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PTAP's Vision "To see the global church praying for the Arabian Peninsula so that the gospel and churches will be planted for every indigenous people in the Arabian Peninsula" |
PEACE (32)
Weekly Prayer for the Arabian Peninsula - January 13, 2020Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said, the late ruler of Oman, passed away on January 10, 2010. He is a ruler who has been lauded for mediating role he played between conflicting parties in the Arabian Gulf in addition to developing Oman's infrastructure. In recent years, however, Oman has faced challenges of diversifying its economy and reducing dependence on hydrocarbons that fueled Oman's development.The new sultan, Haitham bin Tariq, will now have to undertake reforms to safeguard the late Sultan Qaboos's legacy and maintain internal stability. He will also have to uphold the country's foreign policy. In fact, in his inaugural address, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq has pledged to stay course on the country's foreign policy and continue to "assist in resolving disputes peacefully."Let us pray for Oman as the country undergoes this transition. Let us also lift up Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, as he begins to rule Oman in face of new economic and political challenges in the country and the region.
Over the entire course of my ministry I have been drawn to thunderous things in the Bible. I love Elijah's prayer as he called fire from heaven, and the day the sun stood still for Joshua, Isaiah's seeing the Lord in Isaiah 6, the angels at the birth of Jesus, the voice from heaven at His baptism, the mount of transfiguration, the earthquake at the cross, the angel rolling the stone from the tomb, and hundreds more.
But lately God has been drawing me to quiet things, especially in the life of Jesus. These are things like Jesus reaching out to touch a leper who had not felt a human touch for years, or His giving His mother to John at the cross. There are quite a few of these as well. They are not usually the foundations of major doctrines, but the Holy Spirit can give amazing insights from them. Some of these are difficult to understand. And we have to think about them before they begin to make sense. Many of them are recorded in the Gospels simply because they happened.
I want to share some of them with you because God often touches my heart with His peace through them. And I am convinced that He will bless you as we look at them together.
These may be the foundation of a book that I will yet write. I have been praying for God to give me time to write a book on peace. My granddaughter Olivia’s name was particularly chosen in connection with God's Olive Branch to and through us. And she occasionally reminds me of that, and half a promise that I will write such a book. And I pray God's peace will touch your heart through these scriptures.
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Life changes and is never stagnant, if you allow yourself to grow. Growing takes effort. Reading His Word and applying His principles to your life. They are good principles, adding value to life. This does not mean you’re going to hop on a fluffy soft cloud and float through life with no heartache or pain. It does mean that you have God to lean on. It means when you seek Him, He will answer. When you follow His principles the hardships in life can be overcome. He cannot always keep you from harm, but He can help you heal from it. He does not control anyone. He is not a control freak. He is here to guide you when you ask but you must listen when He answers. He is your healer, but not always in the way you expect. You only think in the ways of man. You cannot always comprehend what He is doing in your life. This is where trust comes in. If you are following Him, reading His word, praying and soaking in His presence you will have greater understanding and greater healing from life’s hurts.
He is here for His people! The one’s who choose to follow Him. Being a follower of His Son Jesus does not make you weak. Instead it makes you strong. Spiritually strong. Align yourself with the Holy Bible. Align yourself with a Bible believing church that teaches Agape Love above all else. Learn of His ways. Learn to love others and His Son. Learn to love yourself. Many people have done so much wrong, been taught wrongly, or mistreated so badly, even by those who call themselves Godly, that they are confused and refuse to hear His Word. But know that I do not control them and they can choose to misconstrue His Word, or twist it for their own glory or excuses. He is the ONE and ONLY TRUE GOD who love’s your soul. Who forgives your sins and longs to guide you to the truth of the Word. He is peace when there is no peace around you. He is Love when there is no one to love you and even when you do have people to love you. He is the Great I AM, here to guide and save His people. You must choose Him as He has already put you on the list of HIS Chosen. He has given you the opportunity and the right to follow Him and seek His peace in your life.
Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
I am the one who strengthens you. I will show you the way. You do not always need to rely on other people to grow in my wisdom and love. You need Me more than anyone or anything. I am the great I AM. I am your healer when you are hurt or sick. I am love when no one is around to love you. I am everything you need. I will lead you when you look to me and depend on ME to lead you. My glory shines over you. My will is the only thing you need to seek after. I have your life in the palm of my hand, watching every move you make to assure your success and safety. My hand covers you and protects you. Believe in Me and I will guide you through the wilderness. I will show you a life more precious than you can imagine. My people know a love so great, they can barely tolerate the impact of it on their lives. They bow down in honor. Not that I demand it, but only because my love is so pure they are made grateful and filled with generosity and forgiveness. The experience of my love alone is more than any human can bare. I share with you in small doses so that you will be able to tolerate it.
