A World of Prayer (Ep. 293)

The National Day of Prayer is this week. Prayer is something we talk a lot about on this podcast. Hearing about all the needs from the FEBC team can be so overwhelming that you might not know where to start. Ed and Wayne welcome back our good friend, Dr. William Thrasher who will help us understand our role to stand in the gap as people of prayer. Dr. Thrasher is a professor, author and most importantly he is a man of prayer. Dr. Thrasher weaves scripture throughout the discussion on how we can look past our own issues and needs in this country so we can focus on the movement of God on a global scale. Have your Bible in hand and your heart ready to seek to Lord as we pray for a mighty move the Gospel throughout the world…Until All Have Heard.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:02

I think this will be a very special edition of Until All Have Heard. I'm Wayne Shepherd with Ed Cannon, president of the Far East Broadcasting Company. Ed, great to be with you again. You know, this week is the National Day of Prayer in the United States, and we're taking that opportunity to talk about prayer and to spend some time praying today. Well, that's right.

SPEAKER_02 0:19

And you know, if you're a listener, you'll know that we're always asking people to pray with us. You're always hearing that, you know, FEBC is an organization that is grounded and foundation on prayer. Our people are constantly praying, and we know that FEBC cannot be successful without the prayers of thousands. Yeah. Those that surround us and support us through prayer. So, yeah, today is the perfect day, and we're with the the perfect guest, a man who's written books on prayer, who teaches prayer at Moody Bible Institute, a good friend of mine, Dr. Bill Thrasher. Welcome today.

SPEAKER_00 0:54

It's a thrill to be with you, and I'm honored to be your friend, honored to be both of your friends.

SPEAKER_01 0:58

So with us previously here, and you can listen to those programs in our archive. But you know it, it occurs to me, sitting here, the three of us were very much alive in the 70s. As a matter of fact, the two of you actually came to Christ in the 70s. That's right. And we were talking before opening the mics here, Bill, that that was the time of the Jesus Revolution. And you made some interesting comments about that.

SPEAKER_00 1:17

Yes. Um I was in a revival roundtable in uh the month of March and with some fine individuals, people like me that were at greatly impacted and were thrust into the ministry in the 70s, but also uh people from other generations, even the newer the Gen Zers, um, as well as individuals that ministered to the Gen Zers. But one observation a person made, he said, you know, that was a significant movement of God uh there in the 70s. It was incredible, proceeded after a very dark time of the sixties in our nation and ushered in in a a great time of spiritual prosperity. But he said, maybe that revival would have even lasted longer if it had had more of an international focus. Interesting. You know, you know, God blessed us, but God blesses us that the ends of the earth may fear him. So it's just an honor to partner with you, even when we focus upon a national day of prayer for our country. And uh there are people all over the world praying for our country. Yeah. And uh praise God for that.

SPEAKER_01 2:13

Yeah. And uh we pray for the world. Here, Ed, that's been our focus uh where we're very actively involved in until all I've heard. Amen.

SPEAKER_02 2:22

And Bill and I were talking just before we started, Wayne, you know, this movement in the 70s, uh unbelievably powerful movement of God with a lot of results. But we're seeing similar things in Asia right now. We're seeing movements that cannot be attributed to any of the works of man. It is clearly a God movement. We'll invite listeners in remote places in Thailand and in Laos in very difficult places to serve, and hundreds show up. And and what I shared with the with my friend Bill was that what I see when I attend these places is not only just a lot of people gathering, but an extreme hunger for God's word. People find the opportunity to have someone teach them what the Bible says and they cannot get enough. Yes, we've been together for three days uh under your instruction on the Bible. Can we have a Zoom meeting next week so that we can hear more and more and more? And it's that hunger for God's word that shows me that people are truly seeking him. They're not just wanting to gather. So it's a real movement.

