21 Days of Prayer - Day 18: Call upon the One who said, “Make disciples of all nations.”
Helpful Links & Resources
Opening Prayer
Spiritual Growth (from The Valley of Vision prayer book)
Matthew 28:16-20
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Notice
This is often called the Great Commission, and it is packed with meaning. The risen Christ first establishes his authority — he has every right to commission his disciples this way. Then he commissions his disciples to make disciples by proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. That’s the verb, or command, in the Commission. Making disciples involves going to all nations (ethne, or people groups), baptizing them when they begin to follow Jesus and teaching them the agenda of King Jesus (all he has commanded). The Commission ends with a fabulous promise: I will always be with you as you fulfill this Commission I have given you.
Think about it
The Great Commission initiated by Jesus Christ himself is still in effect. We have this same calling, to take the good news of Jesus Christ to all the ethnic and language “peoples” of our planet. It’s a full-orbed vision involving going and sending, telling, baptizing (immersing in water new converts to Christ as a public profession of their new faith) and teaching the King’s Agenda. Making disciples is our highest and grandest calling as the church. It fuels our passion as a movement to plant healthy, vibrant, reproducing churches in every people group on earth. Are you personally “on board” with this Commission? Are you doing your part?
Before you pray
We recommend “adopting” an unreached people group for your ongoing intercession. Do you know of one, through your church perhaps? If you don’t, ask a pastor or missions leader at your church and commit to regular prayer for that unique people group.
Calling upon God for help in reaching all the peoples of the earth
“What a grand vision you have, heavenly Father, for filling the earth with worshipers from every language and ethnic group. No people are left out; none is excluded. I commit myself to being part of your Great Commission force, Lord, for the fulfilling of the King’s Agenda to make disciples. Help me to live ‘on mission’ and to either go or send others. Bless my church’s efforts to fulfill our fair share of this Commission. In particular, I pray for the __________ people, that a church would be planted among them and many among them would embrace Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, amen.”
Pray the Psalms
Psalm 117: The Lord's Faithfulness Endures Forever
Group Prayer
Pray for the courage to reach out to someone to help you grow to be more like Jesus
Pray for one individual you can help grow to be more like Jesus
A Prayer attributed to St. Francis (from The Book of Common Prayer)
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
To read more of God’s word
Genesis 12:1-3, Isaiah 25, Psalm 117, Revelation 7:9-17
