For those who are involved in holistic efforts, development, relief, etc., one of the key buzz phrases is “transformation.” Byrant Myers wrote that “transformation seeks positive change in the whole of human life materially, socially, and spiritually to the point that people can be finding and enjoying life as it should be” (Snowden review of Walking with the Poor, Momentum, July 2006).

The convergence of these two lies in mapping them as a process.

• Resilient Communities are the end goal - the state where “people can be finding and enjoying life as it should be” (a rather loose definition, true, because many people have varying definitions of life as it should be).
• The Change is the phase shift or tipping point when a community moves into this state of resilience. When I think of this, the picture that comes almost immediately to mind is the computer game Civilization, in which a city could enter a “Golden Age” where it had people were happy, life was good, and the player got numerous bonuses. Entering “resilience” is to enter this “golden age”—but if we are not careful, Resilience can slip away. Unlike in Civilization, the Change is often not directly visible. To be known it has to be specifically watched for and measured.
• Transformation is the process by which a Community is Changed or made Resilient. The overall “sweep” of transformation is like a river made up of lots of little eddies and currents: different processes and tools by which transformation is achieved. Church planting is one of these. So is medical care. How does this work?

First, the resilient community needs a better definition.

• A community, as I’m using it here, is a group of people that are located near each other and linked by relationships (friendship, kinship, marriage, employment, etc). Generally, a community is large enough to be diverse yet small enough to be socially relatable. When I envision a community, I’m thinking of a group of perhaps 1,000 to 2,000 people. Dunbar’s number (which admittedly some think is bogus) says at most you have 150 solid relationships, of which about 15 are very deep. A community as I envision it is larger than that, but still smaller than the “6 degrees” through which you could reach anyone in the world (theoretically). So let’s say a community is where through 1 or 2 (or even 3 relationships?) you could touch everyone. A large size megachurch as it were, or a smallish city. Whereas Seth Godin’s “tribes” I think would be smaller still.
• Resilience is also in need of definition. Here’s my current working definition: 1) able to withstand sudden shock/disaster, and/or adapt to long-term changing conditions; 2) able to help others (nearby neighboring communities) withstand shock or adapt; 3) able to make other’s resilient.

This has the effect of introducing a stabilizing and then multiplying change. The question is, how? And how does this relate to missions? or swarming?

In writings by YWAMers I’ve been running across the idea of Domains. I’m sure these can be found elsewhere as well, but I have not Googled for them yet. Each community of people is made up of different “domains.” Some domains include (these are mine, by logic, not found necessarily elsewhere):

• The Environment and Natural Resources – food, water, minerals, construction materials, etc.
• Demographics and the Family – birth, life, death, marriage, kinship, socialization, enculturation, etc.
• Community, Culture and Ethnicity – tribal groups, etc.
• Government, Law, Justice, Security
• Education, Knowledge, Information, Wisdom
• Science, Technology, Discovery, Innovation, Creation
• Economics, Business, Trade, Manufacturing
• Media, Communication, Arts
• Health, Medicine, Wellness
• Religion, Church, Faith, Morality, Virtue

These domains each contribute to the overall resilience of a community. Some quick and obvious examples:

• Environment > famine and dirty water will destabilize a community (Ethiopia)
• Demography > extended economic downturns (Russia) or government policy (China) can lead to demographic disturbances which can affect the whole culture
• Ethnicity > racial prejudices can flare into significant shocks (Rwanda, Somalia)
• Government > widespread corruption can destabilize (the –Stans of Central Asia)

It would be possible, with a decent amount of research, to examine the various domains and identify measures or indicators of resilience which are tied to globally connected statistics. This research effort could be crowdsourced through a site (such as strategicnetwork.org…), enabling quick, accurate, ongoing data collection—if anyone is interested (email justinlong@gmail.com if you are). This could be done through a convergence of specific data sets (mostly already existing):

• YWAM’s Omega Zones are well suited to the task since 1) they tie in to globally standard country codes, 2) they go deeper, typically into 1st level (province) and sometimes 2nd level (urban) codes, 3) they are connected to an organization with over 20,000 current staff.
• A list of domains which could be further edited by crowds of participants (given above)
• A list of measurements (which could be identified, defined, measured, and further developed/edited/refined by crowds of participants).

By monitoring these measurements, swarms of people could then self-organize around specific measures of specific problems in specific omega zones (geographic locations) and among specific communities. This is where mission comes in: identifying places where a blessing is needed, and how that blessing could feasibly tie in to a broader view of making a community more resilient in the long run.

And if your mind just thought of that old proverb about feeding a man fish or teaching him fishing, then you’re thinking is going in the same direction. What thoughts are you having now? Comments? ideas? critiques? You can comment below, or on this article hosted in Friendfeed.

Here’s the verse:

God blessed them.
God said unto them,
Be fruitful,
   multiply,
   replenish the earth,
   subdue it.
Have dominion
   over the fish of the sea,
   over the fowl of the air,
   over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

There are several keywords in this passage that are critical, and to understand them fully we ought to return to the original text. These keywords, I feel, are: blessed, fruitful, multiply, replenish, subdue, and dominion. Each of these words has the chance to be misunderstood, mistranslated, and even misinterpreted.

