Nazeera was cooking breakfast for her family one morning when the unthinkable happened. The minute he heard screams coming from the kitchen, Saeed, Nazeera’s husband, ran downstairs, but in the confusion didn’t know what to do to save her. Meanwhile, their 16-year-old son did the only thing he could think of: he hugged his mother, hoping that would put out the flames. What appeared to be an accident...was murder Only later did Saeed find out that one of his brothers and one of Nazeera’s brothers had devised a deadly plan to take the vegetable oil out of the bottle and replace it with gasoline. The reason: Saeed and Nazeera refused to return to Islam.This was by far the worst, but not the first time the family had been caught in this holy war between Christianity and Islam. Even after Nazeera passed away, the family could not find anyone willing to testify to who was behind this senseless murder. “No one will be a witness for us,” Saeed said dejectedly. As an example of how deep their hatred was for his decision to follow Christ, he admitted, “My own family told me that if I was killed and cut into pieces, they wouldn’t do anything to help or be a witness on my side.” Counting the cost A lesser man might have given up at that point, figuring that the cost of being a believer in the Arabian peninsula was just too high.But not Saeed. “We ask people to pray for us, as we are all alone,” he said. “Pray for my children as now I am their mother and father, and their only friend. We need prayers for God’s strength and to give us strong faith.” Then he added, “I want people outside to know that even if we get cut into pieces, we won’t leave Jesus Christ.” |
In places like Yemen, it’s not unusual to hear about Christians being killed for putting their faith in Christ. Please pray for persecuted believers everywhere, and give a gift to provide Bibles, Christian literature, safe house and other programs to strengthen the faith of these brothers and sisters around the world. Open Doors USA, PO Box 27001, Santa Ana, CA 92799 |
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DAY FIFTEEN:
VERSES:
and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead....(Philippians 3:9-11)
PRAYER:
BLESSED ARE YOU LORD GOD, KING OF THE UNIVERSE, FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS, ALL LIFE, ALL LIBERTY, ALL GOODNESS FLOWS. YOU ARE WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE, ADORATION REVERENCE AND AWE. YOU ARE MAJESTIC AS YOU REIGN, SOVEREIGN AS YOU RULE, RIGHTEOUS AS YOU ARE ALWAYS RIGHT, HOLY AS YOUR NATURE IS. LET ALL THE PEOPLE SAY AMEN AND GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HIS LOVE NEVER ENDS, LET ALL THE PEOPLE SAY AMEN.
BLESS THE LORD, OH MY SOUL AND ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME, BLESS YOUR HOLY NAME. BLESS YOU FOR ALL YOUR BENEFITS HAVE ACCRUED TO ME, THROUGH THE LOVE, SACRIFICE, FINISHED WORK AND BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, CREATOR OF ALL THINGS....FOR WHOM ALL THINGS WERE CREATED FOR AND BY HIM. MAY I NOT JUST BE FOUND IN HIM, DAILY, IF ACCUSED OF BEING A CHRISTIAN, BUT MAY THE EVIDENCE BE SO OVERWHELMING THAT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST IS EMBEDDED IN THE VERY FIBER OF MY BEING, AND ALL WHO ARE CALLED BY YOUR NAME, THAT THOSE WHO ARE ACCUSE US OF FOLLOWING THE WAY OF YAHWEH, WOULD SAY "HE IS ONE OF THEM...OR SHE IS ONE OF THEM"....THEM BEING - FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT, BLESSED TRINITY! OH HALLELUJAH, GLORY TO THE LAMB OF GOD, PRAISE YOUR GREAT NAME!
FATHER GOD, LET THIS LIFE OF CHRIST, FREELY GIVEN LIKE LIVING WATER TO ALL WHO ASK, SO RICHLY DWELL IN ME THAT IT WOULD BE OBVIOUS IT CAME NOT FROM ME, FROM IN ME OR FROM NOTHING ANY OF US HAVE DONE, BUT CAME DIRECTLY FROM THE FAITH YOU IN YOUR LOVE, COMPASSION, MERCY AND LONG SUFFERING GAVE TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. LORD, YOU CALLED FOR US NOT TO BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT TO BE MORPHED, TRANSFORMED, CHANGED TO THE LIKENESS OF IMAGO DEI - THE IMAGE OF GOD, IN WHOSE FASHION YOU FIRST CREATED MAN, THROUGH THE FIRST MAN WHO SINNED, ADAM. THE SECOND AND FINAL ADAM- YAHWEH, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST - NEVER SINNED BUT SUFFERED FOR ALL SIN OF ALL MANKIND FOR ALL TIME.
