Who is Praying?

For those who missed the IF Gathering this past weekend (a yearly woman’s discipleship conference), the climax of Friday evening was a conversation with an underground church leader in Iran. He shared first hand testimonies of the Lord Jesus Christ coming to Muslim people in dreams and visions.

The most profound testimony he shared was when he visited a mud hut, where a man was living with no satellite, internet, or electricity. The man shared with the leader that nightly a figure dressed in white comes and tells him to write things down. The leader asked to see his writings and read, “In the beginning was the word, and the word became flesh.” The man had the whole book of John written out!

It was faith building hearing the testimonies of Muslims coming to faith, making Iran one of the fastest areas of church growth in the world, all underground. This aligned with the Jesus described in the book, Gentle and Lowly - a savior who cannot help but move, act, seek, save... because it is who he is!

Yesterday I received a letter in the mail from an organization I respect very much, inviting believers to join in ‘30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World’ - a movement of believers “crying out to God to reveal Jesus Christ to the Muslim World.” And then the author of the letter had this phrase, “And it’s working!”

Now I may be splitting hairs, but the phrase troubled me, as if we need to get God moving. Those who have been reading these posts for some time are aware how serious I take it that we need to be a people of prayer. And I agree there is correlation in history between people praying and God moving. But scripture also shares that God has moved without our prayers:

"The LORD saw it, and it displeased him 
that there was no justice. 
He saw that there was no man, 
and wondered that there was no one to intercede; 
then his own arm brought him salvation, 
and his righteousness upheld him."  - Isaiah 59:15-16

In our praying, we are not waking up a complacent, disinterested God. We are trying to grab onto the tail of the one who’s eyes “run to an fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless.” (II Chron. 16:9) 

In salvation we became aware of a Father who has been “seeking such people to worship him.” (John 4:23) 

Yes, Jesus said: “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest," (Matt. 9:38), but he was already in the harvest working.

When we pray, we are not getting God to move. He is already moving, and calling us to join him in his work. This is the glory of prayer! This is the joy of intercession.

And when we come to pray, guess who we’ll see??? 

"Christ Jesus... the one who died... who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us." (Romans 8:34)

Jesus is actively leading the charge! This is what he does. This is what he is doing! Having risen from the dead, the author of Hebrews states unequivocally:

... he always lives to make intercession... (Hebrews 7:25)

And he invites us to join him. 

Brothers and sisters, may this truth catch us, rescue us, strengthen us, motivate us.

• When our faith is weak and we find ourselves saying, “help my unbelief,” he still acts. (Mark 9:24-25)
• When we are afraid, beginning to sink, and cry out, "Lord, save me,” Jesus immediately reaches out his hand and takes hold of us.  (Matthew 14:30-31)
• When we have nothing left, and are too weary to even pray... he is praying! (Hebrews 9:24)
• When we sin, and go our own way, we have one who hasn’t given up on us, “an advocate... Jesus Christ the righteous.” (I John 2:1) 

Just ask the Muslims in Iran to whom Jesus has appeared. 

And yes, I want to join the 30 Days of Praying for the Muslim World, because it’s obvious, Jesus is.