Prayer Request 10/07 - 10/13

TuesdayChina's president is genuinely popular among many Chinese. His anti-corruption drive is actually saving money for many people, such as getting a child into school or joining the army, because there used to be stiff fees involved which were​ in reality, bribes. Lately, the reputation of house churches has been tarnished because of false association with cults. We pray for all those who faithfully serve the Lord and believers must caution against false prophets and teachers… because many will follow them. ( 2 Peter 2:1-2)
Wednesday
​Despite the cynicism about how the Communist Party can effectively fight corruption​ among those sick of it, especially those struggling economically, the new leader is gaining support in his campaign to "strike against tigers and flies" (officials whether high or low). ​When leaders are unchallenged in their authority and finances are not handled transparently, there are bound to be abuses. We pray for the defeating of Satan's work and true repentance among the leaders as well as each one of us who are so often blinded by self-deceit and false humility.
Thursday
Selling posts in the government or military is illegal but has been common for decades. It costs 30,000 yuan to join the army, if one has no connection. Getting into a highly desirable high school, parents must “donate” 20,000 in addition to the tuition and fees. ​Envy, strife, love of power and money, and corruption are equally common in both Three Self and house churches. We pray that believers will not be discouraged but that they (and us, too) will affix their eyes on Jesus, not on churches or people and that they will pursue His holiness passionately.​
Friday
​In the past one had to pay to get into privileged positions. Many officials at various levels of the government charged money outright for doing things they themselves were supposed to do but recently this audacious bribery​ has decreased greatly. ​Scandals of cults and extreme groups asking members for money have shaken the desire of many believers​ to give offerings. Pastors who have new things are quickly suspected of graft. We pray for restoration of trust in the leadership of the church and a revival among believers.
Saturday
China has the world’s biggest diabetes epidemic and it is getting worse. 11.6 percent of Chinese adults have the disease, compared with 11.3 percent in America. In 1980 there were only 1% of the people in China who had diabetes. ​Let us remember the Christians who have this chronic illness. May the Lord grant them an extra measure of faith and joy knowing that God gives us peace beyond all understanding and that His grace is sufficient in times of disappointment and pain.
Sunday
China has a third of the people in the world who have diabetes--114 million people. Perhaps even more alarming is that even more people are "pre-diabetic". Chinese people will commonly seeks herbal or traditional Chinese medicines before using Western medicine. We all need to give thanks for the good health God has given us. We pray for good health and strength for all believers, so they will be able to serve the Lord and God's people more.
Monday
Obesity is increasing rapidly in China. Experts blame many factors: the introduction of high-calorie Western diets and fast food, more travel by car, sedentary factory jobs replacing farm labor, and families who spoil the only child. ​We praise the Lord for the vast improvement of the standard of living in China. However, we need to pray for the spiritual poverty of many believers who have grown lukewarm in their faith or become busy making money. May the Lord give each of us a renewal of heart and a hunger for His word.

星期二
習主席的反腐行動減少了人們許多的開支贏得不少民心，比如送孩子上學或參軍。過去，相關的領導都會要求收取額外的「費用」，其實都是變相的賄賂。家庭教會近來因邪教牽累，名譽受損。我們為忠心服事的信徒禱告告，求主保守我們能時時儆醒，並有分辨的靈來拒絕假先知和不合真理的教導。「從前在百姓中有假先知起來，將來在你們中間也必有假師傅，私自引進陷害人的異端…」(彼後2:1-2）
星期三
儘管一般「群眾」對反腐成效能否貫徹到底仍持有深刻的懷疑。但是中國新領導「老虎蒼蠅一起打」的手段，即無論大小官員都是打擊目標，使得老百姓，尤其是草根大眾拍手叫好。一些不良的教會領袖的獨裁帶領方式，加上教會財務不透明，就難免有職權濫用，給予撒旦攻擊的破口。求主敗壞惡者的工作，深知它詭計惡毒，讓我們都能真心悔改，不被虛偽和自欺矇閉，手潔心清得以昂首站立主前。
星期四
以往老百姓參軍，如果沒有「關係」，至少要花3萬塊。雖然出售政府或軍隊中的職位是違法的，但幾十年來，這種現像很普遍。孩子進中學，除了學費，要再「捐」2萬元人民幣，也是不成文的潛規矩。不少信徒對三自，對家庭教會內的不良氣象灰心，認為兩邊一般黑（嫉妒、紛爭、專權、貪財、腐化..等等）求主幫助我們知道「天下沒完美的教會」，關鍵是要自己追求聖潔 ，定睛在神而不是看人。
星期五
「過去，各樣變相的收費捐款，其實就是明目張膽的要求賄賂，還有各層的貪官太多了，他們本來就該做的事情，但是都要求交錢才辦。這樣的情況近來少多了。」 邪教中多發生貪汙錢財的醜聞，但是卻動搖許多信徒對教會奉獻的認知。信徒對擁有新的東西或房產的傳道人，也產生懷疑。 求主再次建立教會中彼此的信任，特別是對領袖們的信心，也求真理的靈來做潔淨、復興的工作。
星期六
中國的糖尿病患病率已躍居世界首位，且還在惡化中。1980年，中國的糖尿病率還不到1%。如今中國糖尿病患病率是11.6%，剛超過了美國的11.3% 。我們在禱告中要記念有各樣慢性病的信徒，求主加添他們的信心和喜樂。讓我們深深知道神賜下出乎意料的平安，祂的恩典是我們患難中隨時的幫助。
星期日
中國糖尿病人達1.14億，全球大約三分之一的糖尿病患者都在中國。這項研究對將近9.9萬人進行了測試，發現有一半的人血糖達到了「糖尿病前期」水平。中國人一般都先服用中藥到非不得已才尋西醫治療。讓我們常常為神賜予的健康感恩，更為所有忠心服事神的信徒祈求體力、靈力，好叫他們的服侍恩上加恩，力上加力，滿有果效。
星期一
肥胖問題正在迅速加劇，因素往往歸咎於：一是引入高熱量的西方飲食和快餐；二是人們駕車代步；三是久坐不動的工廠工作代替了農場里的勞動；最後是 長輩對獨生子女嬌生慣養。我們為中國百姓擁有富裕生活感恩，然而也要反省信徒忙著賺錢，屬靈方面的貧窮及不冷不熱這些不合神心意的事實。我們切切禱告祈求主復興我們，更多渴慕祂的話語，更有追求成長的心志。