Global Day Of Prayer: Our Role/Our Task/Our Life

Isaiah 58:9~14                                  Our Role/Our Task/Our Life

Isaiah 58: ⁹Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,  ¹⁰and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.  ¹¹The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.  ¹²Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

We are called to be people of reconciliation.  Our role is to be peacemakers.  We are instructed to bring the Good News to the Nations.

Some feel: “How can I do that?  I live in Tokorozawa and my role is to provide for my family?  How does the Lord expect me to go into all the world and preach the Gospel?” 

Good question.  The answer is also a good answer.  He does not expect you to go and tell the whole wide world about His Love.  He expects all of us to Pray.  Not all can go.  Some are called as missionaries and I trust there are some here today that will be going because of that call.  But all of us are called to pray and that is why GDOP had been started over 14 years ago in South Africa.  To pray for the Nations. 

Today, we will be directing you to pray for some countries around the world.  We will be praying for the Church around the world.  We will be praying for Japan.  We will be praying for the Church in Eastern Japan.  Praying for the local outreaches into the temporary housing.  For the children of Tohoku.  Praying for the Senior citizens of Tohoku.  Praying for the families that are still traumatized. Why?

Because, as Gospel proclaimers, this is our pleasure…not work, not out of obligation, not our of fear or for what we will get out of this but for the Glory of the Lord.  A selfless act of obedience.  We will become Repairers of Broken Walls---in relationships, in communities, in Churches.  We will become restorers of streets with dwellings.  Our prayers will be used by the Spirit of the Lord to BLESS the people of this world, both internationally and locally with the joy of God.

Here is some of their stories…some who are doing just that by repairing broken walls… 

JAPAN

Pastor Ichio Kishinami serves with Miyagi Mission Network among tsunami victims. He listens to victim's stories, gathers them together and teaches them how to pray to Jesus.

The seeds for church planting are phenomenal. Pastor Kishinami has now established over 33 Christ-following groups—some are already full house chapels. Most all of these groups are made up of people who have no Christian background. And so people are coming to Christ in unprecedented numbers for Japan.

PRAY

• Continue to pray for the safety of the citizens and leaders.

• Pray for HOPE to be understood as only coming from Jesus.

• Ask God to intervene on behalf of believers in Japan.

Pray for peace to be restored and that the Repairer of Broken Walls will be repaired and that the Streets with Dwellings will be Restored.

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North Korea #1

For the eleventh year running, this is the most difficult place on earth to be a Christian. One of the remaining Communist states, it is vehemently opposed to religion of any kind. Christians are classified as hostile and face arrest, detention, torture, even public execution.  There is a system of labor camps including the renowned prison No. 15, which reportedly houses 6,000 Christians alone. But despite severe oppression, there is a growing underground church movement of an estimated 400,000 Christians.

How you can pray:

Leader: Kim Jong-Un

Government: Communist Dictatorship   Main Religion: Atheism/traditional

Population: 20 Million (400,000 Christians)

PRAY

• For real political and economic change under the leadership of Kim Jong-Un

• Spies have reportedly been sent to China to expose networks. Ask God to protect refugees and those

helping them

• Give thanks that Open Doors is able to deliver emergency aid into the country.

• Continue to pray for the safety of the students and leaders. Ask God to intervene on behalf of believers in North Korea.

Pray for peace to be restored and that the Repairer of Broken Walls will be repaired and that the Streets with Dwellings will be Restored.

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Sudan #12

Although Islamic law has not yet been fully implemented, the government and society try to squeeze Christians in all spheres of life and the level of violence has escalated. Christians face growing threats and persecution from Muslim communities and Islamist government officials, yet the number of believers is rising. The independence of South Sudan means future instability for Sudan, with a huge loss of revenue. Christians are afraid the religious and ethnic cleansing will continue, particularly along the border with South Sudan.

How you can pray:

Leader: President Omar al-Bashir

Government: Republic  Main Religion: Islam

Population: 34.2 Million (few Christians)

PRAY

• Praise the Lord that the number of Muslim Background Believers in Sudan is rising.

• For Christians in the disputed border regions, where churches and schools have been attacked.

• Give thanks that Open Doors has been able to offer humanitarian assistance as well as discipleship and outreach training.

• Continue to pray for the safety of the students and leaders. Ask God to intervene on behalf of believers in Sudan.

Pray for peace to be restored and that the Repairer of Broken Walls will be repaired and that the Streets with Dwellings will be Restored.

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Maldives #6

This is the only country in the world which requires all citizens to be Muslim. Conversion to another faith is prohibited by law and converts face extreme pressure from family and society – often having to leave the country. The authorities exert extensive control on the people to correct any deviation from Islam. There are no church gatherings or buildings. Religion is moving towards Deobandi (Sunni) Islam (Taliban) – the religion of the Taliban, whose mission is to cleanse Islam of all other influences. There are very few indigenous believers.

How you can pray:

Leader: President Mohammed Waheed Hassan

Government: Republic   Main Religion: Islam

Population: 320,000 (few Christians)

PRAY

• For the handful of secret believers to grow in the love of God.

