For the message of the cross
is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved
it is the power of God.
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom
as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For God was pleased to have all his
fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether
things on earth or things in heaven,
by making peace through his blood,
shed on the cross.
For I resolved to know nothing
while I was with you except
Jesus Christ and him crucified.
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,
and not only for ours but also
for the sins of the whole world.
( 1 Corinthians 1:17-19; 2:1-3; Colossians 1:19-21; 1 John 2:2 )
From the classic devotional guide “My Utmost for His Highest,” author Oswald Chambers often addresses the centrality of the cross. In today’s devotional he writes: “The death of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment in history of the very mind and intent of God. There is no place for seeing Jesus Christ as a martyr. His death was not something that happened to Him— something that might have been prevented. His death was the very reason He came.”
As we pray today for our neighbors, let us not forget the need for everyone of us (including our neighbors) to come to the CROSSroad of acknowledging our personal sinfulness, our need for a saviour, and the acceptance of Christ’s work on the cross as the only means to forgiveness and salvation. And let us continually pray for sensitivity, wisdom and creativity in lovingly presenting this truth and offering this hope to our neighbors.
1. This next week marks the celebration of the American “Thanksgiving Holiday.” Pray that believing US expats who are living abroad in neighbor communities, AND those at home who live in proximity to neighbors, will see this holiday as an opportunity to extend hospitality and invite neighbors into their homes, so that neighbors can see, taste and experience through this cultural holiday that Christians are thankful, praying, generous people who have a personal relationship with the Father.
2. Please keep interceding for our Iranian friend Massoud. A colleague recently met with him and gave him a Bible in his mother tongue (Persian). Massoud accepted the Bible with great appreciation and vowed to read it from cover to cover. We also learned that his wife Sahar is also very open to the Gospel. Pray that God’s word penetrates their hearts and minds, leading them to a decision to follow Christ.
3. A coworker and her son began last week to meet every Saturday with some Malay boys in their community to offer football (soccer) training. Pray that this continues to open the door for redemptive relationship and dialogues with their family…. that they will be lead to the crossroads of choosing Christ as the only way, truth and life.
4. Lift up the “MSV” network as they continue to develop partnerships aimed at reaching the 13 unreached people groups of Mindanao, (Southern) Philippines. They are doing this mainly through mobilizing the Filipino church to equip, train and send workers amongst these people groups to serve them. Pray for our communications team in Manila as we help this network through the development of media resources.
5. We were recently made aware of several Filipino believers who are finding employment in places like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Pray that as they go, they would see this as not just chance to earn money, but as Kingdom opportunities to boldly live as followers of Christ and share their faith in word and deed. Pray that our church will find better ways to equip them for these missional roles.
6. This request comes from one of our Jesus Film teams in the Sealands: “Greetings in Jesus name. We are still in critical situation in our two main cities as far as peace in concerned due to the threat posed by the ___ group that they can attack anytime. Because of this, we cannot yet hold big screen film showings. However we thank God that we can still do a home video showing. The Word of God continues to spread in spite of the hardship that we have experienced. Indeed God is faithful and just. There are still people who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior even during this trying times.”
- Please continue to pray for peace and unity in ______ that in due time we can once again freely pursue the big screen film showings. Pray for our protection and guidance in the Jesus Film ministry here and our outreach Bible studies in both of the church planting areas in these cities.
- The Word of God in Psalm 34:2-3 declares: “Let all who are discouraged take heart, let us praise the Lord together and exalt His name.”
7. Adapted from this week’s Intercede Magazine….please pray:
- …for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to reach Neighbors in Senegal, as Christians deliver food in famine-stricken areas.
- …for government leaders in Qatar. Pray that Qatar might be a small, but effective window for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to reach Neighbors.
- …for Alawite neighbors in Syria. Pray that through Christian witness, dreams, and visions, Alawites would receive a true revelation of Jesus Christ.