Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 249 | Wed 26 Feb 2014

by Elizabeth Kendal

WELCOME to the intercessors who have joined the list recently.

May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him. Summon your power, God; show us your strength, our God, as you have done before. (Psalm 68:1,28 NIV)

FEBRUARY 2014 UPDATE - During February we prayed concerning . . .

* NIGERIA (RLPB 246), where the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group Boko Haram (which regularly targets the Church) is waging a jihad against the Nigerian government with the aim of making Nigeria an Islamic state and northern Fulani Muslims (backed by Boko Haram and rogue military units) are waging a jihad to colonise and extend control deeper into the Christian-dominated south.

UPDATE: In mid-February, Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, warned that Boko Haram is better armed and more motivated than the Nigerian military. The government wrote off the governor's comment as 'civilian perception' and insisted it was winning the war against Boko Haram.

However, the killings continue and indeed have escalated, especially in Borno State where some 500 people have been killed in recent weeks. On the night of 15 February Boko Haram militants shouting 'Allahu Akbar [God is greater]' targeted the mostly Christian village of Izghe in Borno. The jihadis gathered the men of the village together and then turned on them. At least half the 106 men or more who were killed were Christian. The jihadis also looted and destroyed homes and shops. A week later Izghe was raided again and this time the militants burnt it to the ground. On Tuesday 25 February Boko Haram militants raided the boarding house at the Federal Government College in Buni Yadi in neighbouring Yobe State at 2 am and massacred at least 59 teenage boys. The militants also assembled the female students, ordering them to abandon their education and get married.

On 19 February Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau released a video statement, claiming responsibility for the killings and threatening more, saying, 'The reason why I will kill you is you are infidels. You follow democracy. Whoever follows democracy is an infidel.' Shekau also threatened to attack the oil-rich Niger Delta.


* BURMA (RLPB 247), where the war between the autonomy-seeking Christian Kachin and the resources-craving Burman-Buddhist regime in Naypyidaw rages on.

* NORTH KOREA (RLPB 248), where Christians continue to suffer extreme persecution for refusing to bow to the cult of Kim.


FEBRUARY 2014 ROUND-UP - also this month . . .

* ACEH, INDONESIA: SHARIA FOR EVERYONE

Aceh's provincial administration and legislative council have approved a new by-law that will force everyone in Aceh to abide by Sharia (Islamic) Law. The Qanun Jinayat (a by-law governing behaviour) will apply to the territory of Aceh as distinct from applying to Muslim individuals. Muslims and non-Muslims, local population and visitors, will all have to observe Sharia, following Islamic codes of dress and behaviour. Christians who violate Sharia will be tried under Islamic law and punished accordingly (usually lashing). Councillor Abdulah Saleh said it was important to have one law for all so that Muslims did not feel they were being treated unfairly. Clearly Saleh fears that Christian liberty could cause fitna (strife or temptation for Muslims) and accordingly Christian liberty must end so that everyone suffers equally.


* ERITREAN REFUGEES IN SINAI: ALERT

Human Rights Watch (HRW www.hrw.org ) has released a new report: 'Egypt/Sudan: Traffickers Who Torture', HRW 11 Feb 2014. [Many if not most Eritrean refugees are Christians fleeing from persecution in Eritrea seeking religious freedom in Israel or in Europe.]


* IRAN: PASTOR IRANI RETURNED TO PRISON AFTER SURGERY

Sentenced to five years in jail on charges of 'crimes against national security', Pastor Behnam Irani (40) has since come close to death due to internal injuries caused by routine beatings and severe stress. There has been much prayer for his life. We thank God that on 22 February Pastor Irani finally received surgery to treat his internal injuries and painful bleeding stomach ulcers. He was returned to Ghezal Hesar Prison on 25 February. Please pray for Behnam Irani, his wife, children and congregation. Please pray for Iran's Christian prisoners and that God will continue to build his Church in Iran.

'. . . I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.' (Matthew 16:18 ESV)


* TANZANIA: CHURCHES TARGETED IN ZANZIBAR

On Sunday 23 February a home-made bomb reportedly containing a mixture of ball bearings and chemicals exploded at an Evangelistic Assemblies of God Tanzania (EAGT) Church in Zanzibar. The explosion shook the building just as worship was concluding and there were no casualties. The next day a bomb was remotely detonated outside Christ Church Anglican Cathedral in Stone Town, Zanzibar, about 1 pm. Minutes later, another bomb exploded at a nearby seafront restaurant popular with tourists. The attacks may or may not be connected to the news on 19 February that British police will now join the hunt for the attackers who doused two teenage British girls (both Jews) in acid while on a gap-year in Zanzibar in August 2013. The girls had been working in a local Catholic nursery school and were volunteering at a local charity.


* UKRAINE: JEWS THREATENED IN KIEV

Conservative Rabbi Reuven Stamov comments that, whilst anti-Semitism is not an official policy of the protest movement nor of the new government in Kiev, anti-Semitism is indeed flourishing as anti-Semitic elements exploit the chaos and advance their ideology. Some Jews in Kiev have been threatened and some have received letters telling them to leave; many are afraid. Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman, a Chabad rabbi in Ukraine, has advised his congregation to leave Kiev and the country, if possible. Representatives of Ukrainian Jewry report that they feel a general sense of unease. This is fuelled mostly by the prominent presence of the far-right, neo-Nazi Svoboda Party, as well as scattered sightings of swastikas spray-painted on walls and the presence of anti-Semitic vigilante groups. Nevertheless, Jews in Ukraine plan to celebrate Purim on 15-16 March. [Purim celebrates the deliverance of the Jews in Persia at the time of Esther.] Despite the insecurity and volatility, the Ukrainian Church must speak out against anti-Semitism. Please pray for Ukraine.


