Pervasive throughout Paul’s writings are statements used to describe someone who is faithfully living out the gospel. For instance: “fighting without” (2Co 7:5), “fight the good fight” (1Ti 6:12), “[we wrestle] against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers over this present darkness, and spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places” (Eph 6:12). So, it is no wonder then that in Colossians 1:28-29 Paul says: “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me” (emphasis mine).

Paul states that the goal of a committed Christ-follower is that they proclaim Christ by warning and teaching others to bring them to maturity. He states in verse 29 that this is what he fights for (sunagonizomai). Paul implores you to fight along with him. His ultimate emphasis in this passage is focused on a location. Wherever you are, be fighting for—be agonizing for—the gospel.

In Romans 15:30, however, Paul solicits believers to enter a different form of the fight. He implores believers to strive together (sunagonizomai) with him. The word used in Colossians 1:29 is the same word used in Romans 15:30. Paul’s request is not to physically join another believer who is fighting for the sake of the gospel, but rather, it has to do with spiritually joining another believer who is fighting for the sake of the gospel. What is this fight that Paul invites believers to participate in? The spiritual fight is for world evangelism, and prayer is the way we fight.

It is safe to assume that many believers equate prayer with world evangelism. It is also safe to assume that when those believers think of prayer, they think of the passage in Luke 10:2 where Jesus speaks about the harvest being plentiful but there are few workers. On one hand, this is a perfectly suitable passage to consider as we are instructed to pray that God would “send laborers into the harvest.” Believers do not squabble about the need for laborers and the need for people to engage in taking the gospel to the world. However, those who are content to only pray that God will send laborers (someone other than themselves) believe they are required to personally sacrifice very little, if at all. Do not misunderstand, praying that God would send laborers is biblically commanded and commendable. However, what Paul is inviting believers to do is radically different than simply praying that others will “go to the mission field.” What Paul is doing is flipping the narrative on its head and saying, don’t just pray that God would send others to engage in world evangelism, but you must be actively involved in praying for world evangelism and not just involved in it, like dabbling in some hobby, but engaged to the point of battling for world evangelism!

Frequently in a believer’s prayer life, prayer for missions goes like this, “Father, we pray that you would burden people to see the need for the gospel around the world. Father, we pray that you would help those whom you burden to take the message to ends of the earth. O Father, we pray that you would send laborers into the harvest field! Amen!” The believer prays that God would provide their needs and that they would be An Invitation to Fight faithful. This believer gets done praying and goes about their day without much thought of missions until the next time they come to pray. They genuinely feel as though they have done their part for the sake of world evangelism. But have they? The angst you feel with that question is exactly what Paul is addressing here!

Paul’s explicit statement in Romans 15:30-33 is this, prayer is just as vital to the work of world evangelism as the work itself! He is imploring believers of every age, status, and background to actively engage in world evangelism along with him. This is done not necessarily by leaving their home and going to some foreign field, but rather, by knowing Paul’s ministry so well that his burdens, his agonies, his fights are their burdens, agonies, and fights. Paul is imploring believers to be so actively engaged with him and his ministry that they “feel the weight” of what Paul is doing. He wants them to sunagonizomai, to agonize together with him!

Paul suggests three things people can pray for: that he be delivered from unbelievers, that his work would please the saints, and that he could come to Rome to be refreshed by them. So, let’s put this into a modern-day thought. Those engaged in world evangelism want those who are back home to pray for them. But not just generic prayers like, “be with the Smiths and their needs and be with the Johnsons and their needs.” Those engaged in world evangelism want you to be in prayer for them in the same manner that Paul communicates in Romans 15:30-33. How does Paul propose that believers today engage in world evangelism through prayer?

Pray that they would be delivered from Satan’s attacks

One does not have to look far to see the increased attacks that are taking place around the world, not just on national Christians, but on missionaries themselves. A quick perusal of many reputable websites dedicated to current Christian martyrdom reveals that the cause of Christ is under attack around the globe and even here in the United States as well. Every day, those engaged in world evangelism face social, economic, spiritual, and even physical attacks. Their heart’s cry is not that you would simply pray that they would be fine, but that you would linger with them and their ministry to know the dark waters that many of them are facing as they engage an increasingly hostile culture with the gospel. They want you to feel the weight with them as they daily struggle to stay faithful amidst a world that is assaulting them and their families.

