Praying For The Middle East
“Ask of me, and I shall
give thee the
heathen for thine
inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” (Psalm 2:8)
Recently, I heard a
historian share that the events we are seeing in 2014 in Iraq will be discussed a thousand years from
now as events that changed the world (should the Lord tarry). It doesn’t surprise me. Not since Hitler’s Nazi regime attempted to
genocide an entire race have we seen the type of approach that the Muslim Isis
group is committing against believers and other groups. It is simply appalling. Many tend to easily fall into a mentality of
indifference because it does not affect them one way or another. However, we need to be active in our stance,
our support, our solicitation of government intervention, and most importantly,
supplication to God.
In times like these,
it is often difficult to muster a heart to pray for some people groups when
evil is running rampant in their hearts.
However, as the mighty prayer warrior E.M. Bounds has wisely written:
“Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is
greater still. He who has not learned
well how to talk to God for men, will never talk well and with real success to
men for God.”
I encourage you to
pray particularly for this part of the world this week:
uPray
for Unreached Peoples - Iraq in the “Cradle of Civilization” which was the
original place of the Garden of Eden and many of the earliest stories of the
Bible. It’s hard to imagine that the place
that God first set Adam and Eve on the planet for a perfect relationship has
seen mankind wander so far away from Him.
Within this area, hundreds of people groups need to hear the
gospel. Ask God to open doors of
evangelism.
uPray
for Relief of Human Suffering - This area of the world has seen some of the
most adverse human conditions including tensions dating back to the time of
Isaac and Ishmael (Abraham’s Sons) which ultimately has led to the millennia’s-old
conflicts in the Middle East. The fight for control against God’s chosen people
continues to rage as battles in Israel
and the opposition of the Arabic people rises.
We need to pray for God’s protecting hand over Israel.
uPray
for Protection of Leaders and Believers - One of the greatest ministry
needs within these areas is training and development, yet great risk is
involved. Without the growth of leaders,
both quantitatively and qualitatively, the long-term health of churches is
jeopardized. Pray for missionaries and
strategies that effectively respond to this need (Matthew 9:35-38). While helicopters and planes may require
complete removal from the area, we need to ask God’s hand upon all those who
are currently hurting in this oppressed section of the world.
Let’s also remember to
praise the Lord for the mighty things He has already done.
uMany
Churches - There are many underground churches where believers worship at
the threat of personal injury. Pray for
God’s hand upon these Christians.
uMaturing
Churches - Pray for the spiritual growth of all who faithfully serve in
these areas. God uses the most difficult
circumstances to bring His work.
uMultiplying
Churches - In the midst of adversity, let’s ask God to move in the
expansion of the gospel. Where darkness
exists, the light shines even brighter.
God has revealed Himself in the most treacherous seasons of history
including Pharaoh’s aversion to the Israelites and Herod’s rampage of
holocaust.
David wrote, “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for
thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.”
(Psalm 2:8) While we need to appeal to the
government, we also need to appeal to God for His touch on the nations that the
gospel will go forth. While the heathens
rage around us, the Lion roars from heaven, as He will bring redemption to all
those who call on His name.
Terry Risser
Reflections:
1) How does the recent Isis crisis cause you to feel?
2) What is God calling you to do in the midst
of this situation?
Consider reading the Word today:
Copyright
2014- Terry Risser
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