I am bringing new things to pass very soon. You will see new doors open and new projects that only you can fulfill. You are ready for a new season of LOVE, JOY and PEACE. You will honor me in new ways because I will pour out so much love upon you. Do not turn to the right or to the left. Stay the course I have given you. Do the tasks I give you and lean into my presence. Do not allow distraction. Focus on the task as hand and you will see My glory on your life.
Seek My face daily for your daily download of love and perspective. I will show you the peace you have been seeking. I will show you joy instead of mourning. Your day will begin anew. Your day will contain sustenance in me and only me. I will declare goodness and mercy over you. I will declare stability, joy, peace, forgiveness and love over you. You are my joy. I look at you and see my work in you coming into it’s fruition. Your time is here. You are about to shine like never before. Your obedience and dedication have paid off. You are ready to join in the season of fruitfulness and prosperity. You are ready to receive the fruit of your labor.
About a year ago, after trying other religions and philosophies, Anthony (pseudonym)
found that there was none other like the message of the gospel, and he
trusted Christ for his salvation. Although he knows there is the need for cautious wisdom in a Muslim context, he feels that he must share the truth of the gospel with others. In fact, Anthony is in college and has done so with many of his classmates. Pray that he will continue to grow in faith, love, and hope in the Kingdom.
found that there was none other like the message of the gospel, and he
trusted Christ for his salvation. Although he knows there is the need for cautious wisdom in a Muslim context, he feels that he must share the truth of the gospel with others. In fact, Anthony is in college and has done so with many of his classmates. Pray that he will continue to grow in faith, love, and hope in the Kingdom.
Prayer for Yemen
Psalm 88: 1-4 O Lord, God of my salvation. I cry out day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry. For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draw nears to Sheol. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am a man who has no strength. (ESV)
The people of Yemen continue to suffer from the effects of war. It is in times of suffering that many realize their own helplessness and acknowledge their need for God. Pray that the people will turn to Him. Pray that He will lead them to someone who follows the Savior or that He will speaks words of comfort and hope to them, through visions and dreams. Continue to pray for peace in Yemen.
"For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12
Our battle, our fight, is not against flesh and blood. There is a tremendous battle going on in the heavily realms over people that do not know the Lord Jesus Christ. There are spiritual forces that are battling. The Muslims in the Arab Gulf are not the enemy of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Muslims in the Arab Gulf are not our enemy. Satan (and his forces) is the enemy. Satan has blinded the minds of all unbelievers so they cannot see the Living God.
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4)
Pray for believers in the Arab Gulf to see the spiritual battle raging over the lives of the Muslims in the Arabian Peninsula. They people are caught up behind the false religion of Islam. Pray for Islam to loose its grip over the Arabian Peninsula.
Pray that believers in the Arabian Peninsula and around the world would increase the work in the battling in the heavenlies to see Arab Gulf Muslims released and enter into His great Kingdom.
Pray for Arab Gulf Muslims to repent and turn to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Do you know the central teaching of Scripture? It can be found in every book of the Bible and brings it all together. It is the gospel. “For God so loved the world. . .” “That Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” That, “In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself.”
On the day of Pentecost Peter stood and explained what God was pouring out into the world and in Acts 2:22-24 Peter focused everything on the gospel.
Men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
It is important to understand that Peter did not present the gospel as an abstract concept.
Look at Peter’s words. “Hear these words, ‘Jesus of Nazareth!’”
Jesus is the gospel. If you have never come to know Jesus Christ personally, you need to understand that Jesus Himself is reaching out to you in His incomparable love. In John 14:6 Jesus said He was the way, the truth, and the life. 1 John 5:20 tells us He is eternal life.
You who are believers need to understand that the gospel is not something you will ever grow beyond. The privilege of knowing Jesus is the wonderful foundation of everything you will ever learn, or need, or enjoy in Christ. Let me point out just one narrow application of this truth. Do you know why the fellowship of the church is so wonderful? It is because Jesus indwells us. You can see Jesus, you can hear His voice and feel His embrace when we get together in the church.
