-

Brother Andrew

is the founderand Director of

Open Doors ln-

ternational. This

ministry began in 1955 and now

has over two hundred full-time

workers with offices in 20 coun-

tries. His well-known book, Cod's

Smugglerhassold ten million cop-

ies in 30 languages.

If I PerishBrother Andrew

y last meeting with Iranian pastor HaikHovsepian-Melu was especially memorable. For

I Y I many years he had served as a shepherd for thechurches in Iran, always declaring the gospel wisely butopenly. As we parted we shook hands and he said to me,"Brother Andrew, when they kill me it will be for speakingand not for being silent." He said "when." He did not say

"if." He knew he would be killed. The next month he wasmurdered.

He had suffered for his faith for years. He was killed forhis faithfulness to declare it. He was a rare and preciousman, but he was not alone. There are millions of beleagueredChristians living in areas where their faith costs themgreatly. It cost them most when they proclaim their faith.

As they suffer with Christ, they become the message bysaying, "I am willing to die for Him and I'm willing to diefor you because that is what He did!"

I'rn convinced that we are living in what appears to be thethe most cruel period of history. More people suffer forCfuist's name than in any other generation. As Christianswho are not under such persecution, we must find any waythat we can to help our persecuted brothers and sisters. Theyneed us more than ever-our presence/ our encouragement,our support, our teaching, our fellowship, and perhaps morethan anything else, our prayers.

Our prayers are crucial because our best praying will moveus into our best action. I'm reminded of another man whoprayed for God's suffering people from the land which is nowIran. This m€u:r was Nehemiah. Nehemiah belonged to a small

fewish minority group in what is now Iran. He was a man ofgood standing and high positiory with relatives living in ex-

tremely difficult circumstances. Receiving news of the desper-ate situation inlerusalem, he sat down and wept for manydays. Hearing the need, he took it as a call to act.

He spoke up for God's people in high government circles,as we need to do. He was bold with sustained service for a

beleaguered people, as we need to be. His prayer shows us

a way to pray with passion and we need to pray now morethan ever.

The plight of God's people in Jerusalem in that day is simi-lar to the suffering that Christians endure in many lands today.

Nehemiah heard of the temple in ruins and of God's name be-

ing defiled. There are lands where God's household has suf-

Chapter 29 179

180 Chapter 29 IF I PERISH

fered so severely for so many generations thatthe church no longer exists there. I have some-times referred to this suffering church as "thevanished church." And there are other placeswhere there has never been a church. Whennew churches are planted in these places, theyare sure to suffer. How will we respond to thereport of God's people being brokery impris-oned, enslaved, beaten, cold and hungry?

Nehemiah's response was amazing: Eventhough he was a man of action, and a well-trained administrator, he fasted and prayedbefore the God of heaven.

The passion of his prayer is even more im-portant than his petition. Three aspects of hispassion in prayer worth noting are:c his zeal for the glory of God. Ioaeforhispeople. counting his own life as nothing.

Nehemiah reminded God of His promise togather His people from all over the world toworship His name openly (Neh 1:8-9). Zealforthe glory and name of |esus should also be ourmotivation. For how many of us is this true?Do we pray for the glory of God's name, or dowe pray only for ourselves?

Nehemiah identified withhis people. Hehad a fairly comfortable position. The prob-lems weren't of his own doing. But he identi-fied so greatly with the whole famiiy of God'speople that he prayed on their behalf as if hehad been responsible for their predicament.That sense of responsibility spurred him intoaction. Do we put on sackcloth like Nehemiah,for the sins of our people, our church? Or dowe wash our hands in innocence and pass theblame to politicians and church leaders?

Nehemiah's compassion moved him to ac-

tion because he owned the suffering people as

if they were his own family. He also identifiedhimself as a servant of God. He knew that toserve God you must sewe people. He didn'tshirk from being in touch with people andhaving compassion for them.

After an appeal for the glory of God and ac-

knowledgment of his own guilt and that of hisfamily and people, he at last gets around to the

request: "O[ Lord, let me find favor with theking." Nehemiah was laying his life on the lineby pleading with this heathen king for ]erusa-lem and the Jewish people.

What was Nehemiah aftaid ofr What areChristians in Iran, kaq,Egypt and Pakistanafraid of? They fear the leader of their coun-try, who by definition is of a different faith,and who can suppress the Christian minoritywith impunity. We leam from Nehemiah thatin such countries, we should pray for favor inthe eyes of that leader.

Let's pray that Christian leaders in Iran-and all the other countries-will find favorwith the man in power. We can ask that boldly,because every leader in power is accountableto God, whether in a Muslim country, conunu-nist China, or in a so-called Christian country.

When we ask for favor with the leaders ofregimes hostile to the gospel, we positionourselves well to express God's favor uponthem. The Bible clearly teaches that the onlysolution is forgiveness and reconciliation.When I visited a Christian town totally de-stroyed in one night by a wild Muslim mob,leaving befween ten and twenty thousandChristians homeless, having seen all theirpossessions destroyed, we had a big gather-ing of Christians and Muslims and we spokeabout forgiveness and reconciliation.