First, a little background on this story. It’s important to consider who the original audience was. It is interesting to me that in Genesis, one starts with very little detail, and gets more detailed as one progresses further in time. Tradition ascribes the book of Genesis to Moses. I think it is likely that Genesis is a collection of oral stories that were passed on from generation to generation particularly during the time of captivity in Egypt. Moses, I think, was inspired to gather these stories together in order to explain to the Hebrews who they were, where they came from, and who God was and why He was interested in them. This Command of God, then, was important as it showed the Hebrews–and us!–the original intent of God for mankind in the world.

Blessed. “God blessed them.” The Hebrew word is barak, and notably, it is used in the imperfect tense. This means that the word describes the process, not a single absolute event, and it was not complete. This particular word is used 289 times in the Old Testament. This word is very interesting in that we use it both in the sense of blessing God (to “bend the knee”, with implications of praise, adoration and worship) as well as in the sense of invoking a divine blessing on something (to cause to prosper). A blessing is, I think in a sense, always a divine transaction; when we bless someone, we are passing on something we have received from God.

Fruitful. The Hebrew word is parah, used in the imperative sense. It simply means to bear fruit: which in the human context would mean children. One thought is to contrast this imperative with the situation Israel found itself in under Pharaoh, who was intentionally limiting the growth of the Israelites and was afraid of them because of their numbers. For us today, it is clear that children are a blessing from the Lord.

Multiply. The Hebrew word is rabah, also used in the imperative sense. It means that we are not just to have children, but that those who are blessed of God should become numerous and “many.” Another way of looking at it is that those who are blessed of God should become “more.” The blessing of God should not just be sustained, but should grow.

Replenish. I actually think this word is probably translated wrong in the AV. The original Hebrew word is male’. It uses the imperative aspect of the Qal stem. “Replenish” is not a very good word here. A better word is “fill.” But a more correct way might be “fill to fullness,” “fill to completion,” “accomplish” or even “consecrate.” Male’ carries with it the idea not just of “full” in terms of numbers, but also “full” in terms of destiny or purpose. Thus we “replenish” but we also “fill the bottle” (its purpose), her “days to be delivered were male’  and there were twins in her womb.” Jacob told Laban “my days are male; give me my wife.” Moses was to “anoint Aaron and male him [consecrate].” Moses said “male yourselves [fill-hand = consecrate] today to the lord.” So you can see that it’s not just about filling the land up with people. It’s about fulfilling a purpose and a destiny within the land. It is about consecration and holiness and completion.

Subdue. This is another difficult word. The original Hebrew was kabash, and it is also used in the imperative sense. Its meaning is literally to subdue, to bring into subjection, or to bring into bondage. It is used only 15 times in the Old Testament. To me it carries the idea of taming the wild, of bringing what is dangerous under control. The Creation story tells us God put man into a Garden, but outside this Garden it doesn’t tell us what the rest of the world was like.  Another interesting meaning of kabash is to “tread the ground”; this remind us of the promise that “everywhere the sole of your foot touches…” Clearly those hearing this command understood that the people of God were to spread worldwide and bring the whole of the Earth under Godly control.

Dominion. From the Hebrew word radah, used in the imperative tense, this word is better translated as “rule” “have rulership over.” It is used 27 times in the Old Testament. It also carries the connotation of having possession. 

So here is the blessing: parah! rabah! male! kabash! radah! Or: bear fruit, grow in numbers, fulfill the destiny of the land, tame it, rule over it. Then, tellingly, the next story is about man being placed in a garden which he was to tend. He could eat of anything (except the Tree) but one understands he was to tend and care for the garden so that it would produce fruit for him to eat.

What might have happened if mankind had not fallen? Might not he have spread out from the garden, probably, until he filled the earth. Along the way he would have tamed the wild places and brought them under control, tending them to produced fruit in order to fulfill the destiny of the land. And he would have consecrated the land through worship - through the blessing of walking with God in the cool of the evening.

And the most interesting thing is that this mandate - to spread, to fulfill the purposes of God, to tame the wild, to rule over our possession - was never revoked (in fact it was renewed nearly word for word after the flood).

So here’s a question that you can answer in the comments: what does it mean to you to fulfill the land? if ‘male’ the hand’ means to consecrate a man, what does “male’ the eretz” (fill the land) mean? And what does it mean to rule over one’s possessions, if one is a follower of Christ? How does this mandate reflect the Great Commission and the Great Commandment?

The Importance of Intercession for the Peoples in this World

Without prayer nothing will happen.

We have to pray, we have to intercede for the UPGs as never before.

The Biblical Basis for Intercession

The Apostle Paul has visited many places and evangelized the people there, but if he could not go to a certain place, he was sure that through intercession he was able to influence the people, he had never met, so that they also understand the secret in Christ, Colossians 2:1-3, I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. With other words we can say, that the Apostle Paul evangelized the people through intercession. With his words I am struggling for you … for all who have not met me personally, he has portrayed how he deeply involved himself in intercession. In the same way as he strove to evangelize the people straight away (see Colossians 1:29), he is also does in intercession. He also asks to be prayed for by the Christians who do not know him (Colossians 4:3; Romans 15:30-33). It is difficult to pray for persons we do not know, but this is necessary if we will see a progress of the Gospel into areas, which have not yet been touched. We will see many peoples and regions are opening themselves for the Gospel, if we, like the Apostle Paul, will major in our prayers for the situation in the nations, asking for new cross cultural workers (Matthew 9:36-38), and for the unreached peoples around the world, who do not know Jesus (see also Philippians 4:6).