HE HAS CALLED US TO THAT SAME WITNESS AND THEREFORE SUFFERING IN ORDER THAT WE MAY BE HIS DISCIPLES. MAY WE TAKE UP THE DAILY CROSS AND CRUCIFY OUR BENT AND NATURE TO FOLLOW AFTER THIS WORLD, EVEN IF WE KNOW BETTER, BUT AS WE RISE DAILY, MAY WE PUT TO DEATH THAT TENDENCY TO SIN, TO PERVERT, TO STRAY AND DISTRACT AND MAY WE THEN, THROUGH THE SACRIFICIAL LOVE WE SHOW TO OTHERS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY TO YOU, IN ALL WE SAY DO AND THINK, BE A REFLECTION OF THE SURRENDER AND OBEDIENCE WHICH YOU EXPECT FROM THOSE OF US, WHO ARE COMPLETELY COMMITTED TO YOU.
FATHER, IT IS ONLY BY THE ACT OF BEING A MARTYR, METAPHORICALLY SPEAKING, BEING A MARTYR AND NOT AN INDULGER OF THE CORRUPT THINGS OF THIS SOON-PERISHING WORLD, WOULD BE BE FOUND WORTHY OF OUR POSITIONAL SALVATION IN YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT TRUTH, THAT KNOWLEDGE AND THE DYNAMIC POWER TO EXECUTE YOUR COMMAND AND EXPECTATIONS IN OUR MOMENT BY MOMENT LIVING. WE LOVE YOU, WE PRAISE YOU, WE WORSHIP AND ADORE YOU, THROUGH CHRIST YOUR SON AND KING, AMEN.
DAY SEVENTEEN:
VERSES:
Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken....(Psalm 55:22)
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, in You alone do I both my trust and faith as the Leader and Lord of my life. Father You have been there for me all the time, even when I walked away from You countless times and did not follow Your precepts and statutes. You called me into the Kingdom of Your marvelous Light, but yet in my disobedience, many times I preferred to walk in darkness. In those times oh Lord, You were still with me, You never leaved me or forsake me because You had Your calling on my life as You do with all whom You have called out of the Egypt of despair, into the Promised Land of Eternal Destiny and Joy.
When there is adversity, You are there. When there is trouble and despair, You are there. When there is doubt. You are there. When there is fear and trembling, You are there. When there is persecution and hate against Your people, You are there. Where there is no vision or hope, You are there.
You sustain the world by the Word of Your Mouth. You speak life and hope into the atmosphere and the people rejoice. You shake the Heavens and let the snow and hail fly, in times of war and battle such as now, and Your remnant stand in amazement. The world does not know You, the religious and the rulers issue documents and like Nimrod claim man's authority over the Climate You created and still control. They and their modern day scribes and pharisees claim precedence over Your Word and rewrite the code of civilization and family which You have ordained. They blaspheme You by bowing down to other useless and worthless idols who can never create a child, or explain the crops of the field or the birds of the air, and they pay more respect and honor to non-existent idols and prophets You never sent or ordained.
But You will never allow Your righteous, Your true elect to whom You have positioned as the saved, to those whom You have made righteous and now are blameless as those bought under the Precious Blood of the Most Righteous One, Whose Body was never abandoned to sheol but went down and knocked over the gates of hell and told death Who had won the Victory! O death, where is thy sting now! Thank You Jesus for defeating death and for now sitting on the Right Hand of the Sovereign One and Satan, you, evil one, have no authority, no claim, no right, no open door, no nothing on the Called ones- the Christian made right by God - because Jesus has defeated you. Be gone, and get thee behind me and all who are Christ's.
Because Jesus Christ is my Lord, and the Lord of the millions and millions of this world, whom He has saved, we can lay our burdens at His Feet. Because He is Our Shepherd, we shall want no good thing, and no good thing means being apart from the greed and desires of this world. Because He is my Savior, we cast ALL our cares upon Him, for in the end, what it is all said and done, He cares for me and it is in the strong and mighty Name of Jesus I believe that promise, stand on that precept and follow that Good Protector and Provider and Proconsul, the Lord of Heavens' Armies, amen and amen - from now until the end of time and my days, amen.
One way to teach and encourage prayer is to model it for others. It's not done with a mindset of, "Hey, look at what I can do," but is done out of a humble desire to love and encourage others to pray and practice a similar manner of prayer within their own devotions and ongoing personal relationships with God through Jesus Christ.
