Tag Archives: Fasting

November 3, 2015 · 2:44 pm

Tuesday’s Prayers for Prisoners (11/3/2015)

(The above photo shows a living area at the end of a narrow, short tunnel. It is the only entrance into the slum dwelling.)

Almost 600 million people live in slum conditions in Asia with poorly built houses, almost no basic services, and limited access to clean water. Life is horrible for these slum dwellers, but what’s even worse, 95% of them will die without ever knowing Jesus.

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (Romans 10:13-14)

My prayer today:

Lord, unleash an army of believers who will go into the slums of Asia, preaching the gospel to everyone there and baptizing those who believe. I pray also that signs will accompany these preachers so that demons will be cast out, the sick will be healed, and new believers will speak in tongues and prophesy. (Based on Mark 16:15-18)

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for prisoners in Asia, according to Hebrews 13:3.

Why Asia?

1. 4.4 billion people live in Asia.

2.. 85.4% of world’s unevangelized people live in Asia. (Unevangelized means they may have heard the gospel but have no understanding on how to respond.)

3. The world’s three largest non-Christian religions – Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhists – are based in Asia.

4. Of the 37 countries of the world that are less than 10% Christian, 32 are in Asia. Of the 14 countries, that are less than 2% Christian, 12 are in Asia.

5. 85-90% of unreached people live in Asia. (Unreached means that they have never heard the name of Jesus.) (Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation)

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October 29, 2015 · 9:08 am

Thursday’s Prayers for America (10/29/2015)

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The vibrant sounds of Mozart’s Piano Concerto Number Seven swirled through the Beacon Hill mansion’s ballroom. The fifteen females seated around the grand piano, listening to the maestro, had proper Brahmin names like Cabot, Coolidge, Forbes, Lodge, or Shaw. Each traced her ancestry back to the earliest Puritan settlers of Boston. This blueblood lineage insured their invitation to the social tea, no nouveau riche Johnny-come-latelies were among the invitees.

When the pianist completed the piece, he stood and bowed. The women showed their appreciation with warm applause. One of the ladies put her white-gloved hands to her mouth and said, “Oh, I would just do anything to be able to play the piano like that.”

The maestro turned and stared at her. His eyes exploded with fire.

“No you wouldn’t,” he said.

The crowd collectively gasped. All felt sorry for the woman who had been openly rebuked by the man’s insensitive words.

As for the lady, she sat stunned, paralyzed by his harsh eyes, tears rolled down her cheeks. Then, as if she remembered her privileged pedigree, she mouthed three defiant words at the pianist: “Yes, I would.”

“No you wouldn’t,” he said again, leaning over the piano toward the lady.

“Because if you really meant what you said, you would have been willing to give up your youth, your teenage years, and eight to ten hours every day practicing on the piano. You see, there is a price to sit on this bench. I’ve been willing to pay it, and you have not!”

(Excerpt from Deceived Dead and Delivered by Larry Nevenhoven, 2013, Amazon eBook)

My prayer for America:

Lord, raise up American believers that are willing to deny themselves, pick up their crosses daily, and follow You. And Lord, show me how to be one of them.  (Based on Luke 9:23)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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October 27, 2015 · 8:30 am

Tuesday’s Prayers for Prisoners (10/27/2015)

The first time I heard the term “religious nut” was in the 1950’s when my mom spit those words out of her mouth. It happened when we shopped at Meiners’ Grocery Store in Forreston, Illinois. Mom picked a few items off the shelves and carried them up to the checkout. Lillian Meiners, the cashier, attempted to talk about the Lord to Mom while totaling the purchases on the cash register. It was a one-sided conversation with Mom saying nothing.

“She’s a religious nut!” Mom proclaimed as we walked to our 1955 Pontiac, parked outside the door.

From that day forward, Lillian Meiners personified a religious nut to me. I would often see her and when I did, Mom’s words popped into my mind. Lillian never knew my true feelings about her. It was one of those inner character assassinations I never spoke aloud to anyone.