The Prayer of the Prophet Isaiah

From the prophet Isaiah, we as Christians, can learn how we can wrestle for nations and the peoples without the Gospel. In chapter 64:1-12 is written how the prophet Isaiah wrestles for the nation of Israel which has left the correct and right road. Every prayer warrior in fact has to read this chapter repeatedly to get motivated and inspired for intercession, which our LORD likes to see in the life of his followers. In verse 7 Isaiah cries to God, “No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you“, in verse 10 he grieves about Zion, which has become a desert, Jerusalem a desolation. This means there was no service any more, where the Name of our LORD is worshiped. In his prayer he mentions all the sins of the nation, but in verse 12 he cries out, After all this, O LORD, will you hold yourself back? Will you keep silent and punish us beyond measure? The prophet Isaiah is sure the LORD will answer and act according to his power. In the next sentence, that is Isaiah 65:1, God answers, “I reveal myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my Name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I’”. Though the people of Israel did not call on the Name of their LORD, they even did not mind the existence of their god, but because a prayer warrior who dared to intercede for the people and was full of faith, God acted. The prophet Isaiah has give us an example, how we have to intercede for the peoples who do not yet believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. For Paul in his letter Romans 10:20 the promise of Isaiah 65:1 is an assurance that God will call the peoples who not yet believe in Christ. Therefore for the Apostle Paul it is clear, that the intercession of Isaiah was not just for the nation of Israel, but his intercession was for the peoples who are far from God.

Psalm 24:1, The earth is the LORD’s and the fulness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein; Joshua 1:3, Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, as I promised to Moses. Psalm 2:8, The earth is the LORD’s and the fulness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein. According to the words of the Bible we acknowledge, the whole world belongs to God (He is the creator), in faith we set our feet on the grounds of UPGs and unevangelized areas and we proclaim Jesus as the king of that place, we ask HIM to give us the nations and peoples, and HE will give us an answer of intercession. We do not believe and do not accept, that there is an area or people which belongs to Setan, this is a lie, we proclaim HIM as the KING.

A felt need teaches people to pray.

We have to implant and to teach the Christians about the spiritual needs of the UPGs. The facts of the desperate needs and pain of the members of the UPGs has to become internalised by the intercessor, has to become a part of his life. With other words with his emotions he feels more than sorry about their lostness. There has to be ongoing prayer, Paul has prayed without ceasing, he has always prayed, he was consistent in prayer. The intercessors have to obedient and faithful to the teaching of the Bible, and then he will get the divine passion for the salvation of the lost ones, in the end he cannot stop to pray for a certain people group, even over years. Passion for Christ is very important for a Christian to become fruitful intercessor.

Mobilisation For Intercession:

Facts are the fingers of God. Facts about the situation of the UPGs will become the fuel to keep the sacred fire, by God’s spirit, burning in the heart of the Christians.

To get across the facts to the Christians, there is the need for books, videos, power point presentation, flyers, web-pages at INTERNET with information about each of the UPGs around the world. The churches and their members need the facts to act, without facts there will be no response. After they have studied the facts they can choose one or more peoples and commit themselves to intercede for them, even adopt them, to take care for them, as much as any parent cares for their child. This commitment is not for a short time, but until a church is planted in this specific people group. For this special cards, in many languages, have to be prepared, then the Christians can sign them as a document to commit themselves to the ministry of intercession. A centre in the country and/or region has to be ready to feed prayer points to these committed intercessors. It is important to adopt one or some UPGs, because no one can pray for all the UPGs, so there has be a selection by the intercessors and the churches.

For this there is a need for prayer flyers, cards, and brochures, videos, web-site at INTERNET, to have pictures of the peoples and maps of the specific location, which helps the intercessors to pray to the point, that people pray strategically and hit the target. In order that the Christians understand, how to pray for the UPGs and their needs, there is a need for teaching and special seminars for intercessor.

Special prayer initiatives with a special focus once or twice the year keeps the fire burning and new intercessors will be recruited. Certain churches can establish a prayer chain for their adopted peoples, where the members takes turns to pray and intercede for these peoples. For example to organise special days of prayer, or even weeks with continuous prayer chains for 24 hours.

Special services, congresses, and retreats are necessary to rekindle the fire of intercession and in the same time to enlarge the numbers of intercessors.

To keep the fire burning and to provide fuel for the intercessors we should have national, regional, and international prayer networks in close connection with the UPG-network. Their task is to inspire, to mobilise, to spread the vision, to teach and to provide resources, beside of this an exchange of ideas and helping one and another.

To emphasise the deep concern of the intercessor about the needs of the UPGs, there is a desire to fast and pray. This helps to break down strongholds of darkness.

From the biblical viewpoint you can pray from any place for the distance peoples. But there are two advantages to travel to a place of an UPG and pray there, which is usually called: Prayer walking or prayer on site. If we see the needs of the UPGs with our own eyes this will tell us more than many other reports we have read. Through this our intercession will really hit the point. Secondly, if we are travelling doing a prayer walk we can concentrate on prayer and through this we will use much more time for intercession, because at home there are many distractions. Actually this prinsip of prayer walking can be applied in the daily life. During travelling to the office or to the shop in your heart you can pray for an UPG, or there is a lot of work, where you can in the same time pray and lay the Name of Christ on the members of UPGs.

