Thursday, May 8, 2014

14 Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church Day 12

Day 12 Ukraine:


Read - James 1:2-16
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position.
10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.
11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.

Think - Why is the Word of God such a polarizing book?

Pray - Pray for those that risk exposure and dire consequences for merely sharing the Word of God: that they would be shielded by a hedge of protection

Act - Share your favorite Bible verse today on Twitter and Facebook with a comment about the blessing of being able to freely share Scripture in our culture.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

14 Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church Day 11

Day 11 Senegal:

Read - Psalm 91
 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

 For he will deliver you from the snare of the Fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
  He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
 You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
 You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.

 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge
  no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.

  For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
  You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

  “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
  With long life I will satisfy him
  and show him my salvation.”

Think - Why did the psalmist write so often about persecution and the Lord’s provision in the midst of suffering?

Pray - Pray for the fruitful work of the Christians in Senegal: that they would continue to help their countrymen turn from worshiping false gods and the occult, and to submit to the one true Lord of Lords.

Act - Print out today’s verse and share it with someone that you know is experiencing suffering in their circumstances. Offer to pray through it with them.






P.s. 
My brother Isaac has just started a blog where he rights about history. It is called Isaac's History Tale's
So please go check it out :-)

just click "Isaac's History Tale's" and it will bring you right to his blog

Friday, May 2, 2014

14 Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

Day 10 Nigeria:

Read - Hebrews 11:32-40
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-- 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Think - What is the difference between persecution and dislike?


Pray - Pray for healing for Christians in Jos, Nigeria: that they will
continue their work of telling people about Jesus.

Act - Share today’s readings with a young person in your life. Ask them what they think it means to be persecuted for your faith.