God's Unseen Work: Awakenings Through Prayer and Suffering

 

Summary

In our time together today, we explored the profound and often unseen work of God in global awakenings. Despite skepticism, God is moving powerfully in Spirit-driven, Word-centered awakenings across the globe, not in grand stadiums but in humble settings like house churches and under mango trees. This is a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises, as seen in Matthew 16:18 and Acts 1:8, where Jesus assured us that His church would be built and His witnesses would reach the ends of the earth. These promises are being realized today, as evidenced by the remarkable growth of the church in places like China, where tens of millions have come to faith without the direct involvement of Western missionaries.

The story of a woman in China, whose small house church grew from four to forty people in six months, illustrates the power of the gospel to transform lives and communities. This growth is not dependent on us but is a work of God's grace. The Great Commission is not an American commission; it is God's mission, and He is calling people from every nation to Himself and sending them out to every nation.

Prayer and suffering are key means through which God brings about these awakenings. Prayer, as Samuel Zwemer noted, is the history of answered missions. It is through prayer that God burdens hearts and sends people to hard places, as seen in the story of a man who went to Iraq after his church prayed for an unreached people group. Suffering, too, is a mark of gospel progress. Persecution often accompanies gospel advancement, as seen in the story of Amir, whose family came to faith despite initial opposition.

The power of the Word is also evident in places like Cambodia, where the introduction of God's Word has not only brought spiritual awakening but also increased literacy and education. Across the Muslim world, Islamic terror has inadvertently led many to seek the truth of the gospel, resulting in a growing number of believers and house churches.

In conclusion, awakenings come through the power of the cross-centered message of the gospel, and God continues to call and equip messengers for this work. As we pray for boldness and support our brothers and sisters in hard places, we trust that God's Word will not be bound and that His saving purposes will be fulfilled.

Key Takeaways:

1. God's Global Work: God's work is not confined to grand events but is happening in small, humble gatherings worldwide. This reminds us that God's promises are being fulfilled, and His church is being built in ways we might not expect. Our role is to trust in His sovereignty and be open to how He chooses to work. [01:01]

2. The Power of Prayer: Prayer is a vital means through which God brings about awakenings. It is through prayer that hearts are burdened, and people are sent to hard places. This challenges us to prioritize prayer in our own lives and churches, trusting that God hears and answers. [11:42]

3. Suffering as a Mark of Progress: Persecution and suffering often accompany gospel advancement. This is not a sign of defeat but of progress, as God uses these trials to strengthen and grow His church. We are called to stand firm in the face of opposition, knowing that God is at work. [16:32]

4. The Transformative Power of the Word: The introduction of God's Word brings not only spiritual awakening but also social and educational transformation. This highlights the importance of Scripture in our lives and communities, encouraging us to engage deeply with God's Word. [21:13]

5. The Unstoppable Gospel: Despite opposition, the gospel continues to advance in unexpected ways. This is a testament to the power of the cross-centered message and the work of the Holy Spirit. We are reminded that God's purposes will be fulfilled, and we are invited to participate in His mission with confidence and joy. [23:02]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:23] - Skepticism and God's Global Work
- [01:01] - Spirit-Driven Awakenings
- [02:04] - Fulfillment of God's Promises
- [03:00] - Revelation's Vision Unfolding
- [04:55] - Awakening in China
- [06:05] - Personal Testimony from China
- [08:39] - God's Work Beyond Us
- [10:11] - The Futility of Opposing God
- [11:42] - The Role of Prayer
- [13:29] - Praying for Boldness
- [16:32] - Suffering and Gospel Progress
- [18:03] - Personal Story of Transformation
- [20:22] - The Power of the Word
- [23:02] - Gospel Advancements in the Muslim World
- [24:59] - Messengers and the Unstoppable Gospel
- [26:12] - Hope Amidst Challenges
- [27:59] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 16:18 - "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
2. Acts 1:8 - "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth."
3. Revelation 7:9 - "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb."

