David Sitton
By David Sitton on January 26th, 2012 The gospel task, essentially, is to take territory for the Kingdom of God. However, we’re not after geographical conquest. Rather, we target spiritual strongholds where Satan has exerted his control for centuries. We are compelled to go after the hearts and souls of people for whom Christ died.
To advance the gospel means that we are to go everywhere extending the Name and the Reign of Christ throughout all of the earth. That’s the Mission. God makes his own name great among all of the ethnicities of the earth1 and he does so through the geographical scattering of his people.2
The harvest of nations is an enormous task requiring thousands more of well mentored missionaries than are presently available. What should be our response to this labor force deficit?
The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.3
There is a Lord of the harvest. I’m so grateful that the work of the gospel around the world is in the hands of One who is big enough, wise enough, and powerful enough to manage it. The harvest of nations is the Lord’s work and he will do exactly what he wants to with it.
As Lord of the harvest Jesus will have a full crop of all the elect from all of the people groups of the world.4 Likewise, he will have a full contingency of harvesters who are necessary to gather them. All of the goers, all of the martyrs, all of the intercessors and financial senders who are necessary – Jesus will have a full number of everyone and everything that he intends to use for the ingathering of a People for his name and glory. Jesus is the Lord of the harvest.
There are workers in the harvest. This speaks to the opportunity we have of working with Christ. Don’t ever forget the magnitude of this privilege. We get to be missionaries for Jesus Christ! It is indescribable grace that Jesus allows us to be partners in mission with him. We get the joy of being front-line spokesmen for Jesus Christ in the far-flung places where his salvation is unknown!
The workers in the harvest are to do two things. First, we are instructed to “ask the Lord of the harvest to send out more workers.” Send out in Greek is ekballo, which means to “thrust out violently”; to “forcibly expel”; to “fling out.” It is a spiritually violent and authoritative word, used for example, to describe the driving out of demons.5 When Jesus commands demons to leave a person or place, they immediately relocate. In the same way, as we pray for the Lord of the harvest to send out workers, we are asking Jesus to strategically and forcibly redeploy his people into his worldwide harvest.
Prayer is the biblical way, primarily, that missionaries are inwardly compelled to change locations and go somewhere with the gospel.6 We don’t try to twist anyone’s arm or talk anyone into anything. We pray that the Lord of the harvest will ekballo a work force to accomplish his own work. In a refreshing way, instead of trying to argue people into becoming missionaries, we go over their heads. We ask the Lord to compel those whom he wants to carry his gospel seed bags and drive his harvesting combines. The same authority that expels demons in Jesus’ name propels missionaries to joyfully “pack their coffins” en route for remote and hostile places where Jesus is not known. When Jesus says, “go!” demons vacate and missionaries relocate. We do the praying and Jesus does the flinging!
Secondly, disciples are told to pray for harvesters and… What is the first word of Luke 10:3? – “GO!” Pray and go. The sense of the text is that we should pray for laborers to go and then get busy being a part of the answer to our own prayers! This is what the Church is called to do. We are to pray and go. Praying, going and sending glorifies God!
Important Question: If working with Christ in the gospel around the world is such a privilege, why is it necessary, so often, for the Lord to forcibly expel his laborers into the mission? Why aren’t potential laborers lining up for this incredible opportunity?
The answer is in the next phrase. Jesus forcefully reiterates the implications of going. “I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.”7
Jesus sends lambs out among wolves! Is there any doubt what the outcome of that will be? Jesus is describing a slaughter. As we go in his name, Jesus says, we’re going as the main course meal! That’s what lambs are to wolves. This is a primary reason people refuse to go. Even believers are not usually eager to line up for a blood bath!
And so, the Lord ekballoes us. He forcibly flings us out into the world by his grace. He does it by transforming our hearts. He makes himself so valuable to us, that suddenly, we begin to “break the jar and pour out all of the oil upon his feet.”8 Our fears and love for this world disintegrate and morph into a passion for his name and compassion for perishing people. So much so, that nothing else matters anymore. Jesus becomes our most treasured “pearl of great price” and we find ourselves doing strange things. We begin to sell homes and land and property. We begin to take our families, even our young children, into some of the most dangerous and difficult places in the world. And we do it with joy, because Jesus and the gospel are worth it!
This is what Jesus did.9 He saw the people and was moved by compassion for them because they were distressed, harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus came to earth as the Lamb of God to die. That was the plan from the beginning. The slaughter of Christ on the cross wasn’t an afterthought or an accident. The Lamb of God intentionally came to die for his sheep.10 After Jesus rose from the dead, he turned to his disciples and said, “As my Father sends me, so send I you.”11
That’s how people become missionaries and how the world will be won for Christ. That’s how it works.
We do not need a missionary calling. If we are believers in Jesus Christ we are called to Christ! If we are called to Christ we are simultaneously called to his mission. And when we are called to his mission, we don’t “cut and run” when the going gets tough and treacherous.