• For young people who seek education outside the islands. Pray that they will receive the gospel and return to share it with their communities.

• That the translation of the New Testament into the Dhivehi language would be completed.

• Continue to pray for the safety of the students and leaders. Ask God to intervene on behalf of believers in Maldives.

Pray for peace to be restored and that the Repairer of Broken Walls will be repaired and that the Streets with Dwellings will be Restored.

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Colombia  #46

Leader: President Juan Manuel Santos
Government: Republic     Religion: Christianity (Roman Catholicism)
Population: 47.5 million (44.5 million Christians)

Under the current president, there has been a resurgence of armed groups, who specifically target Christians because they know the Christian faith is not compatible with their values. Two pastors were killed in 2012 and about 300 indigenous persecuted Christians displaced from their homes. Pagan indigenous populations receive material support from rebel military organizations to persecute local Christians. These territories have become a safe haven for the rebel’s drug trafficking activities. Drug cartels and illegal armed groups continue to operate with impunity.  Many children—esp from Pastor’s homes, have been targeted for kidnapping.  The parents are sometimes shot in front of them, or after a long time away from the parents, the children have been brainwashed to become killers as well.  One such boy—after he had killed his first person when he was only 7, has now become a pastor and is the pastor of his own parents. 

PRAY:

·       Thank God that Christians in Colombia are willing to stand up and be a witness in social and political activities

·       For indigenous converts, who are often denied access to basic social services, equal participation in decision-making, and risk being tortured or displaced

·       For Open Doors’ Children’s Center, which provides a safe place for Christian children targeted by the rebel armed groups of Colombia.

·       Continue to pray for the safety of the students and leaders. Ask God to intervene on behalf of believers in Colombia.

Pray for peace to be restored and that the Repairer of Broken Walls will be repaired and that the Streets with Dwellings will be Restored.

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India  #33

Leader: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
Government: Federal Republic   Religion: Hinduism
Population: 1.2 billion (71 million Christians)

Religious militants are one of the most prominent attackers of the Christian minority, claiming that every Indian has to be Hindu. ‘Anti-conversion laws’ have been adopted in several states and are frequently used as a pretext to disrupt church services and to harass and accuse Christians. Permission to build or renovate a church building is almost impossible and church activities can be perceived as ‘hurting religious feelings’ and ‘disturbing peace and order’. The caste system, which is deeply rooted in society, makes outreach extremely difficult.

PRAY:

·       For Christians attending Open Doors’ ‘Standing Strong through the Storm’ seminars to strengthen them in the face of persecution

·       For converts from Hindu or Muslim backgrounds, who face exclusion by friends and family

·       Praise God that, despite the troubles, the Indian church is growing.

·       Continue to pray for the safety of the students and leaders. Ask God to intervene on behalf of believers in India.  

Pray for peace to be restored and that the Repairer of Broken Walls will be repaired and that the Streets with Dwellings will be Restored.

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Myanmar (Burma)   #32 

Leader: President Thein Sein Government: Transition to parliamentary democracy     

Religion: BuddhismPopulation: 54.5 million (4.6 million Christians)

The transition to democracy has had no positive impact for the Christian minority, yet. Being Burmese is equated with being Buddhist and the state runs schools that are used to introduce young people to Buddhism. Violence against the Christians of the Kachin tribe is rampant – at least 10 Christians were reported to have been killed last year. Converts are hassled by family and the local community; they are treated as second-class citizens, widely perceived as connected with the West.

PRAY:

·       For wisdom for church leaders as their churches are monitored

·       For persecuted Christians caught in the crossfire between Muslims and Buddhists in Arakan state, to be instruments of God’s peace

·       Continue to pray for the safety of the students and leaders. Ask God to intervene on behalf of believers in Myanmar.

Pray for peace to be restored and that the Repairer of Broken Walls will be repaired and that the Streets with Dwellings will be Restored.

Isa 53: ¹³“If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,  ¹⁴then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

The Lord is seeking a People who will worship Him in spirit and in truth.  He longs for a People who will honor His Name.  Those who keep themselves Holy as He is Holy.  A People who will delight in His Presence.  Those who keep the Sabbath Holy.  Those who will not be going their own way and not doing as they please or who speak idle words…those are the ones who will find their JOY in the Lord.  Are you that kind of a person?  He is calling all of us to delight in Him. “For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

愛CCS’s Worship Team               Closing Prayer by Rev. Oshikubo

JOINT SERVICE IN KOTESASHI

Join us this Sunday for a joint service at 1-39-2 kotesashi-machi,
Saitama YMCA
(tokoro@ymcajapan.org)
Saitama YMCA(財団法人埼玉YMCA)
This is Pentecost Sunday and also Global Day of Prayer.
Join us as we pray for the Nations!
Global Day of Prayer (http://www.globaldayofprayer.com/ ) 

愛CCS DIGGING THE WELLS OF ABRAHAM. アブラハムの井戸を掘る

Colossians 1:10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. This is not a passing on of knowledge but a growing in knowledge of the love of God. 