But there are many applications of the gospel in our lives. If we look at the fruit of the Spirit for example. Galatians 5:22-23 begins the list with love. “We love because He first loved us.” The next is joy. At the birth of Jesus the Angel told the shepherds he brought them “Good news of great joy!” Next comes peace. “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The list continues from patience through self-control. Each of these and every other facet of spiritual growth comes as we understand and apply the gospel to our lives. And the gospel is Jesus Christ. We do not believe in it. We believe in Him.
This and the next few entries in this blog come from a sermon I preached at Crosspoint Church in Reno, NV. You can find the recording on their website. http://crosspoint.org/index.php/2016-06-01-08-45-06/274-now-to-him-who-is-able-listen-carefully
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Yemen has felt the burden of injustice for the past three years with war, famine and epidemics which have ravaged the country. Please pray Psalm 12:5 over the people of Yemen: "Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy, now I will arise," says the Lord; "I will set him in the safety for which he longs." (NASB).
Young men are forced to join militias in Yemen due to threats and needing the money given them, to feed their families. Displaced people flee from their bombed out homes. Pray for the people who are burdened by fear. Pray that they will hear about the Savior who can give them peace and even joy, in the midst of fearful times.
In fact, the sin of hatred is strong in a land where tribes are fighting one another. Please pray that hatred will be replaced with forgiveness and love. This can only be done through Christ. Pray for the people, Ephesians 4: 31-31: "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ, God forgave you."
Furthermore, humanitarian tragedies have permeated. Each statistic represents a person who has suffered grief, heartache and hopelessness. Please pray that everyone will hear about a loving Savior who will take away pain and will comfort those who mourn. Pray that the physical needs of the people will also be met, that food and supplies will be allowed into the country and will be given to those who need them.
With the evil and hardships in Yemen, workers from Yemen have worked to help create a prayer guide for the country. Leaders in the AP have initiated a focus on prayer for Yemen during the month of February. We trust that many of you will pray and call others to prayer for Yemen during February.
CLICK HERE for a 4 week prayer guide.
Please feel free to edit it, translate it, and send it on to others. PTAP has put this together and give people permission to reuse this information in their own formats.
On the PTAP website, you can also find a word.doc version of this and also a powerful PowerPoint about what is going on in Yemen.
We are seeking the peace of the Lord to come to Yemen! Please pray with us and call others to prayer.
Umm al-Quwain is both a city and an emirate in the United Arab Emirates. The name means "the mother of two powers," one power being the sea and the other the land. Umm al-Quwain is a relaxed and peaceful emirate.
Archeological digs show that this city goes back over 5,000 years and there are tombs that go back to the time of Christ. Its unique lagoon today hosts fishing and speedboats, but in the past, other travelers came here to exchange goods from around the Gulf and the world. They were also known for their shipbuilding. Fishing boats still fill the harbor.
Islam is the dominant religion and there are no officially-recognized church compounds in Um Al Quwain unlike most of the other emirates. In this emirate you can find many from the Baluch tribe and some of them live in poorer areas. The Ali tribe is probably the largest tribe that lives here.
Prayer Points:
- Pray that the power of the Holy Spirit would convict the people of Umm al-Quwain that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
- Pray that Sheikh Saud, the ruler of the emirate, would allow for his own people and others to worship the Lord Jesus freely. Pray that the church would be established.
- Pray a blessing on Umm al-Quwain, a blessing for their work on the sea and on the land. May the inhabitants acknowledge that Jesus is God, the Creator of the seas and lands, and the One who provides for their daily needs.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance. -Psalm 33:12
May nations in the Arabian Peninsula bow their knees to Christ so that they would receive the precious blessings that He is eager to pour out upon them in gracious abundance!
A prayer from a local sister. Let us join her in prayer...
We pray for the people of Saudi Arabia. We pray that God would guide them and give peace between us and other countries. We also pray that He would help the poor countries that need support, especially those countries with sickness and lack of food.
Two Thai women came to our study group after having gone through almost the entire process of converting to Islam. They stated that when they got to the final step of conversion they could not follow through. They shared that something inside told them this was wrong and not for them. They returned to our bible study group more certain than ever that Jesus is the way. Praise God that He is moving by his spirit; convicting, protecting, and drawing people to himself. Pray that many will hear God's voice and follow the prompting of the Holy Spirit's leading.
A Prayer for Hope
With peace talks in Kuwait and fighting in the Hadramaut; news about Yemen continues to swing between hope and despair. Please pray for the people who are caught in the middle. Pray that their basic needs will be met. Pray that God will meet them in their suffering.
