God was setting them both up to allow the gospel to cross over the greatest boundary – from Jew to Gentile.
As you read Acts you see that the ascended Lord Jesus was operating the mission his way, according to his plan and his methods.
It has been the case ever since. Certainly there have been brave and adventurous missionaries. But read the story of how they started – and how they persisted – and you see that it was the Lord’s doing from start to finish.
Christians are quite capable of making great plans and organising wonderful systems. But it is a mistake to think that this is what brings the gospel to others. God is the planner and organiser, not us. His method is to use disciples. His technique is to equip them with his message and fill them with his Spirit. That is the full equipment. With the Word of God in us and the Spirit of God to speak it through us, God has all he needs to announce his good news to the world.
After that all he needs to do is set up the occasions.
So what we pray for is to be part of one of God’s set-ups. Lots of them in fact. He is the one who is at work in the hearts and minds of unbelievers. He still even speaks through visions and angels to direct people to disciples who have the message.
Message. Spirit. Set-up. People God is drawing to himself. There are four things to pray for.
Dale