40 Weeks of Prayer and Fasting

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WEEK THIRTY—NINE: Friday, August 18—Thursday, August 24, 2006

  1. REPENTANCE FOR SIN IN THE CHURCH: THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION—PHILADELPHIA

    This week, we focus on the Church of Philadelphia, who were found FAITHFUL.

    7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: 8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it;[for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. 13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’ (Revelation 3:7-13 NKJV)

    In prayer, let us consider verse 9 from The Message:

    9 ”And watch as I take those who call themselves true believers but are nothing of the kind, pretenders whose true membership is in the club of Satan—watch as I strip off their pretensions and they're forced to acknowledge it's you that I've loved.

    Father, may we walk with a heart of forgiveness towards those whose pretentious ways kept them from truly knowing the depths of Your love for them. Thank you, dear Lord, that for some You yet find FAITHFUL, even as the days become darker before Your soon return. We thank You for the promise of the Church of Philadelphia—that, when the time of testing comes, we can turn to You to find the strength to go through with a pure heart.

    In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
  2. REPENTANCE FOR THE SINS OF THE NATION: OCCULT PRACTICES AND SECRET SOCIETIES

    Our focus point this week in repentance for the sins of our nation is once again too vast to even begin to explore. In the United States today, there are countless ways for one to get lost in the highways of unholiness—countless opportunities for one, as he gropes towards the REALITY and the TRUTH of God’s love for him—to get lost instead in the bramblebushes Satan has designed to keep him from that truth.

    The only hope for those who are lost in the occult and in numerous secret societies is if we, the believing church, stand in the gap for them, interceding and crying out for the salvation of each one Father God puts across our path. In my own case, this is my testimony: I was totally lost in the world of astrology, yoga and New Age thinking. But I had a PRAYING GRANDMA who never lost hope for my soul—who held on to “her Jesus”—even as the rest of our family mocked her behind her back. Grandma Valera went to heaven not knowing of my salvation; but because of her faithful prayers on my behalf, two months later (in April, 1978) I was GLORIOUSLY SAVED while watching a Christian TV show in the privacy of my home. With weeping, and with great

    fear (for it is indeed a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a Living God!), I repented of my sin while I sat alone on a couch that Tuesday morning, and I asked Jesus Christ to come into my life and make me a new creature in Him.

    What a wondrous experience that was, and what a wondrous experience it still is today—to walk in the presence of almighty God!!

    MAY I INVITE EACH OF YOU TO ADOPT ONE WHOM YOU MAY KNOW—A LOST SHEEP WHO IS NOW CAUGHT IN THOSE BRAMBLEBUSHES OF SIN—AND TRAVAIL FOR THAT ONE’S SALVATION, JUST AS MY BELOVED GRANDMA DID MINE? AMEN!

    Regarding membership in secret societies: Let us turn to a book written by Charles Finney in the middle of the nineteenth century, Freemasonry. (ISBN 1881316890). Finney started out as a Mason, but in the early part of that century, renounced all ties to Freemasonry and went on to preach the gospel in truth. About 40 years later (approximately 1860), Finney learned to his horror that this “great evil” had now spread across the land, and that the numbers of Freemasons had continued to increase exponentially.

    In an act of public repentance, Finney wrote Freemasonry saying, in part:

    1. I wish, if possible, to arrest the spread of this great evil, by giving the public, at least, so much information on this subject as to induce them to examine and understand the true character and tendency of the institution.

    2. I wish, if possible, to arouse the young men who are Freemasons, to consider the inevitable consequences of such a horrible trifling with the most solemn oaths, as must and does, as a matter of fact, grieve the Holy Spirit, sear the conscience and harden the heart.
    3. I wish to induce the young men who are not Freemasons “to look before they leap,” and not be deceived and committed, as thousands have been, before they were at all aware of the true nature of the institution of Freemasonry.

    Father God, we repent before You that we have allowed not only Freemasonry to flourish in our society, but all other secret organizations as well. We freely admit that the end result of membership in each group is a heart that is hardened before You. We ask You to forgive us, as a people, for this travesty before Your Throne of Grace, and we ask You to help us to lead others out of the dangers of these teachings to the Truth of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. We ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

    “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be ye not partakers with them ... for it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.” (Eph. 6,7, 12)

  3. THE BLESSING OF ISRAEL: INTERCESSION FOR ALIYAH AND KLITAH

    1. Aliyah—the return of the Jews in exile/captivity to Israel—is one of the best answers to the attacks of the enemy to destroy this nation.

      • Thank You O God, that this past week—exactly one year since that terrible expulsion from Gaza—the largest number of new olim (immigrants) from the West arrived—including Jews from the UK!

      • May Your blessings rest on Nefesh b'Nefesh, the organization that has recently helped thousands of Jews from the West to come home.

      • Lord, speak to the Jews who own properties here but live there. Call them home.

      • Father, we remind You that in both Jeremiah 23 and Ezekiel 34, the issue of aliyah and godly shepherds are linked. We ask for both now.

      • Yeshua, help our Messianic brothers and sisters in exile seek You about coming home. Take away fear and excuses and let them hear Your voice clearly. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”s(John 10:27)

      • Lord, open the doors in this nation to receive the Messianic Jews as Jews when they come home. May getting their citizenship no longer be a major problem. "Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.”s(Isaiah 51:11)

    2. Klitah—the absorption, the settling in here in Israel after aliyah, is often very difficult. Obviously, Satan does not want Israel to exist so that when Jews come home—he gets furious. And we feel it—with some eventually returning to exile.

      • Lord, You said You would not only bring us home—but would settle us here as well. Please do what You have said.

      • "And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.”s(Ezekiel 36:11)

      • Open up doors for jobs for the new olim.

      • Father, help the Russians and Ethiopians who have been here for years to truly get settled in this land. Thank You that many of them fought and some even died—for this nation just recently. Honor that for Your glory.

    (Source: Intercessors for Israel; excerpts)

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