* VIETNAM: CHRISTIAN LAWYER-BLOGGER JAILED

One of Vietnam's most prominent Catholic dissidents and human rights lawyers lost his court appeal on 18 February and will be jailed for 30 months for alleged tax evasion. In 2006-07, Le Quoc Quan (43) spent five months in Washington, DC, as a Fellow of the National Endowment for Democracy. He was first arrested in March 2007, four days after returning to Vietnam, for alleged subversion. He was subsequently disbarred. Quan was arrested again in December 2012 after the BBC published an article he wrote criticising the Communist Party's place in Vietnam's constitution. Quan was sentenced in October 2013 and on 18 February lost his appeal. On 2 February he began a hunger strike to protest the fact that he is not being permitted access to his religious books or to a priest for confession and communion. Outside the court, Quan's supporters sang hymns and prayed. Catholics held prayer vigils for Quan the following Sunday across Hanoi. Please pray for the Church in Vietnam.


To view this RLPB with hyperlinks or to access RLPB and RLM archives, visit the Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin blog at http://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.com

We usually provide a summary to use in news-sheets unable to run the whole of an RLPB. As a summary is not practicable with this monthly update posting we suggest one or more of the above items be used instead.

This RLPB was written by Elizabeth Kendal, an international religious liberty analyst and advocate. It is issued as a ministry of EA in Australia.

Elizabeth Kendal is the author of 'Turn Back the Battle: Isaiah speaks to Christians today' (Deror Books, Dec. 2012) http://turnbackthebattle.com/thebook.html

Elizabeth is Adjunct Research Fellow in the Centre for the Study of Islam and Other Faiths at the Melbourne School of Theology. She is Director of Advocacy for Christian Faith & Freedom based in Canberra, Australia.

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In a nightmarish world, it's good now and then to dream of heaven.

“The toe of the star-gazer is often stubbed.”

- Russian proverb

Sadly, our experiences on earth can be nightmarish.

Idealists “in a dream world” sometimes stub their toe on “reality.”

Dreaming of a better world, at the top of the staircase is God—

Author of perfect dreams, Means to the end, Final Step to reach the goal,

Stairway to the stars, Reality behind dreams, Energy to climb steps and attain visions.

The sky is not the limit—aim for the company of the immortals!

Dare to dream grand dreams—heaven open, angels on the stairway of hope.

Trust your Father’s protection as you traverse the twists and turns of the dreamy spiral.

Daydreaming is sweet, but it is time to wake up and start climbing.

Way-dreaming is better—not just staring up the steps, stepping up the stairs.

We will celebrate heaven’s dream come true with the Star-maker at the top of the stairs.

He dreamed of a stairway that reached from earth to heaven.

Genesis 28:12 NLT

Johnny R. Almond

                Pastor, Colonial Beach Baptist Church, Virginia

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity—Scripture Personalized

Book available through local bookseller or preferred on-line retailer.

Author’s blog www.GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com

[This devotion was based on/adapted from Day 19 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity]

The American Center For Law and Justice has posted  a  petition for all to sign.

It reads,  The  Obama admin.  is seeking to put  monitors in the newsrooms of every  major  media  outlet in the country.    One FCC  commissioner says he fears these monitors would be used in pressuring media  organizations into  covering certain stories.

It's  exactly as dangerous as it sounds,  and it could be used to  cripple  free speech and  freedom of the press  in America.

Pres.  Obama  has stated the things reported are  outlandish stories and shouldn't be  reported.  He said they should be stopped.   That includes  religion.  The news media could only report what  he agrees with. 

If this happens  we  will be back in  the dark ages.  

 I am asking  every member of the prayer network friends neighbors and other Christians, go to God in prayer.  Asking God to stop the aggression by our top government.   Enough has been done against  him.  It's time to take a stand.

ps.  sign  the petition  ACLJ    or  ACLJ FACEBOOK

Thank you and God Bless

Pastor Bob Webb

Your prayer life needs the tension of spiritual attack. Have you ever been hunting with a bow? Have you ever shot an arrow from a bow? Most of us have at one time or another. Of course before you can shoot an arrow you must stretch the string on the bow. And as you draw the bow to shoot, the tension on the string multiplies. So it is with your prayer life. Before the power of your prayers is unleashed in the purpose of God, He must increase the tension of spiritual attack in Your life.

"You are not your own… For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Whether we like it or not, there are times when we experience mistreatment by others. It can be a family member who says something against us, or a co-worker who tries to ruin our reputation in some way and blocks our goals to advancement in our workplace. Or it can be a multitude of other situations. In this imperfect world with broken people, we will all face mistreatment. And this often happens with those we are the closest to—husbands, wives, children, neighbors, and co-workers. We live in a world filled with misunderstanding and injustice. There are so many situations where our heart can cry out, “This is not fair!”  

As ones who want to grow in prayer, what do we do when we experience mistreatment? What does God want us to do when we feel injustice in a very personal way? How can we have a godly attitude when unfairly treated? How can we keep from bitterness and from hindering our prayer life because of an angry or bitter heart? Keep in mind that bitterness starts as a tiny root that grows up to cause trouble and defiles many (Hebrews 12:5). Let's look at the biblical example of David because he was able to keep his heart pure in the hardest of circumstances.

The Example of King David

"Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth. My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me" (Psalm 31:5, 15).

David, the man after God's heart, is one of the greatest examples of how to respond rightly to God when mistreated. David was one who trusted in God to intervene because when he was mistreated by Saul, He did not retaliate. Can you imagine the fear of being sought after and threatened by Saul and his 3000 soldiers? Running for his life as a hunted fugitive, David’s heart must have been pounding in his chest as Saul came into the very cave where he and his men were hiding. Yet David did not kill Saul at this opportune time, but instead he committed his cause totally into God’s hands. He passed one of his hardest tests when his very life was at stake in this dark, dungy cave. See 1 Samuel 24:2-15.

