Prayer For Christians Worldwide

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Bible Verses for the International Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

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[See the Bible Gateway Blog post, Standing Strong Through the Storm: Stories from the Persecuted Church] [See the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Staggering Picture of Christian Persecution: An Interview with Johnnie Moore]

[See books in the Bible Gateway Store on the subject of Christian persecution]

The International Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (#IDOP) is a time set apart to remember millions of Christians around the world who face persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ.

[See the Bible Gateway Blog post, International Day(s) of Prayer for the Persecuted Church]

Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
Hebrews 13:3 (NIV)

“Persecution is the daily reality of at least 100 million Christians around the world,” says Godfrey Yogarajah, executive director, World Evangelical Alliance, Religious Liberty Commission (@WEARLC1).

“These Christians, who face routine harassment and difficulties, often suffer in silence and isolation. Over the years, the IDOP has served as a platform to highlight their stories and advocate their plight.

Moreover, in so doing, the IDOP has also been a source of solidarity and encouragement to persecuted Christians by reminding them that they are part of a larger, global family of believers.”

[See the Bible Gateway Blog post, I Am N: An Interview with Cole Richards and Jason Peters]

…We are experiencing all kinds of trouble, but we aren’t crushed. We are confused, but we aren’t depressed. We are harassed, but we aren’t abandoned. We are knocked down, but we aren’t knocked out. We always carry Jesus’ death around in our bodies so that Jesus’ life can also be seen in our bodies….
2 Corinthians 4:8-12 (CEB)

While the number of Christians martyred for their faith every year is difficult to precisely assess, Open Doors USA estimates that, in 2015, more than 7,000 Christians were killed specifically because of their faith.

Open Doors, with its list of countries where Christians are most in need of prayer, urges Christians and churches to remember those killed and pray for those in more than 60 countries still facing persecution because of their faith (see the Open Doors page).

“Under Caesar’s Sword” is a three-year, collaborative global research project by the University of Notre Dame to discover and draw attention to the ways Christian communities around the world respond to the severe violation of their religious freedom.

These strategies vary widely, ranging from nonviolent protest movements of the kind that Pope John Paul II led in communist Poland, to the complex diplomacy of Christian churches in China, to simply fleeing from persecution en masse, as Christians have in Iraq.

The project aims to raise solidarity with persecuted Christians worldwide and to help them respond justly and effectively. Watch the documentary film.

The above slide presentation is a production of the Office of Social Justice, a ministry of the Christian Reformed Church.

The following organizations have resources ready to help you help others become more prayerfully aware of the plight of Christian brothers and sisters around the world:

Jesus Warns and Teaches About Persecution

Matthew 10:16-42; Luke 14:25-35; John 15:18-16:4

The Apostles and First Missionaries are Persecuted

Acts 4:1-22 – Christ’s supremacy threatens the supremacy of the totalitarian and theocratic leadership. (vv. 2, 17)
Acts 5:12-41 – Power and attraction of the gospel arouses jealousy. (v. 17)
Acts 6:7-15 – Success of ministry arouses competition.
Acts 7:54-8:4 – Stephen becomes the Christian Church’s first martyr; persecution breaks out.
Acts 12:1-4 – Herod persecutes apostles for political gain.
Acts 12:1-18 – While Peter is in prison, the church prays.
Acts 13:49-14:7 – Opposition to the gospel forces missionaries to flee.
Acts 16:16-34 – The gospel threatens trade, economic prosperity and the fortune-telling industry (v. 19); false accusations lead to missionaries being severely beaten. (v. 22)
Acts 17:1-15 – Missionary success arouses jealousy; missionaries forced to flee. (v. 5)
Acts 19:23-32 – The gospel threatens trade, economic prosperity and the idol industry; idol-makers incite riot that goes control.
Acts 21:27-36 – Enemies of the gospel incite hatred and violence; Paul beaten and arrested.

