Prayer for the Nations

When man works, man works; When man prays, God works.

The ministry of the children of God is not doing, but praying, not strategizing, but prostrate before God seeking His will, not clever strategies for manipulating people and events but trusting in God who moves in the hearts of even His most implacable enemies. Through prayer Nebuchadnezzar, and today’s dictators, get converted, Manassah, and today’s persecutors, repent and kingdoms of Babylon and Iron Curtains are torn down. We do not engage in ministry and pray for God’s blessing on it, prayer IS the ministry from which all other ministries must flow.

Psalm 2 reveals the Father’s Great Commission to His Son and how the destiny of nations is tied in with their rejection of or submission to His Kingly Son. Look at the command and promises of
Ps 2:8.

'Ask of Me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron, And dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.'

Operation World, a wonderful Christian organization which gathers information on every country in the world, including percentage of Christians, economic and political background and ways to pray, is  

an excellent resource to use to help you and your children pray for the nations. You can also purchase the Operation World book which provides greater insight into each country and its prayer needs. 

The content of the Operation World  website give something of the needs and challenges of our needy, sin-sick, doomed world. The nations are there for the asking. God is calling you and me into the ministry of intercession for them. Through these prayers much will happen – above all we could ask or expect.

Daniel heard God’s voice in Daniel 7:27:

'The kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; Their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them. 

The cost is great, for these words were preceded in verse 21-22 by:

As I looked, this horn made war with the saints, and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came, and judgement was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints received the kingdom.'

The enemy will seek to frighten us and dangle allurements to distract us from the vision of a heavenly, eternal kingdom filled with people from every race, tribe, people and tongue. Yet Jesus offers us a share in His reign. We may look up to Him in agony at times, but we need to see our true position as looking down with Him exercising the authority bequeathed to us by Him in the Great Commission He has given to every Christian. 

May each of us become an intercessor with a world vision that prays Satan-defeating, kingdom-taking, people-reaching, captive-releasing, revival-giving, Christ-glorifying prayers.

Prayer not only changes people, situations and even the course of history, but also those who pray! 

It is dangerous for the enemy and also 'dangerous' for us. There is a price to pay to be a person who stands in the gap in prayer. That price may mean becoming an answer to our own prayers in giving time, finances and even going out as a witness in our Jerusalem (where we now live), our Judea (our own country), our Samaria (the other ethnic groups in our own country) or even to the ends of the earth. 

May each of us give our whole lives for this most noble of causes – to obey Jesus’ last command in making disciples of all nations and so ready the Church and the world for the grand climax of His glorious return!