We should pray for favor boldly, but notpresumptuously. Lr many cases God allows aneven greater witress for His glory in whichGod displays His own favor, as He did in thecase of Stepherl whose last words repeatedChrist's last words of forgiveness (Luke 23:34,

Acts 7:60). The story of Nehemiah is notsimple. Even with the leader expressing favor,Nehemiah endured years of opposition. Weshould not expect something easy. We shouldpursue what is worthy, whatever the cost.

We can only pray like Nehemiah if wehave the attitude of Nehemiah: First, zeal forthe glory of God, thery a deep compassion de-siring the well-being of the people. And thenwith Esther's attitude (Est 4:16), we leave therest up to God: "If I perish, I perish."

Study Questions1. Why should Christians pray for favor with leaders who may be hostile to the gospel?

2. How do the three passions in Nehemiah's prayer (glory, love, life not counted) work together?

fl

-

Floyd McClung

is the founderand Director of

All Nations lnsti-

tute in Trinidad,

Colorado. For years he served as

lnternational Director of Youth

With A Mission. He began his in-

ternational ministry in Afghanistan.

One of his new books, Living on

the Devil\ DoorstePtells the story

of the ministry he pioneered in

Amsterdam, Holland.

Apostolic PassionFloyd McCIung

hnt is apostolic passion?

The term "passion" is used to describe everythingfrom romance to hunger pangs. I don't know what

it means to you, but for me passion me€rns whatever a per-

son is willing to suffer for. In fact, that's the root meaning ofthe word. It comes from the Latinpaserre,, to suffer. It is whatyou hunger for so intensely that you will sacrifice anything

to have it. The word "apostle" means a sent one, a messen-

ger. "Apostolic passion," therefore, is a deliberate, inten-

tional choice to live for the worship of Jesus in the nations. Ithas to do with being committed to the point of death to

spreading His glory. It's the quality of those who are on fire

for Iesus, who dream of the whole earth being covered withthe Glory of the Lord.

I know when apostolic passion has died in my heart. Ithappens when I don't spend my quiet time dreaming of the

time when ]esus will be worshiped in languages that aren'tyet heard in heaven. I know it's missing from my life when Ising about heaven, but live as if earth is my home' Apostolicpassion is dead in my heart when I dream more about

sports, toys, places to go and people to see, than I do about

the nations worshiping ]esus.I have lost it, too, when I make decisions based on the

danger involved, not the glory God will get. Those whohave apostolic passion are planning to go, but willing tostay. You know you have it when you are deeply disap-

pointed that God has not called you to leave your home and

get out among those who have never heard His name. If you

will not suffer and sacrifice for something, you are not pas-

sionate about it. If you say you will do anything for fesus,but you don't suffer for Him-then you aren't really pas-

sionate about Him and His PurPoses on earth.

If you don't have it, how do you go about getting this

thing called apostolic passion? Is it like ordering pizza-althe door in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed? Is there an 800

number to call? Or better yet, just send us your special gift of

$15 or more, and we'll rush you some passion, express deliv-ery, overnight mail. If you're like me, you need help figuringout how to grow this thing called passion. I am motivated by

reading how the apostle Paul got it. He chose it-

Paul says in Romans 15 that it is his ambition-his pas-

sion, if you will-to make Christ known. It began for himwith a revelation of ]esus that he nurtured all his adult life'

Chapter 31 185

186 Chapter 3i APOSTOLIC PASSION

Paul not only encountered Christ on the roadto Damascus, he kept on meeting Jesus everyday. This revelation of Jesus, and his study ofGod's purposes, gave birth to Paul's apos-tolic passion. Knowing Jesus and makingHim known consumed the rest of Paul's life.He "gloried in Christ Jesus in his service toGod" (Rom 75:77). By comparison, every-thing else was dung, garbage, stinking refuse.Paul's ambition was born from his under-standing that God longed for His Son to beglorified in the nations. It was focused so thatthe "Gentiles might become an offering ac-ceptable to God, sanctified by the HolySpirit" (Rom 15:16).

Human enthusiasm cannot sustain apos-tolic passion. When God invests His ownpassion in you-the desire to see His nameglorified among all people-you must buildand develop what God has given you. Fourthings will help:

1. Apostolic AbandonmentToo many people want the fruit of Paul's

ministry without paying the price that Paulpaid. He died. He died to everything. Hedied daily. He was crucified with Christ.This strong-willed, opinionated man knewthat he must die to self. He knew that in hisflesh, he couldn't generate the revelation ofJesus; he couldn't sustain the heart of Christ.So he died. He abandoned his life. He aban-doned himself.

We live in a world of competing passions.If we do not die to self and fill our lives withthe consuming passion of the worship of Godin the nations, we will end up with other pas-sions. It's possible to deceive ourselves intothinking we have biblical passions when, inreality, all we have done is to baptize the val-ues of our culture and give them Christiannames. We will have chosen apostolic pas-sion only when our hearts are filled withGod's desire for His Son to be worshiped inthe nations.

