Neighbor Prayer Update

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear….
The 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, …then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”
The mouth of the LORD has spoken.
(Isaiah 58)

As you pray today (this week) for Neighbors who will be celebrating the end of Ramadan (Eid ul-Fitr), ask God to shine His light of mercy and love on them, bring spiritual healing to their lives and communities, give them the true joy of personal relationship with Christ and a share in their intended inheritance (promise) that He has for them (as spiritual sons and daughters of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob….).

Here are today’s Prayer Requests –

1. From colleagues serving in the Sealands: “We’ll be travelling across the island (and fighting traffic to do so) to be with friends at Idul Fitri. Pray for a good time of fellowship and sharing. May the love and joy of Christ be evident in our lives.” Even though this family will be celebrating with neighbors, their hearts will also be heavy due to an illness in their family. Their uncle was recently diagnosed with lung cancer that has spread to his bones. Ask God to give S & T peace of mind, knowing that their uncle’s life and health are in God’s loving hands.

2. From a MBB brother in Pakistan, requesting prayer for his nation (especially during this time of upheaval, political uncertainty, recent bombings, etc): “I bless God the Father in Christ, for His Grace, that He called me from The darkness into His Holy Light, during 1985, when the Divine Power of The Lord God just drew me to Him. I thank God that now He has shown me His Love for Christ, for the Gospel and the Spirit of Witness of Christ urges me to reach to my Neighbor brothers and sisters, that I may reach to them, like Paul of the New Testament. I offer all my life, my ability, my talents, all myself to the Gospel of Christ, so that I may preach Christ to Neighbors, with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. Please accept me as a fellow-worker to serve God and His people. Please pray that I can start door-to-door visits in this city and near-by places, correspondence service with Neighbors via e-mail reply and web sites. May our Lord God, fill me with His Divine Wisdom, with His Divine Holy Word and with the Courageous Strength of His Holy Spirit, so that I can obey the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus to the all nations, especially the Neighbors of Pakistan. Thanks that you pray for the Work of the Lord God in Pakistan and I offer my service for the same to glorify the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Remaining Faithful to the Call of God. Yours in Him — Khalid

3. From team members serving in a “gateway” city: I have learned the mother-tongue of a neighbor people group to almost a survival level. I will now be out of context for 3.5 months. Please pray that daily language study review will allow me to at least sustain my current level. Also lift up my many pre-belief friends whom I will not see for this period of time. My periodic phone calls and emails will not be enough. Rejoice with me that the Lord’s Spirit will continue to speak to their hearts as He was before I even met them.

4. Continue to live up our Iranian friend Massoud, who is currently very busy selling his products at a night bizaar. He is hoping that God will bless him with brisk sales. However, his late night selling and focus on business may be distracting him from the real purpose of Ramadan. He has thankfully acknowledged receiving the email with the VIDEO TESTIMONY but as of yet he has not indicated watching it. Pray that he WILL take the time to quiet himself and watch it, and in so doing will find that Isa al Masih truly is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”

5. Pray for Abigail who is serving as a dorm “mom” at a Christian boarding house in Quiapo, Philippines. Neighbor girls are sent to Manila from the provinces to study. Ask God to bless Abigail’s relationship with these girls. May they see a genuine love and Christlikeness in Abigail’s life and be drawn to Jesus through her.

6. From today’s “30-Days of Prayer” –  Pray for the 5 million Hindko-speaking people of Pakistan:

• that Hindko believers would overcome their fear of persecution .
• for additional believers willing to lovingly serve Hindko speakers through practical means.
• that God would reveal Himself through various means including dreams and visions among Hindko speakers.
• that Hindko speakers would have access to God’s Word in their own language through print, audio recordings, radio and the internet.
• http://www.30-days.net/muslims/muslims-in/asia-south-central/pakistans-hindko-speakers/

7. What is Eid ul-Fitr (or Id-Ul-Fitr) or in Malay Hari Raya Puasa and how should we pray?  Eid ul-Fitr is a three day Neighbor holiday that marks the end of Ramadan. Eid is Arabic for “festivity” and Fit means “to break the fast.” This is a very festive time of dressing up, visiting the homes of family and friends, sharing food and gifts, and community prayer celebrations. Pray for Neighbors that you know personally. And if you are invited to participate in their festivities, count it a great honour and a sign of their respect and friendship. This may be the open door for many to come to really know Isa al Masih through your life. If you are not fortunate to be invited to such a celebration, please pray for the many believers who will be that they will spread the light, life, love and joy of Christ.