Posted on Feb 9, 2016 in General |
Read 1 Samuel 17:37-40, 2 Corinthians 2:1-2 again today, and meditate on how the lure of respectability, endorsements, certification, legitimacy etc., are often nothing more than – clink, clink – Saul’s armor.
PRAY FOR THE WORLD
- For religious and ethnic cleansing to stop
- For the spirit of bloodshed to be bound globally
- For the spirit of depression, confusion and despair to be bound globally
PRAY FOR THE CHURCH
- For God’s blessing on the apostolic leaders globally
- For our national persecuted pastors
- For all anti-conversion legislations against the church to be defeated
- For strength and endurance for the pastors who live and serve under very difficult conditions
PRAYER FOCUS
Spend some time in prayer today for persecuted Christians in Sudan.
Posted on Feb 9, 2016 in General |
1 SAMUEL 17:37-40, 2 CORINTHIANS 2:1-2
When new blood emerges with creative ideas and fresh initiatives, we’re sometimes tempted to saddle them with Saul’s armor. Why not pass on to others, especially young untested upstarts, what has served us well? Consider the temptation from David’s point of view. Imagine swaggering around in Saul’s armor! After all, David was the anointed king-in-waiting. What better way to make his entrance, impress the crowd, outsize his smug brothers, and signal to his peers that he’s moving up, going places! How many of us have yielded to this same temptation in its many modern forms? The lure of respectability, endorsements, certification, legitimacy, title. Some of these have their place. But often they’re nothing more thank – clink, clink – Saul’s armor! While we appreciate the sincerity of the Sauls in our live, we must nevertheless, always tell the truth: I cannot go in these…
PRAY FOR THE WORLD
- For televisions stations, radio stations and newspapers to be made accountable to broadcast and report the truth
- For the Satan’s efforts to drum up anti-ethnic and anti-religious sentiments to be defeated
- For responsible government leaders not to condone or encourage the media in smear campaigns for their own personal benefit
- For the state and religion to be seen as two totally different entities and for the government not to sponsor or favor any religion or ethnic group against the other
PRAY FOR THE CHURCH
- For the church to see and respond to the Holy Spirit’s desire to draw the whole church together
- For us to see ourselves as one church, though many congregations
- For us to find more appropriate forms of evangelism and church planting while being sensitive to the present climate of persecution
- For wisdom and boldness to present the message of the gospel clearly and powerfully
PRAYER FOCUS
Spend some time in prayer today for persecuted Christians in Afghanistan.
Posted on Feb 5, 2016 in General |
Picture this: Weighing scale, fulcrum in the center and two pans, one on either side. On one side, we see Goliath spirits, conspiring, mocking, shouting taunts and breathing threats, heaping up accusations day and night. On the other side, we see God’s Davidic company, covenanting in holy fear of the Lord and coming into passionate agreement for His kingdom come, His will done on earth as it is in heaven. Filling the golden bowls of heaven with the incense of worship – intercession!
Ponder this: Whether the scales tip in our favor or not is really up to us. Whether there will be the rending of the heavens and the routing of the enemies is very much our choice as God’s Davidic company on earth. It’s a sobering reality. Someone said that, if life were a chess match, it would certainly be the church’s move. The Lord Himself is inviting us to work with Him to move heaven and earth, tipping the scales, tilting the balance of powers in our day to define our times. Our prayers, as led by the Spirit, will make a world of difference.
PRAY FOR THE WORLD
- For terrorists to be detected and arrested before they strike
- For drug lords, rapists and other criminals to be arrested in our cities
PRAY FOR THE CHURCH
- For those ministering to the thousands of refugees in the cities of many nations
- For effective discipling of believers among the unreached peoples groups in the nations
- For the Lord to give the church a precise vision and strategies to reach young people for Christ
PRAYER FOCUS
Spend some time in prayer today for persecuted Christians fleeing Syria.
Posted on Feb 4, 2016 in General |
1 SAMUEL 16:13, 1 SAMUEL 17:34-37, LUKE 16:10-12
Giant-killers are made, not born. Before ever meeting Goliath, David had already practiced the anointing on a few hungry lions and bears that tried to make lamb chops of his flock. As with Samson, all this was by the Spirit of God. Yet there is a learning process if we are to flow with the Spirit. Anointed or not, we do not become giant-killers overnight. The Spirit does not override our humanity. On the contrary, He redeems it, tests and tunes it to function with every-increasing competence, in rhythm with the Spirit. In the quiet of the night or in the heat of the day, with no one applauding or affirming, David stood his ground in the line of duty. Faithful in little, faithful in much. First a lion, then a bear – and finally the giant. So before you try to move a mountain or part the ocean, you might want to first offer a cup of cold water to a thirsty friend or foe.