Pray also that the church of Jesus Christ would continue to grow among more peoples and in more places throughout the Arabian Peninsula as more and more have access to the Word of God, living & active.
Pray for the country of Y as unrest continues. Now that the port of A is open, pray that ships bringing food will come and that those who need the food will receive it. Pray for all the logistics necessary to make this happen. Pray for peace in Y. Pray for a number of believers who are in great need now - without jobs and means to provide well for their families. Pray that some of this food will go to them and that they too would provide for those in need (Luke 10:25-37).
In the same country, pray for a young man who is searching for Truth due to trauma in his childhood. Thank God that he now has access to the Scriptures. Ask that the Holy Spirit will help him understand them. Pray that he and his whole family will believe. In addition, pray for a believer who was put in prison last week for trying to help meet the material needs of other believers. Pray for his release, spiritual encouragement, peace and joy (Matthew 5:10, 11), and boldness to speak God's word (Acts 4:29).
In another country, there had been a budding church of nationals coming together. However, a jailing of one of the new believers, then a court case between two of them, etc. caused the group to crumble. Pray for the long-time tentmakers and these believers, that they will all have renewed faith, love, hope, guidance, encouragement from the word (Romans 15:4), and wisdom from the past, to see God's chosen church established together in the faith in unity (Psalm 133, Romans 15:5-7).
Pray for the young men in another country who live in a small, conservative town. Some of them are hostile to the truth but they are still willing to discuss the issues. They are hungry for spiritual substance in contrast to their peers who only care about material comfort. Pray that God would grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth that they may escape from the snare of the devil who has captured them to do his will (2 Timothy 2:25, 26).
During the month of October, thousands of people around the world are joining in and praying through the countries of the 10/40 Window. Today is prayer on behalf of Yemen. PTAP is delighted to join in these prayers, especially for the seven countries on the Arabian Peninsula. Click on this link to see more information on Yemen.
Praise Report
Praise God that people all over the world are praying for Yemen, due to the crisis that is occurring there. Praise God that there has been a witness for Him in that country and that the Gospel continues to spread as people who have left the country stay in contact with their many friends who are there (The Bible, Philippians 1:18).
Prayer Request
Pray that there will be a growing desire to work toward a lasting compromise and find a way forward in peace talks (The Bible, Psalm 37:37).
Yemen is the poorest Arab country in the world; pray for the poor in Yemen because they are suffering the most as the war continues. (The Bible, Psalm 145:14).
Call to Salvation
Pray that the Good News of the Lord Jesus will flow to all the different tribal groups, and that whole families would come to know Him (The Bible, Psalm 145:4-5).
Source: WIN
One of the top concepts in the corporate world these days is “the power of full engagement.” It’s a paradigm for managing your personal or organizational energy, and I think you would find it very helpful.
But recently I’ve been learning about the flipside of that concept: the power of full DISENGAGEMENT.
Let me explain why this is so important…
My baby blue 1976 Fiat was the favorite car I’ve ever owned. With 5-speed manual transmission and a responsive engine, it was a complete blast to drive.
But sometimes my Fiat was so much fun that I forgot to press the clutch before changing gears. The result was a horrible grinding sound, not to mention considerable embarrassment on my part. And occasionally my failure to press the clutch even resulted in the engine stalling.
Lately I’ve realized that God is getting me ready for a new season in my life, and I’ve thought about the lesson I learned years ago with that old Fiat: If you’re going to make a smooth transition from one gear (or season) to the next, you’d better press the clutch first.
In many ways, this seems a great paradox. In order to be fully engaged with the next gear, you must first take time to be fully disengaged from your present gear. Shortcuts simply don’t work. In fact, shortcuts will eventually cause permanent damage to the gears.
No one modeled the power of disengagement better than Jesus. When He saw that His disciples were facing burnout because of never-ending activity, He instructed them to “come apart” to a quiet place and get some rest (Mark 6:31 KJV). Then and now, those who don’t intentionally disengage from their daily grind on a regular basis will eventually “come apart” (i.e., fall apart) in unpleasant, unintentional ways.
Jesus realized the POWER in disengagement, especially when we use that time to better engage with our Heavenly Father. We repeatedly see Him disengaging from the crowds, and even from His disciples, to go pray in the wilderness or on top of a mountain. What was the result of such times? “Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14).
Isn’t that beautiful? After Jesus purposefully disengaged for a while, He was able to reengage with new strength and power.