For every man, education should be a process that continues all his life. We have to abandon, as swiftly as possible, the idea that schooling is something restricted to youth. How can it be, in a world where half the things a man knows at 20 are no longer true at 40--and half the things he knows at 40 hadn't been discovered when he was 20? ~Arthur C. Clarke

Knowledge is to be sought after but in light of the Cross.

Romans 10:2 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Not for the sake of zeal!

Philippians 1:9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, of the Love of God!

Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. How? DURING ACTIVE DIGGING!

Gen 26/Background:•Abraham had dug a number of wells and •his enemies kept filled them in.  Later his son needed water, so he re-opened the closed wells.  Each well had a special name.  Each well dealt with different issues of life.  As way of application, the wells that have been dug here at ICCS over the last 23 years by many of you and from the preaching, will need some attention and some possible re-digging—so that fresh water or fresh knowledge of God’s love will continue to flow.

What had happened before Chapter 26? Sarah was an old barren lady when God visited her and she conceived and gave birth to a child. Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 when Isaac was born!  And she was still a good-looking woman! And in Chapter 23, Sarah passed•away at 127 years of age.  Abraham bought a cave from a Hittite and placed his beloved wife there as her final resting place.  Moving along …

Chapter 24 deals with finding a wife for the son Isaac who was called Rebekah.  Drought in the land In chapter 25,  Abraham dies.  But before he dies, he marries again and (during the next years) has SIX more boys!   Abraham was 175 when he died. 

There is an expression that goes:  The apple does not fall far from the tree. In the case of Isaac and Abraham, they both had a problem with telling people the truth about their wives---they told the people of the land that they were their sisters. 

Isaac became a very wealthy man with large herds of animals that needed water.  The wells his father had dug had all been filled in or plugged up by the tribes living around there. They were troubled having this Hebrew tribe in their area and wanted them to move along.  He did not rename them. Dispute. Opposition. Room to live~ well of 7

But now, Isaac needed that water, so he had his men reopen the wells.  He had been told NOT to go into Egypt like his father had so he went and stayed in a place called Gerar meaning “lodging-place”.

26:12 Planted crops  ~~ 100 fold.  Needed water.

All this resulting in a reaping a hundredfold: Genesis 26:12.  “Now Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the Lord blessed him.” Be ready for a HARVEST!

Three thousand years later, modern techniques are being used to sow and reap in the area’s fertile soil.

13 became very rich.   15 People in the area envied him that happens even among Believers… ENVY

APPLICATION: Titus 3:3  At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice & envy, being hated and hating one another.  James 3:14-16 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵ Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.  BEWARE!

26:16  Enemies filled the wells as Isaac became powerful.

18 Isaac needed to reopen wells and used same names.

19~20 new well: "Esek". (the English form of a Hebrew word which means• dispute). APPLICATION: Acts 23:7 When Paul said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 15:2 This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 1 Cor 6:1 If any of you has a dispute with another, do you dare to take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the Lord’s people?

21 Another well was dug—"Sitnah". (the English form of a Hebrew word which means opposition). APPLICATION:  Heb 12:3 Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

26:22  Rehobath- (the English form of a Hebrew word which means room to live).  He has given us ROOM!!!  And peace. 26:23  He went up to Beersheba and the Lord shown Himself to Isaac there. The Lord appeared to him—I am with you! Don’t be afraid!”

26:24 After your commitment to what I want to see in you—I will be with you so keep digging.  Stay focused on getting water from His well.

At this point, Isaac …25 built an altar (to worship) & dug a well.

26:28  People in the area said: “We see that the Lord is with Isaac.  Make a treaty with us.” Strong witness!

26:32~33  Dug another well and found water.   Shibah= Beersheba.  Beersheba's name is derived from the Hebrew words pronounced beer, meaning well, and sheba, meaning seven. Hence the name of the town meant the seventh well or well of the oath.  (Seven ewe lambs were given during the oath.  Basically, this is a very watered area.

The actual well of Beersheba was dug by Abraham's servants, and was a place of conflict when Abimelech's servants tried to seize it. APPLICATION: Gal 5:17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. To avoid conflict, Romans 12:8 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 

The Lord had made more room for them.  He grew them!

APPLICATION: Don’t go to Egypt… You are set free to live in the Land the Lord has given you.  Stay clear of Envy.  Keep digging.  Watch out for argument Esek and contention.  Stay clear of quarreling Sitnah and enmity. But deal with it should it appear.

They then moved to yet another area BUT no one quarreled over it!  This was Rehoboth…God made room for them—we will flourish in the land, so-don’t give up—be committed to the old teachings.  Be open to them.

APPLICATION: Built an altar and Worship, call on the Name of the Lord!  The deeper you dig, the less you see what is around you as you look for the water below.  We need to keep our eyes open to what is going on around us.  Change when it is necessary—not for change sake but if it is really needed.  Keep to the Main Things!

26:28 We have seen that the Lord is with us.  At this point, another well is dug and much water is found.  Showing the pleasure of the Lord.

APPLICATION: Jesus said in Matthew 11:30: For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

Daily follow Him is the digging of the wells. There is water there—refreshment and life. 2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.