Prayer Request 12/22 - 12/28

Tuesday
Next to the Spring Festival, Christmas is easily the second most-celebrated festival of all for young people in China. Among those who are fifteen to forty-five years old, it​ is extremely trendy to celebrate it as a carnival. ​Pray for all of those in China who celebrate Christmas only as a reason to party​ but do not know Jesus as their personal Savior. We pray that more people in China will come to know that Jesus is the answer to the hunger in their hearts.
Wednesday
There are Christmas decorations and celebrations on just about every street corner in China now. ​It is "the thing" for young people to give gifts and go to parties held in hotels, restaurants, bars or KTV's. Many churches also hold special Christmas services and outreach programs. We pray for all of those who attend the Christmas services in the churches. May each one gain a deeper understanding of the gospel and be drawn closer to the Lord and may many be saved.
Thursday
Eating apples is an uniquely Chinese custom when it comes to celebrating Christmas​. Apple has the same pronunciation as peace in Mandarin. People believe they will have peace in the new year by eating an apple. Praise God that many Chinese Christians and foreign believers living in China will take the opportunity to explain more about what Christmas really means when they invite their friends to their homes and get to share the true meaning of Christmas with them.
Friday
On Christmas Eve, nearly all of the state-approved churches will be packed as thousands queue up for midnight mass or to watch the services on the outside monitors. Many will be there for the first time​, drawn by the crowds. It is indeed a rare time of the year when churches in China become a public focus. May the Holy Spirit move turning spectators into seekers of the gospel. We pray that the seed of the gospel will find soft soil and grow during this Christmas season.
Saturday
In China, all of the heresies or cults, such as Eastern Lightning, came out of orthodox Christianity.​ Many rural believers are so poorly educated and lack proper knowledge of the Bible so they cannot distinguish between truth and heresies. Rural churches in China are fraught with extreme teachings and cults. The rural churches have many weak ignorant believers and we pray the Lord will give them under shepherds to protect them.
Sunday
It is common​ in rural churches in China to hear someone suddenly exclaim, "I am related to Jesus, and Jesus told me...." this phenomenon is not only common and considered spiritual, it also goes unchallenged and accepted which causes a big problem. May the Lord have mercy on every rural church and grant them a discerning spirit especially the untrained believers as well as the undiscerning and weak shepherds.
Monday
Many Christian businessmen​ in China​ are confused ​about the difference between "ministry" and "business", and how to separate them. We pray for ​God's own cleansing of ​His churches​ so​ believers never see members of their church as customers or worse, their distributors. ​In recent years China has been in an economic boom and God has raised up many Christian businessmen and fellowship groups for them. However, undeniably, the devil also​ has his hands on those wealthy Christians.


星期二
在年輕人的心目中，聖誕節是僅次於春節的大節日，十五至四十歲年齡層的人把聖誕節當做嘉年華節期來慶祝。我們為那些把聖誕節當作「狂歡慶祝」理由，卻不認識耶穌基督是人類救主的人禱告，求主開啟他們的心，又讓更多人願意來尋求真神，使他們飢渴的生命得著真正的滿足與喜樂。
星期三
幾乎所有中國城市都有聖誕裝飾及慶祝活動。相互餽送，在酒店、餐廳、酒吧或KTV熱烈慶祝已經成為年輕人必有的活動項目。許多教會在聖誕節期舉行特別聚會，又或有佈道會。我們為所有參加者禱告，願每一位都能更深刻認識福音的真締，並且更加親近主，得著最珍貴的永生禮物。
星期四
聖誕夜吃蘋果，已經成為中國特色的聖誕習俗。因為「蘋果」的中文發音和「平安」類似，吃一顆平安果（蘋果），可以為他們來年帶來平安。感謝神，許多信徒和旅居中國的外國信徒會利用聖誕節邀請朋友一起慶祝，求主讓他們有勇敢和智慧，向親朋好友清楚說明聖誕節的真正意義，得著屬天的福氣。
星期五
每年聖誕夜，在三自教會前總會例行有數千人排隊參加午夜彌撒，或在戶外螢幕上觀看聚會。很多人是被群眾吸引第一次來參加的。這也是每年一次，教會成為大家的觀光熱點。願聖靈感動人心，能有許多人被神自己吸引進入教會。我們為福音的種子能在今年的聖誕，得著好土而萌芽成長來祈求。
星期六
中國所有基督教背景的異端邪教，都是從正統基督教發展出來的，如東方閃電(全能神教會)在剛開始時並不是邪教。許多農村信徒缺乏聖經真理的正確教導，無法分辯真理與異端的區別。農村教會有太多極端化的教導，異端也到處流傳。我們特別為農村教會那些無知軟弱的信徒祈求，願主打發祂的工人，牧養及保護祂的群羊。
星期日
在中國農村家庭教會聚會時，經常有人會忽然站起來說：「我是耶穌的某某，耶穌跟我說……」這種人不但多，而且還被信徒接納和信服。這些現象是農村教會最大的問題與信仰危機。求主施恩憐憫農村教會，賜分辨的靈給那些沒有受過純正信仰訓練的信徒，甚至是信仰根基薄弱的「牧者」，願主的真光親自引導祂的羊群，不偏不離走在正道上。
星期一
近年來中國有著不錯的經濟發展成果，神也興起了許多基督徒商人和工商團契。但此同時，魔鬼也乘虛在其中設下了許多網羅。許多基督徒商人分不清「Ministry(事奉)」與「Business(商業)」的差異，有時會把兩者混淆在一起。求主潔淨祂的教會，随時提醒眾信徒，不可把弟兄姊妹當作取利的對象，神才是我們最大的福份，我們的好處不在神以外。