North America - Bermuda Triangle

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• Also known and called Devil’s Triangle;

• Losses occur in about 2.5million sq/km between Miami, Puerto Rico and Bermuda;

• Conspiratorial fantasy claiming that dark forces were at work; some claim it was a territorial area were aliens dwell;

• Base on this, scores of books were published and many become best-sellers, among which is the popular Charles Berlitz’s THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE, which was published in 1974;

• Although myriad fanciful theories have been proposed regarding the Bermuda Triangle, none of them prove that mysterious disappearances occur more frequently there than in other well-travelled sections of the ocean. In fact, people navigate the area every day without incident;

• When Christopher Columbus sailed through the area on his first voyage to the New World, he reported that a great flame of fire (probably a meteor) crashed into the sea one night and that a strange light appeared in the distance a few weeks later. He also wrote about erratic compass readings, perhaps because at that time a sliver of the Bermuda Triangle was one of the few places on Earth where true north and magnetic north lined up;

• Since then, scores of fellow paranormal writers have blamed the triangle’s supposed lethalness on everything from aliens, Atlantis and sea monsters to time warps and reverse gravity fields; whereas more scientifically minded theorists have pointed to magnetic anomalies, waterspouts or huge eruptions of methane gas from the ocean floor. People have even gone so far as to speculate that it’s an area of extra-terrestrial activity or that there is some bizarre natural scientific cause for the region to be hazardous; but most likely, it’s simply an area in which people have experienced a lot of bad luck. In all probability, however, there is no single theory that solves the mystery.

• According to research concerning Bermuda Triangle, there might not be any single theory that solves the mystery, but we know of Him, the Mystery, who is above all mysteries! Alleluia!!!

Colossians 2:2-3 Amplified Bible (AMP)

² [For my hope is] that their hearts may be encouraged as they are knit together in [unselfish] love, so that they may have all the riches that come from the full assurance of understanding [the joy of salvation], resulting in a true [and more intimate] knowledge of the mystery of God, that is, Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge [regarding the word and purposes of God].

Romans 16:25-26 The Message (MSG)

^25-26 All of our praise rises to the One who is strong enough to make you strong, exactly as preached in Jesus Christ, precisely as revealed in the mystery kept secret for so long but now an open book through the prophetic Scriptures. All the nations of the world can now know the truth and be brought into obedient belief, carrying out the orders of God, who got all this started, down to the very last letter.

Deuteronomy 29:29 Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁹ “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things which are revealed and disclosed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may do all of the words of this law.

PRAYERS:

• Praise GOD to whom all things are made known, to whom no secret is hidden from; praise Him who maketh all things beautiful and declared that they were very good; praise JESUS who is Light Himself and darkness cannot/would not/shall not prevail; praise GOD who is GOD indeed;

• The mystery of GOD is CHRIST… Our Mysterious JESUS, unfold and uncover every mystery behind Bermuda Triangle, which has been consuming lives of people from times past up till the present;

• Phil 2:9-11 – We call you “Bermuda Triangle” by name, and we subject you and your activities under the name that GOD Himself has highly exalted above all names – and that is the name of “JESUS”;

• Eph 1:20-22a – Because GOD raised Christ from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all the principalities and powers of you, Bermuda Triangle, we bring you under the feet of JESUS – for He has being made Head over you.

• Rev 12:11a – And we, joint heirs with Christ Jesus, co-heirs with our Mysterious JESUS, we overcome you Bermuda Triangle by the blood of the Lamb (JESUS), and by the Word of our testimony (which is also JESUS), and we plead the blood of the Cross over the waters of Bermuda;

• The Spirit of GOD that moved upon the face of the waters [Gen 1:2b], now move over the waters of Bermuda Triangle; Lord JESUS, by the power in which You called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters You called Seas [Gen 1:10], call forth Your goodness into Bermuda Triangle. Henceforth, let the peace of JESUS, which surpasseth all, rest over the waters of Bermuda Triangle in JESUS mighty name we pray. Amen.

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Kuwait

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Kuwait is a country in the Persian Gulf. 