Today, do you find yourself anticipating a new season in your life, but unsure how to get there? Or perhaps you feel stuck in “second gear,” unable to move on. Or maybe you keep hearing a loud screeching sound every time you try to move from one gear to the next.
If you can relate to any of these symptoms, I encourage you to discover—or rediscover, like I have—the power of full disengagement. Leave your friends and family for a few days. Disconnect from your work responsibilities, your smart phone, and your social media. Find a place to quiet your heart and rest.
As you take time to disengage and be still, you’ll experience the powerful message of Psalm 46:10: He is God—and you’re not! That is really, really good news, isn’t it?
One of the reasons why I began writing His Inscriptions was to strengthen believers - especially Christian leaders - who are weary and exhausted for various reasons. You may be feeling that way today. It is not uncommon, in an increasingly hostile world, to feel tired or discouraged. Once we are weary, it becomes harder than ever to maintain the good habits we have of connecting with God. Self-discipline eludes us and our communication with God ebbs at the time we need it most.
The Bible addresses weariness, and in its simplest form, we know that a weary body needs rest and nourishment, just as a weary spirit does. (Read more here)
The Akdam are the poorest of the poor. With an economy that is not doing well, it is the poor who suffer the most. Pray that the needs of these people will be met, not just their physical needs, but also their spiritual needs. Some among them, have heard the Good News of Christ's love for them. Pray that they will remember what they have heard or read the Scriptures given to them. Pray that God will work in a mighty way and that many Akdam will come to Faith.
Rejoice that the Spirit is at work drawing locals to faith in Jesus Christ. There are reports of more and more people turning to Him in an area with a long history of very few local believers. Pray for softened hearts of extended family members and those in authority. Pray for the freedom and opportunities to share boldly and lovingly.
Pray for safety and calmness for workers, when people are fearing terror attacks. Pray that we don't get trapped by fear but we will be wise and do the work we came for, to share this hope in Jesus with those who live in these lands.
Recently "Ahmed" returned Josh MacDowell's More Than a Carpenter to his believing professor. As they discussed the book, Ahmed's accompanying friend, "Mohammed", asked, "May I read it, too?" Pray that the compelling Spirit of God will win the hearts of these young men.
The news is grim for this country, with pictures of fighter planes doing damage, suicide bombs leaving their deadly mess and angry men shouting revenge. Pray for the people as they deal with very hard times, fear and uncertainty for their future. Ask that God will speak to them in visions and dreams, showing that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Pray that many will come to Him in these days when their lives are shaken.
Military unrest between two countries have caused much heartache and devastation. Please pray that peace will come. Pray that differences will be discussed over the negotiating table, not by fighting. Pray for God's mercy on those who are suffering.
Demon possession is a very real problem for some individuals in the Gulf. Families sometimes go to great expense to find a means of deliverance. Please pray for a worker who has been asked to intervene in a particular situation, that it will result in the family turning to JC. Pray also for another case of a man who is acknowledged by his neighbours to "have a jinn," that God will bring about deliverance, and all who know of it will then acknowledge it was by the power of Jesus Christ.
A man phones his friend every week, wanting financial help. He lives in a country which is in financial ruin. Please pray for the great needs that he and many others have. Pray that God will give wisdom to those who can give, that they will know where to put their resources. Pray that aid given will go directly to the people who need it.
Continue to pray for those who have experienced dreams and visions of Jesus and those who are wrestling with the Truth as they count the cost of following Jesus Christ. May they be given an eye toward eternity and realize nothing on earth can compare to the joy of knowing Him.
Have you ever thought about the benefits of giving thanks to God? There are many. I think the most prominent of them is simply closeness to God. We enter His gates with thanksgiving. We come into his presence in praise.
In Leviticus 7 Moses was told to institute a feast of thanksgiving. The barbeque was identified as a “fellowship offering of thanksgiving." We certainly enjoy fellowship with family and guests in our celebration of the Thanksgiving Holiday. If you are separated or estranged from family at Thanksgiving, you will miss your loved ones more than the turkey and dressing. We fellowship around the Thanksgiving table, by the warmth of the fire or in front of the TV watching football or the Macy’s Parade. But the fellowship spoken of in Leviticus 7 was with God Himself. The King James Bible translates it as a “peace offering.” The feast was to initiate and celebrate peaceful fellowship with God.
As we gather together to celebrate Thanksgiving, we also draw near to the person of God to whom with give thanks. It is fellowship with Him that blesses our Thanksgiving table and the fellowship with one another around it.
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