At, yet, another time David had the opportunity to kill his enemy. Saul and his men were sleeping within the camp with his spear stuck in the ground close to his head. Again David refused to harm him. See 1 Samuel 26:2-24 for the full story. He committed his cause into God’s hand. He let God be his deliverer. He said to Saul in verse 23-24:

“May the Lord repay every man… for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed… let my life be valued much in the eyes of the LORD, and let Him deliver me out of all tribulations.”

Have you or I had to trust God with our enemies to the degree that David did—with our very life?

When you entrust yourself into God’s hands, you make a transaction with God of a very deep nature. You trust in His will for your life in His way and with His timing to intervene. You are transferring your personal rights into His hands and into His responsibility. You are letting God be God in your life to the very core of your being. You are acknowledging His ownership of you. God is always working deeply in our hearts and is developing our inner character. By refusing to retaliate like David did with Saul, you are letting God remove the "Saul" in your own heart. 

You are trusting in God's leadership in your life. You are refusing to retaliate and are bringing God and His activity into your situation. You are bringing God into the conflict and are engaging in spiritual warfare. You are making room for His righteous judgment. You are being tested in your faith deeply as you trust that He vindicates us in His time and ways.

Trusting in God's Leadership at Sea

"Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer" (1 Peter 3:10-12a).

I remember several years ago while living on a mission’s ship going in and out of nations with the gospel message, an international crew, and the largest floating book exhibition in the world. We had just left Romania and were sailing towards our next nation, Bulgaria. Right before entering that nation we were falsely accused of being a cult, and suddenly we were told that we couldn’t enter Bulgarian waters. The door was shut completely. With over 300 people on board from over 40 nations, and with numerous programs and plans for the next port, we were stopped in our tracks and had nowhere to go. We were stuck at sea and had to go somewhere, but where?

In that situation we had nowhere to turn but to God in prayer. As a ship’s crew and staff, we had to trust in His leadership. We had to bring Him and His activity into our situation in a deeper and more desperate way. It tested our faith. Our plans up to that point had to drop by the wayside. It would be useless to try to defend ourselves. God had to be our vindicator, our answer, and our solution to this problem.

In a remarkable and amazing way, God opened the door to a nearby Muslim nation. Our ship got unusual publicity. God opened the way into a central port in the city, and we had a wonderful program. We saw God’s fantastic leadership and plan. Our faith grew as a ship’s company and we saw the works of the Lord in a needy land. If we had retaliated and fought to get into Bulgaria, we would have missed the magnificent plan of God. We would have missed His best. His leadership is perfect and surpasses all of our plans. We were able to overcome evil with good when we did not avenge ourselves and pursued peace. God was attentive to our prayers, and we experienced the blessing of God in an unexpected land.

“Do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to God’s wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord… if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:19-21).

When you bless and pray for your enemies and the very ones who mistreat you, your attitude towards them changes. You heart becomes free. You begin to love your enemies and care about their welfare. Even if you don't see God's vindication immediately or even in this life, you will see it one day when God makes everything right. 

Is there some situation today where you have the opportunity to overcome evil with good? Is there one or two people who you feel have mistreated you? If you give yourself a few moments of silence, God will often bring someone to mind. We all have situations. Can you entrust yourself to God and bless your enemy? Can you entrust your reputation, future, plans and well-being to God and to His leadership? Let's learn to commit our spirit into God's hands. Let's overcome evil with good. Let's remember David's example.

Always remember that you were bought for an incredible price. You can trust in God's perfect and loving leadership over your life. 

“When David ‘committed his spirit’ into God’s hands, he was committing to God everything that deeply touched his spirit such as his reputation, money, possessions, positions, and impact. He was entrusting the outcome of the most important issues in his life to God’s leadership.” Mike Bickle

By Debbie Przybylski

Intercessors Arise News

I invite you to see my four new facebook pages for my books on prayer: Breakthrough Prayer, Ascending the Height in Prayer, Deeper Still, and 24/7 Prayer Arise. Join and like the Intercessors Arise facebook page for daily encouragement in your prayer life. Have your friends sign up for Intercessors Arise here.

Life is full of ups and downs because we are human. When we remember that Jesus

said, “I am with you” our perspective changes radically. Instead of bemoaning our

circumstances we can look to him for help. The reassurance of God’s presence and

the glorious hope of heaven is the perspective we need.

Paul gives us a prescription to combat worry:

 “Don’t worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. 

Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

 If you do this, you will experience God’s peace

which is more more wonderful than the human mind can understand. 

His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” 

Philippians 4:6, 7 

Are you depressed or worried about your children and grandchildren?

Are you aware that God is with you?

Are you bringing your concerns to Jesus who is sitting at the right hand of God waiting for you to bring your concerns to him?

Lord, help me not to worry about my children and grandchildren, 

instead, I pray for them to allow God to work in their lives and follow him.

In Jesus’ name. Amen

Lillian Penner

God calls us to be transformed by his love in order to make us instruments of his love to the whole world. And the routines of our lives are part of a mighty symphony, because in God’s orchestral hall the “transformation movement” is never limited to the religious elements of life. In fact, more than in houses of worship, it is taking place in the marketplace.

The marketplace (the heart of the nation) has already been redeemed by Jesus and now needs to be reclaimed by His followers. When we are living in God’s world, we can walk and work in confidence that what we do will make an eternal difference, and we certainly don’t have to “manufacture” it with magnificent sights and sounds. Because God equips us with unique gifts and talents designed to shine light where there has been darkness. Even silence is part of God’s plan less we forget that much of the extraordinary deeds that are radically transforming schools, companies, prisons, cities, and even nations comes to us through ordinary things. 

That’s where most of us live. But the fact that we do so does not mean we simply put life on some kind of spiritual autopilot. We cannot change what we do not embrace. We cannot fix what we don't know is broken. If we “speak peace to people and to the systems that are around us” in times of challenge, we “listen to find out where the pain and brokenness is” in our schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods in our regular lives. If we talk to God about someone else's problem, and let it be known that the kingdom of God is near, we can connect people’s need with God's resources and confirm that the power and presence of God is "in the neighborhood". 

