STRATEGIC - TARGETED PRAYERJeremiah 1:9-10: "Then the Lord put forth His hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. 10. See, I have this day set the over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant."
Amos 8:11-12: "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: 12) And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.
Ephesians 6:12: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
I had recently received the December, 2008 issue of "Voice of the Martyrs" and was appauled to see an insert that said that the message of the Gospel is illegal in 52 countries, restricted in 38 nations and hostile in 14 areas. Now, some of the nations where the Bible is illegal was of no surprise to me but some of the hostile & restricted nations shocked me! The more and more I research the more I find that there appears to be greater hostility against not only Christians but the Word of God around the world. Even in countries which were, in the past, considered Christian countries.
I know here, in the United States, the hostility against Christians is growing with each passing year. The problem is that American and Western Christians in general, are very ignorant as to the martyrdom of Christians living in hostile countries. I believe that "we" do not want to belive that Christians are being tortured and killed because of their belief in Jesus Christ. I also know that many American Christians are very ignorant to the fact that there are actually Christians in Muslim countries.
If Christians in the United States and other western European countries do not pay closer attention to what is happening around the world in regards to the annilhilation of Christiandom we will soon find our Christian rights and liberties being restricted or totally denied in our own countries. It is already happening. There are many communities in the U.S. alone that are trying to limit Christian influence and are passing laws to squash the Christian voice. We Christians need to rise up and repent to God for not taking a more active role in the affairs of our countries and praying for those in power. We need to pray against the powers of darkness over our own country as well as those countries where the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is forbidden!
For the month of January, 2009, we would like to target our strategic prayer towards the principalities and powers of darkness which have control over the countries hostile toward the Gospel of Jesus Christ, where the Bible is an illegal book and where Christians are tortured and martyred. We want to pray that the Holy Spirit move in these countries, that souls will be saved and brought into the Kingdom and that God will shake all that needs to be shaken, to pull down, uproot, destroy and throw down all the works of the enemy so that the Kingdom of God can be established. Pray for all Christians around the world for their safety. Pray for all ministers of the Gospel for their protection. Pray that all the plans of the enemy be foiled and that no weapon formed against God's people will prosper!
All those involved in this targeted prayer should plead the blood of Jesus over themselves and family members for protection from any attack from the enemy and put on the full armor of Christ. Also, Christian leaders in countries hostile to Christians and the Bible should try to come together in prayer and fasting first, repenting for their country's sin against God and mankind. Secondly, that God would put righteous people in position of power in their governments.
If you would like to receive a free copy of the Voice of the Martyrs' VOM prayer map or request the Persecuted Church Global Report, you can email The Voice of the Martyrs at: thevoice@vom-usa.org.