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Observation Questions:

1. What are some examples given in the sermon of how God is working in humble settings around the world? [01:01]

2. How did the woman in China experience the growth of her house church, and what does this illustrate about the power of the gospel? [06:05]

3. According to the sermon, what role does prayer play in global awakenings? [11:42]

4. How does the introduction of God's Word impact communities, as seen in the example of Cambodia? [21:13]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the promise in Matthew 16:18 provide assurance about the growth and resilience of the church? [01:31]

2. In what ways does the story of the man who went to Iraq illustrate the connection between prayer and mission work? [12:26]

3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between suffering and gospel progress? [16:32]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the transformative power of the Word in both spiritual and social contexts? [21:13]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you witnessed or heard about God's work in an unexpected place. How did it challenge your understanding of how God operates? [01:01]

2. How can you prioritize prayer in your life to support global missions and awakenings? What specific steps can you take to make prayer a more central part of your daily routine? [11:42]

3. Have you ever faced opposition or skepticism when sharing your faith? How did you respond, and what can you learn from the sermon about standing firm in such situations? [16:32]

4. Consider the impact of God's Word in your own life. How can you engage more deeply with Scripture to experience its transformative power? [21:13]

5. Identify a person or group in your community who might be open to hearing the gospel. What practical steps can you take to share the message of Christ with them this week? [24:14]

6. How can you support missionaries or local church leaders who are working in challenging environments? What specific actions can you take to encourage and assist them? [27:59]

7. Reflect on the sermon’s message about the unstoppable nature of the gospel. How does this inspire you to participate in God's mission with confidence and joy? [23:02]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Work in Humble Places
In the world today, God's work is often seen in unexpected and humble settings rather than grand events. This is a reminder that God's promises are being fulfilled in ways that might surprise us. The growth of the church in places like China, where tens of millions have come to faith without the direct involvement of Western missionaries, is a testament to this. The story of a woman in China whose small house church grew from four to forty people in six months illustrates the power of the gospel to transform lives and communities. This growth is not dependent on human efforts but is a work of God's grace. We are called to trust in His sovereignty and be open to how He chooses to work. [01:01]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: Where in your life have you seen God working in unexpected ways? How can you remain open to His plans that might differ from your expectations?


Day 2: The Power of Prayer
Prayer is a vital means through which God brings about awakenings. It is through prayer that hearts are burdened, and people are sent to hard places. The story of a man who went to Iraq after his church prayed for an unreached people group exemplifies this. Prayer is not just a ritual but a powerful tool that God uses to align our hearts with His mission. It challenges us to prioritize prayer in our own lives and churches, trusting that God hears and answers. [11:42]

Colossians 4:2-3 (ESV): "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ."

Reflection: How can you incorporate more intentional prayer into your daily routine? Consider setting aside specific times to pray for global missions and those serving in hard places.


Day 3: Suffering as a Mark of Progress
Persecution and suffering often accompany gospel advancement. This is not a sign of defeat but of progress, as God uses these trials to strengthen and grow His church. The story of Amir, whose family came to faith despite initial opposition, highlights this truth. We are called to stand firm in the face of opposition, knowing that God is at work even in the midst of suffering. [16:32]

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 (ESV): "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies."

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced suffering or opposition in your faith journey? How can you find strength in knowing that God is using these experiences for His purposes?


Day 4: The Transformative Power of the Word
The introduction of God's Word brings not only spiritual awakening but also social and educational transformation. In places like Cambodia, the power of Scripture has led to increased literacy and education. This highlights the importance of engaging deeply with God's Word in our lives and communities. The transformative power of the Word is a reminder of the impact that Scripture can have beyond spiritual growth. [21:13]

Psalm 119:130 (ESV): "The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple."

Reflection: How can you deepen your engagement with Scripture this week? Consider setting a goal to read and meditate on a specific passage each day.


Day 5: The Unstoppable Gospel
Despite opposition, the gospel continues to advance in unexpected ways. This is a testament to the power of the cross-centered message and the work of the Holy Spirit. The growth of believers and house churches across the Muslim world, even amidst Islamic terror, is a powerful example. We are reminded that God's purposes will be fulfilled, and we are invited to participate in His mission with confidence and joy. [23:02]

Acts 5:38-39 (ESV): "So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!"

