Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Prayer Request 6/11 - 6/17


Tuesday
Chinese officials seek career shortcut with Feng Shui. According to a 2007’s government's study, 52 percent of the nation's county-level civil servants admitted to believing in divination, face reading, astrology or dream interpretation. It is not uncommon to have Christians to be involved in superstitious practice and not realizing the spiritual darkness and danger. We pray for those naive believers who still dabble in practices that do not please the Lord at all. May we all grow in spiritual knowledge and maturity.
Wednesday
Many superstitious officials purposely place a large boulder or a pair of stone lions in front of their buildings to ward off evil or to bring good luck. Many of them consult masters of feng shui to get a lucky date to launch a construction project. Many new young believers are also seeking guidance and direction for their lives. We pray they will receive good advice from the more mature believers in the churches, especially for decisions about marriage since many people struggle with the question of whether to marry a non-believer or not.
Thursday
As Marxist ideology fades in China the ancient mystical beliefs once banned by the Communist Party resurge. Guides to geomancy now fill bookstores and fortune tellers are busily offering costly sessions in astrology and numerology. Businessmen also see the masters of feng shui for financial advice. Christians in China can definitely use more teaching on discerning the will of God. Many believers fall into the trap of being only Sunday Christians but living in sin on weekdays. We pray that each of us will live a consecrated life pleasing to God and glorifying Him.
Friday
This mystical revival of resorting to divination to solve problems is attracting devoted followers among Party officials in China. The country’s ambitious civil servants are increasingly seeing supernatural shortcuts to wealth and power, much to the dismay of party ideologues and those who campaign against corruption. People look for shortcuts to fame and wealth and many people who are Christians are no exception. Many rural believers still believe Jesus will help them become financially successful. Let us pray that the faith of each one of us in Jesus is a pure faith and that our chief desire is to know and obey the One Who blesses us, not the blessing that comes from Him.
Saturday
The practice of Feng Shui by officials is the result of age-old traditions melded with the pressures of careers in which promotions are earned through mastering the dark arts of factions and favors rather than hard work. Let us pray for all believers who seek to advance in their careers and get promotions and better salaries. We know the Lord listens to our prayers and we are reminded that when we honor God, He will honor our requests and take care of all of our needs.
Sunday
Not surprisingly, many practitioners of feng shui are often shamelessly crooked since they feel little accountability to the public. A corrupt official is usually superstitious. Success theology or the “prosperity gospel” has a wide following in China since it claims that believers will be blessed with riches and health if they are good Christians. We pray churches will preach the scripture correctly and believers will be deeply rooted in God’s Word rather than attracted by material blessings only.
Monday
Feng shui actually provides useful opportunities for business people to curry favor with influential bureaucrats. To avoid exposure, officials often use business contacts to introduce them to a clairvoyant and pay him for the consultation which can become very expensive. There any many many gimmicks for getting rich in China and churches are not immune to these. Frankly, some of them are pyramid scams. We need to pray for purity in the Body of Christ in China—that believers will know the churches should be a place of worship and godly fellowship.


星期二
在中國官場裡,許多共產黨員迷上風水,認為此乃升官進爵的捷經。據中國國家行政學院2007年的一份報告顯示,52%的中國縣級公務員曾參與求籤、面相、星象及解夢等活動。有些無知的基督徒,也熱衷參與此類迷信活動,不知道涉入這些靈界的黑暗、與鬼相交的事,是十分危險的陷阱。我們為靈命幼嫩的信徒能棄絕迷信來禱告,求主的恩膏在凡事上教訓他們,使他們在一切屬靈的智慧的與悟性上,清楚知道神的旨意,願意追求靈命茁壯成長。
星期三
不少迷信的政府官員為了好風水,往往要諮詢風水大師,選擇破土動工的黃道吉日,將一塊巨石或是石獅放在政府大樓外以保平安。許多信主不久的年輕信徒,正處在尋求人生方向及做人處事指引的人生階段,我們為他們禱告,能在主裡找到屬靈長輩和肢體的關照,得著合神心意的指導;尤其在交友、戀愛、婚姻的大事情上,能按著主的心意來做明智又蒙福的抉擇。
星期四
隨著馬克思主義意識在中國式微,曾被共產黨禁止的古代神秘信仰正在興起。風水指南充斥書架;算命先生忙著舉行收費高昂的占星學和命數講座;商人理財投資也徵求風水師的指引。當今的中國基督徒十分缺乏真理的教導,許多信徒只有屬靈的外表,周間活在罪中,僅在主日才有所謂的「信仰行為」。我們求主耶穌基督的神,榮耀的父,將那厚賜人智慧和啟示的靈充滿他們,能真知道祂。也求主憐憫,使我們都願意活出分別為聖、討神喜悅及榮耀祂的生活。
星期五
在信奉無神論的中國官場,迷信的風氣已吸引了許多忠實的追隨者。雄心勃勃的中國公務員越來越熱衷那些所謂能通往財富和權力的超自然捷徑,這讓共產黨和反腐倡導人士大失所望。人心總是汲汲於尋找名利的捷徑,很遺憾的連基督徒也不例外,許多農村信徒也以為信耶穌就必得富裕。求主賜我們單純的信心,因為最大的福氣就是認識祂、跟隨祂,得著主自己及屬靈的豐盛恩典,遠比得著主的「祝福」更寶貴。
星期六
在中國的官場,升職往往不是努力工作的結果,而是通過站隊和拉關係實現的,這也是許多官員熱衷風水的原因,希望它能帶來好運。信徒當然也想在職場更上層樓,得到加薪與升職的機會。不過我們相信,神是掌管萬有,也聽禱告的主,無論神把我們放在什麼位置,都有祂的美意。求主幫助我們凡事連於元首基督,離了主就不能作什麼。讓我們謹記:當我們尊重敬畏祂,祂也會尊重我們 ,先求祂的國與義,祂會負責我們的一切。
星期日
中國很多按風水行事的官員,往往奸詐、毫無羞愧之心,因他們覺得自己懂「門道」,不必對公眾負任何責任。只要隨便找一個腐敗的官員看看,可能都是非常迷信的。「成功神學」(富足福音)在中國教會中也廣受現實主義者的信徒們歡迎,因為強調:合神心意的基督徒將在今生得到財富與健康。求主幫助教會能以正確的教導,裁培出有根有基的信徒,而不是以世俗的富足來吸引人,反而與永生的福樂失之交臂。
星期一
風水在中國正成為商人取悅有影響力官員的一個特別的機會。為了避免惡行暴露,官員通常利用商業合同將風水師引入其中,並為諮詢服務支付出相當昂貴的費用。在中國處處都有發財致富的噱頭,連教會也在所難免。竟然有信徒帶頭領人做這類的事情。求主潔淨基督的身體,好叫信徒們知道教會是單單敬拜神的地方,是基督的新婦,要妝飾整齊,以聖潔自持,等候主的再來。

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