SPEAKER_00 3:26

And that certainly is uh evidence of God's working, evidence of his power when he puts in us, you know, Scripture says, in and of ourself there's no man who seeks God. So when you see people seeking God, that is incredible working of God. And that's why when we gather together for the National Day of Prayer, which is very significant, uh, in a land with many discouraging things that we see, uh, but also encouraging things, even in our own land. Um I'm drawn to that passage in Ezekiel where he says there in uh Ezekiel 22, 30, I searched for a man among them who will build up a wall and stand in the gap before me for the land, so that I would not destroy it. But I found no one. So he's searching for a man to um stand in the gap. It's the idea of build a wall to stem the tide of national disaster because of the sins of God's people. Interesting, in Ezekiel 13, earlier, he rebukes the false prophets. He says, for not doing that. Um you didn't stand in the gap. You didn't. So I think God is looking for gap men and women that will stand and cry out to him. What you mentioned there happening in Asia. We long for that to happen in greater intensity. It is happening in some places, unquestionably, on college campuses. So we we long for that to happen if we can stand in the gap. Scripture says as God looks out, um, we know the the one thing God is doing in our day is he said the most important thing. It may not make always the national news, but I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. That's the most important thing God is doing. And it's also God looks at the world. The thing that concerns him most is the sin of his people. In 1 Peter 4, 17 and 18, he says, judgment begins with the household of God. God is more concerned with the with the sin of his people than the sin of the world. I mean, first God used wicked Assyria and Wicked Babylon to judge Israel, then he judged wicked Assyria and Wicked Babylon. So God is concerned. So we can stand in the gap and cry to God. Now, our encouragement is this: I like Hosea's cry. In wrath, remember mercy. Uh but God, now we deserve his judgment, but God, would you be merciful to us? I think in the 70s, God was merciful to us. The 60s, if our listeners were alive then, it was a very turbulent time. Uh yet they can't stake shootings there in the 70s, all those things. Very turbulent time, you know, with the revolting against the Vietnam War and all the rest. But God ushered in an incredible time and swept many people in the ministries. You know, there there were people just banging down the doors to be trained for ministry. Uh God was raising up ministries like crew that were just pumping thousands of people into the Lord's work. And I'm I'm one of them. And so we need that work of God now. We need that work of God now. So as we stand in the gap now, in God's mercy, he honors need. So I would say whatever causes you to realize your need, that's probably the greatest thing you have going for you. Uh He sets the needy securely on high away from affliction. He makes his families like a flock. The upright see it and are glad, and all unrighteousness shuts its mouth. Um, Psalm 107, 41 and 42. He says we'd have to recognize our need, and he sets us securely. He he works in our family. I I love that ver that's that Psalm is Psalm 72, 4, and 5. Save the children of the needy. I always felt like my children qualified. Save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor and let them fear you day and night. So we come to God, we come to God in our need. And like I say, if as you join us in their need, let me say as we cry to God to be, God, give us the grace to be Gap Man that can cry out to you. I want you to know that also God loves you as if you are the only person in the world. He's infinite. Now, life is not about me, it's not about you, but God loves you, and so you can call upon him. He will accomplish what concerns you. If you're carrying a care on your heart, we care about God cares about it far more than we do. But he says, cast all your cares upon him. That we can what? See, the devil tries to load you down that what we can't think of anything but us, but God wants to free us, casting all your care upon him because he cares for you. He realized you need guidance. Okay, God, how can I support uh your work? It does not lie within man to direct our path. Um but God wants to what guide us. And so we trust him for the the guidance you need. He promises to be our shepherd to lead us in the path of righteousness. God, how can we best honor you and praise you? So that's what we come to God. Just make sure there's no point of resistance. He's opposed the proud, gives grace to the humble. The the the thing that gr gives the greatest rebuke is the sin of self-sufficiency. God doesn't care that I don't feel out of it because I'm not adequate. Um but he says, because you say I'm rich and I've become rich and have need of nothing. That's what that's because that's nauseating to me. So we want to humble ourselves, and maybe we can do that right now.

SPEAKER_01 8:29

Yes, yeah. Let's let's do it. Let's let's pray together as a team here. If you Bill, would you lead us? I would be honored to pray for the uh rising up of these gap men and women, right?

