Prayer and Bible Reading Guide

 

Prayer  and  Bible  Reading  Guide   February  17  –  February  23,  2013   Day  1  

Day  2  

Day  3  

Day  4  

Day  5  

Day  6  

Matthew  5:31-­‐32  

Genesis  2:18-­‐25  

Matthew  19:3-­‐9  

Psalm  15:1-­‐5  

Isaiah  33:15-­‐16  

Matthew  5:33-­‐37  

            In     the  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  Jesus  is  teaching  the  ethics  of  his  kingdom.  Jesus  wants  his  followers  to  be  right  on  the  inside  –  he   calls  his  people  to  be  pure  in  heart,  not  just  in  body.  The  daily  Bible  readings  above  focus  on  the  institution  of  marriage  and  its   permanence  (Days  1-­‐3),  as  well  as  the  high  value  that  God  gives  to  the  virtue  of  integrity  leading  to  honesty,  which  will  be  the   focus  of  the  teaching  next  week  (Days  4-­‐6).    

Feb  24-­‐Matt  5:33-­‐37,  Mean  What  You  Say        Mar  3-­‐Matt  5:38-­‐42,  Do  Not  Retaliate      

PRAYING  FOR  GOD’S  GLORY   Pray   that   as   citizens   of   God’s   kingdom,   husbands   and   wives   in   our   church   would   display   ever-­‐increasing   shades   of   peace,   gentleness,   wisdom,   and   love   in   marital   relationships.   Pray   that   the   culture   of   our   church   would   nurture   faithful  love  from  husbands  and  supportive  love  from  wives.  Pray  that  God’s  glory  would  be  seen  through  this.   PRAYING  FOR  GOD’S  PEOPLE   This  week  we  will  be  praying  for  Temple  Baptist  Church   (downtown)  and  their  interim  pastor,  David  Moore.  Please   pray  for  these  brothers  and  sisters  throughout  the  week.  Also   pray  for  the  following:   Day  1:  Pray  for  pastors/members  of  Temple  Baptist  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.   Day  2:  Pray  that  as  members  of  Christ  Covenant  work  in  the   various  places  of  employment  God  has  provided,  that  we   would  be  a  faithful  presence  there,  loving  in  all  things,  diligent   in  our  work,  “rendering  service  with  a  good  will  as  to  the  Lord   and  n ot  to  man”  (Eph.  6:7).   Day  3:  Pray  for  local  government  officials  that  God  would  give   them  spiritual  wisdom  to  believe  and  love  the  gospel,  and  to   make  decisions  that  would  allow  for  gospel-­‐flourishing.  Pray   that  God  would  superintend  in  all  things  for  h is  good  purposes   in  our  city  and  county.   Day  4:  Pray  for  Tom  Mercer  as  he  p repares  to  teach  this   coming  Sunday  from  Matthew  5:33-­‐37.  Pray  that  the  Spirit   would  give  insight  and  direction  in  his  study  (1  Cor.  2:12-­‐13).   Day  5:  Pray  Bob  Olender  (CCC  member),  as  he  will  be  travelling   to  Nepal  this  week  (Feb  23-­‐Mar  3)  to  train  pastors  and  preach   in  evangelistic  settings  in  remote  parts  of  Nepal.  Pray  that  God   would  strengthen  him  physically  for  the  week  in  Nepal,  and   that  God  would  bring  fruit  from  his  labor  there.   Day  6:  Pray  that  we  God  would  give  members  of  CCC  grace   and  courage  to  share  our  joy  in  the  gospel  with  those  who  do   not  know  Christ.  Pray  that  the  Spirit  would  use  our  witness  to   convert  sinners  and  make  disciples.  

PRAYING  FOR  GOD’S  WORLD   This  week  we  are  praying  for  the  advancement  of  the  gospel   among  the  people  in  Nepal,  which  is  mountainous  Himalayan   state  between  China  (Tibet)  and  India.  Please  use  this   information  to  inform  your  prayers,  taken  from  Operation   World  (available  in  the  bookstore):    

 

Population:  29,852,682        Annual  Growth:  1.86%   Capital:  Kathmandu   Peoples  Groups:  380  (93%  unreached)     Official  language:  Nepali        Languages:  127    

Religion   Christians   Evangelicals   Hinduism  

                                850,801   850,801   22,392,497  

Pop  %   Ann  Gr   2.85   5.3   2.9   5.3   75.01      

 

Answer  to  Prayer:  Sustained  church  growth  over  decades  and   through  many  trials  gives  Nepali  Christianity  a  strong   foundation.  The  first  church  was  formed  in  1952  with  29   Christians.  At  the  height  of  persecution  in  1990,  there  were   200,000  believers.  In  2010  there  are  as  many  as  850,000  Christ-­‐ followers  in  nearly  10,000  groups.  This  was  achieved  by   willingness  to  suffer  for  the  gospel,  profound  prayerfulness  and   a  Nepali-­‐driven  long-­‐term  commitment  to  evangelism  and   church  planting.  Now,  new  social  and  transformational   ministries  are  growing  on  the  back  of  this  foundation.    

Challenge  for  Prayer:  The  many  human  rights  abuses  that   occurred  during  the  conflict  have  not  been  righted.  Justice  has   not  been  administered  for  the  bereaved  of  the  13,000  killed   during  the  conflict  –  many  of  them  extra-­‐judicially.  Not  one   person  has  been  prosecuted,  and  the  Maoist  leadership  –  now   holding  Nepal’s  reigns  of  power  –  would  suffer  greatly  were   their  excesses  and  evil  deeds  brought  to  light.  Unless  justice  is   done  and  seen  to  be  done,  violence  will  continue  to  be  justified   as  a  means  to  a  political  end.  Pray  for  justice  and  righteousness   to  be  upheld  in  this  country  where  they  have  for  so  long  been   withheld.