Prayer Request 5/3 - 5/9

Tuesday
Chinese people are easily confused by religious ideas because they have grown up with little knowledge and understanding of religion; the differences between orthodoxy and heterodoxy are even more difficult for them to distinguish. We pray for great wisdom for Christians Chinese believers as they encounter onslaught of lies and lies of cults. Churches must spend more time and effort to educate their members how to defend the Biblical truth and able to discern false doctrines.
Wednesday
The state announced the names and details of 14 cults, among which 12 were a variant of Christianity. Christianity is not a cult. These variant cults have long been at odds with Christianity. Rural churches have few well-trained pastors is a sad reality, believers are not fed and become easy targets for the ravaging cults. We pray for extra mercy and grace, so no sheep are stolen and churches ravaged.
Thursday
In a positive sense, government’s crackdown on cults in China, allow orthodox churches some respite and room for growth, it will help them to define what is orthodox Christian doctrine and teachings. Churches suffer attack from cults because believers lack teaching of Biblical truth, and even church leaders are ignorant and undiscerning. We pray for God’s mercy, great emphasis on teaching of sound doctrine, and faithful shepherd to protect the flocks.
Friday
Many house church leaders support government’s crackdown on cults because of the intense harassment they have received from cults. At the same time, house church leaders are worry that social media and public figures cannot distinguish good churches from cults.Some cults corrupt leaders and hijack the entire church with sex and money. The Lord have mercy, help church leaders to realize that they cannot be isolated, cannot falsely believe they are invincible and refuse accountability or fellowship with other church leaders.
Saturday
Recently, house churches encountered antagonism, being treated with great suspicion and even arrest when they try to share the gospel in public. This is due to the high profile murder case by cult members which is widely demonized in public. One reason cults are so prevalent in China is lack of contacts, fellowship and coverage among churches. We pray that churches in China will really care for other churches, rather than just caring for their own interest.
Sunday
Cults and orthodox churches are like: ‘In the darkness a crow and a dove feel the same; it is difficult to distinguish the two. But if the light comes in, you can clearly differentiate between what is black and what is white.’” Chinese churches have long been fragmented, attacking each other’s theologies and even reputation, there is dearth of acceptance and unity, this allow the cults to divide and conquer weaker churches. We pray for love and acceptance for all church leaders.
Monday
Discord and distrust among house church leaders in China have created a gap for the heresies to sneak in. They capture the leaders first and then cause the congregation to break up. We pray that the Almighty Lord will protect all churches from these vicious wolves and churches will quickly form defensive strategies by teaching their members how to discern the truth from false teaching.


星期二
中國民眾由於對於宗教的知識和認識稀少，因此很容易被宗教思想迷惑；對他們來說，正統教會和邪教之間的差異更加難以區別。我們為信徒有真智慧祈求，求主幫助他們能分辨真理和異端的真偽，也幫助教會能花更多時間和精力教導信徒如何辨明聖經真理
星期三
中國政府宣佈十四個邪教的名稱和詳情，其中有十二個其實是基督教異端。雖然這類分歧的基督教異端本身並非邪教組織，但是早就和正統基督教水火不相容。農村教會缺少受過完整裝備的牧者，羊群無人餵養，各種異端、邪教處處吞吃軟弱的信徒。求主格外施恩賜下憐憫，保守祂的羊一隻也不失落。
星期四
政府宣布邪教的名稱並進行鎮壓，對於基督教在中國的健康發展具有非常重要的意義，因為可以幫助基督教以真正的真理教導來對抗混亂的宗教環境。教會禁不起異端攻擊，是因信徒缺乏聖經真理的教導，甚至教會領袖也不能分辯真偽。求主憐憫，引導農村教會加強真理的教導，並賜他們有更多忠心守護的牧者。
星期五
家庭教會基本上也支持政府打壓邪教，因為邪教造成他們極大的困擾。同時家庭教會也非常擔心社會媒體和公共形象的影響，會把家庭教會和邪教混為一談。有的異端使用金錢、美色，奪下教會領袖之位，接著吞吃整個教會。求主憐憫我們，幫助神兒女知道，以往各自為政，教會之間互不聯絡的危險性。
星期六
近來家庭教會在對公眾傳福音時遇到更多的誤解和拒絕。有時被不分青紅皂白地趕出去，或還沒機會為自己分辯就被公安拘留。這是由於邪教成員謀殺案被高調妖魔化所累。教會之間沒有彼此聯絡、彼此守望，是異端邪教得以猖獗的一大原因。我們禱告主幫助中國教會不再只單單關心自己的生存，也能關顧別的教會。
星期日
異端和正統教會的分別法就像：『在黑暗裡，烏鴉和鴿子感覺起來是一樣的；很難分辨二者。但是如果有光，你就可以清楚地區分何為黑，何為白。』中國教會一向是各自為政，甚至在信仰主張上，人身上彼此攻擊，缺少社主裡的包容。這給了異端機會來分裂教會、攻擊領袖。求主賜教會領袖們有主的愛與接納。
星期一
教會領袖彼此之間不和，沒有彼此關注，使得異端處處有機可乘，先攻下領袖，再分化信徒、瓦解教會。我們切切懇求大能的主，保護所有教會免受那凶殘惡者一切的攻擊，又幫助教會能儘快推出有效對付異端的策略，裝備信徒懂得分辨假教導，在這末世挺身護衛真道。