There is a special blessing in united prayer. The goal is, that special prayer fellowships for the UPGs will spring up every where, who meet weekly or monthly and the members pray together specially for the UPGs. These prayer fellowship will become an inspiration for the participants, also a place, where new prayer items can be shared.

How to lead prayer fellowships for the UPGs.

You need a leader with a vision and can impart the vision!

To have a plan to invite the participants through letters, flyers, phone calls, e-mail, posters etc., in order the participants are reminded. There are always excuses not to attend a prayer fellowship, so there is a need for an ongoing challenge.

You need a group of Christians, who are committed to see the UPGs or their adopted peoples been evangelized.

This prayer fellowship can be a part of a church, a house prayer meeting, part of the youth ministry, children’s ministry, student ministry etc.

It is very helpful, that every member has the prayer points at hand, this saves time for explanation and there more for intercession.

A prayer fellowship is for intercession, using the time for intercession and not for preaching and singing, in order to hit the target.

If the prayer fellowship is not intentional in planing time, place and goal, it will never happen.

The intercessors, who have a burden, initiate prayer for the UPGs in the other existing prayer fellowships by sharing prayer needs. There are many prayer movements and regular prayer fellowships, these people usually do not know about the spiritual needs of the UPGs. They can also try to channel prayer points to be used in church services, youth meetings, Sunday schools, church bulletins, Christian radio program, etc.

General prayer points:

Concrete prayer for workers on the front lines.

Pray for special protections for the workers and that they have creative ideas to present Gospel.

Pray that the workers are strong in faith and can endure the hardship of the front line.

Recruitment of new workers.

That the UPGs get an opportunity to hear and to listen to the Gospel in their language, contextulized in their culture. Pray for genuine born again.

That they have an open heart to receive and to understand the Gospel.

That the Lord intervenes with dreams, visions, healing.

Pray for resources, facilities, and equipment.

Pray for material in the local languages in print, audio, and visual.

For the new believers and their growing walking with Jesus in real relationship with him

Circulation of prayer news:

In one way there should a wide circulation of prayer news, because through this the ministry on the front lines will really be backed up, but there is the problem of security. Most UPGs live in sensitive areas. But many general prayer points can be shared with out security risks:

Monthly or weekly prayer letters in print or via e-mail.

Some prayer initiatives have daily prayer points via e-mail

There are prayer points on web-sites

If there is a secure e-mail network more detailed and personal prayer points can be shared.

To circulate pictures of the work or the people will help the intercessors.

To have prayer cards about the workers.

The promises of God for the Unreached Peoples

Because of the Grace of God He leaves mankind not in their sins under HIS judgement, but HE has sent HIS Son. HE has taught the Word of God, but more than that HE gave HIS live, in order to become a substitute for mankind (Romans 3:24-26). Our LORD has to set up rightness, HE cannot receive mankind in heaven with all their sins, if HE did, heaven would be a sinful place as the earth is. So it is necessary that man is to be cleansed, and this is happening through the blood of Christ. (Romans 3:22.25). In Heaven we will find only people who are sanctified (Hebrew 12:14; Matthew 5:8).

The Bible is full of promises that the peoples in this world will be saved. When Ishmael together with his mother Hagar had to leave the home of Abraham they got lost in the wilderness, he cried out, and his cries were heard by the LORD (Genesis 21:17) and he received water of life. As Ishmael had cried to the Lord for help also his offspring can cry to God. The name Ishmael means: “The LORD listen”! We are not surprised that the sons of Ishmael, Kedar and Nebaioth, will bring offering at the big heavenly Service of the last days. Isaiah 60:7, All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall come up with acceptance on my altar, and I will glorify my glorious house. From this Word of God we see Ishmael and his offspring are not excluded from the Kingdom for eternity, but through his offspring, who turn back to Christ, he will take part at this wonderful and great Service. We see the offspring of Ishmael bring the means, which are needed for the OT worship. So they do a vital contribution. In Isaiah 60 we see many peoples around the world will gather in this wonderful Service of Praising the Living God.

To Israel - the first bearer of the promises to Abraham - was given a clear task, to become a blessing for the nations (Genesis 26,4), this meant to present the Gospel to the nations. There is no other way to become a blessing than to present the Gospel to others. They have failed in their task, but in the OT many times the challenge to evangelize the peoples were repeated.

Let us hear more about the Great Commission in the OT:

Psalm 9,11, Sing praises to the Lord, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.

Psalm 96,3, Declare his glory among the nations, his marvellous deeds among all peoples.

Psalm 105,1.2, Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him, tell of all his wonderful acts.

Isaiah 12,4.5, Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.

Isaiah 34,1, Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it!

Isaiah 66,19, I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations - To Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians, to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations.

Any student of the Bible can easily add many more similar verses. The message is clear, the Gospel has to be preached the nations, in order that they become people who will worship and glorify the great name of our Lord.

Despite that the people of Israel failed to present the Gospel to the peoples in their world, the prophet Isaiah saw the fulfilment of these Scriptures and prophecies:

Isaiah 49,6, It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.

Isaiah 52,15, So will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.