Reflection: What steps can you take to actively participate in God's mission today? How can you support those who are spreading the gospel in challenging environments?

Quotes

Thank you. It is good to be with you today for the opportunity to open the Word together and also to open a window to the world around us and see what God is doing in awakenings across the globe. Sometimes, there's understandable skepticism when we talk about awakenings in other parts of the world. [00:00:02]

But I want to assure you that our God is at work all over the globe in powerful ways, in Spirit-driven, Word-centered awakenings. And this isn't happening, in my experience, this is not happening in televised, stadium-filled events, but it is happening in little house churches that are gathering in the shadow of mosques. [00:00:51]

What we're seeing is simply God keeping His promises, God fulfilling all of His saving purposes. Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." And in Acts 1:8 Jesus said to his disciples, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth." [00:01:31]

One of those areas of great awakening is in China, where over the past twenty years, perhaps the greatest growth in the church in the history of the church has taken place, where tens of millions of people have come to faith in Christ. And one of the things that I … there are a lot of things I love about that, but one of the things I particularly love about that is that we didn't have anything to do with it, as in American missionaries. [00:05:00]

And I met a woman, who six months earlier had come to faith through the witness of a friend. And it was a very dark time in her life. She was just gloriously transformed by the power of the gospel, and she couldn't keep it in. She starts telling her neighbor. She was a seamstress by trade. She and her son had a tiny little house, and I was in that house and she took out from under her clothing, her work, a copy of the Bible, very precious to her. [00:06:24]

I mean if heaven is rejoicing, can't we spare even a moment of joy, and sure, I'm all for strengthening the church and good solid teaching to be sure, but I want to assure you as I assured this man, God's work is not dependent on us. The Great Commission is not the American commission. As God is calling men and women to Himself from every nation, He's sending them out to every nation. [00:08:44]

But we do need God, start to finish, and one of the means that God reminds us that we need Him is prayer. Prayer. Samuel Zwemer, "the apostle to Islam," as he has been called, said, "The history of missions is the history of answered prayer." Not long ago, I was in Iraq with a dear friend who is doing great gospel work there, serving Christ, giving people the Bible in their heart language, and planting a church. [00:11:30]

And across the world in hard places, I've seen awakenings. I've seen God's people praying even in the face of persecution. And what are they praying for? They are praying for boldness. They are praying, according to Acts 4, where we see and I think this is very interesting, the first corporate prayer meeting where the content of their prayer is recorded for us in Acts 4. [00:13:17]

Keep in mind that when you hear of persecution in the world against Christians, it is a mark of gospel progress. Again, I quote Samuel Zwemer who went to what is now Iraq and Arabia more than a century ago, and he said this, and by the way, recently some very disturbing reports came out of this part of the world, threats against the church, against Christians, and those very gospel workers were quoting this passage from Zwemer. [00:16:48]

But as we've seen over and over again, the Spirit of God working in the life of a man or a woman responding with great grace and love and patience even in the midst of tremendous physical and emotional suffering, the Holy Spirit begins to turn hearts, and I was with this family celebrating together, worshiping together, there around the table with this man and his wife who were believers, and his brother and two sisters and his mother, who once said she was ashamed of him, now a sister in Christ. [00:18:39]

Fifteen, twenty years ago, these tribes did not even have a written language, but pioneer missionaries went in. Pioneer missionaries and linguists went in and gave them God's Word in their heart language. Guess what happened? What you would expect to happen. Our family just got bigger, more brothers and sisters, but something else was happening too as the Word of God went there and the little churches grew, their root system went down deep in the Word and their branches went out to reach their neighbors in neighboring villages, and even crossing the border into hostile territory for the sake of the gospel. [00:20:38]

Friends, awakenings come through the power of the cross-centered message of the gospel, but the message, it needs messengers, and God is continuing to call and equip messengers for this work, what John Piper said as he described pioneer missions as backbreaking, culture-penetrating, darkness-shattering work, calling messengers to go and to make disciples and gather believers and form churches. [00:24:42]

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Transcript
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