We set apart some time in our regular worship today to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are persecuted.
Using some materials (video, small booklets and power point slides) provided by Open Doors and some though-through prayers for governments, believers and their persecutors, we were able to bring their needs to our Lord. We did not pray that the persecution would end (Jesus promised that we would be persecuted because we belong to Him!) but that God would give them grace to maintain their trust in Him, their faithfulness to His word and the strength to continue to pray for their persecutors.
Our prayer is that our brothers and sisters may
- know the hope God gives (Ephesians 1:18)
- be strengthened by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16).
- know how much God loves them (Ephesians 3:17)
- know how to share the gospel (Ephesians 6:19).
- fearlessly tell others about Jesus (Ephesians 6:20)