Live on Mission (4 Daily Prayers)

“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)

Four Prayers to Live on Mission

Read Acts 8:4-38

Whatever

Fully committed followers of Jesus are available to do whatever the Lord desires.

Phillip was ready to do whatever the Lord asked of him. Serve food. Yes, Lord. Preach in Samaria. Yes, Lord. Leave the revival and go to the desert. Yes, Lord.

Moses didn’t part the Red Sea. He just raised his hands. Joshua didn’t knock down the walls of Jericho. He just led the people to walk around them. Peter didn’t suspend the laws of physics. He just stepped out of the boat.

God isn’t asking you to do the impossible. He’s asking you to trust and obey Him.

God is saying, “If you will do whatever I ask, I will do the impossible.”

You can’t end suffering, but you can remain with the one going through it.

You can’t heal the sick, but you can lay hands on them and pray.

You can’t save people, but you can tell them about the One who can.

Are you willing to do whatever the Lord asks of you?

Wherever

Fully committed followers of Jesus know that God is on the move, and they are ready to move with Him.

Until Pentecost, the presence of God was only known to dwell in the Temple (or before temple construction, the Tabernacle). When the Holy Spirit was poured out, and the power and presence of God went out to the ends of the earth, even areas previously thought to be unclean.

Philip left the comforts of Jerusalem to preach the Gospel in Samaria, the land of the despised. Then, at the urging of the Holy Spirit, he promptly left the revival to go to the desert.

Will you leave your comforts behind to follow Jesus wherever He desires? Are you willing to leave the comforts of a vibrant church or a familiar department to help plant a new church or step into a new role? Are you willing to step out of your current routines to establish something new? Are you willing to leave the familiarity of friends and family to follow Jesus wherever, even into the desert?

The desert could be near or far. It could be a new city, country, or just a new job or role. Even if it doesn’t make sense, even if it seems bleak and empty, God has someone for you meet. Wherever it is, are you ready and willing to move with God?

Whoever

Fully committed followers of Jesus are devoted to loving and serving anyone and everyone.

The Ethiopian eunuch was a foreigner. He was as foreign as one can be: different ethnicity, different economic class and vocation, different religion. Philip’s cultural and religious upbringing taught him to avoid people like that. But God understands your upbringing, and he wants to call you out into a deeper understanding of the world and people.

Even moving past any potential prejudice, Philip was just an average guy who served widows in the church. The eunuch served the queen of Ethiopia. Imagine walking up to his chariot on the road. It’s one thing to serve the lowly Samaritans, but now God was sending him to a man of power. However, Philip wasn’t intimidated or limited by insecurity. He boldly explained the scriptures and proclaimed the gospel of Jesus.

Note that the Eunuch was traveling back from Jerusalem, presumably after celebrating a Jewish festival (probably Passover or Pentecost), yet nobody explained the scriptures to him there. The city was full of religious people and experts in the scriptures, yet everyone overlooked him. I imagine that he was a bit disillusioned by his experience with God’s people in God’s city.

He went to Jerusalem be close to God, but he was rejected and unseen by God’s people. Then, on the long journey home, God sent Philip to meet him on the desert road. God saw Him. God sees everyone. Do you?

We tend to focus on people like us (i.e., similar culture, age, interests), but will you open your heart to whoever God puts in your path? Who are you overlooking? Is there someone you have been avoiding because you don’t know how to relate and minister to them?

Will you serve whoever God asks you to serve? Will you welcome whoever God sends to you? Will you make them feel wanted, not just welcomed?

Whenever

Fully committed followers of Jesus obey quickly and trust God’s timing.

Delayed obedience is not obedience. If Philip had delayed (perhaps to pray about it), he would have missed the eunuch. Don’t use prayer as an excuse for inaction.

You will never have all the information. You will never be 100% certain.

Stop asking why. Start asking why not.

Stop asking what if God doesn’t heal them (or insert some other situation). Start asking what if He does?

Stop expecting nothing to happen. Start expecting God to move, but we need to be willing to move with Him when He does.

Stop trying to fit God into the schedule. Following Jesus is about more than serving on Sunday and joining a Life Group. Whenever is rarely convenient. Give God your schedule.

Many of Jesus’ miracles began with an interruption. What if you started to view interruptions as divine appointments? How might that change how you view your day?

God Is Moving. Move With Him.

These prayers are genesis prayers, meaning that they are the start of something miraculous. And God is eager to answer them. These prayers present God with a blank canvas, so that He can paint into our lives whatever He desires.

Imagine if you started praying these prayers every day. Every time you step outside your home, pray, “Whatever. Wherever. Whoever. Whenever.”

Evangelism is not a program. It’s about missional living and being ready and willing to be used by God anytime, anywhere. Are you ready?

*Henry Varley: “Moody, the world has yet to see what God will do with a man fully consecrated to Him.” D.L. Moody: “By God’s help, I aim to be that man.”

(D.L. Moody was an uneducated, yet highly successful businessman who gave up everything to serve the Lord. He became one of the most successful evangelists in modern history as he aimed to answer that call, to see what God could do with a man fully committed to Jesus.).*