Commissioning Prayer

Prayer

Back last fall we started having a high schooler attend our worship services and after a few conversations with Livia, it was clear that she wanted to worship Jesus and grow in her understanding of God’s Word and serve in a local church for the year that she was in Salem before going back to Brazil after the school year wrapped up. I had the chance to meet with Livia and after hearing her testimony and God’s call on her life, it was clear that she wanted to join this church and help out however she could in the time that God had her here. In January, she became an official member and in the months since she has been a tremendous helper, leader, teacher, and servant in many areas in our church. Today is Livia’s last Sunday with us and it follows another long week of serving Jesus at Camp Joy where Livia served as a youth counselor and taught Bible lesson for the kids and helped out wherever there was a need. Today is a bittersweet day as she gets ready to back home. We’re sad that she’s physically leaving us for the time being, but we’re excited for what God has in store for her as she returns to Brazil.

In praying about this day months ago, it was very clear to me that this is a day of celebration because in the life of this church there have not been too many missionaries commissioned to go as ambassadors of God’s Kingdom to go and make disciples of the nations - and this is what we have the opportunity to do today - to commission Livia to go back to Brazil as a missionary sent out by FBC Salem to go and make disciples and glorify Jesus Christ. This is something we see happen in the book of Acts in chapter 13 from the church of Antioch

Acts 13:2–3 CSB

2 As they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.

This morning, we’re going to gather around Livia as some of her friends and family are here. I’d like to invite anyone in the congregation to come and do the same and gather around her and lay their hands on her and pray for her as she prepares to go back to Brazil. Livia has been a wonderful influence on the children and youth of our church… but she’s also been an encouragement to me and countless others as she desires to let her light shine and to serve Jesus wherever He calls her to go - for this we’re thankful.

1. Pray that they would be confident in God’s Word (Acts 13:4–5).

Missionaries are sent not just to learn culture or do humanitarian relief but to confidently proclaim the Word of God.

2. Pray that they would be filled with God’s Spirit (Acts 13:6–9).

Believers already have the Holy Spirit in them, but at times the Spirit fills someone in a special way to enable him or her to proclaim God’s Word.

3. Pray for their victory in spiritual warfare (Acts 13:10–12).

When our brothers and sisters take the gospel into the nations, they are going into a war. The devil is dead set on destroying souls and diverting mission.

4. Pray for their success in gospel witness (Acts 13:12).

Pray that many would come to know Christ in all walks of life from the faithful witness of our missionaries.

5. Pray for peace with other believers (Acts 13:13).

Satan attacks from all angles, both inside and outside. Pray for peace within families, in marriages, with children, and with companions and ministry partners.

6. Pray for favor with unbelievers (Acts 13:14–15).

Nonbelievers are blind to the gospel, and many are violently opposed to its message. Pray that missionaries would find favorable opportunities to share the gospel with them.

7. Pray that the gospel will be clear through them (Acts 13:16–47).

Although cross-cultural communication is difficult, pray that missionaries, by grace, would clearly communicate the character of God, the sinfulness of man, the sufficiency of Christ, the necessity of faith, and the urgency of eternity.

8. Pray that God will open hearts around them (Acts 13:48).

God alone draws people to himself. Pray that he will open hearts and minds to believe and be drawn to eternal life with Christ.

9. Pray for their joy in the midst of suffering (Acts 14:1–2).

Missionaries often face various forms and levels of suffering in their work. Pray that they would experience the joy of intimacy with Christ in the midst of it.

10. Pray for their kindness in the midst of slander (Acts 14:1–2).

Though missionaries face suffering and difficulty, pray that the character of Christ and the power of his Spirit enable them to respond with grace.

11. Pray for supernatural power to accompany them (Acts 14:3).

Pray that missionaries would speak the Word with boldness and that supernatural power would accompany its proclamation.

12. Pray for Christlike humility to characterize them (Acts 14:4–18).

Pray that missionaries would overcome the temptation to be prideful in their work by the power of the Spirit.

13. Pray for their patience (Acts 14:8–18).

Missionaries face ups and downs and wins and losses in their work. Pray that they might respond with longsuffering.

14. Pray for their perseverance (Acts 14:19–20).

In 2 Corinthians 4:8–9 Paul wrote, “We are . . . struck down but not destroyed.” Pray for missionaries to persevere through setback after setback, beatdown after beatdown, and struggle after struggle.

15. Pray that God would use them to make disciples (Acts 14:21–23).

Pray that missionaries would see fruit in their ministries as they seek to make disciples among the nations.

16. Pray that God would use them to multiply churches (Acts 14:24–28).

Pray for the multiplication of churches filled with people who know the Word led by pastors who teach the Word.

We know this: joining God on his mission will not be easy, but it will absolutely worth it. Let’s send out all those whom God has called with faithful support in prayer.