Lillian’s name was filed on a forgotten corner shelf of my mind until late 1985. It would still be there covered with layers of dust and cobwebs except for the question I asked the Lord one morning during prayer.

“Jesus, why did you save me?”

A clear voice whispered to my heart.

“Because of Lillian Meiners’ prayers for you.”

His words shocked me, but a few years later, I talked with her pastor, Rev. Orin Graff. He told me Lillian was a diligent prayer warrior for kids who attended Bible Camp.

The first saint I am going to hug upon my arrival in heaven will be Lillian Meiners. I want to thank her for faithfully praying for an agnostic who always thought she was a religious nut. We can have a good laugh about my ignorance and how Jesus set me straight.

(Excerpt from The Hunt for Larry Who by Larry Nevenhoven, 2014, Amazon eBook)

My prayers for today:

Lord, I ask that you raise up faithful prayer warriors that keep on praying for Asia, no matter what others think or what they themselves see, believing that You are just as influenced by a single voice as You are by a million.

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for prisoners in Asia, according to Hebrews 13:3.

 

Why Asia?

1. 4.4 billion people live in Asia.

2.. 85.4% of world’s unevangelized people live in Asia. (Unevangelized means they may have heard the gospel but have no understanding on how to respond.)

3. The world’s three largest non-Christian religions – Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhists – are based in Asia.

4. Of the 37 countries of the world that are less than 10% Christian, 32 are in Asia. Of the 14 countries, that are less than 2% Christian, 12 are in Asia.

5. 85-90% of unreached people live in Asia. (Unreached means that they have never heard the name of Jesus.) (Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation)

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October 22, 2015 · 8:43 am

Thursday’s Prayers for America (10/22/2015)

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Most people have seen the movie, Titanic, and its fictional love story about a poor boy, Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio), and a rich girl, Rose (Kate Winslet), on an ill-fated ocean voyage. The movie won the 1997 Oscar for Best Picture. Its box-office sales of over $1.8 billion rank it as the second most successful movie of all time, behind Avatar.

Hollywood created its own fictional heroes for the movie script, but on April 14, 1912, there were many real heroes. One of them was named John Harper.

John Harper, a thirty-nine year old widower and a Baptist preacher, was traveling to Chicago aboard the R.M.S Titanic on its maiden voyage with his six-year old daughter, Nana. He was scheduled to preach some evangelistic meetings at the Moody Church.

At 11:40 p.m., the Titanic hit an iceberg on the starboard side of the ship. As soon as Harper realized the ship was going to sink, he took his daughter to a lifeboat and placed her aboard. “Nana, I’ll see you again someday,” he said to her.

Then, while flares lit up the sky, he marched up and down the decks yelling, “Women, children, and unsaved into the lifeboats!”

At 2:20 a.m., a rumble arose from deep within the ship as it broke in half. Hundreds of people, including Harper, jumped into the 28-degree (-2 C) water as the Titanic slipped into its watery grave.

As soon as Harper hit the surface, he frantically swam from one person to the next, leading them to Jesus before the people succumbed to the icy waters and hypothermia. He asked one young man who clutched a piece of wood, “Are you saved?” The young man answered that he was not.

Harper tried to convince the young man, but the man refused to listen. Harper took off his life jacket and threw it at the man. “Here then, you need this more than I do,” said Harper as he swam off to other people.

A few minutes later, Harper returned to the man and successfully led him to Christ. Then, Harper attempted to swim to other people, but the icy waters were too much for him. “Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved,” he shouted before he sank under the waters.

Of the 1528 people that went into the icy waters that night, lifeboats rescued only six. One of them was the young man who later recounted how Harper had led him to Christ.

 

Harper wasted no time swimming around in the icy waters talking about his Baptist credentials or the five pillars of Calvinism. He asked one question: “Are you saved?” He acted on what was the most important need at that tragic moment on April 14, 1912. Today, like John Harper, we must focus our efforts on what’s needed now.