I’m asking the Lord to ekballo (forcibly expel) every believer in Christ who reads these words. Some will be ekballoed to actually go as missionary martyrs. Some will be ekballoed into financial martyrdom, as believers in the early church did.12 First century disciples were frequently compelled by the Spirit of God and by the joy of Christ in their hearts to give in ridiculous ways. Some of them actually sold homes; some gave land, and many hundreds of thousands of others shed their blood and guts, in extraordinary ways, in order to see to it that the gospel would go to the ends of the earth.
This is the mission of God. Missionary martyrs going, financial martyrs sending; and all of us praying and working together, for the gospel and the glory of God to be known and enjoyed by all peoples.
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1 Malachi 1:11
2 Matthew 28:18
3 Luke 10:2-3
4 John 6:39; Revelation 5:9
5 Matthew 10:1
6 Persecution is one way that workers are outwardly compelled to change locations and go with the gospel. Acts 8:1-4
7 Luke 10:3
8 Mark 14:3-4
9 Matthew 9:35-37
10 John 10:15
11 John 20:21
12 Acts 2:45; Acts 4:32-36
Mission Quotes
By David Sitton on January 20th, 2011 Closing Quotes on Prayer
You can work without praying, but it is a bad plan. ~Hudson Taylor
I would rather teach ten men to pray, than one man to preach! ~C.H. Spurgeon
God’s child can conquer anything by prayer. Is it any wonder that Satan does his utmost to snatch that weapon from the Christian or to hinder him in the use of it? ~Andrew Murray
We need to learn to know Him so well that we feel safe when we have left our difficulties with Him. ~O. Hallesby
Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men and women. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. ~Phillip Brooks
He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find him the rest of the day. ~John Bunyan
 Hudson Taylor Keep praying, but be thankful that God’s answers are wiser than your prayers! ~William Culbertson
I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I have nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day. ~Abraham Lincoln
When praying, do not give instructions, but report for duty. ~Leonard Ravenhill
Prayer is a weapon, a mighty weapon in a terrible conflict. Our prayers are to be a continual, conscious, earnest effort of battle, the battle against whatever is not God’s will. ~P.T. Forsyth
When I cannot pray, I always sing. ~Martin Luther
God can pick sense out of a confused prayer. ~Richard Sibbes
Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons – but they are helpless against our prayers. ~Sidlow Baxter
You need not cry very loud; He is nearer to us than we think. ~Brother Andrew
If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me. ~Robert Murray McCheyne
The man who mobilizes the Christian church to pray will make the greatest contribution to world evangelization in history. ~Andrew Murray
When Martin Luther’s puppy happened to be under the table, he looked for a morsel from his master and watched with open mouth and motionless eyes; he (Luther) said, “If I could only pray the way this dog watches the meat!!” ~Luther’s Tabletalk
He that cannot pray, let him go to sea, and there he will learn. ~John Trapp
The angel fetched Peter out of prison, but it was prayer that fetched the angel. ~Thomas Watson
Sir, if you want to enter that province, you must advance on your knees! ~once said to Hudson Taylor
I am very defective in all duties. In prayer I wander and am formal. I soon tire, devotion languishes, and I do not walk with God. ~William Carey
It is a tragedy when a man has no invisible means of support. ~T.J. Bach
If you are sick, fast and pray; if the language is hard to learn, fast and pray; if the people will not hear you, fast and pray; and if you have nothing to eat, fast and pray. ~Frederik Franson
If you pray for it, make space for it. ~David Sitton
Pray for those you send, shield them by prayer. ~Hudson Taylor
But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. ~Isaiah 40:31
Mission
By David Sitton on January 10th, 2011 Helpful Hints On How To Pray Effectively For Your Missionaries
“I urge you brother, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of
the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.”
Romans 15:30
Spiritual Life:
…That we will take sufficient time to read, reflect and pray
…That we would be protected from dark forces in spiritual realms
…For our spiritual growth and personal renewal
…That we would be encouraged and experience joy in ministry
…That we will be men and women of integrity, reliability, humility, wisdom
and consistency
…That we would maintain a healthy sense of humor
Personal Life:
…That our marital relationships will remain strong
…That the social, emotional and spiritual needs of our children are cared for
…That our basic financial requirements are regularly met
…That we would be protected from physical sickness
…That we will find time for proper sleep, rest and exercise
…That we would be self-disciplined
…That we will experience God’s protection from accidents, crime, terrorists
and dangerous animals
 Relationships:
…That we would experience harmonious relationships with other Christians
…That our team would experience unity, love, good communication and patience with one another
…That we would develop intimate friendships with our national brothers
and sisters
…That we will resist temptations toward jealousy, envy, bitterness and pride
Language Proficiency:
…That we would make steady progress in language studies
…That God would give us grace to adapt well to new cultures and customs
…That God would give us clarity, creativity and relevance in preaching
and teaching
Evangelism And Discipleship:
…That we would be fearless and bold to preach Christ and Him crucified
…That we would be lead by the Holy Spirit as to where we go
…That God would give us supernatural discernment and wisdom
…That God would begin preparing hearts in advance for the message
…That God will open a door for His message and that it would spread rapidly
…That God would establish His Church in new regions
…That disciples and church leaders would be fully trained
…That God would raise up national missionaries
…That God would be honored and praised through our ministry
Countries:
…Pray for those in government positions
…For religious freedom
…That we would have favor with government officials
…That we would be granted swift approval in our visa applications
“The one concern of the devil is to keep the saints from prayer. He fears nothing from prayerless studies, prayerless work, prayerless religion. He laughs at our toil, mocks at our wisdom, but trembles when we pray.”