We do not pray as those called to build the Church but as those who are called to take the Kingdom of God where the kingdom of darkness is still entrenched in order for Jesus to build His Church. For we are called to do ordinary things in a way that will bring the will of God in heaven to our earth every day as we seek to dislodge systems within our spheres of influence that keep us and others poor, spiritually, relationally, materially and motivationally. And it begins with something as simple as two words: “Our Father….”

“Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has many;

not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.”

- Charles Dickens

God blesses us, not because of who we are, but in spite of it.

In the face of our self-centeredness and deceit, God still loves us.

Heaven’s blessings flow from God’s good heart, not from our goodness.

We should not get the idea we somehow merit God’s smile by personal virtue.

It is more rewarding to revel in enjoyed benefits, than to fret over what we do not have.

It is sweeter to count many current blessings, than to ponder a few historical disappointments.  

It would be unwise to demand that God give us what we deserve—if He did, we would really be poor.

Love enriches us immeasurably—to avoid being an ingrate we must be humbly grateful, not grumbly hateful.

It is rewarding to inventory the cornucopia of heaven’s gifts supplying all our needs—

faith to counteract worry, family to solve loneliness, health to relish life, income to pay bills,

pardon to cancel guilt, tomorrow to inspire hope, heaven to give us Someone to look forward to.

Whatever fails, we can be sure God’s blessings never will; He will never go back on His Word—thank God!

I blessed him with an irrevocable blessing.

Genesis 27:33 NLT

Johnny R. Almond

                Pastor, Colonial Beach Baptist Church, Virginia

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity—Scripture Personalized

Book available through local bookseller or preferred on-line retailer.

Author’s blog www.GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com

[This devotion based on/adapted from Day 18 of Gentle Whispers from Eternity]

The publisher of Dr. Herbert Lockyer’s book, All the Prayers of the Bible, suggests there are no fewer 650 prayers in Scripture with 450 recorded answers. Can you imagine if all of our prayers were recorded and later published for the world to read? I shudder at the thought!

We can be relatively sure that all of the prayers of great men and women in the Bible were not documented for posterity, but our heavenly Father obviously felt some were significant enough to be available throughout time and eternity. The prayer of Moses, recorded in Exodus 33, has always been very intriguing and inspiring for me.

Less than 40 days had passed since the Israelites pledged to keep the Law of God, given them at Mount Sinai (Exodus 24:3). They had already broken the first two commandments with their worship of the golden calf. Moses interceded for forgiveness, and God relented from the threat of extermination. However, this friend of Yahweh would not be content until God was intimately present in his own life and in the lives of the people God had called him to lead.

In his face-to-face dialogue, Moses wisely used the Lord’s answers to become a platform for each succeeding request until he boldly asked:

“I pray You, show me Your glory!” (Exodus 33:18).

This called and anointed leader was desperate for a sign of God’s favor. After all, who wouldn’t want to see God’s glory? I suppose it depends on what happens when the heavy, weighty presence of God is manifested among us! The prophet Isaiah found himself keenly aware of his own depravity, humbling himself in repentance, and pleading for cleansing.

God knew what Moses really needed was the assurance of his heavenly Father’s goodness and mercy. All of a sudden, this was more important to him than any Promised Land he had ever imagined. Following his encounter with the Lord God, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth (Exodus 34:6), Moses emerged a changed man. His solitude and personal worship led to an ability to mediate the very nature and presence of God to the people.

To do God’s work and miss God’s presence
is the wrong way to go.

To experience God’s presence and not fulfill His plan for your life
is the wrong place to stop.

The goodness of the Lord is what leads people to repentance (Romans 2:4). He is the One who came to seek and to save those who are doomed for destruction. We might like to stay in this place near the Lord, hidden by His hand in the cleft of the rock, but He calls us to take up the mantle of ministry He has given us and become the visible evidence of His goodness to a hurting and broken world. Could the Holy Spirit be calling us to become part of the answer to our own prayers for a restoration of godliness in America?

We challenge you to take a few moments to write a personal commitment to consistently seek the Lord for a Christ awakening in America and to spend time during 2014 focusing on the Twenty Indicators of Awakening during your individual and group prayer gatherings. Please know as a partner with the Awakening America Alliance, you are in our thoughts and prayers, too.

During 2014, I commit to seek the Lord__________________

The believer's role in advancing the Kingdom of God is described by Jesus in Luke 10:1-9. In this passage Jesus instructs His disciples to go into cities and do four things which constitute the Prayer Evangelism model that Bishop Vaughn McLaughlin engaged us tonight to know the proper order to winning souls:

1. Bless the people they meet: 
Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace be to this house'.
2. Fellowship with them: 
Stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you, for the laborer is worthy of his wages.
3. Pray for their felt needs: 
Heal those in it who are sick …
4. Proclaim the Kingdom: 
Say to them, the kingdom of God has come near to you.

When we follow these steps people will be ready to hear us. That is why four years ago, we set the goal to have all the streets of the city prayer walked by believers prayer walking their streets weekly. Jacksonville is the largest city geographically in the country and has more streets than any other city - 18,000. For the last two years, we had 12% of the streets of the city regularly prayer walked.

The result:  the city's crime rate dropped 12% two years ago, another 12% last year and so far, it is down 8% this year. This means crime has dropped an accumulative 39% in the last two and half years. Crime is at a 40 year low!

Also four years ago, we challenged churches to prayer walk the elementary, middle or high school near them on the Sunday afternoon before school starts in the fall and the Sunday afternoon after school starts again in January. In the process, relationships were established between the neighborhood schools and churches.

The result:  124 of the 169 public schools in Jacksonville now have a 220 formal church/school partnerships in which the churches serve the schools by meeting expressed needs of the schools for tutors, assistant coaches, landscaping, secretarial assistance, food pantries, clothes closets, etc.

