session of living men and through the medium of living men. Christ seeks men to be “members of his body,” while Satan “ enters” the hearts of men, so that each works out his purposes through the men who submit to him. It follows that men must go in person, as Jesus came to the world in person, to do the work made possi ble by prayer. 2. Because prayer based on God’s Word is the only weapon man can use to touch the invisible foe. We can reach a Chinaman by speaking face to face with him but we can strike the spiritual Prince of China only by way of the place “ above where Christ is” ever living to make intercession. An inspection of Ephesians 6 shows that the end of putting on the armor of God is prayer for all saints, but especially for Paul who represents his missionary successors. This armor is not for selfish protec tion but to enable us to “ stand,” and like Moses, Aaron and Hur, by supplication to give victory to those fighting Amalek. Jesus did not call upon the twelve legions of angels but upon His disciples, that they should watch with Him in prayer while He fought the invisible foe. In this He has shown the way for all who “ fight the fight of faith.” Even now it is by intercession that He continues the war. 3. Because the missionary on the field alone cannot do his work. When the intercessors’ hands fall, Amalek prevails on the mission field today. The enemy is strong. Jesus refused to bow down to Satan, but the heathen bow and worship; therefore, the blackness of darkness broods over those lands, a stifling, choking power of death. There a Christian is like a diver at the bottom of the sea. In Christian countries, prayer is continually offered for the pastor and for every detail of the work of the church; special meetings are held to pray for a revival. In open-air meetings, while one is speaking others are praying. Exactly in the same way one or two missionaries alone among thousands or millions need other persons to pray definitely while they work or speak. Only the need is more urgent, as the bottom of the sea is more dangerous than the air, just as there are more deaths “ on the firing line” than in the quiet of the home. The Body of Christ does not consist of each one of us individually but of all together, and if a missionary is left without sufficient aid in prayer, he suffers, limps, stumbles. Some have fallen away. He may succeed in fighting his way to the very presence of God and receive blessings unspeakable, but meanwhile the heathen perish. W h a t C a n B e D on e B y I ntercessory M issionaries ? 1. A host of intercessors can be speedily enlisted for this war. 2. Enough missionaries and money can be found to really accomplish our task. 3. Suitable men can be sent as missionaries, and the unsuitable can be prevented from making the mistake of going. Such mistakes have in the past cost many lives and thousands of dollars. They can be prevented by the Lord of the harvest only when He is asked to do so. Even Christ Himself prayed all night before He chose the first twelve missionaries. (It is a significant fact that there is no distinct command for man to send forth mis sionaries. That work was done by Christ Himself and then by His Spirit when He chose Paul and Barnabas. When they tried to choose fellow workers they quarreled over the choice. The command is to pray.)
4. Many urgent questions of general missionary policy can be solved only through much prayer. 5. Individual heathen can be prayed for by name and thus saved. 6. A native ministry can be raised up and main tained. 7. Revivals can continually spring up on the foreign fields. 8. Fresh fillings of the Holy Spirit can be given to overburdened missionaries. 9. The health and strength of missionaries can be maintained under the severe strain of their physical and social surroundings. 10. Lonely missionaries, those without many friends, can be cheered and helped until their usefulness is many times multiplied. Experience has repeatedly shown that the believing prayer of one humble intercessor at home can bring_about a revival on the foreign field and save thousands. The experience of one missionary was that, as far as man can see results, he was able to do more for the heathen toil ing as an intercessor in America than while he was among the heathen without intercessors pleading for him. How to Do t h e W ork of a n I ntercessory M issionary 1. Decide deliberately that this intercession is to be a regular binding duty. 2. Select fixed days, hours, times, and make them take precedence, as far as possible, over all other engage ments. 3. Begin humbly, letting experience enlarge and guide. 4. Wait on the Lord of the harvest for directions as to what part of the field you are to belong to. 5. Learn the names of all missionaries in your field and pray for them by name. 6. Do not pity the missionary or condole with him, but give him your sympathetic help. 7. Write to the missionaries you are praying for, asking pointedly what their difficulties and needs are. Tell them you do not want something bright and newsy, but something dark and discouraging, and that when they are worn out you want them to drop you a postal tell ing you, so that you can pray them strong again. 8. Pray for every need or condition that you can learn about. This article is only suggestive. 9. Form the habit of letting God impress upon you the things for which to pray. He will do it. 10. Not many words are needed, but much time must be spent in “ waiting” upon Him, the very silence calling for His will to be done. Silence enables one to draw very near to God. “We know not how to pray as we ought,” and must let “ the Spirit himself make inter cession.” 11. Study and practice the art of praying until you are expert in it. The Bible furnishes its laws and ex amples, which can be worked out by patient practice only, just like any other art. The author of this message, Alfred Ernest Street, went as a missionary to the Island of Hainan, off the coast of China, south of Canton, in 1892. He gave his life to that work both while on the field and when at home in America. He went to be with the Lord on January 10, 1922, at the age of sixty-one years, and was laid to rest in Bubbling Brook Cemetery, Shang hai, China, to await the sound of “ the last trump” (I Cor. 15:52).
Have you wondered how to pray f o r your missionaries? Here is a good suggestion.
A PR IL, 1964
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