Austin Gardner

Overzealous Evangelism Episode 4 from Andrew Pearson on Vimeo.

Now let us consider some of the ways that we can pray knowing them to be the will of God that will have a definite effect on the ministry of our missionary or pastor. Here Paul asks (begs) that his people get involved and to strive, or work, or agonize with him in prayer. He tells them exactly what they should pray for.

1. First Paul asks that the folks pray for his protection, “that he might be delivered from unbelievers.” Now we know that our war is not against flesh and blood but against Satan and his forces. Paul is going forth into areas totally dominated by Satanic forces. He realizes that he will be under attack. He literally begs his folks to pray that he be delivered, protected, rescued from these ungodly forces. How much your missionary and your pastor need this same prayer. Every day we watch as other “men of God” fall into sin. Oftentimes we are quick to criticize but slow to pray. When a man goes forth to war he is taking a chance. He is risking his life against a roaring lion that hates God and all that he stands for. Satan will be after him. If the devil can stop the man of God then the work of God will not go forward. He will go to any lengths to get the man of God to fail. He will do so through persecution, discouragement, sex sin, pride, money problems, and a thousand other ways that we have seen Satan destroy the effectiveness of many preachers. Will you pray for your missionary by name asking God to protect him and deliver him from Satan and the unbelievers? Paul asks pray for this same need in 2Thessalonians 3:2. There the bible says and that we may be delivered from unreason able and wicked men for all men have not faith.

Acts 28:24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

A basic truth is very well illustrated for us here in this verse. No matter who is preaching some will believe and others will not. That is not the question that we have to answer. The question we answer is will we share enough with them that they can make a decision.

I am afraid that we have allowed fear of failure to cause us not to talk at all. Even when Paul spoke not all would be saved, not all would believe. He still told the truth.

Will you work at sharing the truth with others. Some will believe, others will not. Your responsibility is the telling not the result of the telling.

Acts 27:11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

Sometimes it seems like people simply will not listen even though it is in their best interest. You are not the only one that they ignore. Here they ignored Paul.

What I find interesting is that he continues to have a good attitude and treat the people right even though they ignored him.

Too many of us get mad and want to take our ball and go home when we do not get our way. Paul didn’t do that.

How do you react when you are ignored? Do you continue to love and treat others correctly?

Overzealous Evangelist Episode 3 from Andrew Pearson on Vimeo.

Jason’s blog

Last night a massive 8.8 earthquake hit Chile. Although we are several hours from the epicenter, we still felt 8.0 level shaking for nearly 2 minutes. Three large buildings and several bridges near are church have collapsed. Many are injured and more than 120 have died so far.

Thankfully no one in our family was hurt! As far as we know, no one in our church was injured either.

Be praying that God will use this tragedy to bring many people to Him. As we drove to the church just a couple of hours ago, we passed dozens of people who were standing in the streets in a state of confusion and shock. Others have pitched tents in the parks because of structural damage to their homes. This afternoon we’re having a special prayer service at the church, and tomorrow we’re having 2 morning services and one afternoon service. Pray will us that many people will come to know the Lord through this difficult time.

We are still without electricity and internet in our home. Phone connections and cellphone coverage has been spotty throughout the morning. We’ll give you more updates during the next few days.

Contact Info

Email – Jason’s holt@biblicalmissions.com; Lori’s lori@biblicalmissions.com

International Telephone – 770-456-5614

How? That is the question. We have been told all of our lives that we should pray both for our pastor and missionaries. We want to pray for them but we just don’t know how. We have called their names one by one. We have said, “God bless the missionaries,” but we want to do more than that. This lesson has the intent and purpose of sharing with you how to Biblically pray for missionaries. Everything that you read here you can also apply to your pastor. This will be a blessing not only to the work of God around the world but also to your local church.

The Apostle Paul felt the need to have his folks pray for him. If Paul felt he needed people to pray for him how much more important would it be for each of us to enlist others to pray for us.

Brethren, pray for us. 1Thessalonians 5:25

Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf. 2Corinthians 1:11

As you can see from the above verse Paul was not asking lightly for prayer. He felt that the prayers of God’s people definitely “helped”. He felt that they became an actual part of his ministry. Your prayers do make a difference when you pray for your missionary or your pastor. If you will pray then we will be working “together” in the ministry.

Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. Isaiah 45:11

In this verse we see that God invites us to put him into motion. There is so much that God wants to do that He is not doing because we are not involved. He has not only invited us to pray but has commanded us to tell Him what to do. We can not actually tell God what to do if it is not already His will but if we will but look at it we will notice that God oftentimes limits Himself due to our lack of prayer and faith.

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. James 4:2

Why do we not have what we need? Why do we not have even what God wants us to have? I am convinced that the reason we so often are stumbling along in our lives and ministries is that we have failed to ask God!

And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 1John 3:22

Pray has to do with us doing what He wants us to do. We can’t expect God to just be a religious all powerful genie that we can command rather God is looking for some folks who what to obey Him, to do those things that are pleasing in His sight and then we will receive whatsoever we ask. That is a very powerful promise.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 1John 5:14-15

The reason that we will get whatsoever we ask is that we are obeying Him and doing what is pleasing in His sight. This causes us to ask what we know that He wants us to ask and what we know that He wants us to do. Our God wants us to be involved. He wants us to ask. Prayer is very important in our lives and ministries. We must get involved asking God to move and work in His vineyard.

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. Romans 15:30-33

I got up this morning to read the following on a fox news alert:

Massive 8.5 magnitude earthquake hits near Concepcion, Chile, shaking buildings and causing blackouts

I was immediately concerned for our missionaries, members of our church, Jason and Lori Holt. Then I noticed that Chris Gardner had posted this on his blog:

Please be praying for the Holt family. Chile just experienced an 8.8 earthquake. I just read on facebook that everyone is ok at the Holt household but they have to wait till they can see how much damage was done. Pray for the country of Chile during this time. The phone lines are down and there is no electricity. Keep everyone in your prayers during this time. We will let you know as soon as we know anything else.

Then I saw a post on facebook by Jason’s mom:

Barbara Howard Holt Jason just called me to tell me that there was a 8.5 Earthquake in Chile. He said it lasted for about 2 minutes and that he is feeling tremors. He has talked the Kenney’s and McBrayers and they are all okay. The phones are done but he has a cell phone he bought for emergencies and that is what he called me from.

Barbara Howard Holt Please pray for them. I will let you know as soon as I talk to him again. He will try to call me as soon as it gets light and he can see how much damage there is.

Here is a link to more information

Please pray for all the missionaries and the many believers there.

Thanks to my friend Josh Ewing here is a message in Indonesian on John 3:16.

Just click on the icon and listen: