August 10 2025

Sunday August 10

“And Pray on My Behalf, …”

Ephesians 6:19-20

"And pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."

Today again, I'm going to sound like a broken record today. I'm continuing to ask for prayer. Prayer for the precious pastors in East India as they minister the gospel of Jesus Christ, mainly to people who have never ever heard one time the name of Jesus. They desperately need your prayers. Yes, they need financial support. But the most important thing that we can do for them is to pray for them.

I read through the New Testament at least twice a year, sometimes even three and four times a year. I love reading the New Testament, especially the epistles of the Apostle Paul as he writes to the churches. And I noticed these last few times as I've been reading how many times the Apostle Paul asked for prayer. And I'm thinking about how if he, this anointed man of God, who writes 13 books of the New Testament, asks for prayer on many occasions, how much more do I as a pastor, and pastors, need the prayers of God's people?

Today, again I am inviting you to join us in doing the great important task of intercessory prayer for pastors in India who really have no connections with anybody but a small group of other pastors. The pastors we're working with and praying for are over 600 men of God that are overseeing over 1300 churches they're working with. We have a great leader that oversees and loves them, prays for them, visits them, and encourages them. When I was there with them this past January, I met with them, preached to them, took pictures of over 400 of them and, and told them I would have somebody individually praying for each one of them.

I still need at least 300 people to join me on this Pastors in India Prayer Team. So, please consider this wonderful opportunity to join us in the prayer effort and email at: pastormike@pmiministries.org

Notice how the apostle Paul urgently asks for prayers from other people. Romans 15:30-32. “Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea and that my service for Jerusalem may prove acceptable to the saints so that I may come to you in joy by the will of God and find refreshing rest in your company.” Here we see Paul praying for support for his ministry travels and service and asking for protection against opposition that hinders the work.

In Ephesians 6:19-20, Paul asked the church at Ephesus, "And pray on my behalf that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains, that in proclaiming it, I may speak boldly as I ought to speak." Paul here is praying and asking specifically for prayers to receive the right words and the courage to proclaim the gospel fearlessly even while imprisoned. And I can tell you the pastors in India are facing tremendous persecution. I get emails and text messages regularly from our associates there that tell me about this and I'll share some of that in the emails that I will be writing to you.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:25, Paul simply request, "Brethren, pray for us." And this is a concise direct appeal for prayer on behalf of Paul and his co-workers in the context of their ongoing ministry and teaching. In Colossians 4:3-4, Paul writes, “Praying at the same time for us as well that God will open up to us a door for the word that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ for which I have been imprisoned that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak”. Paul is asking for prayer for open doors to preach the gospel and opportunities. We can pray that for these dear pastors.

In 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2, Paul writes: “Finally Brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified just as it did also with you and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men for all men do not have faith.” My friend, this is the request for prayers that we have for those pastors in India. That God's word would spread quickly to the 3.4 billion people who have little or no access or to the gospel of Jesus Christ. These pastors are working with many of those unreached people groups.

Will you please email me and let me know that you'll join our Pastors Prayer Team.

God bless!

pastormike@pmiministries.org