mrs. Park

Bruchko

If you are looking for an incredible story of God's power to read for yourself or to your children or for one of your teens to read, I highly recommend Bruchko by Bruce Olson. It is the story of Bruce Olson's experiences among the Motilones, a "head-hunting" tribe of people in Columbia with whom Bruce, named Bruchko by the tribal members, shared the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. I highly recommend it! 

Here is a summary, from Forerunner about him which is very encouraging. It's awesome to see God's hand at work!!!

Missions Report: Bruce Olson's and Colombia's Motilone Indians

By Jay Rogers

Published October 1992

Since 1961, missionary Bruce Olson has labored for the gospel of Jesus Christ among the Motilone Indians deep in the jungles of Colombia’s high Catatumbo region. But today Olson’s most exciting missionary work still lies ahead.

In the past thirty years, Olson has founded bilingual schools, medical clinics and agricultural centers among the Motilones. His Christ-like humility and work of service to the Motilones has earned him the status of a tribal member. Indian chiefs throughout the region representing 50 tribes and half a million tribe members look to Olson with great awe and respect. He has become a friend of five Colombian presidents; has spoken before the United Nations; and has received educational awards from the Colombian government. Although he completed college only through correspondence schools, his work on translating the Scriptures into the native Indian dialects has earned him honor among linguistics scholars.

Nineteen-year-old Olson first travelled to South America with only a one-way plane ticket and $70 in his pocket. A young person with a deep burden for Colombia’s hidden people, Olson set out in in search of the Motilones: a fierce, primitive tribe that no white man had ever encountered and lived. Olson’s adventures in Colombia brought him face to face with the Motilones when he was shot through the leg with a three foot arrow. He was brought as a prisoner to their camp to recover. “Bruchko” – the name the Indians gave him (the Motilones were not able to pronounce Bruce Olson) – eventually won over the hearts of these tribal people. Today the Motilones are almost universally converted to Christ.

Three years ago, Bruce Olson was kidnapped in the mountain jungles of Colombia and detained for nine months as a political prisoner by communist guerillas. Hoping to win him as a valuable communist leader, the communists attempted to indoctrinate him through daily political dialogues. “Papa Bruchko” – as they called him – became a source of fascination among the young recruits in training. Many of them began to join Olson in prayer and Bible study. As many as 60 communist guerillas eventually gave their lives to Christ. His refusal to join ranks with the communists earned him death threats and he narrowly escaped execution by a firing squad.

Fearing the reprisal of a united war effort of 50 jungle tribes, the guerilla leaders released Olson in the summer of 1989. The Indian tribes of Colombia had united against the guerillas in a war-pledge to defend Olson’s cause if he was executed. The unity of the Indian tribes behind one white man was unprecedented in Colombia’s history.

After his release, Olson found that he had become a national hero in Colombia. In the major cities, articles demanding Olson’s release had appeared almost daily in the newspapers. Olson’s courageous stance against the guerillas was one of the key factors which inspired the common citizens of Colombia to take a bolder, tougher stance against the drug cartels.

Since this time, the openness of the Indian tribes of Colombia to the gospel has become phenomenal. Many tribal leaders have requested that Olson begin to set up clinics, schools and agricultural centers. Some tribes have asked specifically to be taught about Jesus Christ. Olson reported recently: “In August, I was among the Cogi Indians in the mountains adjacent to Santa Marta. I baptized more than 40 adult believers. Several Motilone pastors accompanied me.”

In America, the story of Bruce Olson’s captivity brought unprecedented financial support for the work of Christ among the Motilones. For 28 years, Olson had operated with no official sponsorship, relying on only the contributions of friends, but when Charisma magazine ran a two part series: “Bruce Olson’s Nine Month Colombian Captivity” (November & December 1989), donors gave $100,000 to help “Bruchko” continue his humanitarian efforts and evangelism among the tribes of Colombia.

In addition to providing clinical supplies, scholarships and agricultural development, Olson has built several centers for the Motilones. In a recent letter, Olson explained the uses for one of the structures he is building: “Our Tibú Community House of Twelve Cultures, which we have named in Motilone: ‘Axdobaringcayra,’ is well on the way to completion. … The house will provide lodging for visiting Motilones. Tibú is the principal port of commerce for the growing tribal economy and it is the seat of government. Here we will organize Colombia’s first native language regional newspaper and house staff personnel for the northeast Colombian indigenous cultural publications.”

The cultural center he is now building will be a base from which to reach many of the tribal groups of Colombia. Olson reports that he still needs about $60,000 to complete this center.

Bruce Olson and the Motilone believers are the key to fulfilling the Great Commission in this area of the world. Jesus Christ has commanded us to go and “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18-20). Many of the nations – referred to by missiologists as the ETHNE, or “peoples groups” – in this area of Colombia are completely unreached with the gospel. We have an exciting opportunity to reach half a million people who have become miraculously open to the gospel in the past three years.

What is the JESUS film?

When people come face-to-face with Jesus—when they see him smile, when they hear him speak in their own language, with their own accent—they are forever changed. Movies offer the most dynamic way to hear and see the greatest story ever lived.

Maybe the most impacting movie of all time is the Jesus film is, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ https://www.jesusfilm.org. This is a description of the film for those unfamiliar with it:

Every four seconds, somewhere in the world, another person indicates a decision to follow Christ after watching the "JESUS" film.

Every four seconds... that's 21,600 people per day, 648,000 per month and more than 7.8 million per year! That's like the population of the entire city of Seattle, WA, coming to Christ every 27.5 days. And yet, if you are like most people, you may have never even heard of it.

Called by some "one of the best-kept secrets in Christian missions," a number of mission experts have acclaimed the film as one of the greatest evangelistic tools of all time. Since 1979 the "JESUS" film has been viewed by several billion people all across the globe, and has resulted in more than 225 million men, women and children indicating decisions to follow Jesus.

"But how can any single film reach so many people and touch so many lives?"

It is the power of the Word of God in their heart language.

Based on the Gospel of Luke, the "JESUS" film has now been translated into more than 1,500 languages, with a new language being added nearly every week. This brings God's Word to people in more than 200 countries in languages they know and understand. By God's grace, it is yielding a spiritual harvest of unprecedented results.

Not only is the story of the "JESUS" film one of effective evangelism, but also of a powerful tool for expanding the church worldwide. In fact, according to Dr. Stephen Steele, former CEO of DAWN Ministries: "Three quarters of all churches planted in the last decade around the world used the 'JESUS' film as part of the church planting process."

God is using this film in powerful ways to reach people and build spiritual movements worldwide.