SPEAKER_00 8:38

Amen. And Father, we thank you for the unusual men and women that that tune in to a broadcast like this, that care about you, that care about what you're doing and building your church around the world. God, we ask you to intensify that in our own hearts. We know how many times lesser things can draw our attention and our energies and our resources. So, Father, we ask God that you revive our hearts that we could begin. Pour grace upon us, dear God. We ask you, say we deserve your judgment in this nation on this National Day of Prayer. But God, we ask you in that judgment, God, we know you don't delight in judgment. You said judgment is your strange work. It's an unusual work we read in Isaiah. So, God, I ask you, Father, and be merciful to us. Honor the need of each one of us as we bow down before you. Give us the guidance we need. If there's anything pressing upon us, even in our lives, Lord, that we need to cast upon you. God, would you enable us to be fully obedient to that 1 Peter 5, 7, to cast all our cares upon you. Oh God, that precious peace, that starving for peace that drew me to you in the 70s. Father, I thank you that you said, My peace I give unto you, not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. God, we pray that that would you would speak that to each one of listening to us now as we agree. So, Father, work, dear God. Uh, we ask you for that greater grace, even the greater grace of prayer as we sit here and talk and pray, because we want to also ultimately it lead to talking to you. Answer the deepest request in each one of our listeners' hearts. We pray in their darkest moments send your help from heaven into their life. And we pray this in your wonderful name. Amen.

SPEAKER_01 10:18

Amen. Our prayer circle here includes our producer Joe Carlson, but the Lord is right here among us as well, Bill. I know you have more, but I just had a comment about the gap men and women. Amen. That's a great description of the hundreds of broadcasters of FEBC around the world. Praise God.

SPEAKER_02 10:33

The broadcasters and not only the broadcasters, Wayne, who are gap men and women, but the people that listen to the broadcasters.

SPEAKER_00 10:40

Amen.

SPEAKER_02 10:40

And as they hear the truth in God in these dark and remote places, we encourage them to be watchmen on the wall. There you go. Amen. And as you were speaking of Ezekiel, you know, that when they see the sword coming, that they warn others. Amen. And and our broadcasters focus the things that they say on the radio, not just for you to hear my word and come to faith, but that you too would share that word. Further in Ezekiel, there it says, God said, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from their way and turn to me. And so that's what we say in the radio. Amen. And we can't have churches in many of these places. Many of the places that FEBC is broadcasting into are dark and lonely, no Bible, no pastor, no churches. So we tell our listeners, it is your responsibility, once you turn to Christ from these broadcasts, to bring others to the radio, to bring others to faith, to live out your Christian witness amongst those people in these dark places. And so it's creating this army of people through FABC. So those it's two generations of gap men. Excellent. The broadcasters and the listeners.

SPEAKER_01 11:52

Love it.

SPEAKER_00 11:54

Bill, lead on lead on here as we talk about the importance of the world. That's what God is doing. And uh we need to hear that. Um certainly on this National Day of Prayer, um I pray that if there's any restoration work God needs to do in any one of us, uh let's just pray that we want to live in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. And uh anything, God God's word is draw near to me and I'll draw near to you. Uh and he's talking to people that are wayward at that point in James 4. He's talking to people he's called spiritual adulterers. Uh-huh. You become my enemy because you're friend of the world. But he says, God's the most reconcilable person you'll ever have a relationship with. So whatever has caused you to tune into now, or maybe even ones that are on your heart that are maybe away from the Lord, we pray that God would be a re He's a restoring God, a reviving, restoring God. And you know, we we mentioned Ezekiel later in Ezekiel also. Um I love this because this is a great encouragement to me. Uh he's talking to his people that are under discipline. They're out from under. And you know, there's a there's a friend of mine, if you don't know him well, you'll misunderstand him, because he sends large portions of the American church under the discipline of God. Uh what does that mean? It means uh the idea that God has withdrawn his manifest presence from our midst. Uh God's everywhere, uh, but but his presence is quenched, it's grieved, it's like we can come together and worship, but we leave the same person we came. Whatever we've done, we have it worship. But so God wants to, I think he's pictured there and f knocking on the door of his church. Would you let me in? Can I be a part of this meeting? Can I be a part of this service? We want him to be a part. We want him to be a part of this broadcast. But I love this uh Ezekiel 30, beginning verse 20, it says, When they came to the nations where they were, they profane my holy name. See, God was disciplined his people because they've been removed from his land, and now they're under disciplined. And it says, because it was said of them, these are the people of the Lord, yet they've come out of his land. They're not under the blessing of God. That is, okay, that's in regard to the church in Nardale. It's like they're here, but God's presence is not is quenched, it's grieved. Um but he says, But I had concern for my holy name. That's our encouragement, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went. Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God, it's not for your sake I'm going to act, but for my holy name, which you profaned among the nations where you went. I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which you have profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when I prove myself holy. I'll take you from the nations and I'll gather you and bring you back to your own land. He says, I'll gather, look, I'll bring you to the point of blessing. That's what that's motivation for me to say, God, anyway, I need to be restored to your full blessing. That's the idea of being out from under the land and into the land in their context. Lord, we want nothing to grieve, nothing to quench your presence. We want to welcome you. And he says, I'll do that not just because I love you. I'll do that for the sake of my name. And so that's what we pray. And here he says, I'll apply the new covenant to them. I'll sprinkle clean water on them, and I'll make them clean. I'll cleanse you from all your filthiness. I'll give you a new heart, a new spirit. I remove the heart of stone. I put my spirit within you, and he will cause you to walk in my statutes. Well, um, that's what we pray for the restoration of any way our life needs to be restored. God bless us that the ends of the earth may fear you. And these things we hear about happening, we pray that they would happen also uh in our land as we on this National Day of Prayer. But also what happens in us would be exported and bless the church around the world.

