PRAYER IS THE WORK

‘Prayer does not fit us for the greater works; prayer is the greater work.’ - Oswald Chambers

‘Prayer is not a support activity to mission. Prayer is itself a frontline missionary activity.’ - Tim Chester

What are your thoughts?

B i g P i c t u r e

God is the one who ultimately changes hearts and minds, so we need to ask him to give people new spiritual life. Prayer is central to our workplace witness.

B i b l e P a s s a g e

"He told them,“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." - Luke 10:2 (NIV)

"As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you." - 2 Thessalonians 3:1 (NIV)

"Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness." - Acts 4:29 (NIV)

"Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should." - Ephesians 6:19-20 (NIV)

"The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit." - 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV)

"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow." - 1 Corinthians 3:6 (NIV)

K e y T r u t h s

1. Paul's practice in mission is to ask for prayer, calling for prayer.

2. Paul's practice in mission is to ask for prayer.

3. God's people respond to the needs of mission around them in prayer.

4. God is the one who ultimately changes hearts and minds, so we need to ask him to give people new spiritual life.

Thoughts? Questions?

A p p l i c a t i o n

• What do you think keeps us from praying for our colleagues?
• We pray because nothing happens in mission—whether in the workplace or overseas—unless God acts to build His kingdom.
• Often, we think our lack of progress in sharing Jesus or our colleagues' sluggish response to Jesus is because we just haven't found the correct argument, or read the right book, or watched the right video. Could it be our lack of prayer?

P r a y e r

• Who could you commit to praying for this year?
• If you haven't already done so, spend some time writing a list of 2-3 people you could be praying for this year.