Isaiah 60,3.7, Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

The prophets of the OT saw in faith the fulfilment of the promises God has given to the nations, to all peoples, which are made by God, will come and worship HIM. Also the Apostle John was able to see this fulfilment in his visions, Revelation 7,9, After this I look and there before I was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. There were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. This will happen, because of this heaven can sing (Revelation 5,9.10), You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.

Jesus, too, was able to see the fulfilment of the promises of the OT, when he spoke in Matthew 24,14, And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

There is everlasting fruit through intercession

Many people do not know and the media have never reported on, that many things happen in this world, which are an intervention of our LORD after faithful Christians have prayed. For example: The falling down of the communist governments in Eastern Europe, now exist living churches in Albania and Mongolia, there are Christians now in the Maldives.

From West China to the state of Turkey live more than 30 people groups of the Turkic cluster, they all have a similar culture and language. From since ancient times this entire area is named “Silk Road”. 15 year ago among all these peoples in this region there was no church, often even not a single Christian. Now all these peoples have at least one church, among the Kazakh, Kyrghyz and Uzbek peoples thousands have become Christians. Why? Because faithful Christians have prayed in faith for many years.

The Arab prayer movement has started to pray through the Arab countries. Now has happened a miracle, the film “Passion of the Christ” went through most cinemas of the Arab speaking countries, other have seen it through DVD. Christ has become a point of discussion between them, also Christians were sought to get more information. There are many reports about Arabs turning to Christ because they have seen dreams and visions which lead them to Christ. This is an answer of prayer according to Isaiah 64 and 65:1.

Also in other areas in this world we have seen progress in the evangelization under UPGs. Unreached peoples who formerly did not have any Christians in their midst, now there is at least a small Christian group, because there is a prayer movement and an outreach team bringing the Gospel to them. But despite of this progress, there are still thousands of peoples, who are waiting for the Gospel.

Our Challenge

In Proverbs 31:8.9 we are challenged, Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. The UPGs are destitute, they do not know about their right, that they can have new life in Christ. These peoples are mute spiritually, they do not know the name of Jesus, the consequence is, that they cannot call on to Him for eternal salvation. This is the reason, that we have through intercession to open our mouth for them. We are certain all faithful prayer warriors will see the fulfilment of Isaiah 55:5, Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you. The promise in Psalm 66:20, Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer, encourages us not to become bored in intercession. Praise the LORD, He is ready to listen to us. If we pray, even cry to the LORD according to His will; He will not refuse our request, He will start to do something. Our LORD intervenes directly, so that peoples will become open to hear the Gospel and the evangelists can explain the Gospel to them. Do mention the names of the unreached peoples before God and pray for them, as Isaiah has prayed in his chapter 64! We are certain, this kind of prayer is not in vain, but rather will give much everlasting fruit. Through world wide intercession we will become a part of God’s service all over the world, although we ourselves were never able to go over there. Let’s go forward with this divine duty! ]]> http://www.momentum-mag.org/2008/11/999/feed http://www.momentum-mag.org/2008/11/davids-prayer-in-times-of-distress-not-depressed http://www.momentum-mag.org/2008/11/davids-prayer-in-times-of-distress-not-depressed#comments Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:00:34 +0000 Justin Long http://www.momentum-mag.org/?p=996 A Psalm of David, when he pretended to be insame before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.

1 I will extol the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul will boast in the LORD: the afflicted shall hear and rejoice.
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radian: and their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the LORD encamps around about them that fear him, and delivers them.

(Psalm 34:1-7)

“In Times of Distress not Depressed” is a bold and visionary statement, but it is not really new.

Let us study the situation of David in Psalm 34,1-7! If he stays on in the land of the enemy, very soon their soldiers will have proven that he really is the general of the army of Israel. If he goes back his home country, Saul was waiting there for him. For the time being he escaped to the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22,1), but how long he could be save there? Under this stressing circumstances David was singing Psalm 34. David can become our teacher, when we are living in an unsure situation and not really knowing, what is going to happen the next days. HE is the Lord all days, this is not depending on good or bad days.

Verse 1: David is praising his Lord all the time, this is not depending on good or bad days. His mouth is filled with praise, there is no room for complaints, anxiety, frustrations, lamentation, depression, and despair, but he will extol the Lord. Why is he doing this? In Psalm 56,12 he explains, why he is still praising the Lord in difficult circumstances, I am under vows to you, O God; I will present my thank offerings to you. For you have delivered me from death. In a time of delivering from death, he has made a vow to bring thank offerings to the Lord for ever and ever, he has made a vow to bring thank offerings to the Lord (maybe during his time as shepheard in the dessert, when he encountered lions and bears).

Note the small word “will” in vers 1 of Psalm 34. He is not in the mood of thanksgiving, but he says, “I will“, similar expression we find in Psalm 52,9. (three times); Psalm 54,6; 56,12; 57,9 (two times); Psalm 59,16 (two times). At this moment he made a definite decision to give praise to the Lord in the cave of Adullam and he will not complain and lament about his difficult situation. Compare this with Psalms as Psalm 103, where he is in the mood of rejoicing, there he does not use the word “will”.

Verse 2: David is not only concerned about himself, but he is even more concerned about other people. He sees around him many who are afflicted, down-trodden, depressed, and frustrated people. He is boasting in the Lord and about HIS great wonders, not for himself, but that these others will hear it and their despair will be changed into hope and joy. At the cave is a crowd of people with all kinds of grievances gathered, an army of frustrated people, people in distress, but David is boosting the faithfulness of God, in order that they, too, will rejoice.

