Policy One of the Diocesan Mission is prayer. Bishop of Wollongong Reg Piper is leading a three-part strategy to encourage all of us to pray for spiritual renewal in our Diocese – and in all the world.

Why Pray?

When the risen Lord delivered his resurrection command to preach to all nations he explained to his disciples that this was at the heart of God’s purpose for his world.  They were to herald that the Christ had died and been raised and that hearers should repent for the forgiveness of sins. This ais God’s gospel and its progress is God’s work. It is no surprise then that when Luke wrote about its progress in his story of Jesus and the apostles, fervent prayer and proclamation were inseparably woven together.

Jesus at prayer

Jesus began his public preaching ministry at Nazareth by announcing that he had been anointed to preach the good news. This preaching was preceded by forty days in the wilderness with the written word of God and the Spirit as he agonised over the nature of His ministry (4:1-15).  As His ministry drew the crowds we find him deliberately leaving the multitudes to go into the wilderness to pray (5:15-16).

In the next major phase of his preaching ministry he sent out the twelve to preach and heal (9:1-6). Prior to his choosing the twelve however we note that Jesus went out to the mountain and continued to pray to God all night (6:12-16).

A further increase in his ministry is seen when the Lord appointed seventy and sent them out to preach and heal (10:1-2).  As he sent them out he urged them to pray for more labourers. When they returned Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and prayed to the Father (10:21-22).

When he delivered his final great commission and went up into heaven again he prayed.  He blessed the disciples. (24:44-51).

The apostles at prayer

What we see in Jesus we also see in the apostles. They too bind prayer and proclamation together inseparably.

When they were given the promise of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the end of the earth we find that they immediately “devoted themselves to prayer” (1:14). Next the Holy Spirit fell and Peter preached his Pentecost sermon. Three thousand souls were added to the Lord that day.

The Jerusalem ministry was marked by preaching and prayer.  When difficulties arose within the Christian community the apostles found others to deal with them because “they must devote themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (6:1-4).

In the ministry in Judea and Samaria there was the very significant conversion of a Gentile. Prayer was again prominent.  Cornelius was at prayer when he received the word from the angel to seek Peter. Peter was at prayer when he saw heaven opened and heard the Lord speak about preaching the gospel to Cornelius.

The next phase of gospel preaching began in Antioch and moved through Asia Minor, then Greece and on to Rome. It was while the church at Antioch was at prayer that Barnabas and Paul were set apart for this new phase of ministry.  The church then fasted and prayed and sent them off to the work.  The pattern of God’s mission, whether it be Jesus or his continuing work through the apostles is the combination of prayer and proclamation.

The Diocese at prayer

If we are to follow the example of the Lord and his apostles then the obvious thing for us to do is to proclaim the risen and crucified Christ, call for repentance and offer forgiveness and the Holy Spirit and to begin, end and surround that proclamation with prevailing prayer.

Reg Piper
Bishop of Wollongong