Emir: Sheik Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (2006)

Prime Minister: Sheikh Jabir al-Mubarak al-Hamad al-Sabah (2011)

Total area: 6,880 sq mi (17,819 sq km)

Population (2012 est.): 2,646,314; birth rate: 20.96/1000; life expectancy: 77.28

Capital (2009 est.): Kuwait, 2.23 million

Religions: Islam 85% (Sunni 70%, Shiite 30%); Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%

This gulf state is best known in the U.S. as the catalyst for the 1991 Gulf War in which Kuwait was liberated from Iraq. Kuwait is the only gulf nation to hold legislative elections, but the real power has been held by the al-Sabath family for the last two centuries. Sumni Islam is the state religion. Although the Gulf War resulted in loosening strict religious rules in Kuwait, full freedom of worship is still not a reality. Only Muslims may become citizens. Christians have the freedom to live and work in Kuwait, but worship must be within the Christian community (a limited physical location). Evangelism to Kuwaitis is forbidden. The Christian community in Kuwait includes 27 congregations that conduct church meetings in many languages. The government discourages Christianity by providing financial incentives for those who claim to be Muslim and has purchased large quantities of Bibles in order to burn them.

(source: Arabic Bible Outreach Ministry website)

The Constitution provides for religious freedom.

There are between 200 and 400 Christian Kuwaitis. 

Isaiah 56:3

Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will surely separate me from his people”; and let not the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.”

Isaiah 56:6-7

Also the sons of the foreigner
Who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him,
And to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants—
Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
And holds fast My covenant—
7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain,
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
Will be accepted on My altar;
For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.

The foreigner is not kept from joining Himself to the Lord. Rather, he will be brought into God’s holy mountain. His sacrifices will be accepted, and he will experience the joy of the Lord.

PRAYER:

• Pray for the Christian converts from Islam that are at risk of harassment from several sources.

• Pray that God will protect the country from Islamic State militancy which would not bode well for Christians.

• Lord, cause false teachers, prophets and the unclean spirits to depart from the land.

• In Your strength and in the majesty of Your name, lift up Your hand against the adversaries in the land. Please LORD, throw down all their stronghold, cut off their carved images, and sacred pillars.

• Blur the vision of their soothsayers. Lord, banish the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock. Collide with those that have spoken lies in the name of the Lord.

• Lord our God, please raise and send selfless kingdom labourers in Your name and might to Kuwait.

• Lord, send Your Your Word of Life into the hearts, homes, schools and all establishments over land of Kuwait. Let the doors be open to the Mysterious Jesus Christ.

Let the knowledge of the glory of the LORD uncover their hearts for the 

saving knowledge of CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST. 

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Bangladesh

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Leader: President Abdul Hamid
Population: 160.4 million (1.2 million Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Parliamentary democracy
World Watch List Rank: 43
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism/religious nationalism

Bangladesh is a unitary parliamentary republic with an elected parliament called the Jatiyo Sangshad. The native Bengalis form the country's largest ethnic group, along with indigenous peoples in northern and southeastern districts. Geographically, the country is dominated by the fertile Bengal delta, the world's largest delta. This also gives Bangladesh a unique name tag as "the land of rivers". Bangladesh has a rich heritage of ancient civilization. Bangladesh's documented history spans 4,000 years. Bangladesh human history has lasted for more than 20,000 years. (http://www.quickiwiki.com)

Bangladesh continues to be a secular country, but although its constitution provides for religious freedom, it also declares that the state religion is Islam. Although conversion is not forbidden by law, converts from Islam or Buddhism face strong pressure from family, friends and local religious leaders to recant their faith. Christians have been forced out of business and their children discriminated against in school. Six churches and one school were destroyed in 2014; 
two Christians were shot dead, four abducted and several forced into hiding.(http://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/worldwatch/bangladesh.php)

RELIGION IN BANGLADESH

Islam is the largest religion of Bangladesh, making up 89.5 of the population. Hinduism makes up 8.5% of the population, Buddhism 0.6% and Christianity 0.3%. The majority of Muslims are Sunni, roughly 4% are non-denominational Muslims and a small number are Shia, and about 100,000 Ahmadi Muslims. Bangladesh has the fourth largest Muslim population after Indonesia, Pakistan and India. Hindus are the second biggest religious group in Bangladesh, and the third largest in the world after India and Nepal. Buddhists are concentrated in the southeast while Christians in urban areas. Islam as the state religion. The Constitution calls for a secular government and bans religion-based politics. Bangladesh combines secular state laws with individual personal religious codes.