Yes, there are those who are crossing their fingers and praying for a national revival. And if the Lord sends one, hallelujah, thank You Jesus, I will join in. But I’ve listened to prophecies about a soon-coming revival, which will wash our nation clean of sin for the last thirty years. It hasn’t arrived as yet. So, do we keep walking down the same path for twenty-five or ten or five more years, hoping for a revival?

Not me! I’m jumping off this path and walking on a new one.

(Excerpt from New Wind Blowing by Larry Nevenhoven, 2013, an Amazon eBook)

My prayer for America today:

Lord, I pray that we believers lay down every one of our plans, our hopes, our dreams, our visions, our prophetic words for America, which have ensnared us, so that we can run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. (Based on Hebrews 12:1-2)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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October 15, 2015 · 8:32 am

Thursday’s Prayers for America (10/15/2015)

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The church at Antioch had just finished the meal when an elder, a man with stooped shoulders, pushed back his chair and stood up. He held up his hands for quiet and looked around at the group.

“Brothers and sisters, we have just received some good news from the church in Jerusalem. They’re sending someone to help us,” he said.

Everyone talked at once. The voices of the fifteen believers blended into a loud roar throughout the home’s one-room living area.

A deep booming voice shouted above the clamor, “Who are they sending? One of the apostles, like Peter or John?”

The group all spoke at once, agreeing with the man’s choices, but also giving their opinion on which of the two would be their personal favorites. There was an underlying fervor to see other believers and hear their testimonies.

The elder laughed and shook his head at the commotion. He motioned with his hands, quieting the assembly.

“No – not Peter or John. A man named Barnabas should be arriving in a few days. He’s a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. We will be blessed by his visit.”

Everyone sat quiet for a few moments. No one had heard of Barnabas.

One young believer leaned over to his dark haired wife.

“What do you think Barnabas will say?” he whispered.

 

A week later, Barnabas stood on the deck of the Roman merchant ship as it approached the wharf in Antioch. He saw ships with Italian olive oil being unloaded on one side of the harbor while other ships were being loaded with Syrian grain on another side. A Roman navy trireme sat anchored to a dock with its three tiers of oars out of the water. A cohort of Roman soldiers watched over the dock.

The three hundred mile cruise had been uneventful with no storms and only gentle breezes propelling the ship. But still, Barnabas appeared eager, almost antsy, to step onto dry land once again. He had spent the three-day trip, pacing back and forth on the galley’s deck, oblivious to everything around him. The other passengers smiled when he walked by, thinking an evil spirit tormented him. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

An inner desire consumed Barnabas about knowing a specific truth about the church at Antioch. His continued pleas to the Lord about the issue had been met with silence.

Shouts from the wharf interrupted his thoughts.

“Barnabas! Barnabas! Wave your hands at us so we can see you. We have come from the church to greet you.”

Barnabas saw three men waving at the ship and went to the ship’s fore rail and waved his arms.

“I’m Barnabas! It’s great to see you, my brothers!” he shouted.

After what seemed like hours, Barnabas disembarked and ran to the threesome. He hugged and greeted them. Introductions were made amid the noisy clamor of the docks.

Barnabas could not contain himself any longer. He looked at them, with tears streaming down his cheeks.

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you first believed?”

(Excerpt from Deceived Dead and Delivered by Larry Nevenhoven, 2013, an Amazon eBook)

The above is a fictional story, but it agrees with Acts 8:14-17 and Acts 19:2-6.

So, if the early church needed the gifts of the Holy Spirit, how much more do we need them now?

My prayer for America today:

Lord, I pray that American believers pursue love with eagerness, but that we also earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual gifts, especially that we may prophesy. (Based on 1 Corinthians 14:1 Amplified Version)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you today?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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October 13, 2015 · 9:47 am

Tuesday’s Prayers for Prisoners (10/13/2015)

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Have you ever wondered if I always fast on Tuesdays and Thursdays or do I sometimes fake it? You know, write the article and then go out for a large pepperoni pizza at Papa Johns. Who would know, right? So, here’s my rule of thumb: if I don’t write an article, I didn’t fast that day. Simple enough, okay?

