Ask for the Nations – Day 31
Intention
To encourage people to pray Matthew-28-believing-prayers for nations to come to Christ.
Scripture
“Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.”
– Psalm 8:2
Reflection
John Knox prayed a simple but passionate prayer: “Lord give me Scotland or I die.” Historians tell us that this prayer was prayed while John Knox was a slave and prisoner on a French Galley ship. He said the prayer as he looked out of the ship as it sailed past the coast of his beloved Scotland.
John Knox was quite sick at the time, but he found the strength to say that prayer. Knox’s prayer was not an arrogant demand, but the passionate plea of a man willing to die for the sake of the good news of the gospel of God’s love.
He had seen many of his friends cruelly martyred by the then Queen of Scotland, but that did not stop him from praying. The prayer was said in 1548. John Knox was then 34 years of age. Within 12 months he was miraculously released from French slavery.
As such, the prayers of one man heard at the throne of God were a threat to the throne of Scotland. During the time of the sixteenth-century Scottish Reformation, Knox’s ministry of preaching and prayer were so well known that Mary, Queen of Scots, is reputed to have said, “I fear the prayers of John Knox more than all the assembled armies of Europe.”
John Knox believed the words found in Hebrews 11:33–34:
“Who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength;”
Jesus said in Matthew 28:18–20:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
John Knox took Jesus at his word and prayed for Scotland to come to Christ. God gave him Scotland and from 1559 until the time of his death in 1572 he preached all over Scotland until there was a ‘Kirk’ (church) in every town or village in Scotland full of Bible-believing Christians. That Presbyterian church he founded continues to this day.
Yes, God calls for us to pray for our friends and neighbours to come to Christ. Yet God also calls us to follow in the footsteps of John Knox, the great reformer, and pray for nations to come to Christ. That’s why we have been praying for revival for both Israel and Australia and for millions to find Christ.
On behalf of Kym Farnik and the team at the Canberra Declaration, we thank you for your sacrifice, your giving and your prayers through May.
Pray with me as we finish this wonderful month of prayer together.
Video
Prayer
Father in Heaven, we take inspiration from John Knox who prayed for his beloved Scotland to come to Christ. In so many ways his prayers were answered. We pray that our nation of Australia would be saved and come to Christ. We pray as the Apostle Paul prayed for Israel: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.” We pray for our five friends we are praying for to come to Jesus. We pray that your son Jesus the “Lamb that was slain would receive the reward for his suffering.”
Author Bio
Warwick Marsh has been married to Alison since 1975 and they have five children and nine grandchildren. He is a family and faith advocate, social reformer, musician, TV producer, writer and public speaker. Warwick is well known in Australia for his advocacy for children, marriage, manhood, family, fatherhood and faith.
Prayer Points and Purpose for GO 2023 in May
- To worship Jesus and give extravagant praise to God. Heb 12:28–29
- Pray that the Lamb who was slain might receive the reward for His suffering. Rev 5:6–14
- Pray for revival for Australia and for millions to find Christ. Isa 64:1–2
- Pray for revival for Israel and millions to find Christ. Rom 10:1
- Pray for five friends to find Christ and share the gospel with those five in May. Matt 28:18–20
We invite you to support this prayer campaign to multiply prayer in Australia for revival and see millions come to Christ. Every donation to the Canberra Declaration helps us promote prayer and make a stand for Family, Faith, Freedom, Life, and the Good News of God’s love through Jesus Christ His Son.
Join us for our nightly Zoom prayer call:
DATES: Every night for the month of May
TIME: 8pm AEST
ZOOM URL LINK: https://zoom.us/j/776881184
ZOOM MEETING ID: 776881184
ZOOM TUTORIAL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFhAEoCF7jg
May Daily Devotionals: https://dailydeclaration.org.au/tag/go-2023-prayer
Daily devotions are brought to you by the Canberra Declaration.
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