40 Weeks of Prayer and Fasting

Home

WEEK TEN: Friday, Jan. 27—Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006

1. REPENTANCE FOR SIN IN THE CHURCH: ANGER AND UNFORGIVENESS (Part One)

The Word of God has much to say about the condition of our heart. If we harbor anger and unforgiveness towards ANY, we cannot walk in the peace of God. This week, please meditate upon the following Scriptures, as we each examine our own heart in this critical area:

"Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil." (Eph. 4:26-27)

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Eph. 4:31-32)

"But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment." (Matt. 5:22a)

Father God, we come to You and ask that You would search our own hearts and see if there be any wicked way within us. We thank You, Lord, that if we ask, You will answer. In Jesus Name, Amen.

(Source: Riding with the King in Unity, by Giles F. Mack, P.O. Box 1761, Branson, MO 65615, pp. 32-33, adapted)

2. REPENTANCE FOR THE SINS OF THE NATION: ASSISTED SUICIDE

As used in this report, "assisted suicide" refers to intentionally and knowingly providing the means of death to another person so that the person can commit suicide. (e.g. A physician writes a prescription for an intentional drug overdose so that a patient can die of the overdose, a patient pushes a switch to trigger a fatal infusion of drugs after the doctor has inserted an intravenous needle into the patient's vein or one person helps another commit suicide using a plastic bag and helium gas.) In assisted suicide, the person who dies takes the last act—without which death would not occur.

Although this practice has been in effect in the Netherlands  for many years, it remained technically illegal until passage of a bill for the "Review of cases of termination of life on request and assistance with suicide" was approved in April 2001. Belgium's law permitting euthanasia and assisted suicide, "The Belgian Act on Euthanasia of May 28, 2002," went into effect on September 23, 2003. In the United States, Oregon was the first state to legalize assisted suicide. Its "Death with Dignity Act" (ORS 127.800-8987) passed in November 1994 and went into effect in late 1997.

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court weighed in on this issue.  It found that the federal laws now on the books don't permit the Bush administration to block Oregon doctors from helping terminally ill patients kill themselves. But will Congress react to the court's ruling by passing a law to give the Bush administration the power to stop assisted suicide? In the hours after the court's ruling Tuesday, some social conservatives urged Congress to act: "It is entirely appropriate for Congress to revise the Controlled Substances Act to make clear that federally-regulated drugs may not be used to facilitate state-sanctioned assisted suicide," said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, a social conservative group with clout in Republican ranks. Manuel Miranda, a former aide to Senate Majority leader Bill Frist and the head of the Third Branch Conference, a conservative advocacy group, called on Congress to "step in quickly to resolve any doubts that the Supreme Court's majority has over the federal intent to regulate the use of drugs to intentionally end life."

Sources: Family Research Council; International Task Force

http://www.internationaltaskforce.org/rpt2005_I.htm#203

"Father God, we repent that the term 'assisted suicide' is even mentioned in our nation, much less undergirded by state law. We ask that You would move quickly on the hearts of our men and women in Congress to rewrite the Controlled Substances Act so that the practice of assisted suicide would be outlawed in our nation. Forgive us, Lord, for our laws that would violate Your Law.

Oh Lord Jesus, may you protect the hearts of those who struggle with hopelessness, weakness and oppression, that they may choose your offer of hope in this life over the false hope of suicide. May your children be available to your divine life-giving appointments with those who are struggling in these ways. In Jesus' Name, Amen."

"You shall not murder." (Ex 20:13 NASB)

3. THE BLESSING OF ISRAEL: THE SALVATION OF ISRAEL

The salvation of Israel – which God declares will bring Him much glory—is always the target for all our intercessions.

  • "I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory." (Isaiah 46:13)
  • May the Body of Messiah at this time fulfill this scripture: "And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:"(Isaiah 37:31)
  • Sweep this nation with Your Holy Spirit fire and reveal to Israel their Messiah, Yeshua.
  • "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."(Zechariah 12:10)

(Source: Intercessors for Israel)

Top - Home