Join this HeartCry Prayer - Every Monday 10:30pm - 12:30am (UK time)
Christianity is said to be the largest religion in Europe. Christianity has been practised in Europe since the 1st century, and a number of the Pauline Epistles were addressed to Christians living in Greece, as well as Rome. According to a survey by the Pew Research Centre in 2012, found that 75% of Europeans considered themselves Christians.
Christianity is said to be the largest religion in Europe. Christianity has been practised in Europe since the 1st century, and a number of the Pauline Epistles were addressed to Christians living in Greece, as well as Rome. According to a survey by the Pew Research Centre in 2012, found that 75% of Europeans considered themselves Christians.
Catholics were at the time of the survey the largest Christian group
in Europe, accounting for more than 48% of European Christians. The
second-largest Christian group in Europe were the Orthodox, who made up
32% of European Christians. Although the Protestant Reformation began
in Europe, only about 19% of European Christians were part of the Protestant tradition. Russia is
the largest Christian country in Europe by population, followed by Germany and Italy.
For at least a millennium and a half, Europe has
been nearly equivalent to Christian culture. Europe
is said to have rich Christian culture, especially as numerous saints, martyrs and popes were
European themselves. All of the popes from 741 to 2013 were from Europe. Europe
is said to have brought together many of the Christian holy sites and
heritage and religious centres.
With all these, WHY IS EUROPE THE WAY SHE IS?
Let us look at the answer in Romans 2:17-29. Paul was addressing the
Jews, who in this case could be the European Christians:
Romans 2:17-29 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV):
17 What about you? You say you are a Jew (Majority of
Europeans are said to be Christians). You trust in the law and PROUDLY claim to be
close to God.
18 You know what God wants you to do. And you know what is important,
because you have learned the law.
19 You think you are a guide for
people who don’t know the right way, a light for those who are in the dark.
20 You think you can show foolish people what is right. And you think you are a
teacher for those who are just beginning to learn. You have the law, and so you
think you know everything and have all truth.
21 YOU TEACH OTHERS, SO WHY DON’T YOU
TEACH YOURSELF? You tell them not to steal, but you yourself steal.
22 You say they must not commit adultery, but you
yourself are guilty of that sin. You hate idols, but you steal them from their
temples.
23 You are so proud that you have God’s law, BUT YOU BRING SHAME
TO GOD BY BREAKING HIS LAW.
24 As the scriptures say, “PEOPLE IN OTHER NATIONS INSULT
GOD BECAUSE OF YOU.”
25 If you follow the law (God’s law), then your
circumcision has meaning. But if you break the law, then it is as if you were
never circumcised.
26 Those who are not Jews (Christ like) are not
circumcised. But if they do what the law says, it is as if they were
circumcised.
27 You have the written law and circumcision, BUT YOU BREAK
THE LAW. So those who are not circumcised in their bodies, but still
obey the law, will show that you are guilty.
28 YOU ARE NOT A TRUE JEW IF YOU ARE ONLY A JEW IN YOUR PHYSICAL BODY. (Doing charitable
works to other poor Nations / people; like we see around us) TRUE CIRCUMCISION IS
NOT ONLY ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BODY.
29 A true Jew is one who is a Jew inside. True
Circumcision is done in the heart. IT is done by the Spirit, not by the written
law. And anyone who is circumcised in the heart by the Spirit gets praises
from God, not from people.
Isaiah 49:3-4(ERV) & (KJV): 3 He told me,
“Israel, you are my servant. I will do wonderful things with you (I will be
glorified in you).”
This is God’s intention for us. But what have we done?
4 I said, “I worked hard for nothing (I
have laboured in vain). I wore myself out (I have spent my
strength for nought), but I did nothing useful. I used all
my power, but I did not really do anything. So the Lord must decide what to do with
me. He must decide my reward.”
This was the cry of a servant of God who realised that all he had been
doing for God was NOTHING. Why?
Like Paul said to the Jews in Romans chapter 2:17-29:
- You bring shame to God by
breaking his law”.
- You are not a true Christian
if you are only a Christian in your physical body and not inside
your heart.
- “People in other nations
insult God because of you.”
- You are guilty of the sin
you are asking others not to do.
- You get praise from people
and not from God in the things that you do.
- You work in the flesh and
not in the spirit.
- You teach others but don’t
teach yourself; you don’t practice what you preach.
We want to pray for the Christians in Europe, the Kingdom labourers in
Europe and for ourselves because we are in it like these:
- O Lord my Father, do not let
the labour of my hands and that of your servants in Europe be in vain in
Jesus’ name.
- We will not work hard for
nothing in Jesus’ name.
- We will not wear out
physically in vain in Jesus’ name.
- In this our labour, O Lord,
everything we do will be according to Your will, Your purpose, Your
pattern and it will be useful to You in Jesus’ name.
- After using all our power in
the service of the Lord, it will not produce wind, that is, end up to be
nothing, in the name of Jesus.
Isaiah 42:18-25 Easy-to-Read
Version (ERV) 18 “Deaf people, listen to
me! Blind people, look and see! 19 In all the
world, no one is more blind than my servant. No one is more deaf than my messenger. No one is more
blind than my chosen people, the servant of the Lord.
- O Lord, open our ears to
listen and our eyes to look and see (be observant) in Jesus’ name.
Isaiah 42:20 20 My people see what they should do, but
they do not obey me. They can hear with their ears, but they
refuse to listen to me.”
- Anything the world system
has used to prevent us from obeying or listening to You, Lord, please put
Your hand on it and take them away in Jesus’ name.
Isaiah 42:21 21 The Lord wants
them to do what is right. He wants them to honor his wonderful teachings.
- Help us to do what is right,
O Lord, and honour Your teachings in Jesus’ name.
Isaiah 42:22 22 But look at his people. Others have defeated
them and have stolen from them. The young men are afraid. They are locked in
prisons. People have taken advantage of them, and there is no one to
protect them. Others take their money, and there is no one to say, “Give
it back!”
O Lord, have mercy on us and give our men of courage the strength and
boldness to take back what is theirs (Europe), in Jesus’ name.
- Let Your children in places
of authority stand for You in Europe in Jesus’ name.
Isaiah 42:23 23 Will any of you pay attention to this
warning? Will you ever learn to listen? 24 Who
let Jacob be defeated? Who let others take what belonged to Israel? The Lord allowed them to do this. We
sinned against him, so he let people take away our wealth. The
people did not want to live the way he wanted (God). They refused
to listen to his teaching. 25 So he poured out his
anger on them and brought wars against them. It was as if there were fires all
around them, but they didn’t know what was happening. It was as if they were
burning, but they didn’t try to understand.
- O Lord, by your mercy and
the Blood of Your son, Jesus Christ, please help us listen and pay
attention to Your warnings; then send help to us in Jesus’ name before it
is too late.
Join this HeartCry Prayer - Every Saturday 10:30pm - 12:30am (UK time)
