February 2010: Praying for Global Evangelism

By: Leslie Keegel

Prayer is the very breath of a child of God.  Our God desires to be intimate with His children.  As we talk to God everyday through prayer, we get close to Him, hear His voice, receive strength, direction and wisdom for our lives.  We pray individually, as families, in small groups and as corporate congregations. God hears our prayers—individual, small group or corporate—and answers them readily. Perhaps some of our insights and practices on prayer will encourage you as you pray for global evangelism.

When We Pray

1. We confess our sins to God for in His presence we come under the conviction of our sin and terrible unworthiness.

2. We repent of our wicked ways and turn in full surrender to God.

3. We renounce all other allegiances and loyalties to lesser things or demigods and pledge our absolute commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

In Prayer

1. We unite – as we unite with one another in prayer, it blesses the heart of God and He showers us with His great favor and blessings.

2. We ask, seek and knock – Jesus taught us to ask God for our needs individual, family and corporate.  As we pray, we seek the face of God for guidance and favor.  In prayer we knock on the doors of ‘God’ opportunities and God opens the doors to us.

3. We wage spiritual warfare – Satan’s dark and demonic forces are always active in our world to bring oppression upon people and to hinder the work of God.  Having defeated Satan and his demonic kingdom, Jesus has given us power and authority to wage warfare against the powers of darkness and to overcome them.

Prayer Strategies for Evangelism and Church Planting

1. Waiting on God – We wait on God for weeks and sometimes months before we launch out to evangelize and plant a church.

2. We receive empowerment as we wait on God.

3. We receive specific direction.

4. Spiritual mapping – We conduct a survey and do research on the spiritual climate of the area we have chosen to evangelize.

5. Prayer Walking – Through spiritual mapping once we have conducted a historical, geographical and spiritual research of the area concerned, we do prayer walks around the chosen area for at least 4 weeks.

6. Prophetic Action – As we do prayer walks in small groups, we stop in places where there has been bloodshed, extreme darkness due to sin, and we speak light and life into those areas.

7. Pulling down strongholds – Satan builds strongholds in areas of extreme darkness, places devoted to idol worship and witchcraft.  As we walk past these places we pray powerful united prayers, pulling down demonic strongholds.

8. Invite the King of Kings – Having prayer walked, pulling down strongholds, taking prophetic action and interceding for the area, we invite Jesus to build His throne in this place.

Conclusion

1. God has given all of us in Sri Lanka many wonderful victories in answer to our prayers, whether individual, family or corporate. Here are some examples:

2. The Foursquare Church in Sri Lanka has grown from 3 congregations in 1983 to over 1500 by 2009.

3. Many wonderful evangelists and Church planters have been raised.

4. A long threatened anti-conversion law has not been passed, although multiple efforts have been made.

5. We see professionals and men and women of great influence seeking God.

6. The body of Christ is uniting to gather in the end time harvest.

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Leslie Keegel is national leader for Foursquare Missions International in Sri Lanka. Check out more about Leslie and Foursquare’s ministry in Sri Lanka online.

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Prayer Points for Global Evangelism

People from 27 countries have signed up to pray via www.7Fourteen.org and together, we share a passion for the world. Here are just a few prayer requests that represent the countries of the world. As God brings specific requests to your mind, invite others to pray with you.

Representing Asia, please pray for Sri Lanka:
1. Pray for healing and reconciliation of the three main ethnic groups, Sinhala, Tamil and Muslims.

2. We are seeing a very high rate of suicide among the ages of 19-30 (21 persons for every 100,000 commit suicide). Pray for people in this age group that the gospel will bring hope to them and that they will live and not die.

3. Approximately 1000 babies are aborted everyday as a result of pregnancies outside of wedlock. Again, pray for life!

4. Pray that people will be open to the message of the gospel especially during our presidential and parliamentarian elections during which we often experience seasons of political violence and election-related crime.

5. Pray for God’s wisdom and empowerment for His servants to serve Him in extremely volatile situations prevailing in the country.

Representing the Caribbean, please pray for Haiti:
1. Pray for an overflow of compassion and opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ bringing a message of hope where there has been hopelessness.

2. Pray against corruption and opportunism.

3. Pray against human trafficking and pray for the safety of children.

4. Pray that believers in the country would grow spiritually and that their faith will be strong.

5. Pray against fear; pray that faith would rise for God’s provision in the days ahead.

Representing the world, please pray for:
1. North America – Pray for effective evangelism throughout Vancouver, B.C. and the world as 5,500 athletes, 10,000 media representatives, and untold spectators from more than 80 nations gather in February for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Pray also for the many Foursquare people who will take part in outreaches in the region.

2. Latin America – Area missionary Paul Otremba asks that we specifically pray for Nicaragua and for dynamic, powerful leadership with a clear vision for evangelism, training leaders and for church planting.

3. East Africa - Foursquare Rwanda will host a “mega” evangelistic crusade in partnership with Foursquare pastors and leaders from the U.S. on February 10 – 14, 2010, according to Foursquare national leader Fidele Masengo. Pray for God’s favor and that the Holy Spirit would change many lives during this crusade.

4. Europe – Area missionary Jeff Roper asks that we pray for skilled and experienced church planters who will serve The Foursquare Church throughout Europe and bring many people to Christ.

5. South Pacific - West Papua, Indonesia has an established Christian presence, however according to area missionary Jerry Stott, the government has targeted the area by sending thousands of Muslim families to re-settle West Papua. Pray that the dream of our Foursquare national leadership becomes reality and that they will be able to successfully plant 1000 rural churches and touch lives for Christ in the process.

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