Transform Jacksonville and Northeast Florida also seeks to develop strategies to reach the key influence areas of the city - government/military, education, business, arts, media and the family and help a new generation of change agents leverage the power of the institutions, neighborhoods, and intermediaries of our city. Currently, we have a leadership team in education, family and business areas. 

We believe God is telling his people where the battleground is. It was right here in our city where culture will be won or lost. Our assignment is to "seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper" (Jeremiah 29:7). Therefore, we are convinced that this Christ-centered approach to city transformation is absolutely essential to the renewal of our education sector and the other sectors, institutions, neighborhoods, and intermediaries of our city.

If you missed tonight's message, please log on to the website:

http://www.tphim.org/feb-19-four-steps-of-prayer-evangelism-bishop-vaughn-mclaughlin/

Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 248 | Wed 19 Feb 2014

NORTH KOREA: TENUOUS SITUATION NEEDS WISE HANDLING

by Elizabeth Kendal

On 21 March 2013 the United Nations Human Rights Council passed Resolution A/HRC/RES/22/13 which established the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). The Resolution gave the Commission a 12-month mandate to investigate systematic and widespread human rights abuses in North Korea. North Korean Ambassador So Se Pyong denounced the Resolution as 'an instrument that serves the political purposes of the hostile forces in their attempt to discredit the image of the DPRK', adding, 'those human rights abuses mentioned in the resolution do not exist in our country.' The Commission of Inquiry's report was released on 17 February. It documents 'a wide array of crimes against humanity' and details 'unspeakable atrocities' and concludes: 'The gravity, scale and nature of these violations reveal a State that does not have any parallel in the contemporary world.' As noted in the report: 'The State considers the spread of Christianity a particularly serious threat, since it challenges ideologically the official personality cult and provides a platform for social and political organisation and interaction outside the realm of the State. Apart from the few organised State-controlled churches, Christians are prohibited from practising their religion and are persecuted. People caught practising Christianity are subject to severe punishments . . . .' (Article 31)

The report also remarked on what is without a doubt the key dynamic of North Korea today: 'Strengthening market forces and advancements in information technology have allowed greater access to information from outside the country as information and media from the Republic of Korea and China increasingly enter the country. The State's monopoly on information is therefore being challenged by the increasing flow of outside information into the country and the ensuing curiosity of the people for "truths" other than those provided by State propaganda. Authorities seek to preserve their monopoly on information by carrying out regular crackdowns and enforcing harsh punishments.' (Article 30)

Groomed to rule, Kim Jong-un assumed power after his father ('Dear Leader' Kim Jong-il) died in December 2011. At his father's funeral, Kim Jong-un accompanied his father's casket along with the 'Gang of Seven' - an inner circle of elites tasked with guiding and mentoring the young ruler. By the end of 2013, four of the seven had been purged and one demoted. Kim Jong-un is consolidating power and establishing a new order that he hopes will have a better chance of holding on to power through the challenging times ahead. According to analysts, '. . . the upper ranks of North Korean leadership are now sprinkled with people who hold a known interest in [economic] reform.'

Kim, who did his secondary schooling in Switzerland, and his younger clique know that the information seeping in will generate anger and dissent as North Korea's impoverished masses become aware of their plight relative to the outside world. So in a race against time the regime is implementing agricultural and economic reforms designed to raise the living standards of ordinary Koreans. The regime is also easing the way for foreign investment and undertaking major infrastructure projects - highways, theme parks and resorts - designed to make North Korea more attractive to North Koreans as well as to Chinese tourists. It is a delicate balancing act, for Kim knows that while things have to change, change is incredibly risky. [See footnote for access to RLM where the details will be posted.]

It is commendable that the UN report is shining a spotlight on the horrific situation inside North Korea. However, the situation needs to be handled with great care and wisdom rather than belligerently. For example, if too much pressure is applied or if 'hostile forces' use the report to fan the flames of revolution for their own political, economic and geo-strategic ends, then repression could escalate to unprecedented levels or the state descend into a widespread bloodbath. Neither would benefit the Church in North Korea. Realistically, the report can only be used as leverage to get prisoners released and rights improved if the regime is assured it will not be threatened. When faced with such an unpalatable truth, it is essential to keep focused on North Korea's long-suffering Church which so desperately needs deliverance and freedom.

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL -

* hear the prayers and cries of his people and bring deliverance and freedom to his long-suffering Church in North Korea. (Isaiah 59:14-19)

'Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.' (1 Peter 5:7 NIV)

LORD, IN YOUR MERCY: give wisdom to fools and patience to hot heads; repentance to persecutors and grace to victims; so that your Church might be spared further calamity and delivered from her adversity to rise as light to overcome darkness.

'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.' (Isaiah 55:8,9 ESV)


SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE

NORTH KOREA NEEDS WISE HANDLING

The UN's Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the DPRK [North Korea] released its report on 17 February. It documents a wide array of 'crimes against humanity', details 'unspeakable atrocities' and concludes: 'The gravity, scale and nature of these violations reveal a State that does not have any parallel in the contemporary world.' Tens of thousands of Christians struggle to survive in labour camps where they endure starvation, hard labour and unparalleled systematic cruelty. This report will expose the horrific situation inside North Korea. However, the risk is it could be unhelpfully politicised, causing repression to escalate or the country to descend into a bloodbath. Neither would benefit the Church in North Korea. Please pray for North Korea and its Church.


To view this RLPB with hyperlinks or to access RLPB and RLM archives, visit the Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin blog at http://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.com

We suggest that churches and fellowships using the Summary above might also provide a copy of the listed prayer points to be used in their worship by people who are leading in prayer.

This RLPB was written by Elizabeth Kendal, an international religious liberty analyst and advocate, and is issued as a ministry of the Evangelical Alliance in Australia.