PERSECUTION IN BANGLADESH

Conversion is not forbidden by law, but pressure to recant the Christian faith will be exerted by family, friends and neighbours. There have been several reports of Christians having to give up their shops or businesses due to the pressure by the Muslim majority. Converts themselves are isolated from their family frequently and registration of converts' children is problematical as in most cases they are automatically registered as Muslims.

Churches, especially house churches where Muslim-background believers meet, prefer not to display any Christian symbols in order to avoid being recognised. Sometimes, even historic or mainline churches face opposition and restrictions in putting up a cross or other religious symbols.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Praise God that the church is growing, despite the increased restrictions and challenges it faces.

1 Samuel 3:7 - Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. O Lord, reveal Yourself to them, that they may build thee a house: therefore find in their heart to pray a prayer unto thee. Holy Spirit, we pray thee, please reveal the Father and the Son to the people. (Luke 10:1-2; 22).

John 1:1 calls the Son of God, the Word for good reason. Words reveal our invisible thoughts. In the same way Jesus made the invisible God visible.

John 1:14, 18 (NIV) – “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth...No one has ever seen God but God, the One and Only, who is at the Fathers side, has made him known.”

2 Chronicles 6:33 - “…then hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.”

Isaiah 43:6 – “I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth.”

Isaiah 49:6 – “(The Lord) says: ‘It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. O LORD make the Christians in Bangladesh a light for the Gentiles, that they may bring Your salvation to the ends of the earth.'”

Isaiah 56:7 – “ O Lord bring the Christians Your holy mountain and give them joy in their hearts. May their offerings and sacrifices be acceptable on Your altar;

2. Violence against Christians is on the increase.

Pray for protection for those facing threats of abuse from family and community. Pray for courage. “If I did not accept Islam, they would beat me, burn my house, and evict me from the society. “Their threats chilled me to the bone. That is why I pretended to accept Islam, but faith in Christ is the wellspring of my life. Now I am no longer a Muslim; I am a Christian.”

2 Timothy 4:17 – “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.” O Lord, stand by Your people and strengthened them so that through Your message, Your name might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles will hear it.

Job 38:41 (AMP) – “Who provides prey for the raven When its young cry to God And wander about without food?” Lord, provide for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to You for help, and wander about for lack of food.

Matthew 9:37 & John 4:35 – “The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest.”

1 Corinthians 3:9 – ^“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.”

2 Thessalonians 3:1 – “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you,”

Be thou a sun and shield, O Lord God, and bestows favour and honour to 

Your people in Bangladesh.

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United Kingdom – This Sickness Is Not unto Death

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2 Kings 20:1-3

In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’” Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, ^“Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Deuteronomy 30:19

I call heaven and earth as witness today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;

John 4:13 - 14

Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

Prayer Points

• We admit that the United Kingdom is sick (spiritually dead; laden with sores/bruises/diseases in her body as well as her soul).
• This sickness appears as though it will terminate her life; let mercy prevail over judgement.
• Grant us grace to fix our eyes and heart on Jesus instead of the devastation that is crippling our nation and reducing her to ruins.
• We choose life inside Christ over death in sin; the blessing of Christ in place of curses. We thirst for the Water that Jesus gives that becomes in all citizens of the U.K., a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.
• Father, remember the labours of martyrs and past witnesses over this land. Restore our nation in righteousness.
• Let the message of the cross sweep the hearts of all men as waters cover the sea.
• Lord, please remove the veil that has blinded the minds of men; making them not believe and receive the truth of the gospel.
• Capture and captivate the hearts of all who minister the Word. Help them see the man of Calvary so that the centrality of their message is CHRIST and HIM CRUCIFIED.
• Lord, help us understand and be partakers of Your burden over this nation. Cause our hearts to weep bitterly until You revive her again.
• Father, stir our hearts like You did to the men in the times of Ezra. Help us present our lives as ditches to be dug into as well as those who will dig ditches. 2 Kings 3:10-2
• We pray for disciples across the UK; do not let our lives be so porous to leak out Jesus.
• Make every disciple in the UK a container of Your glory.
• We pray for more labourers (disciples indeed) that Jesus can entrust HIMSELF to; posted to every sector (medical, finance, politics, education, arts, media, government, civil service etc).