~Jonathan Edwards
Mission
By David Sitton on January 6th, 2011 Warfare Prayer!
 As we’ve seen, the struggles of missionaries are immense and numerous. Common adversity is deliberately increased as the enemy takes careful aim upon us. Persecutions, trouble, harassments and hardship are all part of Satan’s arsenal. None of this is new. Ever since the days of our Lord, the devil has warred against God’s ambassadors. So we must not be surprised as we are routinely pummeled by the fiery darts of the evil one still today.
This is why we need your prayer fortification so urgently. The enemies of the cross set many snares to entrap and discourage us, and sadly, many missionaries have given up, becoming modern-day casualties of Satan’s bombardment.
But there is no reason for discouragement. Even as I write these words, I take on fresh courage and greater resolve that “nothing earthly will make me give up this work in despair” (David Livingstone). Even as Satan rages, I have hope of heart because “Greater is He that is within me, than he that is in the world.” And I thank God every day that He gives us the privilege to take our place in the ranks of those who “preach the gospel to every creature”, “making disciples of all nations.”
Pray that we will enter bravely into demonic strongholds where the enemy has gone unchallenged for centuries. You can pray for safety – But pray even more that we would have reckless abandon in our going with the gospel. Pray that the Lord will dismantle these strongholds and that He will do it through our preaching of Christ crucified, resurrected and reigning from the right hand of the Father.
While the final victory of the Kingdom is secure, we need the strength and encouragement of your prayers in today’s battle. As I share these insights of personal struggle and trial, I hope that you will better understand the missionary predicament. And most of all, I want the Lord to empower you to become more vigorous and forceful as you intercede for your missionaries.
Mission
By David Sitton on January 3rd, 2011 Financial Pressures
Financial instability is a stubborn fact for missionaries. Unlike some occupations, missionaries are usually unable to increase income with a job change. And rarely do we have adequate resources to start our own businesses. So, missionaries learn to live and minister on whatever the Lord brings in each month.
 The high cost of daily living is a continuing concern. Housing, vehicles, travel, children’s education, taxes and insurance (many missionaries have none), retirement, clothing, gasoline, repairs and replacement of equipment, the high cost of imported ministry supplies; all of this is considerably more expensive than in our own country. Pray that God would give us special grace in all of these practical areas.
Anxiety increases with the sudden drop of financial support. Every missionary has gotten the “Dear John” letter explaining why support is being discontinued. One I received had a final check and a letter stating that it was no longer financially feasible to invest in the ministry, as the parking lot of the church building needed re-paving! One of my New Guinea co-workers encouraged us during these times by saying: “Check and see if the sparrows have eaten today. As long as they eat, we eat. When God quits feeding the sparrows, missionaries will become extinct.” How true that is. Yet, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Daily dependence upon God is a wonderful way to live.
Pray that your missionaries will always have the financial resources to do the work God has called them to. Ask the Lord for special grace that our vehicles, computers and other vital equipment will function properly. And especially, thank the Lord regularly for those faithful supporters who make significant sacrifices to keep our ministries moving along.
Mission
By David Sitton on December 31st, 2010 Emotional Pressures
 Missionary living is rife with emotional strain. Most missionaries suffer periodic bouts of loneliness because our loved ones are so faraway. This loneliness intensifies exponentially when we miss important events in the lives of our families “back home”. One ritual that missionaries use to battle their aloneness is to continually figure out the time zone difference and imagine what their families are doing at that moment back in the home-land (I now reverse this process and try to figure out what my New Guinea brothers are doing). We do this because we feel detached and alienated from them. Daydreaming becomes an attempt to alleviate severe lonesomeness. Both single workers and families alike can be hampered by debilitating loneliness that can seriously affect their emotional health.
Anxiety is another source of emotional pressure. This may be anxiety over the problems of language and culture learning, anxieties over new converts, problems in the local church, difficulty in adjusting to exotic food, climate, frustration from a lack of privacy, poor health, marital strains or the illness or death of loved ones back home.
In the case of missionary parents, there is anxiety about the physical health, safety, and the educational and social requirements of our kids.
Other causes of emotional duress come from incompatibility with co-workers (far and away the greatest problem of foreign missionaries), discouragement at the apparent lack of ministry results, and the subtle weariness of culture stress that results from being an outsider 24 hours a day, year in and year out.
Satan relentlessly targets the mental health of missionaries. He attacks our minds in an attempt to cause mental and emotional upheaval. Pray Philippians 4:6-7 for your missionaries – Ask the Lord to deliver us from demonic depression and oppression. Ask Him to remind us that He alone is our adequacy. We know this, of course, but in the heat of battle, we need to be reminded sometimes.
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