The Privilege of Prayer

Pray that God will fill the Slavic believers with a hunger for His Word: "Desire the sincere milk of the Word" (1 Peter 2:2), and a spirit of prayer: "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Ask God to call many young men and women to serve Him sacrificially and sincerely in places of leadership. Pray that some will choose to serve in other Slavic countries as missionaries. Intercede for the Christian leadership in Eastern Europe that they will withstand the powers of darkness and remain stable in their spiritual roles.

Prayer is the most important ministry in the work of God, because our glorified Lord now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for His body, the church. “Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us” (Romans 8:34). Believers indeed live in a time when many countries face peril of unpredictable magnitude. Let us ask the Lord to cleanse us from all carelessness concerning perishing souls, and from complacency about His church and its completion.

Let us magnify Christ by being made powerful in prayer. These times in which Christians live call for “all prayer” (Ephesians 6:19). All prayer means hard work; praying always, in the morning, during the day, in the evening, whenever the Spirit of the Lord nudges the believer to bow His head or kneel. “And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:27).

Jesus spent much time in prayer with His Father when He lived upon this earth. Now at the right hand of the Father, Jesus is interceding on the believer’s behalf, and He yearns for His children to cooperate with him in interceding for others. “Hence also He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). Therefore, spend sufficient time with the Savior in supplication.

When praying, Paul the apostle felt the need of assistance from all Christians. “Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit to strive together with me in your prayers” (Romans 15:30). Don’t allow your pastors, evangelists, missionaries or any other spiritual leadership labor in the Lord without your prayers. One hour, thirty minutes, even just fifteen minutes of prayer a day for a minister or missionary will give more power to his message and ministry than a year of critique or criticism.

Human weakness and satanic opposition war against the message of God. The Holy Spirit can empower the servants of God, as they yield to His control. And He waits for prayer from the saints to assist the work! The fields of the Slavic world are white for harvest! Earnest prayer can produce effectual workers. God will answer! “Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you” (2 Thessalonians 3:1). Prayer will increase the fruitfulness of the present workers of Slavic Missionary Service, as God brings them in touch with many Slavs ready to repent and rely upon His abundant grace. Therefore, for the workers of SMS, “with all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18).

But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:7

Pray that the Gospel will reach the millions in the Slavic countries that have not yet heard what Christ has done for them. Many small cities and towns still do not have an official place of worship. Ask God to help the Slavic churches be effective witnesses in their neighborhoods. Pray that souls will continue to be saved, baptized and discipled through the ministries of the church. Pray that the Holy Spirit powerfully and persistently will convict men of sin and lead many to believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.