But all rules have exceptions…even this one. 

Today, I took my wife to breakfast at the Swing Inn Cafe in Old Town Temecula. There was no specific reason for doing so, except that it felt right according to my spirit. Fasting, like almost everything else, has to be backed by the Holy Spirit because the Spirit gives our efforts life whereas just following the letter of the law will always bring death.

Today, I prayed:

Lord, I come boldly to Your throne of grace asking for Your mercy and grace to fall upon the people of Asia in their time of need. (Based on Hebrews 4:16)

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for prisoners in Asia, according to Hebrews 13:3.

Why Asia?

1. 4.4 billion people live in Asia.

2.. 85.4% of world’s unevangelized people live in Asia. (Unevangelized means they may have heard the gospel but have no understanding on how to respond.)

3. The world’s three largest non-Christian religions – Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhists – are based in Asia.

4. Of the 37 countries of the world that are less than 10% Christian, 32 are in Asia. Of the 14 countries, that are less than 2% Christian, 12 are in Asia.

5. 85-90% of unreached people live in Asia. (Unreached means that they have never heard the name of Jesus.) (Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation)

 

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October 8, 2015 · 1:05 pm

Thursday’s Prayers for America (10/8/2015)

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Ananias and Sapphira loved the Lord and were excited about their upcoming ministries. They followed Barnabas’ example by selling a piece of property and then Ananias laid the financial proceeds from the sale at the apostles’ feet. The only difference is that Ananias and Sapphira kept part of the proceeds back for themselves, probably as a “just-in-case” rainy day fund.

The last words Ananias heard before stepping into eternity to meet the Judge were spoken by Peter:

“Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” (Acts 5:3-4)

Ananias died and some young men buried him. Three hours later Sapphira, who missed her husband’s funeral, stopped by the house church. Peter spoke to her and she suffered the same fate as her husband.

And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. (Acts 5:11)

Today, I prayed:

Lord, I ask You to help American believers walk in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit so that our love is genuine and that we abhor evil, holding fast to what is good. (Based on Acts 9:31 and Romans 12:9)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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October 6, 2015 · 9:44 am

Tuesday’s Prayers for Prisoners (10/6/2015)

One Indian brother said, “The way they preach the gospel in the West is that they say, ‘Are you having problems in your marriage? Jesus can help your marriage. Are you having problems in your family? Jesus can bless your family. Are you having problems in your job? Jesus can prosper you.’

“The way we preach the gospel in India, we say, ‘If you have a job and give your life to Jesus, they may fire you from your job. If you’re married, your spouse may leave you and your family may disown you.'”

Our contemporary mentality would say, ‘Then, why would I do it? What’s in it for me?”

There’s not an understanding in the West that we are sinners who are under God’s righteous judgment…and we need a Savior…and the fact that He sent His Son to die for our sins is absolutely mind boggling. (Dr. Michael Brown, Living for Messiah’s Glory)

Today I prayed:

Lord, I ask You to raise up laborers in Asia who preach the Gospel that sets people free of their sins and destroys the works of the devil. Do not allow our Western compromise to creep into their Gospel messages. (Based loosely on 1 John 3:8)

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for prisoners in Asia, according to Hebrews 13:3.

Why Asia?

1. 4.4 billion people live in Asia.

2.. 85.4% of world’s unevangelized people live in Asia. (Unevangelized means they may have heard the gospel but have no understanding on how to respond.)

3. The world’s three largest non-Christian religions – Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhists – are based in Asia.

4. Of the 37 countries of the world that are less than 10% Christian, 32 are in Asia. Of the 14 countries, that are less than 2% Christian, 12 are in Asia.

