Prayer and Bible Reading Guide

 

Prayer  and  Bible  Reading  Guide   March  17-­‐23,  2013   Day  1  

Day  2  

Day  3  

Matthew  5:43-­‐48  

Hebrews  12:2-­‐3  

Isaiah  53:7  

Day  4  

Heb  5:7-­‐8;  Matt  27:46  

Day  5  

Day  6  

Hebrews  2:14-­‐15  

John  1 2:20-­‐33  

            As     we  begin  to  turn  our  attention  toward  Easter,  we  want  to  consider  the  final  days  before  the  crucifixion.  John’s  gospel  devotes   more  space  to  the  final  week  of  Jesus’s  life  than  the  other  three,  and  Tom  will  preach  from  John  12,  which  is  where  the  Passion   Week  narrative  begins.  The  readings  above  focus  on  the  sufferings  of  Christ.  Contemplate  the  goodness  of  a  Savior  who  suffers   along  with  his  people  in  order  to  save  them  from  eternal  suffering.    

Mar  2 4-­‐John  12:20-­‐33,  Palm  Sunday                                  Mar  31-­‐Romans  1 :1-­‐6,  Easter  Sunday              Apr  7-­‐Matthew  6 :1-­‐8,  Giving  to  the  Needy  

PRAYING  FOR  GOD’S  GLORY   Pray   that   God   would  bring  glory   to   himself   as   Christians   turn   their   hearts   to   rejoice   in   his   goodness   through   Christ.   Pray   that   the   death   of   our   Savior   would  b e   a   weighty   reminder   to   us  of  God’s   wrath   against   our   sin   and   yet   his   mercy   to  forgive.  Pray  that  the  resurrection  of  Jesus  would  bring  great  joy  as  we  consider  our  new  life  and  hope.   PRAYING  FOR  GOD’S  PEOPLE   This  week  we  will  be  praying  for  Midtown  Community  Church   (Raleigh)  and  their  pastor  Lindsey  Williams.  Please  pray  for   these  brothers  and  sisters  throughout  the  week.  Also  pray  for   the  following:   Day  1:  Pray  for  pastors/members  of  Midtown  Community   Church,  that  their  gospel  love  would  stand  in  stark  contrast  to   the  darkness  of  sin.  Pray  that  they  would  be  a  b lessing  to  their   community  as  they  reflect  Christ’s  love.  Pray  that  the  Word  of   God  would  be  taught  faithfully  in  the  church  each  week.  

PRAYING  FOR  GOD’S  WORLD   This  week  we  are  praying  for  the  advancement  of  the   gospel  among  the  people  in  Kyrgyzstan,  a  mostly   mountains  country  on  China’s  western  border.  Please  use   this  information  to  inform  your  prayers,  taken  from   Operation  World  (available  in  the  bookstore):    

Religion   Christians   Evangelicals   Muslim  

                                292,498   40,152   4,924,727  

Pop  %   Ann  G r   5.27   -­‐1.2   0.7   4.3   88.73    

 

Day  2:  Pray  for  single  mothers  in  our  church.  These  women   have  a  task  that  demands  great  faith  and  patience.  Pray  that   God  would  encourage  them  through  the  body  and  satisfy  them   in  Christ  (Psalm  16:8-­‐11).   Day  3:  Pray  for  Juana  Mikels,  who  will  be  speaking  at  the   women’s  retreat  this  coming  weekend.  Pray  that  the  Spirit   would  lead  her  accurate  understanding  and  application  of  the   Scriptures,  leading  to  great  fruit  in  the  lives  of  the  women.   Day  4:  Pray  for  Tom  Mercer  as  he  p repares  to  teach  this   coming  Sunday  from  John  12:20-­‐33.  Pray  that  the  Spirit  would   give  insight  and  direction  in  his  study  (1  Cor.  2:12-­‐13).   Day  5:  Pray  that  coming  week  would  be  a  fruitful  time  as   Christians  around  Raleigh  and  in  other  places  seek  to  bring  up   conversations  about  Easter  and  Christ  with  unbelieving  friends   and  coworkers.  Pray  that  the  Spirit  would  open  doors  and  give   boldness  to  walk  through  those  doors  (Col.  4:3).   Day  6:  Pray  about  the  women’s  retreat  this  weekend,  that  the   women  would  be  encouraged  as  they  share  in  Christ  together   and  that  the  theme  of  the  talks,  Trusting  God,  would  provoke   the  women  toward  greater  love  and  good  works.    

A  resurgent  Islam.  The  vast  majority  of  Kyrgyz  are  culturally   Muslim,  but  practice  and  understanding  of  Islam  are  low.   Northern  Kyrgyz  are  more  Russian-­‐influenced,  but  southerners   are  more  traditional  and  Islamic.  Muslim  m issionaries  (200   registered,  many  more  unregistered)  from  several  nations  seek   to  strengthen  and  purify  Islam.  Around  2,000  mosques  and   prayer  rooms  were  built  between  2000  and  2005,  m ostly   funded  by  foreign  money.  The  close  association  of  Kyrgyz   cultural  identity  and  Islam  makes  becoming  Christian  a  difficult   decision;  the  same  holds  true  for  other  Central  Asian  peoples.    

Shamanism  and  ancestor  worship  are  significant  forces   beneath  the  façade  of  Islam.  Fear  of  the  “evil  eye”,  use  of   amulets,  the  occult  and  demonization  are  widespread.  Shamans   still  wield  great  influence.    

Further  growth  and  multiplication  of  churches.  There  were  only   45  Protestant  congregations  in  1990;  20  years  later  that  number   is  closing  in  on  300  and  does  not  include  illegal  house  churches.   Pray  that  the  fire  and  passion  of  the  initial  years  will  not  give   way  to  lukewarmness  or  false  doctrines.    

Wisdom  in  outreach.  Culturally  relevant  and  appropriate  m eans   need  to  be  found  and  used.  Muslims  and  Orthodox  will  often   react  strongly  against  perceived  proselytism.  Many  Kyrgyz  are   held  back  from  faith  by  fear  of  alienation  from  families,  fear  of   not  being  given  a  proper  burial  and  by  negative  propaganda.