Often people ask, “what can I do to stimulate an interest in missions in my church.” I wonder if the place to start is at the place of prayer, for if people are concerned enough to pray about missions, they will be concerned enough to do something. When I read these stirring experi ences from the book of Acts, my heart cries out to know more of the meaning " I Dare Not Idle Stand'' 1 dare not idle stand, White upon every hand The whitening fields proclaim the harvest near; A gleaner I would be Gathering, dear Lord, for Thee, Lest I with empty hand at last appear. I dare not idle stand. While on the shifting sand The ocean casts bright treasures at my feet; Beneath some shell's rough side The tinted pearl may hide, And I with precious gift my Lord may meet. I dare not idle stand, While over all the land. Poor, wandering souls need humble help like mine; Brighter than the brightest gem In monarch's diadem, Each soul a star in Jesus' crown may shine. I dare not idle stand, But at my Lord's command. Labor for Him throughout my life's short day; Evening will come at last. Day's labor all be passed, And rest eternal my brief toil repay. and reality of this kind of experience with the Lord. We know so little of the power of the New Testament Church today because we know so little, and practice so little, the simplicity and daring of their faith in God and the fulness of the Holy Spirit. I trust that these thoughts might stir your heart also. 19
Christians, and Spirit-filled Christians produce results in the work of God, for the Scripture says that through the ministry of a cleansed and praying church, believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. In Acts 12:5, we look in on another Church prayer meeting. James had been martyred and great persecution had broken out against the churches. Peter had been apprehended and im prisoned under heavy guard in order to please the Jewish religious leaders. Facing a new crisis, the reaction of the Church is again to pray. We read in verse five - that, “. . . prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” The verses which follow describe the miraculous deliver ance that resulted when the Church prayed. Nor are these situations limited to New Testament experiences. The annals of modem missionary history abound in examples of the miraculous deliverance of God in response to the prayers of God’s people. If in our Twentieth Century situation we fail and stumble at the seemingly impossi ble, it is because our faith is weak and inadequate, and our dedication is lack ing. Finally, let us- see the New Testa ment Church at prayer again in Acts, chapter 13:1-4. The church at Antioch had experienced a phenomenal growth under the able leadership of Paul, Barnabas, and others. “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabus and Saul for the work whereunto l have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.” The prayer life of the local church apparently has a very vital relation ship to the missionary emphasis of the church’s ministry.
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