Elizabeth Kendal is the author of 'Turn Back the Battle: Isaiah speaks to Christians today' (Deror Books, Dec. 2012) http://turnbackthebattle.com/thebook.html

Elizabeth is Adjunct Research Fellow in the Centre for the Study of Islam and Other Faiths at the Melbourne School of Theology. She is Director of Advocacy for Christian Faith & Freedom based in Canberra, Australia.

If this bulletin was forwarded to you, you may receive future weekly issues direct by sending a blank email

to join-rlpb@hub.xc.org

Greetings from the ION Prayer Team!

Join us in asking the Lord of the Harvest to send His laborers to the fields around the globe. We very much appreciate your effort and continued support to link together in prayer for Orality/UUPGs & Great Commission Partner groups & in prayer for the 5.7 billion oral peoples around the world.

We invite you to join us, each Thursday at 2pm (EST) for the weekly prayer conference call.

Dial: (712) 432-0926 

Access Code: 373000#

Even if you can not join us for the prayer call on the phone, please DOWNLOAD this month's FEB 2014 ION Prayer Focus from this link:

http://www.getamericapraying.com/groupdocs/90_1391375915.pdf

We also continue with focused prayer for the remaining UUPGs who still need "boots on the ground" that are from the original "639 UUPG List" from Finishing the Task (FTT). These unengaged people groups are all over 100,000 in population. Let's unite in asking the Lord of the Harvest to send His laborers to these mostly oral peoples and for protection for those working in their fields.

Persistently prevailing,

Linda Bemis

Director, Prayer

Email: IONPrayer@gmail.com

International Orality Network

- Influencing the body of Christ to make disciples of all oral learners

     - 70% of the world (5.7 billion) are oral learners and of that group 1/2 are children!

Visit Orality.net

Isaiah 42:16 "I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them."

Can we learn to love those who are different than we are with the love God requires of his people? Yes but only as we pray for, learn about and serve them - blessing the nations among us. Through prayer we gain the heart of God for the strangers among us as we embrace God’s love for all people. Through the Ethnic Embrace USA prayer journey you will......

Encounter 40 different people groups, who now call the USA home. Many of these people are far from Christ. These “nations” include Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and others.

Explore 40 different Scripture passages that tell us about the love God has for the “nations.” There is a story that runs throughout Scripture that we must embrace to love the “nations” as Jesus does.

The Lord is bringing the “nations” to us and has called us to embrace all peoples with his love. Are you ready to respond? Through the Ethnic Embrace USA prayer journey we pray you will be.

The recently released print version is beginning to be used by individuals and churches to equip for being the blessing we are called to be. Order a single copy for yourself or 300 like one church in Birmingham did and use it to inform and train your people.

Place your order at: http://www.ethnicembraceusa.net/Take-the-Journey.html

LET LOVE RULE

IT MIGHT BE TIME FOR A HEART CHECK

By Phil Miglioratti

Whenever a particular colleague would call me on the phone, I would immediately freeze up. Our ministry was suffering from his seemingly self-serving decision-making and destructive actions. When confronted, he refused to repent or resign.

Somehow I survived that situation. But when he called, more than a decade after he finally moved on, I hesitated to pick up the phone. 

But I’m glad I did. This time he was calling to confess that he was taking responsibility for the failure of our ministry relationship. And he recognized that I had sought reconciliation. That surprising call led to a few more calls, a few emails and, eventually, an invitation from him to lead his members in a prayer weekend.

I was ready to respond positively to him because, from the beginning of that troubled time, I had done my best to resist the urge for revenge and the feelings of resentment. I had resolved to love him in my heart by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Every day multitudes of Christians are praying for revival by petitioning the Lord to change hearts, forgive sins, cleanse lives, and fill churches. God calls us to pray this way. But perhaps we have failed to anticipate that when the Lord answers those prayers, He also expects something else to change—the heart of how and why the Church prays.

In his epistle, Jude wrote, “Dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life” (1:20–21).

Every renewed relationship requires a change of communication patterns. Jude makes it clear that for Christ followers to keep their revived relationship with the Lord, prayer is an essential component.

“Praying in the Holy Spirit” enables us to stay “right at the center of God’s love” (Jude 1:20–21, MSG).  Our call to pray is a call to experience and express God’s love. He wants His love to reign—to be central at the core of our praying—now and always.

Love Motivates a Revived Church to Pray

If it is true (and it is!) that without love, we are nothing (1 Cor. 13:1–3), then it may also be true that loveless prayers produce precisely nothing.

Few of us would admit to “loveless” praying, but our need for sweeping revival in the Church is an indication we have “abandoned the love [we] had at first” (Rev. 2:4, ESV). If praying is a sign of staying in love with God, then abandoned prayer meetings reveal a Church that has grown cold, content with the status quo.

If a sign of love is caring more about the one you love than yourself, then our “heal me, help me” prayer lists reveal a self-centered Church. Is our longing for revival actually a response to our Lord wooing us, warning us that the love we had at first is gone?

Action Step:

Ensure that love is the motivating factor in every spoken or silent prayer. Instruct those you lead in prayer to include phrases such as these:

• Because of Your great love . . . 
• With gratitude for Your love to us through Christ . . .
• Grant us the Father’s heart of love as we pray . . .
• Break our hearts over the people and problems that break your heart, Lord. . . . 

Love Shapes the Way a Revived Church Prays

Loving our Savior—easy. Loving a changing and crumbling culture—not so easy. In fact, many of us are becoming alienated from and fearful of our postmodern, increasingly anti-Christian, society. What was once an “in God we trust” nation seems to have become antagonistic toward Christianity. Sometimes society feels like our enemy.

For some, this takes away the motivation to pray with love. Others interpret it as permission to pray with anger and judgment. But we know our Lord’s command: “I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:44). Love and prayer are inextricably linked—even in difficult situations. Especially in difficult situations.

God gave us His love as the ultimate weapon of warfare. So when He calls us by His Spirit into prayer, He calls us to extol His love in praise and to declare His love as the ultimate purpose of our petitions. Being transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:2) is more than a cerebral absorption of Bible information. It is a transformation of all we are and all we do, including how and why we pray.