Some ways to begin this practice of prayer include:
* Prayerfully ask the Holy Spirit to bring your attention to specific points or details as you read.
* Read through the chapter, or section of Scripture, two or more times. You may want to jot down specific points, ideas, or concepts that the Holy Spirit points out as you read (even ones that may seem unrelated to the text as they come to mind).
* Ask the Holy Spirit to help you pray through the Scripture the final time you read through it. Then begin praying through as you read.
* Ask the Holy Spirit to show you opportunities to pray with prayers of praise, thanksgiving, confession, petition (asking), and more.
Today, we read Hebrews 5.
Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.
In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,
“You are my Son; today I have become your Father.”
And he says in another place, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Warning Against Falling Away
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
My prayer today:
Father, I praise you for being God of all. In your many perfections, you display your perfect wisdom. You watch and engage your creation and call forth your children to come before you in prayer. Thank you for calling each Christian man, woman, and child to pray! Although we no longer sacrifice animals to atone for our sins, we do offer you a sacrifice of praise, for you are worthy to receive it always, in all places, and times. I worship you alone. Thank you, Jesus, for being the perfect sacrifice for all my sins, past, present, and future. You alone are worthy and capable!
I confess that I seldom deal gently with those ignorant or who are going astray. I have established a pattern of quickly judging others in my heart and impatiently relegating them as a waste of my time. I am weak, as they are, but fail to invite you to do what pleases you within me or through me. Lord, forgive me for my arrogance and pride. Renew my mind and heart by your Word and Spirit. I long to obey and follow you humbly. I desire to humbly lead and help others to know you, and know you deeply.
Jesus, I thank you for refusing to take glory in yourself or in the power you received from the Father. You perfectly glorified your Father, and He did mighty things through you. Help me to do the same; to look to the Father- to bring Him glory in all He does in and through me; taking none for it for myself. Thank you, Father, for calling me one of your many children. Oh, how I long for your glory to be reflected from me toward you and others! Guide me by your Word and Spirit accordingly!
Father, I also confess that the words, obedience, and suffering, are not popular words in our time. But Jesus, I praise you for living, and modeling, the importance of obedience following suffering. You've promised that we will suffer for our faith in you. Help me to hold my focus on you in times of suffering, as well as during times when it seems I'm not suffering. I desire to follow you, and all you perfectly modeled during your physical time on earth. You are my Rock, my Source, my Strength, regardless of circumstance!
Lord, I desire to consume the appropriate food within the teaching of your Word. Please reveal to me what to read, learn, take to heart, apply, and more in this latest step in my walk with you. I ask that you would do similar for my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help us to accurately assess, and accept, where we are, regardless of how much or little of our lives we've walked with you. We desire you, and to grow in you alone. Teach us to pray, and lead us in your way everlasting.
Father, I continue to exalt you above all; all that could distract me from your presence or attention; all that would seek to tear me away from you. And as I exalt you, I desire that many more would join in doing so. You are perpetually worthy to be exalted; lifted up in our hearts and lives, in our countenance, in the outward living of our moment-to-moment lives, and more. Equip us to humbly yield to you in all manners of our lives.
I worship you alone. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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I worship you alone. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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What you've read is a model of how it's possible to pray a portion of Scripture. It's an excellent way to read, pray, and grow in your study of the Word and your personal walk with God.
You may find that when you pray Hebrews 5 (or any portion of Scripture) on your own, that your prayer and praise may look much different than mine. Guess what? It probably will, and in my opinion, it should! Your relationship with God is different from mine, and any other Christian's! Talk to God with your own voice and heart. He made them, gave them to you, and desires your praise, thanksgiving, worship, petition, and more through all He's given you.
This is also true if you practice praying Scripture with a spouse or friend. Scripture is an excellent foundation to pray from- whether individually, with a spouse, or together as a family!
Attempt this form of prayer once or more this week, and let me know your impressions.
Also, if there's a portion of Scripture you'd like to see modeled in prayer, or would like to model in prayer yourself, please email me.
Beloved in Christ,
God is aspecting every one of us to bear fruits, not just fruit, but the one that will last. The Team here was asked to sent two persons to the Republic of Benin for a conference. By the grace of God, I went with a sister from Nimba county in Liberia. We were blessed by the teaching of some faithful servents of God from other parts of Africa.
I also went to Tori Bossito, closer to Togo border, where I has asked to speak to some youth that was camping.
The Lord also heped me to conduct a deliverance of a woman who has being control by demoms when she was seven. She was free from that demons on Sunday 8th of August 2011 in Cotonou Benin.