5. 85-90% of unreached people live in Asia. (Unreached means that they have never heard the name of Jesus.) (Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation)

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October 1, 2015 · 2:00 pm

Thursday’s Prayers for America (10/1/2015)

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Around 32 AD, Saul received a commission from the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem and began to go to war against Christians. He invaded home churches, dragging men and women off to prison. All of the believers scattered throughout Judea and Samaria to avoid the persecution, that is, all except the apostles.

Why didn’t the Apostles flee, too?

Because Luke wrote both books, the storyline from the Book of Luke to the Book of Acts moves almost seamlessly together as if the two books were written as one. Luke records the words of Jesus in the Book of Luke —

“And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)

And then —

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

The Apostles had been beaten, chained up, thrown into prison, and faced death threats before this outbreak of persecution. So, we have to assume that the Lord told the Apostles to remain in Jerusalem as His witnesses. They obeyed, performed their works there, and the Gospel continued to change lives.

Today, I prayed:

Lord, release Your anointed apostles on America’s cities. Send those who have seen You and are able to perform the signs of true apostles so that lives are radically changed in our cities. (Based on 1 Corinthians 9:1 and 2 Corinthians 12:12)

What do you think and has the Lord spoken to you?

Join with me on Thursdays to fast and pray for America.

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September 29, 2015 · 12:51 pm

Tuesday’s Prayers for Prisoners (9/29/2015)

Soon, I had a dream…

I saw myself standing in front of a vast wheat field looking out upon a harvest that was clearly ripe. I stood there for a while overwhelmed at the sheer size of the harvest. What seemed like endless acres continued for as far as my eyes could see.

Watching the golden wheat sway in the breeze, I got this sudden understanding that I was looking upon the fields that Jesus spoke about in John 4 and Matthew 9. It was as though the Lord was telling me this harvest was free for the taking, much like Psalm 2 tells us to ask for the nations and He will give them to us.

Overcome with excitement at seeing such a great harvest ready for reaping and knowing this represented millions of souls being rescued from an eternity in hell, I began to jump up and down in excitement.

I could see it. The harvest was plentiful. It’s ready…

As I raced toward the field with all my might, I was already thinking about printing tracts and missionaries going door-to-door to tell people about the Gospel proclaiming the Good News to everyone in sight! This is what I knew of bringing in the harvest.

But I was wrong!

I suddenly couldn’t go any further. Right in front of me was a river so wide and raging that I dared not step any closer or try to cross it. I had not seen it from where I was standing before.

My heart broke. Was I only going to look at the harvest but not be able to embrace it? I stood there weeping, feeling so helpless and full of despair.

All of a sudden there appeared before me a bridge reaching from one side of the vast river to the other. It was not a narrow bridge, but one that was very broad. It was completely filled with little children from all over Asia — poor, destitute children, like those I’d so often seen on the streets of Calcutta, Kathmandu, and other Asian cities.

Then, it was as though someone spoke to me and said, “If you want to have this harvest, it’s all yours. But this is the bridge you must cross to get it.”

(Excerpt from No Longer A Slumdog by K. P. Yohannan, © 2011 by K. P. Yohannan, GFA Books, pp. 89-90)

I believe the above vision given to K. P. Yohannan is a true prophetic word for all of Asia.

Today, I prayed:

Lord, I ask You to raise up many ministries who believe Yohannan’s vision is the bridge to the 4.4 billion people in Asia. I pray that each ministry interprets the vision as You lead them.

Join with me on Tuesdays to fast and pray for prisoners in Asia, according to Hebrews 13:3.

Why Asia?

1. 4.4 billion people live in Asia.

2.. 85.4% of world’s unevangelized people live in Asia. (Unevangelized means they may have heard the gospel but have no understanding on how to respond.)

3. The world’s three largest non-Christian religions – Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhists – are based in Asia.

4. Of the 37 countries of the world that are less than 10% Christian, 32 are in Asia. Of the 14 countries, that are less than 2% Christian, 12 are in Asia.

5. 85-90% of unreached people live in Asia. (Unreached means that they have never heard the name of Jesus.) (Operation World: The Definitive Prayer Guide to Every Nation)

 

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