The Apostle Paul’s prayer becomes our model: “That your love may abound more and more” (Phil. 1:9). And as our love for God abounds, our love will also abound for what God longs for: “For the earth [to] be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2:14). Now that’s love!

Action Steps: 

• Encourage others to join you in praying that your praises and petitions will become saturated with love—authentic love for Almighty God.
• Pray you will grow in love for others in the Body of Christ, as well as in redeeming love for the hard to love.  
• Pray with love for those who are lost (that they will not perish), those with the least (the poor and the powerless), and those who lead others (often easily deceived by the enemy or deluded by the evil dark enticements of greed or power).  

Love Portrays the Message of a Revived Church

If we pray for the spreading of God’s love to all the nations but outwardly express a lack of love for individuals or a lack of compassion on relevant issues, we are only making noise (1 Cor. 13:1). In fact, worse than noise, our culture perceives us as hypocritical and judgmental, like twenty-first century Pharisees.

The Church has not so much become irrelevant as we have been exposed as irreverent, unable to practice what we preach—and thereby disproving the gospel in the minds of those who need Christ. Great-Commission praying requires a Great-Commandment lifestyle of love.

For instance, in many areas our children’s schools have become off limits to the gospel, and Christians are often considered persona non grata. But that did not deter a pastors prayer group in Southern California. Having heard that the nearby high school had a serious dropout problem, they began praying together for the school and the students.

Their concern became a burden, which led them to pray on site, knowing that the best insight comes only from seeing and feeling the burden of the situation firsthand. They were careful to stay on public property and did not behave in an offensive manner (preaching or waving Bibles). They simply prayed silently or quietly as they walked the campus. Soon, students who attended their congregations began to engage them in conversation, asking “Why are you here? What are you doing?”

This gave the pastors opportunities to explain their purpose (to ask God to help the students succeed at their studies) and their motive (because they truly cared about all the children at the school). Coinciding with the time frame of their on-site prayers, the dropout rate drastically declined. And the school district, to the pastors’ surprise, asked them to pray at other troubled schools in their district.

“Make love your aim” (1 Cor. 14:1, RSV) refers not only to God-focused praying but also to outward-focused living. Christ’s love compels us to love one another in the Body of Christ (1 Thess. 4:9) and to love our neighbors (Matt. 22:39) who are not yet part of God’s family.

Jesus prayed that we, His Church, would be proof to the world that God loves them (John 17:23). Actually, loving them—through our love-motivated prayers—is the only way to accomplish that.

Action Steps:  

• Ask the Holy Spirit to identify the individuals He wants to reveal His truth to through your words and deeds of love. 
• Create a list at praycareshare.com to receive an automatic weekly reminder to pray.
• Ask the Lord to show you how to demonstrate your love in ways each person will best appreciate—an act of mercy or hospitality, or problem-solving resources.  
• As Paul instructs us, “Pray also . . . that whenever [you] speak, words may be given [you] so that [you] will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which [you are] an ambassador” (Eph. 6:19–20).

Everyone is created in God’s image and desperately needs at least one saved-by-grace, filled-with-the-Spirit person to pray for them, show them love, and tell them the gospel truth. And that means picking up the phone when you dread talking to the person on the other end! God loves the world through those who love Christ. You and I are those ambassadors of God’s love. 

PHIL MIGLIORATTI is COO of Mission America and national coordinator of Loving Your Communities to Christ. His passion is to network pastors, prayer, and city transformation movements. He blogs at Philsblog.net.

Love Help Center

Here are some resources to help you pray with love as your heart motivation:

• An email reminder to pray for lost persons: praycareshare.com
• A website stocked with stories and resources devoted to the prayer-care-share lifestyle: LOVE2020.com
• Video clips to help you cast vision and train Christ followers in loving their neighbors and their communities for and with and to Christ: youtube.com/LoveGodOthers
• Scriptures and links to articles: #Love2020
• Podcasts and commentary: facebook.com/makeloveyouraim

(c) 2014 Prayer Connect magazine.

I recently noticed February 17 was National Day of Random Acts of Kindness. As I was thinking about it the thought came to me that it would be a good idea for grandparents to challenge their grandchildren

 to do random acts of kindness. Then have them report the act of kindness to us. Wikipedia states, “A random act of kindness is a selfless act performed by a person or persons wishing to either assist or cheer up an individual.” 

We read in Ephesians 4:32, “Be kind and compassionate to one another.” Being kind is being gentle, thoughtful, considerate, sympathetic, compassionate, and nice to others. When we do acts of kindness without an identifiable plan, we are doing it randomly.

My sixteen year old granddaughter was telling told me high school is encouraging the students to do random acts of kindness during the month of February.

Let’s challenge our grandchildren to be kind and compassionate to their family members, classmates, friends, and others showing random acts of kindness. They are growing up in a self-centered environment, thinking only of ones self. Let’s encourage them to show kindness to others. 

By Lillian Penner

If we pray in faith, we will find ourselves praying for great things. I have cancer. I don't know how long I have to pray or witness or write. And I don't want to spend whatever time God gives me praying for a better parking place at The Old Country Buffet.

