Prayer for Week 18 (Beginning 4.28.08)

Gas at almost $5 a gallon. Rations on bags of rice. A gallon of milk up 75 cents.

Even though the United States has weathered tough economic seasons in the past...and even though the media tends to overexaggerate issues until they become crises in our minds, I do know that many Americans are struggling financially right now. However, even in this we can praise God for we know that He is a God who brings beauty from ashes. May He use our nation's current financial circumstances to bring the beauty of His salvation to the lost and to conform His children to the beauty of His Son.

INTERCESSIONS:

- that Christians will remember that God alone is their Provider (Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help...Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God. Psalm 146:3, 146:5)

- that Christians will not be fearful of economic issues but instead give to others abundantly and cheerfully (If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs....You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, "You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land." Deut 15:7-8, 10-11)


- that God will lead unbelievers who are stressed and struggling financially to know Christ as their Lord and Savior (And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. John 6:35)

Prayer for Week 17 (Beginning 4.21.08)

I have to admit that I'm not great at keeping up with current events. With a baby at home, I'm more likely to be watching Veggie Tales than CNN. So I was grateful this weekend when author Joel Rosenberg came to speak to our church about current issues in the middle east. As headlines pop up about the Iranian President's hatred of Israel, Russia's arms deal with Syria, etc., it is easy to view them as separate and individual events. However, those who follow Bible prophecy are aware of the interconnectedness of these events...and how they line-up with prophecies outlined in God's Word.

As we pray for our country, let us reflect on God's people Israel. May we not be too busy, distracted, or self-indulgent to remember that God is doing a work much bigger than our individual lives.

INTERCESSIONS:
- that Christians in America, especially our national leaders, will have soft hearts toward and will continue to support Israel. (I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Gen 12:3)

- that Christians will remember Israel in our prayers. According to God's Word, the nation will endure much suffering before they know true peace...the peace of their Messiah. (Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you. Psalm 122:6)


EXTRAS:
The Joshua Fund has been established by Christians to bless Israel...as well as her neighbors.

The Epicenter Conference held in Israel saw more than 2,000 evangelical Christians from around the world gathered to celebrate Israel's 60th Anniversary on April 10. If you scroll down through the video clips, there is a message by my pastor entitled "Why Christians Love Israel."

Prayer for Week 16 (Beginning 4.14.08)

This week's intercessions come from the book of Colossians and a commentary on that book by John MacArthur.

INTERCESSIONS:
- that Christians be persistent in prayer and stay alert "for specific needs about which to pray rather than being vague and unfocused." (Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; Col 4:2)

- that this week God would provide an opportunity for you to share Christ with another. (meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. Col 4:3, 4)

- that Christians would "live that they establish the credibility of the Christian faith and that they make the most out of every evangelistic opportunity." (Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Col 4:5)

- that Christians would speak what is "spiritual, wholesome, fitting, kind, sensitive, purposeful, complimentary, gentle, truthful, loving, and thoughtful." (Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Col 4:6)

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)

Prayer for Week 14 (Beginning 3.31.08)

I've posted before that sometimes the church looks way too much like the world. I was reminded of this last week as I spent some time with an unbeliever who interacts often with Christians in business settings. This person's view of Christians...and, therefore, Christ...has been tainted from witnessing habitual gossip, slander, judgmental attitudes, backstabbing, and selfishness among those professing to be believers.

We can often brush off our sins with the thought of "afterall, I'm only human" as if somehow that makes our sinning OK. But it is not OK. We are called to "be holy" and to "not be conformed to this world." We are commanded to "put off" the corrupt conduct of our past. This means we don't flirt with a married person and pass it off as being friendly; we don't gossip and pass it off as being concerned about So&So; we don't give a person cause to dislike another Christian by sharing details that should be kept to ourselves; we don't go behind the back of another to get our own way; we don't lie to cover our own reputation. And so on, and so on, and so on.

Until we, the Body of Christ, repent from our sins and "walk in the light," we will continue to misrepresent our Lord and Savior to those who do not know Him.

Yes, our sanctification is a process, but we can habitually walk in holiness if we choose to. I believe that God will honor such a choice and has given us His Word and His Spirit to help us do so. Sin should not be the norm in our life. Let's commit this week to repenting from sin...the sin that may look little in our daily lives but that reveals big issues in our hearts. Yes, God's grace and forgiveness are available should we stumble, but let's not take it for granted. And may the world know better the pure beauty of our Lord by knowing us.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:13

INTERCESSIONS
This week I am just posting verses. Please pray as you feel led by God whether it be for yourself, the church, or our nation. I have marked in bold the words below that stood out to me:

- love one another fervently with a pure heart...1 Peter 1:22

- laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking...1 Peter 2:1

- abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul...1 Peter 2:11

- let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit...1 Peter 3:10

- be hospitable to one another without grumbling...1 Peter 4:9

- let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, and evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters...1 Peter 4:15

- therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another...Eph 4:25


For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men--as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God...1 Peter 2:15


UPDATE: I just listened to a message by John MacArthur and thought it tied in well with this post. It is the one dated March 27: http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/Grace_to_You/archives.asp?bcd=2008-3-27

Prayer for Week 13 (Beginning 3.24.08)

This weekend as Christians gathered to remember the death and resurrection of Jesus, there were no doubt unbelievers in attendance at those services and events. Perhaps they were there at the invitation of a friend or family member, or they were driving by and suddenly found themselves turning into the church parking lot, or they were fulfilling an annual traditional, cultural, or religious requirement (in their own minds) by going to an Easter service. But we know those people were there because of a Divine appointment. After hearing the gospel message, some made a decision to follow Christ while others simply walked away.

INTERCESSIONS:
For those who gave their lives to Christ this weekend:
- that they would increase in the knowledge of God, be fruitful in serving Him, and walk worthy of the One they chose to follow. (that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, Col 1:10)

For those who heard the gospel this weekend, but did not yet give their lives to Christ:
- that they would come to understand that reconciliation and a relationship with God the Father is through Christ Jesus alone (Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6)

- that they would make a decision to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior (that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9)

Prayer for Week 12 (Beginning 3.17.08)

And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. John 3:19-20

The national news have been heavy with the scandal surrounding New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer. While in watching the details unfold I have indeed thought much about his wife and children; however, my mind keeps focusing on the people responsible for "breaking the case." Numerous bank employees, IRS agents, and federal prosecutors worked tirelessly amidst corruption, lies, and depravity. By their diligence, light shone into darkness and the darkness was exposed.

"There are those who rebel against the light; They do not know its ways Nor abide in its paths.
The murderer rises with the light; He kills the poor and needy; And in the night he is like a thief.
The eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight, Saying, 'No eye will see me'; And he disguises his face.
In the dark they break into houses Which they marked for themselves in the daytime; They do not know the light.
For the morning is the same to them as the shadow of death; If someone recognizes them, They are in the terrors of the shadow of death.
Job 24:13-17


INTERCESSIONS:
- that Christians will live in purity, opposing and exposing darkness in our nation (And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. Eph 5:11)

- that Christians will remember the mercy God has shown them and show the same to those stumbling in darkness, including the people involved in the Spitzer scandal (For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. Eph 5:8)

- that unbelievers will turn from darkness to the Light of the world, Jesus Christ (...to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.' Acts 26:18)

- that current and future leaders of America will exercise authority with justice and humility in complete submission to God (The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'He who rules over men must be just, Ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, A morning without clouds... 2 Sam 23:3-4a)

Praise God!