Vers 3: David invites the people without hope, people without a future. There was certainly a tremendous choir of complaints and distress, but David is boasting the faithfulness of God, in order that they, too, will rejoice and put their trust in HIM. David is himself in deep trouble, but he sees a ministry to these people and he is ready for this ministry.

Verse 3: David invites the people around him to a thanksgiving Service. He does not want to be alone, but he wants to glorify God together with others and to testify about his wonderful experiences with His God, the Almighty. Certainly the cave has echoed a rejoicing people in the Lord. This cave has become a great hall of God.

Vers 4: He tells them about his experiences in Gath, God has helped him from the hands of his enemies and it is his believe, that God also in the future will deliver him from the hands of all foes.

Verse 5: He explains to them, mankind has to look to the God, cry unto the Lord, trust the Living God in His promises, this kind of faith will lighten up their face, it will become radiant, it will look quite different than of people, who are full of fear and despair.

Verse 6/7: The man in trouble can cry unto God and can see for him a promise, God will not fail, the Lord will do everything to fulfil this promise. David was called by God to become the next king of Israel. This was for him a promise, God will not fail, the Lord will do everything to fulfil this promise. David had to keep this promise, had to look to the Lord, to trust Him and extols Him for His never failing plans. David is for us and for our situation a wonderful example. He had a lot of reasons to be fearful, to run away, to turn from God, be depressed, frustrated and full of complaints. He could have told the Lord, if you had not chosen me to become king of Israel, I would be still a shepherd, would not be in this kind of troubles. But we see nothing like this in his live. Some times workers think in their heart, ”If the Lord had not chosen us to become workers for the UPGs, we would not have this kind of problems of uncertainties.” But we have to regard it as a privilege (Do not forget 1 Peter 4,12-14!), HE has called us, he will help us to establish our goals, which are HIS goals. Deuteronomy 31,6, Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your god goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Psalm 27,1.2, The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. The Angel of Lord (Psalm 34,7), that is Jesus, will encamp him, will build a wall around him, no one can destroy this wall, because this fence is the Lord himself. We do not need overcautious, but let us become bold in the name of our Living God. Let us read some promises from His Word.

Psalm 46,1, God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Psalm 27,3, Though an army be siege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.

Isaiah 41,10.13, So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.

These are strong words, we cannot ignore them, we have to take them. Let us not become silent believers as in John 12,42.43, Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. If this becomes the way of our lives, we have failed. Let us take David as our teacher in a time of suffering, when we piety. Think about the destroyed churches in many countries. There is no need for dismay and anxiety. After David heard that all priests were killed and the usual worship in the house of God had ceased, he can say in Psalm 52,8, But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. The olive tree in the house of God stands for the oil for the lamps in the house of God, which were lightened every day by the priests, this light represent the presence of God in the midst of HIS people. The priests were gone, there were no light any more in the house of God, but David in faith can actually say, “I am the light of God! As long I am here, the presence of God is in our midst!” This is a tremendous word of faith, but because David was this man of faith, he was the man according the will of God and he could be used by God. In times of distress we have to bring our God a thank offering.

Psalms 44:8, In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever.

Hebrews 13:15, By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Maybe we are not in the mood to praise the Lord, but let us see as a task the Lord has given us, this will lift us up from the bottom pit and we are again near to our Lord.

David was not only concerned about himself, but he was concerned about the many people around him, who were frustrated and lived without hope for the future. We are surrounded by many people, who are bound in all kinds of spirit worship, but they have no freedom in Christ. God has called us to take care of them and bring them the message of hope and life. If we think about the needs of others, our own needs become much smaller, actually the ministry to other people helps us to overcome our own problems, even forget the difficult circumstances. Let us remembering Paul’s word in 2 Corinthians 4,17, For our light and momentary trouble. Let us always become people of God, who in fearful situations are ready to look unto the Lord and believing in HIM, HE is in control, He will build HIS church under all peoples in this world. No one is going to stop HIM to fulfil HIS promises for the peoples in the many countries around the globe.

David was not only concerned about himself, but he was even more concerned about the well being of the many people around him. David had to flee, because Saul wanted to kill him. So he went to the country of their enemies, to Gath, in the hope to find refuge there, but the soldiers there seized him (Psalm 56 heading), “This is the King of Israel, he has slaughtered ten thousands of our fellow soldiers!” (1 Samuel 21,10.15). What to do? He cried to the Lord, and he was delivered from his foes (verse 4), God gave him the strength to play a madman, but still there was the question in the air, where to go, to stay in the land of the enemy, very soon the soldiers there will have proven that he really the general of the army of Israel, to go back his home country, Saul was waiting there for him. He escaped to the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22,1), but how long he could be save there? Under this stressing circumstances David was singing! The word in 2 Corinthians 4,17, For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Let us always become people of God, who in fearful situations are ready to look unto the Lord and believing in HIM, HE is in control, He will build HIS church under all peoples in the whole world. No one is going to stop HIM to fulfil HIS promises for the peoples in all countries. Let us move in faith to see the peoples in this world praising and glorifying the Only Living God!

because this statement has its deep roots in the history of WEC. Actually the phrase “The Remaining Unevangelised Peoples (RUP)” was coined by our founder C.T. Studd. (C.T. Studd has not used the unreached peoples, but unevangelized peoples). We as a mission are not following a modern trend. C.T. Studd went out to the dark parts of Central Africa. I am very happy and also praising the Lord that we got finally to this vision statement. We are wholeheartly behind this. This evening I am not talking about the practical outworking of this statement.