So, how do we walk with them and their ministry so that we can effectively fight in prayer for them? 1) Faithfully read their updates. 2) Communicate often to let them know you are praying for them and ask them to be specific with what is happening in their lives and ministry and the burdens they bear. 3) If at all possible, visit their area of ministry and spend time being involved in their life with them. 4) Pray for their extended family, and if possible, send them a note to let them know you are praying for them and for their loved ones. 5) Text them Scriptures you are praying on their behalf. Using Scripture to reinforce your prayer is a powerful tool! The people I pray most for are the people who have allowed me to minister side-by-side with them and have allowed me to listen to them and to see the daily burdens and struggles of their lives.

Pray that they would glorify God

The goal and purpose of all believers is the glory of God. There are certainly several obstacles that present themselves that make it difficult for believers to do things for the glory of God. Obstacles such as: pride, fears, temptations, anxieties, and more, are ever-present in the believer’s life. However, we as believers have at our disposal the Holy Spirit. Believers need to be completely dependent on the Holy Spirit to help them as they seek to glorify God in their lives.

When it comes to praying for those engaged in world evangelism, in terms of praying that they would glorify God, we should be praying for several things: 1) Pray that they would know God for who He is. 2) Pray that they would only seek His approval. 3) Pray that they would not be distracted by the empty promises of building their own empires. 4) Pray that they would remain faithful even though their “approval rating” may be low. 5) Pray that God’s Spirit would enable, embolden, and encourage them as they serve. We should never underestimate the necessity of glorifying God in all we do and say, especially for those who are engaged in world evangelism.

Pray that they would be refreshed

In Romans 15:32, Paul mentions to the Roman Christians that he wants to come to them with joy, and he wants to be refreshed with their company. These two components are crucial to the process of refreshment for those involved in world evangelism. If either one is missing, the entire possibility of refreshment could be hindered.

First, prayer should include praying that when the missionary comes to spend time with those who have been fighting through prayer with him, that they would come joyfully. It has been said that you can tell what you really think of a person when you have worked a full week and you’re tired and your wife says, “The Smiths have invited us over.” The thought that pops into your head is the true feeling you have. Do you “perk up” at that invitation because you know that the Smiths will refresh you? The prayer of those fighting alongside those directly involved in world evangelism is that when we see each other, there should be joy because we are refreshing to one another.

The second component of what Paul mentions is that he wants to be refreshed in their company. In my many trips to Africa, we often ask those to whom we minister, “Would you rather have our team come to see you and minister with you or would you rather us send you the thousands of dollars it cost to come see you?” The answer always and unequivocally is this, “Money cannot talk to us!” The fact of the matter is we are relational beings. Yes, finances and material goods are great, but absolutely nothing can replace the refreshing company of a fellow laborer in the cause of world evangelism.

What are some principles to remember as we seek to refresh one another? 1) Be intentional to plan time together. 2) Do not stress about the surroundings (the house does not have to be immaculate), enjoy the moments you have together. 3) Never underestimate the impact even a few minutes together can make. 4) It is not about the content of the conversation. Just being together, even quietly, can be refreshing. 5) It is refreshing to be able to just pick up where you left off in your relationship and not have to worry about having constant interaction.

The believer who is truly concerned about engaging in prayer for world evangelism will feel the weight of the attacks of Satan, they will feel the weight of what it means to glorify God, and they will feel the weight of the need to be refreshed. When believers live in this reality, the cause of prayer and world evangelism will align together for the honor and glory of Christ.

Encompassing all of this is the statement made by one of the original leaders of the YMCA, John R. Mott, when he said, “The history of missions is a history of prayer. Everything vital to the success of the world’s evangelization hinges on prayer. It is possible for the most obscure person in a church with a heart right toward God to exercise as much power for the evangelization of the world as it is for those who stand in the most prominent positions.” May the Lord help us as we answer the invitation to fight alongside our brethren in prayer as they go out into all the world with the gospel of Christ.