Prayers for Week 15 (Beginning 4.7.08)

But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Matt 9:36

COMPLETELY BUMMED OUT. That is how I felt after watching videos and reading articles containing statements made by Oprah Winfrey regarding her religious beliefs. I don't watch the Oprah Show, but I know that her fan base is enormous and her influence is strong. Below is a small portion of an entry I posted on my personal blog about this topic:

Both in the past and recently with her new "Awakening" series, Oprah has made various comments about religion, spirituality, God and Jesus. People consider her to be intelligent and well-read, so it may be easy for those not familiar with the Bible to accept what Oprah says regarding these topics as truth since she has professed a Christian background. I've listed below two of her comments to show how they contradict with the words of Jesus.

Oprah: "One of the mistakes that human beings make is believing that there is only one way [to God]...there are many paths to what you call 'God'...there couldn't possibly be just one way." Jesus: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. " (John 14:6)

Oprah: "What I believe is that Jesus came to show us Christ-consciousness. Jesus came to show us the way of the heart...to show us the higher conciousness."
Jesus: "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10) AND "Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Matt 20:28).

I'm not saying people shouldn't watch the Oprah Show, but I do believe that Christians who watch her shows on spirituality should do so with discernment. As she declares her own beliefs and opinions about your Savior, make sure that you know what your Savior said about Himself

Oprah has a new "Awakening" series with author Eckhart Tolle that is basically like an online book club, so I listened to some of the video clips of past sessions. This "club" is drawing thousands of participants from 139 countries. All 50 American states are represented. My guess is that a majority of the participants are women. That's thousands of women who are seeking something. That's thousands of women who are receiving false information about God, Jesus Christ, and their own purpose in life. That's thousands of women who God loves and desires to have a relationship with through His Son.

INTERCESSIONS:

- that husbands will understand the importance of studying God's Word WITH their wives and children and be obedient to do so. (You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. Deut 6:7)

- that God would protect women from the enemy and bring them to know THE truth: Jesus Christ. (For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Tim 3:6-7)

- that ratherthan looking to the world, women will diligently seek a relationship with Jesus and find true joy, peace, and fulfillment in Him. (For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious." Isa 11:10b)