The prayer that God answers is a fervent prayer. When something is fervent, it is hot and earnest. It is desperate. It is not the type of cold routine prayer that is noticed everyday in the church. It is not a prayer that is rehearsed and that has dignity. There is something about this prayer that is heart rending. Fervency is like when you are making a request that will determine your life or your death. Fervency is the heat that propels prayer. Fervency is like the fuel that makes prayer to burn.

Many of our prayers are not answered because they are cold and lukewarm. They are professional and do not come from the depths of the heart. They are simply the lips saying words that do not move God. God is moved by a heart that is aflame. God is moved by passion and fervency.

God is not moved by long Pharisaical prayers. God is not moved by “gentle man” prayers. They are superficial and at best poetic. God is moved by an all consuming plea for intervention. God is moved by cries that come from deep within the heart. Yes God is moved by his children who cry to him day and night.

How is fervency manifested?

There are many signs or symptoms of fervency. I list them here not so that they will be faked and manifested. I mention them so that we shall not be ashamed of them. What is important is the heart. Some of the signs are:

• Crying and weeping
• Shouting
• Groaning
• Aggressive or violent movements

There are a few examples of fervency in the scripture.

Hanna: 1 Sam 1:9-15

“So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD”. (1 Sam 1:9-15)

Hannah had a wonderful husband but she had no children. Her husband, Elkanah had another wife Peninnah, who had children. Peninnah was always laughing at Hannah. Hannah had prayed for many years to have a son but nothing seemed to be happening. It was their custom to go to Shiloh every year to pray and to offer sacrifice to God. Hannah decided that this year was going to be different. In Shiloh, while others were rejoicing and drinking, she stayed back at the temple crying and praying to God. The Bibles records this of her: And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. This is fervent prayer. It was no ordinary routine prayer. It was a prayer that came from the very depths of her being. Was that year going to be like every other year? No it wasn’t. God heard her prayer. Samuel was the answer to her prayers. That is the result of fervency.

Many of your Samuels have been withheld because you have not prayed fervently. Many of you are being taunted by Peninnahs because your life is fruitless. People around you may be rejoicing, eating and drinking. Pray the prayer of Hannah with the fervency that Hannah had and you will get Hannah’s result. Your Samuel will come forth and your shame shall be removed. You have not for you ask not.

Jesus: Luke 22:44

“And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:44

We have read of many passages where we are told that Jesus prayed. It was his custom to spend long protracted times in prayer. His ministry on earth was coming to an end. He went with his disciples into the garden of Gethsemane to pray. They fall asleep. He couldn’t sleep. We find him praying. After one hour, he comes and finds his disciples sleeping. He asks them to pray. But they couldn’t. Now Jesus returns and continues to pray. He was strengthened by an angel. Now the Bible says that he prayed to such an extent that the sweat coming from him was as it were great drops of blood. The bible clearly characterized his prayer:

• He was in agony.
• He prayed more earnestly.
• He sweated blood.

I do not think that Jesus was just there in a lukewarm and calm state begging God for help. He wouldn’t have sweated. Now in the Middle East, at this time (early hours of the morning), it is usually very cold. It takes physical exertion or activity for any sweat to come out at all. Yet he sweated blood.

What I believe happened (though our religious nature may not accept this), was that Jesus in fact did physically struggle in prayer. He agonized in prayer. He groaned in prayer. He prayed very earnestly. He wrestled in prayer. I call this Gethsemane prayer. Oh what a consuming passion and yet painful struggle it was. Until he was bathed with the grace and peace of God knowing he will overcome. This is prayer.

I know we don’t see much of that prayer today . But this is the type of prayer we are called to pray. We are called to wrestle in prayer.

Paul talks about this prayer in Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

When we read the history of revival, we read about men who prayed such prayer.

• John Hyde so travailed in prayer, his heart moved its position from the left to the right part of the chest.
• John Knox prayed “Give me Scotland or I die”
• David Brainard was so consumed with prayer that he often spent hours kneeling in the snow crying out to God to save the souls of men.
• Evan Roberts was known to spend several hours groaning and when he comes out of his prayer closet, his face was aglow with heavenly peace.

We cannot afford to pray lukewarm and cold prayers anymore. May we arise and take hold of our God. Shall God not avenge his children who cry to Him and night? When was the last time you cried in prayer? When was the last time you wept that God will intervene? When was the last time you said “ Lord give me ………. Or I die” and really meant it? The prayer that God answers is a fervent and earnest prayer.

“Prayers must be red hot. It is fervent prayer that is effectual and that availeth. Coldness of spirit hinders praying; prayer cannot live in wintry atmosphere. Chilly surroundings freeze out petitioning; and dry up the springs of supplication. It takes fire to make prayers go.” E.M. Bounds

John Godson is the intercessory director of Cape Town 2010, the third Lausanne congress. He is a native of Nigeria but has been living and serving as a missionary in Poland since 1993. He is also a university lecturer and serves as an elected city councilor in the second largest city of Poland (Lodz). Together with his wife, Aneta, and 4 children, they make their home in Central Poland.

