Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the end of the age." -Matthew 28, 18-20

DOES GOD REALLY NEED ME?

Augustine, a noted early church father (354 - 430AD), once wrote these astonishing words; "without God, we cannot; without us, God will not." This suggests not only our dependence on God but also God's need of us. Partly due to our easy belief "that God can do anything," most of us are rather uneasy with the concept that God needs us.

Has it ever occurred to you that there are people all around us who have blocked all direct communication from God but are open and receptive to us as Christians? Perhaps this is what Augustine meant when he suggested God needs us. For we discover that as we saturate these interpersonal relationships in prayer, in some mysterious way we ourselves become the instruments God uses to reopen the channels of communication to those closed to His voice. Although we may want to say it reverently it is nevertheless true -- without us and without our prayers there are some things even God may not do.

Secondly, we are not needed to convince God to save the lost. Satan may delight to have us expend our time and energies praying in this manner when God is already persuaded. Our prayers are needed, however, to overcome the presence and entrenchment of Satan and his princes. this world is the scene of a literal battle between God and Satan. At times we tend to think this is God's world; at other times we are inclined to believe Satan has it in his grasp. The truth, however, lies somewhere between and has great implication for us.

Although the crucial victory was won by Christ through His cross and resurrection, it is not yet Victory-Day. Not every knee bows and confesses Jesus as Lord. Satan was convincingly defeated. Yes -- but not destroyed. His power is a limited power, yet he is working with his princes to keep nations in bondage. Satan has his seat, or assigned prince in every nation (Revelation 2.13). From this seat he works to keep nations in darkness.

Satan desires to keep this "seat" hidden from the eyes of the church, because when we locate it we can cause his kingdom to fall. Prayer is that mighty weapon the Lord has given us for the "pulling down of strongholds" and setting nations free. This is our great challenge as we live between Easter and the time of Christ's return in glory. God really needs you to complete His Great Commission to every creature.

- Helmut Schultz