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Zambia

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Zambia, in south-central Africa, is the continent's biggest copper producer and home to the Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

The area was colonised in the 1800s and ruled by Britain as Northern Rhodesia until 1964, when it made a peaceful transition to independence.

People:
Nationality: Zambian(s).
Population: 14 million.
Ethnic groups: More than 70 ethnic groups. Main tribes are the Lozi, the Bemba, the Ngoni, the Tonga, the Luda, the Luvale and the Kaonde.
Religions: Christianity; Christianity with traditional African beliefs; Hinduism; Islam; traditional African beliefs. Indigenous beliefs, Muslim, Hindu.
Languages: English (official), about 70 local languages and dialects,

A variety of overlapping terms exist for these forms of Christianity: African initiated churches, African independent churches, African indigenous churches and African instituted churches. The abbreviation AIC covers them all. 

The differences in names correspond to the aspect that a researcher wishes to emphasise. Those who wish to point out that AICs exhibit African cultural forms, describe them as "indigenous," and so on. These terms have largely been imposed upon such groups, and may not be the way they would describe themselves.

Some scholars argue that independent churches or religious movements demonstrate partial integration between aspects of Christian belief and African traditional religion. Often these churches have resulted from a process of acculturation between traditional African beliefs and Protestant Christianity, and have split from their parent churches.The charge of syncretism suggests an 'impure' and superficial form of Christianity used to maintain older cultural practices and beliefs.

The belief in Zambia is that body parts can be used to perform sacrifice which can fortify people spiritually or bring good luck and success. People harvest these body parts which are sold or sent to local medicine men who use them to perform rituals. The sale of body parts for ritual sacrifice accounts for the thriving market in Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, etc.

Unfortunately many Zambians have not bothered to ask : Can ritual sacrifice really make one rich? Under what conditions will human - albino and non-albino body parts-lips, tongues, genitals and other organs - transform into good fortune – in business and politics? It is not enough to believe that something is so and so. It is necessary to seek evidence for such claims particularly in a situation where such claims can lead people to commit atrocious acts. This is what people across Zambia and Africa need to do. Zambians should begin to question the whole idea of getting rich or winning elections through ritual sacrifice . For instance if these sacrifices were potent as often claimed, why are the local medicine men and women not rich? Why are they not the ones who win during elections? Why are they not the owners of big companies and businesses in Zambia?

Prayer Points:

Ezra 10:10-11

Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, "You have been unfaithful and have married foreign wives adding to the guilt of Israel. "Now therefore, make confession to the LORD God of your fathers and do His will; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives."

Psalms 104:30

• You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the ground.

• The true gospel needs to be preached in Zambia in every province. Mathew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-19. May the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ shine brighter and brighter over Zambia.

John 7:37-39

• Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.

Isaiah 44:3-4

•  'For I will pour out water on the thirsty land And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring And My blessing on your descendants; And they will spring up among the grass Like poplars by streams of water.'

• "I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground I" Dear Lord may the of people turned to the word, and searched there and found the promise, and fed upon it, as one that findeth great spoil have we rejoiced in God's word.

• Whenever they come to the Lord Jesus Christ, may they drink and be refreshed. No thirst can abide where he is. "He that drinketh of the water that I shall give him," saith he, "shall never thirst." Glory be to his name, we know the truth of this—

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Asia – Republic of Iran

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Overview

• Capital – Tehran
• Leader – Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (1989 till present).
• Population – 79.5 million, of which 450,000 are Christians.
• Main and official religion – Islam, which makes the laws of the land to be in line with Islamic law.
• Government – Islamic Republic
• According to the World Watch List, Iran happens to be in the 7^th position of top countries where it is most difficult to live as a Christian.
• In Iran, only the Armenians and Assyrians are allowed to be Christians, though they are treated as second class citizens. House churches/Churches are constantly monitored, attacked or assaulted by secret police. 75 Christians were arrested in 2014. Those (Armenian and Assyrian brethren) who tried to witness Jesus to other Muslims were reported, imprisoned or received physical abuse and harassment.
• In relation to the remaining population (which are Muslims), only the Persian group are seen and defined as Muslim. They are seen as traitors if they decide to leave the Islamic religion. They are termed unclean and also at the risk of death penalty.