PRAY FOR THE WORLD
- For key government leaders to be surrounded by Godly and wise advisors
- For the throne of Satan in our nations to be demolished and for Satan to be dethroned
- For Jesus Christ to be enthroned as Lord of our nations
- For the territorial spirits to be bound in our nations, cities and provinces
- For the demonic fortifications around key cities to come down like the walls of Jericho fell
PRAY FOR THE CHURCH
- For the fragmentation and individualism among evangelical churches to be eliminated
- For the increase of national coordination of ministries and accountability to one another in the body of Christ
- For the growth of discipleship of converts and indigenization of the church
- For the church to be used as a catalyst for national reconciliation
- For the church to experience a prayer revival
- For the church to be missional and culturally relevant
PRAYER FOCUS
Spend some time in prayer today for persecuted Christians in Iraq.
Posted on Feb 3, 2016 in General |
1 SAMUEL 17:28-37
David’s elder brother accused him of immaturity and presumption. Saul took him for an over-confident youth making big talk: “You are only a boy and he [Goliath] has been fighting man from his youth” (v. 33). In other words: You’re no match. You don’t have the experience for such big things! What a reality check! But David saw things differently. Goliath was in for a reality check-right between the eyes. He would suffer the same fate as any beast that ever preyed on David’s sheep. First, this overgrown Philistine was outside the covenant. Second, Goliath had defied the armies of the living God. Amid a national crisis of fear, David’s confidence rested firmly on 1. the record of God’s covenant faithfulness, 2. the honor of God’s name, and 3. the anointing of God’s Spirit. With faith like that, we can face every giant-sized challenge confronting the church or nation today. Let no one lose heart.
PRAY FOR THE WORLD
- For the power and influence of modernity against the supernatural witness of the church to be neutralized
- For the hate propaganda of the media to be exposed and halted
- For honest, fair government in these multireligious, multiethnic nations we live in
- For the binding of unleashed demonic powers of our nations
- For the blood of the Lamb to break cultural bondages in our nations
- For God’s blessings upon the waterways of our nations
- For our nations to be blessed with enough rain
- For climate conditions that are favorable for sowing and reaping
PRAY FOR THE CHURCH
- For a return to Biblical theology and holiness in our congregations
- For cultural adaption to make worship relevant and welcoming to unbelievers
- For the awakening of a vision for evangelism and outreach to non-Christians
- For the church to have a healthy relationship with all Christian NGOs and support ministries
- For the defeat of the enemy’s efforts to weaken the church
- For the church to continue fulfilling the divine commission despite persecution
PRAYER FOCUS
Spend some time in prayer today for persecuted Christians in Somalia.
Posted on Feb 2, 2016 in General |
Read through 1 Samuel 17:17-31 again today, and meditate on how the smallest assignments somehow fit into God’s big plan for the world.
PRAY FOR THE WORLD
- For divine protection for the leaders of our nations
- For the leaders of our nations not to give into the pressure of anti-Christians sentiments
- For the Ebola virus, dengue and other epidemics to be totally wiped out
- For God’s redemptive gift for each nation to emerge
- For the nations that are devastated by war to prevail through prayer
- For the nations to hear of God’s love and experience it in tangible ways
- For the church’s inherent ability to relate to the supernatural to be redeemed by God, the Holy Spirit
PRAY FOR THE CHURCH
- For the body of Christ to experience renewal and refreshing
- For the Lord of the harvest to reveal new strategies for gathering the harvest
- For all Christians to be discipled
- For a supernatural revolution within the status quo of the organized church
- For the body of Christ to repent of spiritual pride and a legalistic spiritual state of being lukewarm
- For a child-like desire to be open to supernatural revelation
- For the church family to plunge into Spirit-filled praying and openness to the supernatural moves of God
PRAYER FOCUS
Spend some time in prayer today for persecuted Christians in North Korea.
Posted on Feb 1, 2016 in General |
Read through 1 SAMUEL 17:1-11 again today, and meditate on the idea that this is the time to advance deep into enemy territory with the weapons of faith, hope, and love. This is our best defense in a crisis of fear.
PRAY FOR THE WORLD
- For the curse of historical bloodshed to be removed through national repentance over nations
- For the satanic and demonic covenants made by the forefathers of our nations to be cancelled through prayer
- For the Holy Spirit to bless our rivers and vegetation
- For the curses of idol worship and witchcraft to be removed
- For God’s blessing on our national economies and for the rising inflation to be halted
PRAY FOR THE CHURCH
- For the restoration of the fear of God
- For the church to be revived to personal witness
- For the church to be delivered from the fear of man
- For God to give the church favor among unbelievers and the lost
- For God to protect men and women who He has raised to influential positions in government
- For all pastors’ children who tend to get neglected due to the busy schedules of their parents in ministry
PRAYER FOCUS
Spend some time in prayer today for pastors, missionaries and ministries in the South Pacific.
Posted on Jan 31, 2016 in General |
1 SAMUEL 17:17-31
Long after he was anointed king, David was still counting sheep in the desert while his elder brothers fought Israel’s fierce enemy, the Philistines. But he was in for a “promotion”: carrying bread and cheese to the battlefront. From sheep herding to pizza delivery! In God’s kingdom, big doors turn on small hinges. The smallest assignments somehow fit into God’s big plan for the world. David’s pizza errand seemed ordinary, a mundane job – of little significance! But it took him to the threshold of greatness. When David heard Goliath shout his usual defiance, he responded with holy zeal for God’s honor: “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine…?” (v. 26) Enough was enough! Disgrace of Israel and defiance of God’s armies must stop. That day Goliath aroused a mighty giant in a little errand boy. And the rest is history.
