Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Prayer Request 2/18 - 2/24

Tuesday
During this viral epidemic, there was rampant discrimination against Hubei people which is an indictment of the pride of Chinese people. Churches in China also have much discrimination by the urban churches toward those from the countryside, making them unwelcome and contributing to their loss of faith. Christians cannot despise people. We pray that God will give us a new heart, “have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2: 4 NIV) We ask God to have compassion for us and we must show compassion to others.
Wednesday
People in China are deeply poisoned by the Cultural Revolution, with a tendency to criticize and challenge others. Discussions in a church are often very tense, challenging and highly critical of others, to the point of “you are totally wrong, unbiblical, unspiritual or even labeling others "You do not love the Lord.” "Others despise or discriminate, but I don’t! " Many will say. "Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD" (Lamentation 3:20). We pray for the conviction of the Holy Spirit in our motives and conversations, so that we may be pleasing to Him.
Thursday
The Lord Jesus reminded us, "Judge not lest ye be judged." (Matt. 7: 1) We delight in finding fault or what’s wrong in other people. We love to be critical people and are proud of it. We pray that believers will reflect and be changed in this epidemic. We pray that the mercy and love of God will not be mere words, but they will put them into action, and this will start in our church, living our true acceptance and loving one another.
Friday
In the past ten years, the Chinese church has begun to participate in world missions. This is a wonderful start, and indeed we are grateful to God! However, there is still much national superiority and even arrogance that "Chinese will finish what the Westerners and Koreans started” or “Chinese will take the gospel back to Jerusalem", and have even boasted that "China is a great country for missions." Satan's biggest attack on the church is to seduce and test church leaders to make them proud. May the Holy Spirit illuminate us and we ask the Lord to deal with our pride.
Saturday
The tightened religious policy has brought great pain to all churches in China, but we know it is a way that God cleanses, prunes and refines His saints. We pray for all in the suffering, " If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1 Cor:26-27) Again, we ask God to help us, to pray steadfastly, with humility and a clear mind, be wise and observant in all things. “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6: 8 NIV).
Sunday
Chinese are very proud people, and Chinese Christians have even falsely believed that "God will use the Chinese to fulfill the Great Commission." We pray that the experience of this epidemic will make us see how insignificant and fragile we are truly understand that "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassion never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." (Lament. 3:22-23) May the Spirit of God reveal to us that we need to rid the virus in our own hearts.
Monday
We are sinners under His grace, if it was not by God’s grace, we would still all be under His wrath and judgment. Although this is something we all know and has become our mantra, let us all be reminded, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32 NIV) On the day of His Judgment, we will be separated as believers and nonbelievers. So, we ask God to help us not to boast or be self-righteous, rather take delight in seeing how others love and have faith in Him, and spur us to imitate them.

星期二
中國這次爆發的新型病毒中,湖北人被歧視是非常普遍的,也顯出中國人自傲的本性。 中國教會裡也有輕看、甚至歧視的情況。城市信徒與外來的農民工格格不入,令外來信徒覺得城市教會不歡迎他們,導致農村信徒在城市流失。為何基督徒,教會也會輕看別人呢?求主校正信徒的心態,不偏心待人,或用惡意斷定人。(雅2:4) 求主賜給我們柔軟的心,當我們祈求神的憐憫,也應該以基督的心為心, 成為恩慈的管道去憐憫人。
星期三
中國人受到文革的影響,總是愛批判别人。 即使在教會中的討論,也常是彼此不服,滿了火藥味。 總認為自己比別人正確,見解更高明,更屬靈,甚至任意貼上他人不愛主的罪名。「別人輕看、歧視人, 我可沒有!」你我可能會這樣辯解。 「我們當深深考察自己的行為,再歸向耶和華。」(哀3:20),求神提醒祂的子民,必須常常在聖靈裡自省平日的行事為人,做一個得蒙神喜悅的人。
星期四
主耶穌提醒我們,「你們不要論斷人,免得你們被論斷。」(太7:1 ) 是的,挑毛病、找錯處、好批評是我們通有的劣性,但願基督徒在這次疫疾災難中顯出神的憐憫和慈愛,不是把愛人如己掛在嘴邊而不伸出援手,更不是站在道德的制高點上指責,而要以實際行動活出真正的彼此相愛和接納。
星期五
過去十年,中國教會開始參與普世宣教,這是個美好的開始,確實是我們要向神感恩的! 但是,中國教會很多時候還是以民族優越感為出發,認為中國教會可以很快地完成西方與韓國教會做不到的偉蹟,因為中國人比任何其他種族更適合把福音「傳回耶路撒冷」,甚至誇耀我們已經是「宣教的大國」。 撒旦對教會最大的攻擊就是引誘、試探教會領袖,使他們自高自傲。求聖靈光照我們,求主對付我們的驕傲與自義。
星期六
近幾年因政府宗教政策帶來的信心試煉與考驗,中國教會雖然是受到極大的打擊,但亦是神允許環境中的試煉來潔淨祂的聖徒。 我們應該為所有在受苦中的教會祈求,「若一個肢體受苦,所有的肢體就一同受苦;若一個肢體得榮耀,所有的肢體就一同快樂。 你們就是基督的身子,並且各自作肢體。」(林前12:26-27) 願神引領並幫助祂的兒女,能儆醒謹守,虛心清醒,作個聰明通達人,明白自己的道路,心存謙卑,與神同行(彌六8)。
星期日
中國人是自豪的民族,中國的基督徒也已「上帝需要中國人來完成祂的大使命」來誇耀。求主藉著這次的疫情災難,叫我們承認自己是多麼的渺小,一切享有的平安皆來自神的恩典和保守。 「我們不致消滅,是出於耶和華諸般的慈愛;是因祂的憐憫不致斷絕。你的誠實極其廣大!」(哀3:22-23) 願聖靈光照我們,求主先醫治我心中的病毒!也讓我們願意不再靠自己,讓基督在我們身上作工。
星期一
我們都是蒙恩的罪人,要不是神的恩典臨到我們,我們還在神的怒氣與審判之下。雖然,這些道理是基督徒都知道的,也常掛在口邊,求主再次提醒我們:並要以恩慈相待,存憐憫的心,彼此饒恕,正如神在基督裡饒恕了你們一樣。(弗4:32)當審判的那日,在神的眼中只有信與不信的人。求主幫助我們不要自誇更不要自義,而是真心欣賞別人對主的信心和愛心,並以此為榜樣,願意起而效法。

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