I am back to Monrovia Liberia to continue the work. Please keep me in your prayers that I will be strong to work for God.
Anyone can sent their prayers points for prayer, I have this gift to use for the body of Christ. Call 002316442990 or email samuelgbadju@yahoo.fr.
Blessing
Goah Samuel Gbadyu
Your prayers was a great help to us in that we just ended a three days youth conference from Thursday 25th of August to 27th this year. We blessed god for the provisions and protections.
May the God Almighty help us as we work for his coming. The conference was well attended, and many of the young people gave their lives to Christ. Please remember that this conference is every year.
God bless you
Samuel
From Liberia
Dear beloved in Christ. Greeting in the name of Jesus Christ. Hope all is well. I pray the goodness of the Lord shall manifest through your life and ministries to all Nations. Please bear with me for lack of frequent communication to you due to many reasons, but hope to improve on it henceforth.
THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY Paul and silas were in prison the have all reasons to complain, but they saw beyond their situation. They saw it as a great opportunity to prove God. Their singing moved God to send his Angle to rescue them. Acts 16:22-34.
Now there are opportunities for us to sing songs that will move god to send violent wind of revival on earth, May we see beyond our problems and sing that song that will bring revival. Your opportunity may be prayers, giving of going on full time mission work, do not miss the great opportunity to advance the Kingdom of god among the Nations.
Brief Thanks be to God for his blessing and provisions, I have enjoyed thus far, the Lord has greatly increased us from three staff to seven full time staff and four short term staff in Liberia .
As a Liberian national working as a missionary with CAPRO Liberia. I finished my missionary training since 2004 in Abidjan , Cote D’Iviore. Early 2005 I was posted to the Republic of Benin for one year probation. My vision was to work with young people and also the Muslim in my country Liberia, therefore I came to join the work force in Liberia since 2007 April. Thank God for his grace enables me to serve him at this time.
At first it was not easy when I left my last field of work to come over. God has helped me to grow than ever. My mother was very ill, personal financial crises and so many things. At the end I lost my ill mother 2009. The Lord has taken my life and ministry in new dimension; I am strong by God’s grace.
Work involvement At the moment I am working in the account department and assisting in the youth work, evangelism and research work. Praise God for good health, since I enter Liberia I have never been admitted to any hospital. Even though malaria and fatigue are some health challenges. Let’ keep praying for my eyes, I am using glasses.
Outreach. Every first Wednesday in March is a holiday in Liberia called Decoration day, to clean the entire cemetery, on that very day we went out for evangelism, many were led to Christ. This day is one of the opportunities we as CAPRO Liberia has seen to reach out. We also reach out periodically to prison cells and hospitals blessing the hearts of many. What a great opportunity.
Youth work CAPRO Liberia Trust. We held a national youth conference last year with three hundred young people from forty two churches in Monrovia . This conference gave hope to many youths. Many of the youth are very active in their churches due to the effect of the conference. We believed the Lord wants to touch lives of many youths by holding another in August 2011. Your prayers are needed than ever, for provision and a good turn out by the youth from various churches.
Research work and new opportunity for us. Grand Cape Mount County , one of the counties in Liberia that is ninty percent Muslim is now open to us. The survey of the county is now completed and we are trusting God to enter this year. We got a house in Tiene not far from Sierra Leone to labor among the Vai tribe. Please join us in prayer as we work to win souls in this county. Pray for open door of ministry and financial provision to build the mission base.
THE NATION OF LIBERIA The Nation ended her voters registration process in February and trusting God to hold the national election this year Oct/Nov. 2011. Pray for more stability and the building of destroyed infrastructures especially electricity. The youth are mostly affected; some cannot afford their education, while others are learning. Even some of the one we call Christians are selling their bodies to survive.
Thanksgiving:
Prayer points:
Beloved, wish to encourage you to remain faithful, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Master, for your labor shall be rewarded. Thanks for your prayer and support.
Yours in Christ, Goah Samuel Gbadyu Tel. +231-6442990 Email: samuelgbadyu@yahoo.fr Please forward for prayer
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In Romans we see groups that will take the gospel to the nations, one to sent, one to go, one to pray.
I am one of those that are on the field. My concern is that people should pray for me to fulfill this God given vision.
If I can have 100 people praying for me I will be very grateful.
Please take my email address samuelgbadju@yahoo.fr .
Your prayer is all I need for this work.
If we do not pray for the harvest God will not sent angels.
Goah Samuel Gbadyu
A missionary in Africa