 Prophecy of God Concerning Iran – Ezekiel 38 & 39

• GOD’s divine intervention.
• Ezekiel 18:32 – “For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!”

Prayers:

• For GOD’s protection and His wisdom for those who are secretly reaching out to Muslims with the gospel in open disobedience to the laws of the land of Iran;
• 2 Corinthians 1: 3-4 – Ask GOD for strength and comfort for imprisoned brothers and sisters because of their faith in Jesus. Ask that the love and presence of GOD be felt wherever they are at any Iran prison. Ask GOD to give them courage to defend their faith;
• Despite the risk at hand in Iran, many Muslim-background believers are still choosing to follow Jesus. Let’s pray that the Holy Spirit will help them to continue to grow in love for Jesus, and in their new found faith, so that through the tribulations they are facing, they might enter into the kingdom of GOD (Acts 14:22);
• Looking at the population rate of unsaved souls in Iran (79,050,000), indeed “the harvest is plenteous but the labourers are few.” Let’s ask the LORD of the harvest to send out workers indeed into His harvest in Iran (Matthew 9:37-38), labourers who will be able to disciple the new converts with their new found faith in Jesus; also for GOD to provide resources which might be needed for these new believers e.g. Bibles, discipleship materials, finance e.t.c.
• Thank GOD for the lives of faithful brethren in Iran, such as, Alireza Seyyedian (released six days ago) and Homayoun Shekohi (released 28^th of June) after both served 40 months in a prison in Iran because of their faith in Christ Jesus. Let’s pray that GOD will heal them both (and many others who will be released) of the trauma of imprisonment and grant that they will adjust to life quickly, so that they may set in motion the work that the Holy Spirit wants to accomplish through them for the land of Iran;
• Having heard and read the testimony of this house-church leader, let us pray that many more men and women would come to know Christ through such testimonies of imprisoned Christians. Let's pray that GOD in His mercy will reach out to many interrogators/judges/government and court officials, so that they too can become “evangelists of Jesus” and bear more fruit of souls for GOD;  
• Pray that the Holy Spirit goes to work in the lives of the unbelieving Muslims, to reveal to them that mercy and true salvation can only be found in Christ  – Acts 4:12;
• Pray that even these “supreme leaders” in their clerical positions, will encounter the Supremacy of Jesus (who rules in all, works through all and is present in all – Ephesians 4:6) and bow to the Lordship of our Saviour;
• It is written - “And GOD said, Let there be light: and there was light.” As the sun will always rise and shine in the morning over the living and non-living, so shall the light of the gospel of Jesus, shine into the land of Iran and set every captive free from every stronghold of religion, draw them out and bring them into GOD’s marvellous light;
• Let Jesus, the Man of Calvary, who was bruised and crucified, who came to destroy the power of sin, grant liberty and mercy to as many souls in the bondage of Islamic religion in Iran;
• LORD Jesus, we trust You for the release of  imprisoned Christians in Iran (using Behrani Irani as a point of contact), and pray for Your purpose and Your will to be done over them. As it pleases You, grant them the grace to see what You are doing and the glory ahead concerning Iran.