In Hebrews 13 we find people who were commended for faith by praying for eternal things. Are you praying for things that will matter a thousand years from now? Are you praying for things that will matter for all eternity? Are you praying like Abraham for a city whose designer and builder is God? (Hebrews 11:10) Are you praying for things may take all of history to accomplish? Are you praying such mighty prayers that you may still be praying in faith when you die, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar? (Hebrews 11:13)

See my website at http://davewswatch.com/

Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin | RLPB 247 | Wed 12 Feb 2014

BURMA (Myanmar): CONTINUED ETHNIC CLEANSING OF CHRISTIAN KACHIN

by Elizabeth Kendal

The Burmese Army (the Tatmadaw) is continuing its campaign of ethnic cleansing in resource-rich Kachin State. The Christian Kachin have long resisted the Burman Buddhist regime's brutal dictatorship. While the Kachin want autonomy so they can freely maintain their culture, the Burman Buddhist elite and military want complete control of Kachin land so they can exploit its resources. The situation in Burma is reminiscent of that in Sudan, where the Islamist-Arab regime in Khartoum is doing the same in the resource-rich, mostly Christian, African south. Similar situations exist in Papua, Indonesia and in Vietnam's Central Highlands. In each case, the resistance of the predominantly Christian ethnic peoples is met with extreme military violence and ethnic cleansing motivated by greed and fuelled by state-sanctioned racial and religious hatred.

On the morning of 30 January, Burma Army troops attacked Nam Gau Village of Mansi township in south Kachin State. More than 2000 people had already fled attacks in the area in November-December 2013 and now the remnant has also fled. The Burma Army took 20 villagers captive and thoroughly looted the village. Later that day soldiers of the Kachin Army led some villagers back to help them gather what remained of their belongings. At that point the Burma Army returned and a fierce fire-fight ensued. The next day Burma Army reinforcements arrived and the fighting escalated with the Burma Army attacking nearby Nam San Village also, firing heavy mortar rounds on civilian homes. Whilst ultimately the Kachin Army was driven out, it moved on to attack the Burma Army base, forcing the Burma Army to abandon the villages to defend their base. Other Kachin soldiers helped the local people collect what remained of their belongings. When the Free Burma Rangers relief teams conducted a medical clinic for those displaced in nearby Nam Lim Pa on 30 January, they found three bodies with clear evidence of torture. The ethnic cleansing continues.

Despite propaganda to the contrary, the situation faced by the Kachin is actually worse than ever. In the past, when Burma was aligned with China, the West would attack the junta by exposing human rights abuses and championing the rights of the persecuted ethnic nations. However, when Burma re-aligned and sought rapprochement with the West, everything changed. All the West can see now is an opportunity to make great economic and geo-strategic gains in Burma. Nevertheless, before Western politicians could engage with Burma, Burma's image problem had to be dealt with. In reality, Burma's political 'reforms' are cosmetic and 'peace talks' are a stalling tactic. The government is essentially powerless, a mere front for the military which still calls the shots. The reforms are really all about image.

In an act of extreme betrayal, the 'international community' is allowing the regime in Naypyidaw to control all distribution of international aid. Therefore the Kachin Army fights to defend the Christian Kachin from Burma Army aggression and expansion but the regime controls the aid. Like the regime in Sudan, the regime here uses this tactic to infiltrate deep into hostile territory where it then sets up offices and distribution centres and consolidates its presence. Thus the war-ravaged Christian Kachin are forced to choose between holding their ground and starving, or opening the door to the regime. As a retired US Army Special Forces officer, Tim Heinemann, notes: 'This is effectively international support for Burman-led counter-insurgency operations.' (Asia Times, 23 January 2014). It seems the West is prepared to ignore gross human rights abuses and war crimes to get access to Burma's vast and untapped resources, markets and cheap labour. Once their champion, now the West wants the ethnic nations to submit and co-operate. In July 2013 the British government even approved arms export licences to Burma worth over US$5 million.

[International Day of Prayer for Burma: 9 March 2014
See www.freeburmarangers.org ]

PLEASE PRAY SPECIFICALLY THAT GOD WILL -

* preserve, sustain and raise up godly leaders amongst the severely persecuted Christian Kachin; may these leaders be blessed with great and effective power from the Holy Spirit to comfort and encourage their traumatised, war-ravaged peoples so that they do not fall into despair and lose hope in the LORD; may their faith shine brightly in Burma's darkness.

'My soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is; so I say, "My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the LORD." . . . But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him."' (Lamentations 3:17,18 and 21-24 ESV)

* intervene in Burma to defend and sustain his people, shielding them from harm and providing their needs while exposing and fighting their enemies. (See Isaiah 40:10,11 and 59:14-19)

'Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain . . .' (Habakkuk 2:9 NIV)

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE

BURMA (Myanmar) - CONTINUED ETHNIC CLEANSING OF CHRISTIAN KACHIN

Behind a smokescreen of political 'reform', the Burmese Army is continuing its campaign of ethnic cleansing in Kachin State. The Christian Kachin have long resisted the Burman Buddhist regime's brutal dictatorship. Whilst the Kachin seek autonomy so they can freely maintain their culture, the regime wants full control so it can exploit the Kachin's resource-rich lands. The extreme military violence meted out against the Kachin is motivated by greed and fuelled by State-sanctioned racial and religious hatred. Fighting rages in south Kachin State where the Burma Army is attacking village after village, employing heavy artillery, rape and torture, kidnapping villagers and looting. The Kachin are traumatised, the regime controls the aid supplies and the West appears to have abandoned them for economic gain. Please pray for Burma and its Church.


To view this RLPB with hyperlinks or to access RLPB and RLM archives, visit the Religious Liberty Prayer Bulletin blog at http://rlprayerbulletin.blogspot.com

We suggest that churches and fellowships using the Summary above might also provide a copy of the listed prayer points to be used in their worship by people who are leading in prayer.

This RLPB was written by Elizabeth Kendal, an international religious liberty analyst and advocate, and is issued as a ministry of the Evangelical Alliance in Australia.

Elizabeth Kendal is the author of 'Turn Back the Battle: Isaiah speaks to Christians today' (Deror Books, Dec. 2012) http://turnbackthebattle.com/thebook.html

Elizabeth is Adjunct Research Fellow in the Centre for the Study of Islam and Other Faiths at the Melbourne School of Theology. She is Director of Advocacy for Christian Faith & Freedom based in Canberra, Australia.

If this bulletin was forwarded to you, you may receive future weekly issues direct by sending a blank email

to join-rlpb@hub.xc.org