May I encourage you, dear friend, to giveup your life? I challenge you to pray thisprayer: "Lord, be ruthless with me in reveal-ing my selfish ambition and my lack of will-ingness to die to myself."I guarantee that Hewill answer your prayer-and quickly.

2. Apostolic FocusThe greatest enemy of the ambition to see

]esus worshiped in the nations is lack of fo-cus. You can run around expending energyon all sorts of good ministries, and not getone step closer to the nations. I don't haveanything against all the projects and minis-tries out there-God's people do them, and Idon't question their obedience to God. Butthe Church has an apostolic calling, an apos-tolic mission. God has called us to the na-tions. We must focus, or we won't obey.

Focus on what? I believe God wants apeople for Himself. Activity without a desirethat God have a people for Himself is just ac-tivity-not missions. You can have evangelismwithout missions. Short-term ministries aregreat, as long as they focus on raising upworkers to plant churches. You might say,"I'm not called to plant churches." Yes, youare! It's always the will of God to have apeople who worship His Son in the nations.You'll never have to worry about making Godmad if you try to plant a church. It seemscrazy to me that people are under the delusionthey need a special calling to save souls, todisciple them, and to get them together to love]esus. Whatever ministry you are with, youmust understand one thing: church planting isnot for us, it's for God. We do it so God willhave a people to worship Him!

3. Apostolic PrayingA young man in Bible school offered to

help David Wilkerson years ago when he wasministering on the streets of New York City.Wilkerson asked him how much time hespent in prayer. The young student estimatedabout 20 minutes a day. Wilkerson told him,"Go back, young man. Go back for a monthand pray two hours a day, every day for 30days. When you/ve done that, come back.Come back, and I might consider turning youloose on the streets where there is murder,rape, violence and danger...If I sent you outnow on 20 minutes a day,I'd be sending asoldier into battle without any weapons, andyou would get killed."

You can get into heaven, my friend, with-out a lot of prayer. You can have a one-minutequiet time every day and God will still loveyou. But you won't hear a "well done, good

tr

ii

iL

FLOYD MCCLUNC 187

and faithful seryant" on one-minute conversa-

tions with God. And you certainly can't make

it on that kind of prayer life in the hard places

where ]esus is not known or worshiped.Here's a chailenge for you: Read everythingPaul says about prayer, then ask yourself,"Am I willing to pray like that?" Paul said thathe prayed "night and day... with tears...

without ceasing... with thankfulness... in the

Spirit... constantly... boldly... for godly sor-

row. .. against the evil one."

4. Apostolic Decision'MakingIf you live without a vision of the glory of

God filling the whole earth, you are in dan-ger of serving your own dreams of greatness,

as you wait to do "the next thing" God tellsyou. There are too many over-fed, under-mo-tivated Christians hiding behind the excuse

that God has not spoken to them. They are

waiting to hear voices or see dreams-all the

while living to make money, to provide fortheir future, to dress well and have fun.

The Apostle Paul was guided by his pas-

sions. Acts 20 and 21 tell of his determina-tion to go to Jerusalem despite his own per-sonal anticipation of suffering, the wamingsof true prophets, and the intense disapprovalof his friends. Why would Paul go against hisown intuition-let alone the urgings ofprophets and weeping entreaties of close

friends? He had a revelation of greater prior-ity, of greater motivation: the glory of God.

Apostolic decision-making starts with apassion for God's glory in the nations, thenasks: "Where shall I serve you?" Most peopledo the opposite. They ask the where-and-when questions without a revelation of His

glory in the nations. Is it any wonder theynever hear God say "go!" They have not cul-tivated a passion for the passions of God. Allkinds of lesser desires can be holding themcaptive. They might never realize it.

Present your gifts, vocations and talentsto the Lord. Press into God. Stay there untilyou long to go out in His name. Remain

there and nurture the longing to see the

earth bathed with His praise. Only then willyou be able to trust your heart if you hear

God say, "stay." Only those who long tobroadcast His glory to the nations have the

right to stay.If you have apostolic passion, you are

one of the most dangerous people on the

planet. The world no longer rules yourheart. You are no longer seduced by gettingand gaining but devoted to spreading andproclaiming the glory of God in the nations.You live as a pilgrim, unattached to thecares of this world. You are not afraid ofloss. You even dare to believe you may be

given the privilege of dying to spread Hisfame on the earth. The Father's passions

have become your passions' You find yoursatisfaction and significance in Him. You

believe He is with you always, to the end oflife itself. You are sold out to God, and youlive for the Lamb. Satan fears you, and the

angels applaud you.Your greatest dream is that His name will

be praised in languages never before heard inheaven. Your reward is the look of pure de-

light you anticipate seeing in His eyes whenyou lay at His feet and the just reward of Hissuffering: the worship of the redeemed.

You have apostolic passion!

Study Questions1 McClung implies that passion has more to do with values that emotions. How is this different from

the way the word "passion" is commonly used?

2. McClung suggests that everyone is called to see that churches are planted among all peoples. ls he

saying thlt *ryon" must make an effort to go as a missionary? Or is he saying that God's desire

for glory summons every believer to do all they can for His glory?

3. What relationship is there between passion and willingness to suffer?

's