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Africa – South Africa

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   Overview                            

• Situated at the Southern tip end of the Continent of Africa;
• Capital – Pretoria, Cape Town;
• Population – 54million (Statistic);
• Languages spoken – 11 different official languages;
• Different and vast with tourist centre – Has one of the largest game reserve in Africa – The   Kruger National Park; Mountains; Museum;
• Was one of Africa’s country with the largest economy until it went into recession period which  slowed down the economy sectors of mining and manufacturing;
•  Ruled by a white minority government from 1948 till 1994 (when the apartheid era subsided);
•  Separation of races due to the apartheid policy;
•  Opposition from the Africa National Congress (ANC) and other groups’
•  New democratic elected leaders encouraged reconciliation, but the damage of the 20years of  conflict left lawlessness and social inequality;  
• ANC rule has not been able to overcome the damage which has caused the widespread of poverty, crime rate and continuous unemployment;
• High rate in poverty and unemployment because farmland is still in possession of the white-owners. Because of this, ANC government assures to boost black ownership through the new legislation this year;
• Was the 1^st country on Africa soil in the festival of soccer to host the Fifa Football World Cup 2010 event;
• Major problem – Rate of HIV/AIDS patients – which makes South Africa to be the second highest in the world. 1 out of  every 7 citizens is infected.

   Head / President – Jacob Zuma – 73years – (2009 to re-elect in 2004 till present)

   

    Religious sects in South Africa:

•      Islam = 1.5%
•      Hinduism = 1.2%
•     Traditional belief (called Zulu religion) = 0.3%
•       Judaism = 0.2% (which are mainly the white South Africans)
•      Other beliefs = 0.6%
•       No religion = 15%
•      Undetermined = 1.3%
•       Christianity = 86.8% of both white and black South Africans*

• What was the foundation of Christianity in South Africa?

  Christianity came into South Africa in 1908 by 5 America missionaries – the Apostolic Faith Mission, which became a Pentecostal Christian Denomination in South Africa. It was the largest Pentecostal Church and had 7.6% of the South Africa population. Though it had an interracial character at the beginning, this was short lived, as it reunited the black and white branches of the churches by 1996. Another similar faith mission was the Assemblies of God. But the present day church? Did the bible not say that there is no other foundation that can be laid, than that which has been laid which is on Christ Jesus? What can be said then of some of the so-called South Africa “Pastors” manipulating/terrorising/pilfering the innocent souls of men, women and even children? [Eating grass; eating clothes as chocolate; drinking fuel as pineapple juice; jumping/stepping on them as a form of deliverance e.t.c]

Could the variety of religious beliefs be the problem affecting South Africa? Or could it be the right to freedom of religion; freedom of thought; freedom of belief as well as freedom of opinion? Why are the sheep following the voice of the stranger, and not fleeing from him – John 10:5? Why are the sheep hearing the voice of the thief and the robber? Has the hireling not left the sheep for the wolf to scatter? In South Africa, is the thief not stealing, killing and destroying the souls of the sheep?

Isaiah 1:21-26

²¹ Jerusalem, once a faithful wife! And now a prostitute! Running after other gods! Once “The City of Fair Play,” but now a gang of murderers. ²² Once like sterling silver; now mixed with worthless alloy! Once so pure, but now diluted like watered-down wine! ²³ Your leaders are rebels, companions of thieves; all of them take bribes and won’t defend the widows and orphans. ²⁴ Therefore the Lord, the Mighty One of Israel, says: I will pour out my anger on you, my enemies! ²⁵ I myself will melt you in a smelting pot and skim off your slag. ²⁶ And afterwards I will give you good judges and wise counsellors like those you used to have. Then your city shall again be called “The City of Justice” and “The Faithful Town.”

Prayers:

§  GOD’s mercy upon South Africa - for He delights not in the death of sinners but that they turn from their wicked ways to live – Ezekiel 18:32.

§  Psalm 9:17 - Our Father in heaven, temper Your anger of judgement upon South Africa because they have forgotten You the Sovereign GOD, please O LORD, see the blood of the Cross.

§  Pray as the Spirit leads you for the re-elect President – Jacob Zuma.

§  Thank You Jesus for silent labourers that You are raising in South Africa. Thank You for the steady growth of the work of discipleship that You are blessing.

§  Let us ask the GOD of harvest to hasten and quicken the work of discipleship for His purpose, so that His chosen and genuine labourers will be able to go into the work of harvesting souls from the hands of thieves and robbers in South Africa – Luke 10:2.

§  Pray that the lives of these brethren (labourers) will reflect Jesus and Him only, who will be able to draw all men in South Africa unto Himself – John 12:32.