PRAY FOR THE WORLD
- For righteous governance
- For political stability
- For eradication of corruption and violence
- For the leaders to deny selfish agendas and lead selflessly
- For the Lord to heal our nations of the drug menace
- For places of ill repute to be closed down in our nations
- For consistency and integrity to prevail in the legislature of our nations
PRAY FOR THE CHURCH
- For the Lord to bless the Evangelical Alliance in our nations as it tries to engender fellowship between Christian brethren
- For the Lord to bless World Vision as it serves the underprivileged children and peoples
- For the Lord would bless all the Christian NGOs in our nations
- For an outpouring of God’s Spirit upon the Catholic and mainline churches
- For the restoration of Godly fear within the Pentecostal/Charismatic churches
- For Holy Spirit-empowered preaching and teaching within the evangelical churches
- For God to bless missionaries in the nations
PRAYER FOCUS
Spend some time in prayer today for pastors, missionaries and ministries in Europe.
Posted on Jan 30, 2016 in General |
1 SAMUEL 17:1-11
A well-armed, imposing enemy paralyzed an entire nation with a weapon more devastating than biological or chemical warfare: fear. All Israel was in shock – dismayed and terrified – by words! (v.11) Behind Goliath’s taunts and threats was a direct attack by the headquarters of hell against Israel’s national sovereignty and national destiny to light up the world. Goliath comes in many shapes and sizes today. His tactics or modus operandi may change, but his aim is always the same: intimidate God’s army to the point of inertia and inaction. Wars and rumors of wars? ISIS and rumors of ISIS? Jesus said: “… see to it that you are not alarmed” (Matthew 24:6). This is not the time to recoil or retreat. This is the time to advance deep into enemy territory with the weapons of faith, hope, and love. This is our best defense in a crisis of fear.
PRAY FOR THE WORLD
- For discipline, good conduct and accountability as our political leaders meet to make policy decisions that affect the peace, security and economies of our nations
- For human rights violation to cease across the globe
- For the great refugee problem to be settled and for people to be fed and cared for and brought into decent housing with lasting peace and security
- For an honest “win-win” atmosphere to prevail in global trade and commerce
- For the prevailing culture of suspicion among different ethnic and religious groups across the world to be sorted out and people reconciled
- For God to raise up men of Godly vision and wisdom to lead national healing and reconciliation
- For the evil agendas and plans of ethnic cleansing and extremist ethno religious nationalism to be exposed and severely judged by the righteous Judge, our Lord Almighty
PRAY FOR THE CHURCH
- For the church to continue to minister to physical, spiritual and social needs of the people despite the challenges they face
- For all the people to identify their real enemy and prayerfully overcome his tactics (Ephesians 6:11)
- For the church to experience and exercise a greater release of spiritual discernment
- For mighty release of the demonstration of God’s power on our national pastors
- For a conviction and an acknowledgment in the hearts of Christian leaders of the need of a fresh outpouring of God’s Spirit upon them
- For divine revelation and unity to be an overcoming church across the nations interdenominationally, realizing that persecution is overcome through spiritual warfare
- For the church leaders, pastors and mature believers globally to be passionate about prayer and spiritual warfare
PRAYER FOCUS
Spend some time in prayer today for pastors, missionaries and ministries in Southeast Asia.
Posted on Jan 29, 2016 in General |
Read through 1 SAMUEL 16:14-23 again today, and meditate on how humility is the only way to realize God’s greatness in our lives.
PRAY FOR THE WORLD
- For all doctors, specialist, and nurses of all hospitals
- For all civil servants in all government ministries
- For all marketplace leaders to be touched by the power of the gospel
- For all those in political power to be touched by the power of God
- For our nations to experience God’s redeeming work and to be free to be what God created them to be
- For every effort to negate the power of the gospel to be shot down legally by the power of the Holy Spirit
PRAY FOR THE CHURCH
- For the church at large to meet to dialogue, pray and work together, showing the world that we love and care for one another
- For the global family to be able to raise more intercessors, including a child prayer brigade
- For prayer warriors to be raised up to travel across the nations to assist and encourage national leaders and pastors to overcome their day-to-day spiritual conflict
- For God’s anointing to be on our missions teams as they travel to minister in outstation churches
- For the church’s witness of real brotherhood, love and unity in Christ regardless of all national, language and ethnic differences, to speak loud and clear to all peoples of the world
- For the church to be united as the body of Christ and act as one to refute all false allegations brought against it
- For the church to rely totally on the wisdom and the power of God, rather than on the arm of the flesh, and to be overcomers in the hour of trial
- For the Holy Ghost revival among the young adults and teenagers in our churches
PRAYER FOCUS
Spend some time in prayer today for pastors, missionaries and ministries in South Asia.