Hello friend. Our prayer for you today is that, as you read through this edition of The Commission, your heart, soul, and mind are moved to play your part in fulfilling the Great Commission. Particularly in the form of prayer. As you’ll read below, prayer is one of the most powerful weapons at our disposal as believers. Don’t underestimate what the prayers of the faithful—in the hands of a good, almighty, faithful God—can do.

In today’s edition:

• Converts face persecution in Bangladesh 

• What actually happens when you pray

• Theological education might tip the balance in Syria

🇧🇩 Religious freedom exists (on paper)

The Details: Bangladesh is the 8th most populous country in the world, with over 175.6 million people. It also has the 4th highest Islamic population in the world, with about 155 million Muslims. That’s about 91% of the country.

But only about 0.3% of the population identifies as Christian. And while Bangladesh's constitution grants religious freedom, Christians can face persecution, violence, and discrimination. 

The Takeaways: In a country with so many people yet such a small gospel presence, we hold onto hope that God is all-powerful. Pray for missionaries to be sent, for gospel conversation opportunities, and for healthy, local churches to be planted. Since converts from Islam can face more persecution, pray for their safety and boldness in their witness. 

🙏🏼 The spiritual weapon of prayer

I recently recorded a Pray the Word episode about Daniel 9:20-23. I didn’t have time in that short podcast to elaborate more on this, but I was struck in a fresh way by the mystery of prayer. Do you realize what is happening in the spiritual realm whenever you pray?

Take a look at Daniel’s description of what happened when he prayed:

As Daniel is praying, an angel comes to him and tells him that he has been sent as a direct response to Daniel’s prayers. Just let that soak in for a moment. When you and I pray, things happen in the spiritual world that we cannot see. Our prayers create movement that affects people and situations, and events in the physical world.

I don’t presume to understand how all of this works, but if this is true (and it clearly is, not just based on this passage in Daniel, but based on the whole of Scripture), then we must pray in at least three ways.

First, we must pray continually. Or more simply put: We must pray. Period. On a daily basis—all throughout the day, from the moment we wake up to the moment we fall asleep—we have the opportunity to participate with God in what he is doing around the world through our prayers. Let’s steward this opportunity just as God’s Word says, praying at all times and without ceasing.

Second, we must pray confidently. When we pray, we’re not just speaking words or thoughts into thin air. We are communicating with God in ways that affect his work in the world. We can be confident that our every prayer is heard by the one true God who has all power, wisdom, and love, and who has ordained our prayers as means by which he accomplishes his good purposes in the world. Let’s pray with confidence that he is working in response to our prayers.

Finally, we must pray expectantly. I imagine Daniel may have been surprised when the angel Gabriel decided to visit him that day. But after that day, I imagine Daniel prayed with even greater anticipation of what might happen in response to what he was praying. Let’s do the same, expecting God to move as we cry out to him in our lives, for others’ lives, and for people around the world.

Before you move on to anything else, could I invite you to just pause and pray for a moment (or more)? 

Pray for whatever the Spirit may put on your heart for your life or for others’ lives, and pray with faith that God is moving in response to our prayers in ways you cannot see. Then, on a more specific level, I encourage you to pray for a people group like the Bengali Muslims, one of the largest unreached people groups in the world. And as you pray, trust that your prayers are actually affecting work among Bengali Muslims!

—David Platt

🇸🇾 Faith grows even under persecution—and through deep knowledge of God’s Word

Today, less than 3% of Syria’s population identifies as Christian among a Muslim majority. To disciple believers from a Muslim background, Radical is partnering with a theological seminary. The goal is to theologically equip believers to share the gospel, so we may see more Muslims hearing and believing that salvation comes from faith in Christ alone.

How to Pray: As Syrian Christians face persecution, pray for their safety as they meet together and seek to grow in their faith. Pray for Christians to be bold in their witness so more Syrians may know the good news of the gospel.

📍 Attention Worthy

• Missionaries offer advice to those preparing to go to the field.

• Do you ever struggle to approach God’s Word rightly in your daily Bible reading? Here are 5 prayers (and postures) that can help.

• Many Christians are familiar with the remarkable spread of the early church in the book of Acts, as well as the stories of Paul’s missionary journeys. But have you ever stopped to consider what is distinct about Acts? This may make you want to read the book even more.

THIS WEEK’S CONTRIBUTORS:

David Burnette, Selah Lipsey, Steven Morales, David Platt, Camille Suazo

MAKE JESUS KNOWN EVERYWHERE!