§  Let’s pray that every discipleship resources needed (human, literatures, materials, finances e.t.c) for the great work ahead, be provided by the Great Provider Himself.

§  Pray that as South Africa is a large city, this shall not be a challenge to the work of discipleship, but that the new wine will flow to every needed place as the Spirit of GOD desires.

§  As the LORD liveth, and His Spirit is alive, declare every city/town of South Africa for Jesus as the Spirit gives you utterance. We declare Lesotho for Jesus; we declare ….

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Regard Not the Things of the Past Concerning the New NIGERIA (2)

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Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV) – Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it shall spring up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Presently in Nigeria (within the week of Friday 3^rd and Friday 10th):

  Ø Twin bomb blast at Jos – one at a crowded mosque and another one simultaneously at a restaurant on Sunday the 5^th of July;

  Ø  Female suicide bomber detonated an improved explosive device, killing no fewer than 40 people at Sabon-Gari in Kaduna;

  Ø  Male and female suicide bombers blowing themselves up in the midst of crowd (in markets, churches; hospital etc);

  Ø  More than 200 people killed (not to mention injured) over the series of attacks by Boko Haram over the past few days. Their intention is to implement a strict form of Islamic law in Nigeria;

  Ø  Reports revealed that the elected President urges Muslims in Nigeria and across the world to reject with one voice the attackers claim to be acting in the name of Islam, and tell the terrorist to stop the abasement of their religion;

Reaction of some of the citizens:

•  Mouth wagging against the President not being able to meet the expectation of the people in dealing with the major deepening economic crisis and the Islamist insurgency in the northern part of Nigeria; other expectations are:
•  Fight and eradicate corruption,
• Nomination of ministers,
• Rise from the present fall of the currency,
• Economic stability,
• Rescue and return of the Chibok girls [Bring-Back-Our-Girls campaigners],
• Seek and attain international supports/assistance, even if these are to the detriment of the country,
•  Roll out employment programme as promised during his campaign,
• Improve the quality of education while still making it affordable for the masses,
•  Housing for people with low income,
• Critics are beginning to mock him as a sluggish elderly man and termed him as “Baba Go Slow” after his barely over a month or two months of attaining office.

Any Similarities Of The Above In The Bible? Yes, The Israelites!

Exodus 3:7-8a (TLB) – I have seen the deep sorrows of my people in Egypt and have heard their pleas for freedom from their harsh taskmasters. I have come to deliver them from the Egyptians and to take them out of Egypt into a good land, a large land, a land flowing with milk and honey…

Seen…. Come…. Take….

These are only actions [deeds, accomplished, achieved] that can be completed only by GOD, and not man. The complaint of the Israelites about their hardships (to mention a few):

1. Bitter water of Marah – Exo 15:22-25 (TLB)

2. Cry for food – Exo 16 (TLB)

3. Wail for water to drink (Meribah) – Exo 17:1-7 (TLB)

4. Complaint against each other – Exo 18:13 (TLB)

Making reference to the wilderness experience of the Israelites, Apostle Paul warned us:

1 Corinthians 10:1-11 – The Living Bible (TLB)

¹ For we must never forget, dear brothers, what happened to our people in the wilderness long ago. God guided them by sending a cloud that moved along ahead of them; and he brought them all safely through the waters of the Red Sea. ² This might be called their “baptism”—baptized both in sea and cloud!—as followers of Moses—their commitment to him as their leader. ^3-4 And by a miracle God sent them food to eat and water to drink there in the desert; they drank the water that Christ gave them.* He was there with them as a mighty Rock of spiritual refreshment. ⁵ Yet after all this most of them did not obey God, and he destroyed them in the wilderness. ⁶ From this lesson we are warned that we must not desire evil things as they did, ⁷ nor worship idols as they did. (The Scriptures tell us, “The people sat down to eat and drink and then got up to dance” in worship of the golden calf.) ⁸ Another lesson for us is what happened when some of them sinned with other men’s wives, and 23,000 fell dead in one day. ⁹ And don’t try the Lord’s patience—they did and died from snake bites. ¹⁰ And don’t murmur against God and his dealings with you as some of them did, for that is why God sent his Angel to destroy them.¹¹ All these things happened to them as examples—as object lessons to us—to warn us against doing the same things; they were written down so that we could read about them and learn from them in these last days as the world nears its end.