Perseverance is holding on and never giving up even in the face of opposition and apparent failure. Perseverance is a mark of faith.

The above scripture says that Jesus told his disciples a parable to the effect that men should pray always and not to give up. Jesus told them the story of a widow who asked a judge for justice. The judge refused. The woman did not give up but continually repeated her plea until the judge hearkens to her plea. And the Bible is makes us understand that Jesus wants us to be likewise in our prayers.

What are some of the attributes of perseverance? It is:

• Focused: it is concentrated on the object of prayer.
• Incessant: it continually repeats and is not rebuffed by opposition or failure.
• Systematic: it is methodical.
• Unyielding: It is never gives up.
• Patient: It waits for the answer.

The Bible is full of stories of men and women who persevered in prayer and God’s response to their prayer. My favorite example is Jacob.

Jacob: Gen 32:24-28

“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed”. (Gen 32:24-28)
This story shows us some qualities of perseverance.

It wrestled. It did not accept a “no” even though it came from an angel. He fought and he prevailed.
Even when wounded, he never gave up.
He was stubborn in his prayer.

Perseverance in prayer changed his name and his destiny. He prevailed with God and with man.

Bartimaeus: Mark 10:46-52

“And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way” (Mark 10:46-52)

Bartimaeus was a blind man. He seemed to be a famous and popular blind man because he was the only blind man mentioned by name in the healings of Jesus. The others were just called blind men. One day Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and the crowds that always followed him. When Bartimaeus heard it, he started calling out to Jesus for help. Note what happened next. The people around him began to charge him to keep quiet. But the Bible says he cried out even louder. That attracted the attention of Jesus. Jesus healed him.

Now the most important lesson from this passage is that Bartimaeus did not give up even when his friends and those around told him to keep quiet. Have you been in situations when dear friends, family and fellow Christians try to explain away your failure and disappointment so you would keep quiet? Have you been in a situation where people tried to make you accustomed to your blindness instead of calling out to Jesus with a louder voice for help? Bartimaeus could not be hushed. He could not be stopped. He cried out with a louder voice. “Thou Son of David, have mercy on me” and Jesus heard him. This is perseverance.

The Woman of Canaan: Matt 15:22-28

“And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.”
This is another moving story. This woman came to Jesus to ask him a favor. Jesus kept silent. She never stopped. His disciples interceded on her behalf so they can have peace. Jesus refused explaining he was sent to the lost sheep of Israel. She did not give up. She went o and cried out unto him and then Jesus responded and said it was not good for the food of the children to be given to dogs. She accepted that fact but added that crumbs from the table were meant for dogs. The test was over. Look at what Jesus said “O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt” What can we learn from this woman?

Sometimes our prayers can meet with silence but we should persevere. Even when we have a reason to be offended, let us not loose sight of the object of our prayers. Persevere.

Her prayer was answered.

The two friends: Luke 11:5-8

“And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.” (Luke 11:5-8)

This is another example of perseverance. A man went to his friend for help. But his friend refused to help because he was already in bed. But this man refused to go but continued to knock. Jesus said that if his friend will not answer him because of their friendship, he will answer him because of his importunity or perseverance.

Therefore friend, never give up. Ask, seek, knock and if necessary storm heaven. Your miracle is on the way. Hang on and never let go. You will be glad you did.

“He prays not at all, who does not press his plea. Cold prayers have no claim on heaven, and no hearing in the courts above. Fire is the life of prayer, and heaven is reached by flaming importunity rising in an ascending scale” E. M. Bounds

John Godson is the intercessory director of Cape Town 2010, the third Lausanne congress. He is a native of Nigeria but has been living and serving as a missionary in Poland since 1993. He is also a university lecturer and serves as an elected city councilor in the second largest city of Poland (Lodz). Together with his wife, Aneta, and 4 children, they make their home in Central Poland.

The World Evangelical Alliance just finished one of its General Assemblies, at which about 500 people attended (representatives of the 128 or so national alliances that make up the WEA). They came away with a number of resolutions as well as the launch of a leadership training institute to train evangelicals in countries for service.

The Ethne unreached peoples movement is hammering its website into good shape (sorry I couldn’t be of more help, guys!). A recent report for the WEA Mission Commission meeting outlines the progress being made in the network as a whole. They are preparing for the second Ethne convention, Ethne’09, to be held in Bogota, Colombia.

The International Orality Network has blogged about an interesting situation in Juiz de Fora, where thousands of poor people spend each day pushing carts through the city streets looking for garbage they can sell to recycling stations. Stephen Young wants to start a church “on the street” among them and is looking for anyone else who’s had experience doing something similar.

The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) held its annual event this month. The prayer requests page of their website has a great quick overview of the persecution situation in most of the restricted nations on Earth.

If you would like us to include your partnership news in our monthly roundup, be sure we’re on your newsletter list or know your RSS feed. Send an email to http://www.momentum-mag.org/2008/11/unleash-your-passion If you are going to start something—a swarm, a movement—then you have to start it. And the easiest way, to me, is to begin with a “swarm of one.” This seems in defiance of the definition, because a swarm by definition has to have more than one member. What I mean, however, is this: you must act as if you are already part of a swarm.