Religious Liberty Prayer List – No. 148 – Wed 19 Dec 2001

(Please note that RLP 149 will appear in early January, or sooner if an urgent prayer alert is needed.)

—————————————- CHRISTMAS 2001: THE GIFT WE CAN GIVE GOD —————————————-

This Christmas, multitudes of our very own brothers and sisters will be celebrating the birth of our Saviour: secretly, for fear of secret police, anti-Christian militants or vigilantes; in poverty, due to crippling systematic discrimination or war; with grief in their hearts, as they celebrate without loved ones who have been imprisoned, exiled, enslaved or murdered as believers and followers of Jesus. Many of our brothers and sisters will barely be aware of Christmas as they struggle to survive in hostile environments, fleeing from jihad militias, living under aerial bombardment, or lost in the total isolation of a solitary confinement cell.

Also this Christmas, multitudes of men, women and children will die without Christ as Saviour, having never heard his name because they lack religious freedom in their land. Millions of people around the world are living in emptiness, their hungry souls craving the very things Jesus came that first Christmas to bring – a personal relationship with the Creator, forgiveness of sins and assurance of salvation.

This Jesus whose birth we are celebrating is the same Jesus who lives and reigns today in glory and power. So we can encourage those who are persecuted for their faith that his promises are forever: ‘He will proclaim justice to the nations…A bruised reed he will not break, a smouldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory.’ (Is 42:1-4; Matt 12:15-18).

He came to ‘proclaim freedom for the prisoners… to release the oppressed…’ (Is 61:1,2; Luke 4:16-21). He came to die and rise again, ‘to swallow up death forever’ (Is 25:8; 1 Cor 15:54). When Jesus returned to heaven he sent his Spirit to be a teacher and counsellor and to empower and equip us to continue God’s mission and he promises, ‘I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ (Matt 27:20b).

‘Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.’ (1 Cor 15:58).

‘I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Saviour who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.’ (1 Tim 2:1-4)

In Revelation we read that our prayers are as incense, stored and treasured in heaven, presented by angels as fragrant offerings to God (Rev 5:8; 8:3,4). This Christmas as we celebrate the event that makes the salvation of the nations possible let’s offer a wonderful gift back to God and to our suffering brothers and sisters, the gift of our intercessory prayers.

‘Jesus wept.’ (John 11:39) ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ (Jesus at the judgement – Matt 25:40)

SET ASIDE TIME OVER CHRISTMAS TO PRAY FOR:

* all believers worldwide, men, women and children, who will not celebrate Christmas in freedom and peace with family, friends, food and singing, but in quiet fear, poverty and grief. Pray that God by his Spirit will bless them with peace and joy.

* peace and safety for all believers who meet to worship amidst war, Communist and dictatorial oppression or rising Hindu, Buddhist or Islamic nationalism and fervour.

* the rulers and authorities of this world, that God will reveal himself to them, touching their hearts with the Spirit of truth, in power and with conviction.

For specific prayer on Christmas Day, look over some of the year’s RLPs and choose names such as (1) a persecuted, imprisoned believer and their family; (2) an oppressive dictatorial anti-Christian leader; (3) a war-torn or jihad-ravaged or oppressed nation or region. http://www.evangelicalalliance.org.au/missions/rlc/postings.htm

– Elizabeth Kendal

SUMMARY TO USE IN BULLETINS UNABLE TO RUN THE WHOLE ARTICLE: ——————————————————————- THE GIFT WE CAN GIVE GOD AT CHRISTMAS 2001

Millions of believers will once again meet to worship and celebrate Christmas in fear of secret police, militants and vigilantes, in poverty caused by war or systematic discrimination, or grieving the absence of loved ones who are exiled, imprisoned or murdered. Every year, dictators or anti-Christian ideologues suppress Christian expression, punishing believers and preventing the lost from even hearing about the Saviour whose birth we celebrate. Revelation 5:8 & 8:3,4 says that our prayers are treasured in heaven, presented by angels as fragrant offerings to God. This Christmas, let’s offer a great gift back to God and to our suffering brothers and sisters, the gift of our intercessory prayers. Look over some of the year’s RLPs and choose people and places for specific prayer on Christmas Day. http://www.evangelicalalliance.org.au/missions/rlc/postings.htm

—————————————————- Please pass this along to others with attribution to World Evangelical Fellowship (WEF) Religious Liberty Prayer List <> —————————————————-

The WEF Religious Liberty Commission sponsors this RL Prayer List to help individuals and groups pray specifically and regularly for religious liberty issues, and in particular to uphold the Church where it is suffering persecution.