Prayers:

  Ø On behalf of Nigeria, we will cry for mercy. GOD’s mercy because just like the Israelites who had barely come out of Egypt had started complaining, so are the people of Nigeria complaining about the present government within their almost two months in office.

  Ø  Plead for Christ mercies for the murmurs, groanings and complaints of the masses of/in Nigeria. The bible says Moses was always pleading and begging GOD on behalf of the Israelites. Beloved, let us ask for His compassion upon our nation and our people that are dying daily.

  Ø Beg GOD that as we stand in the gap and as we intercede that Nigerians will not try the patience of GOD. Verse 9 of the above scripture says “…. they did and died from snake bites.” Could these snake-bites be the increase in the waves of raids, explosions and suicide bombings in the northern part of Nigeria?

  Ø For the GOD who is interested in the affairs of men, are His dealings, plans and programmes too slow in our sights? Plead that He will not send destruction unto the nation as He dealt with the Israelites. Ask for His mercy of forgiveness.

Heb 3:16-19 (TLB):

¹⁶ And who were those people I speak of, who heard God’s voice speaking to them but then rebelled against him? They were the ones who came out of Egypt with Moses their leader. ¹⁷ And who was it who made God angry for all those forty years? These same people who sinned and as a result died in the wilderness. ¹⁸ And to whom was God speaking when he swore with an oath that they could never go into the land he had promised his people? He was speaking to all those who disobeyed him. ¹⁹ And why couldn’t they go in? Because they didn’t trust him.

Heb 4:1-3a (TLB):

¹ Although God’s promise still stands—his promise that all may enter his place of rest—we ought to tremble with fear because some of you may be on the verge of failing to get there after all. ² For this wonderful news—the message that God wants to save us—has been given to us just as it was to those who lived in the time of Moses. But it didn’t do them any good because they didn’t believe it. They didn’t mix it with faith. ³ For only we who believe God can enter into his place of rest.

Heb 4:11 (TLB):

¹¹ Let us do our best to go into that place of rest, too, being careful not to disobey God as the children of Israel did, thus failing to get in.

PRAYERS:

  Ø  There is a gap between promise(s) and its fulfilment. Let us pray that the whole nation be blessed by the Spirit of GOD with the wine of patience - patience to be able to experience that rest, for in patience, can we possess our soul. Lk 20:19; patience in trusting GOD and patience in obeying Him; so that Nigeria is not wandering in her wilderness.

  Ø  Perhaps Nigeria is still enslaved in/with her past (Egypt), and cannot enter the “promised land” (GOD’s rest) without leaving “Egypt.” Thou Our Saviour, Deliverer and Healer – JESUS CHRIST – please set Nigeria free. Where Nigeria and Nigerians needs healing, heal. Where Nigeria and Nigerians needs deliverance, deliver. Where Nigeria needs salvation, send men/women of salvation.

  Ø  Amidst the instructions and promises of GOD concerning Nigeria, O LORD, let not fear or lack of faith make Nigerians to see the “roads ahead” look difficult. Help Nigeria to humble herself before the LORD, seek His help and be able to enter into that rest of GOD.

  Ø  Holy Spirit as You observe Your cleansing, daily breathe upon and through the churches, so that the complete message of the gospel is preached so that men/women/youths/children comes into understanding that development cannot take place in a day but gradually; and that promises could only be fulfilled seeing GOD and not the government.

  Ø LORD JESUS, You said “My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth.” Therefore O LORD, endow Nigeria with Your divine peace.

  Ø As of the matter of Boko Haram and all their worldwide co-horts, JESUS, encounter them in Your own way, as You do not delight in the death of sinner but for them to come into repentance. Thank You for as many of them that You are rescuing and bringing out of this coven of darkness into Your divine marvellous light.

THANK YOU BLESSED TRINITY THAT YOU ALWAYS HEAR US WHEN WE CALL ON YOU.

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