Possible Forms that Persecution May Take

By slander (evil report). (Psalm 31:13; Job 19:18; 55:12-14; Luke 6:22)
Shame. Open embarrassment, dishonor or disgrace. Manner in which our Lord was accused of being conceived (born out-of-wedlock); also, manner in which his nakedness was openly displayed on the cross. (Hebrews 13:13; 11:26)
Falsely accused. (Psalm 35:11; 27:12; Matthew 5:11; Luke 23:2, 5, 10; Mark 14:55-60; Acts 6:13; 16:19-23; 26:2, 7)
Ensnare through deceit, trapping, tricks. (Daniel 6:4-5; Luke 11:54; Matthew 10:16-18)
Object of conspiracy. (2 Samuel 15:12; Genesis 37:18; 2 Corinthians 11:32; Acts 9:23)
Mocked, scorned, scoffed, and sneered at. (Psalm 42:3; Job 12:4; Matthew 27:29, 31, 41; Acts 2:13; 17:18, 32; Hebrews 11:36)
Betrayed, treated treacherously. (Matthew 24:10; Luke 21:16; Psalm 41:9)
Despised, to have contempt for, to loathe, to think nothing of, to consider without honor. (1 Corinthians 1:28; 4:10c)
Hated by family. (Matthew 10:21, 34-36; Micah 7:6; Luke 21:16)
Hated by people. (Luke 21:17; Matthew 10:22; Job 19:19)
Defamation of character, libel, slander, evil report. (Psalm 31:13; Job 19:19; 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Corinthians 4:13)
Feared by own people. (Acts 9:26)
Subject to special trials. (1 Corinthians 4:9-14; 2 Corinthians 11:23-28)
Imprisoned. (Luke 21:12; Acts 4:3; 5:18; 12:4; 16:24; 2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:23c; Hebrews 11:36b)
Beaten. (Acts 5:40; 16:23; 2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:24; Matthew 10:17)
Contradicting. (Acts 13:45)
Stir against. (Acts 6:12; 13:50; 14:2, 19; 19:23, 25-26, 29; 21:27)
Charges pressed. (Acts 18:12; Matthew 10:17-18)
Threatened. (Acts 4:18, 21; 5:40)
Stoned. (Acts 7:58-59; 14:19; 2 Corinthians 11:25; Hebrews 11:37)
Afflictions. (2 Timothy 3:11; Psalm 34:19)
Expulsion. (Acts 13:50; John 16:2a)
Exhaustion, extreme fatigue. (2 Corinthians 11:27)
Hunger and thirst. (2 Corinthians 11:27; 1 Corinthians 4:11)
Spectacle. (1 Corinthians 4:9; Acts 9:16; 20:23; 21:11; Hebrews 10:33a)
Suffer physical need. (1 Corinthians 4:11; 2 Corinthians 6:4; Philippians 4:12; Hebrews 11:37)
Martyrdom. (Luke 21:16; Acts 7:59; 12:2; John 16:2)
Afflictions. (2 Timothy 1:8; 4:5; Matthew 24:9; Psalm 34:19; 2 Corinthians 4:17; 6:4; Hebrews 10:32-33; 11:25, 37; Colossians 1:24; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; James 5:10)
Poverty. (2 Corinthians 6:10; Philippians 4:12)
Loss of property and material goods. (Hebrews 10:34b)

The above list is a production of the World Evangelical Alliance, Religious Liberty Commission.

The above video is a production of The Voice of the Martyrs.

The best value in digital Bible study is Bible Gateway Plus! Try it free!

Источник: //www.biblegateway.com/blog/2017/11/bible-verses-for-the-international-days-of-prayer-for-the-persecuted-church-nov-5-12-2017/

7 Offering Prayers For A Church Service

Prayer For Christians Worldwide

Money, any topic, is an issue that needs to be addressed in the church. Jesus talked more about money than anything else in the Bible. If you are leading an offering prayer in your congregation, read through these seven different short prayers you can pray to God before you take up the offering.

The Cheerful Giver

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)

Father in Heaven,

We thank You today for Your blessings that you bestow upon us all. Father, I pray for our congregation today. Lord, may we all give with gladness and sincerity. Father, no one ever gives a present to someone with reluctance and we should never give You what already belongs to You with reluctance either. Bless these tithes and offerings this day. We love You, Father! Amen

Watch What I Will Do!

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. (Malachi 3:10)

O Lord,

We thank You for Your steadfast love and mercy on us. Father, we believe that every word in the Bible was breathed out by You (2 Tim 3:16), and we believe Your promise that You will bless us when we are obedient to Your Word. And so, without hesitation, we gladly give to You what is Yours. Bless these tithes and offerings, Father. We love You, Lord! Amen

You Reap What You Sow

One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. (Proverbs 11:24)

Heavenly Father,

We thank You for bringing us all to Your house safely today and we are so blessed by Your presence here today. Thank You for Your love and mercy on us, Father.

Father, we believe in the Book of Proverbs and I pray that everyone here will look into their hearts and act in obedience to Your Word.

May we give not to become richer, though, may we give because we simply love You! Accept these tithes and offerings today. We love You, Lord! Amen

Obey

Honor the Lord with your wealth. (Proverbs 3:9a)

Father,

We praise Your Almighty Name! You have blessed our nation with immense wealth and opportunity. Lord, You have commanded us to honor You with our wealth, and I pray that You will be honored greatly this day as we give to You what is already Yours. Bless these cheerful givers and bless the tithes and offerings that they give. We love You! Amen

His Eyes See Your Intentions

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21)

O Lord,

There are some of us here today that didn’t want to come here. There are some of us today that will give to the offering with bitter hearts.

Father, I pray You will soften the hearts of those who are worried about giving You their money instead of spending it on themselves.

Father, I pray that You will bless all who give today and show them Your love in a mighty way because of their obedience. Bless these tithes and offerings, Father. We love You! Amen

The Tithe Belongs To The Lord

Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord. (Leviticus 27:30)

Father,

We come to Your throne with humble hearts as we are so thankful for the blessings You give us daily. Lord, We believe in the Book of Leviticus.

Father, I pray that as we give You our offerings and tithes this morning that we all will think about the fact that the tithe is Yours. It belongs to You. May we never withhold what is Yours.

Please accept these offerings and tithes with gladness, Lord. We Love You! Amen

Love Is Essential

If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:3)

Dear Lord,

We thank You for another chance for us to meet together in Your house to worship You. Father, we believe in the Book of 1 Corinthians and I pray that all offerings given today are love.

We experience Your blessings every day and Your blessings are always given to us freely and with ultimate love. Father, You loved us all of the way to the cross! May we love You enough to give You what is already Yours.

Bless these tithes and offerings today. We love you! Amen

Conclusion

Giving back to God is commanded, and is something that should be done with joy and cheerfulness. As you approach your next church service, consider tithing if you don’t already. You will be amazed at how God makes everything work out. May God continue to bless you as you live a life worthy of the calling!

10 Prayers for Thanksgiving Or Praise

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as: Church Service, giving, Money, Offering Prayers, Prayer

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