SPEAKER_01 15:50

So bring revival and let it begin with me. Ed, would you pray?

SPEAKER_02 15:57

Yeah, I'm I'm happy to. Lord, we're just grateful for the privilege of prayer. Amen. We take it for granted, Lord, that you have said that you will hear our voice. The holy God who has created the entire universe and keeps it in full swing, exactly according to your will, are willing to listen to our prayers. Thank you. You hear our prayers. And our prayers, Lord, are in accordance with your will. Yes. We know that it is your will that many would come to faith, that all would come to faith. Yes, God. And so, Lord, we pray for those FEBC broadcasters around the world, that they would be filled with your word. Yes. And that as as as Bill has said, that they would be walking according to your work, that they will obey your commands and your statutes so that you will bless the words that come from their mouth through their microphone. And Lord, it is our prayer that the millions around the earth who hear this gospel of Christ will submit to you, will repent of their sins and they'll come to faith. This day of prayer, Lord, we commit to you. We commit our staff, our brothers and sisters, our listeners, and all who we work with, Lord, that this day of prayer will be one of significant commitment to your work, and that you will continue the good work that you have done through this ministry and other ministries so that many will come to know your son as Savior. Thank you for the privilege we've had today, Lord, for you to hear our voice. Amen. Lord, we commit this day to you, we commit these listeners to you and our brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.

SPEAKER_01 17:28

Amen. Amen. We're going to go a little longer than we normally do here, because this is just too good to pass up. Bill, one more time, what's on your heart and how should we be praying? Just for a couple of minutes.

SPEAKER_00 17:39

You know, as we're praying and as we join there with Ed as we pray, you know, we're we're not trying to twist God's arm. God is more wants this more than we want it. And um, when God says, Let there be no strange God among you, I'm reading from Psalm 81, nor shall you worship any foreign God. I'm the Lord who brought you out from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. But here's the sad commentary. Now, this is what I was talking about. This is how God disciplines his people. But my people did not listen to my voice. Israel did not obey me, so I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart. If you want your own way, God will give your own way. That's not freedom, that's discipline. To walk in their own devices. But here's my encouragement. What is God's attitude toward once he's given up and put under discipline? Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways. I would quickly subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their adversaries. Those who hate the Lord would pretend obedience to him, and their time of punishment will be forever. But I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you. It's like God's heart is turning over what he yearns to do for his disobedient people. So that's encouraging.

SPEAKER_01 18:41

There's always another chance with God.

SPEAKER_00 18:43

There is. And so uh less we're not twisting his arm. He's for this, he's for us, and so we praise God for that. We certainly have a a lot of um opposition, uh, but God's bigger than that opposition.

SPEAKER_01 19:04

Dr. Bill Thrasher, our special guest here on Until All Have Heard. So we will stop here and please pass along this podcast recommendation to your friends and family as well. I think all would be encouraged by listening. So check us out online. Most podcast apps will carry Until All Have Heard. It's always available at FEBC.org. For Ed Cannon and Bill Thresher, I'm Wayne Shepard. Thanks for listening. Thank you. Thank you. Honored to be with you guys.

SPEAKER_02 19:29

You're just so full of God's word. It's unbelievable. It's just like you push a button and there it goes, right? Yeah, yeah.