Anyone who knows me knows that I love the Thai people very much. It gives me great joy when I see one of them open up their mind and give their heart to Jesus. I have seen hundreds of Thai people give their hearts to Jesus and many of them become the first person in their entire family to be a follower of Christ. This is one of my life purposes – to join God in what He is doing to reach the Thai people with the love and message of Jesus.
But it doesn’t stop at salvation. That is just the beginning. It also gives me great joy when that new Thai believer begins to learn to walk with God as a disciple and follower of Jesus and begins to share their faith with others and lead others to Christ and learn what Jesus meant when He said in Matthew 4:19, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” It gives me great joy to see them give of their time and mentor new believers.
But let me be very clear today about a very critical subject I want to ask you to pray about. There are many strongholds that have kept the Thai people from Jesus for thousands of years. Some of these strongholds are thought patterns. Some of these strongholds are traditions and practices that have been handed down from one generation to another. Some of these strongholds are related to cultural norms that are in conflict with the teachings of the Bible. And some of these strongholds are related to the very real spirit world that is very active in this part of God’s world.
Think with me for just a moment about what the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:12 when he said, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Friends and prayer partners, please understand that the battle over the hearts and minds of the millions of people from some of the least reached people groups in the world is not a battle over flesh and blood at all… but a battle with the spirit world that most do not see. These spirits and forces of evil have kept the Thai people from the love and knowledge of Christ for far too long. The time has come for the light of the Jesus to shine brightly in this part of God’s world. It is time for God’s people to pray for the release of the minds and hearts of Thai people so that they can turn to our great SAVIOR!Let us pray, let us give, and let us go!!!!!
Prayer Example: “Lord, We thank You for each of the missionaries living in Thailand and especially those supported through NTIM and p
artnering with NTIM who are committed to making disciples from some of the least reached people groups in Asia. We also thank You for the reminder that our battle with darkness is not between flesh and blood but with the rulers of darkness. We pray that You would raise up more workers for the harvest and that you might be pleased to remove the blindness over the Thai people’s heart and help them to be open to the “good news which is for all people.” Help us Lord to pray fervently, to give generously, and to be willing to join you in your work of breaking the strongholds set against the gospel among the peoples of Thailand. May Jesus be lifted up in Northern Thailand in a special way this Christmas season and in the new year so that all men could be drawn to Him. We pray in Jesus name. Amen.”
