Pray for Greece - Economy may Crash - Greek Orthodox Church

Week of April 27 - May 3, 2015

<< Also read prayer needs and update on European Initiative Balkans' in left column.


In the News: If Greece falls, no one wants their prints on the murder weapon

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - "We're going bust." "No, you're not." "You're strangling us." "No we're not." "You owe us for World War Two." "We gave already."

Europe's political leaders and central bankers and Greek politicians agree on only one thing: if Greece goes down, they don't want their fingerprints on the murder weapon.

"We are doing everything we can to save Greece from itself, but in the end, it's up to them," is the message pouring out of Berlin, Brussels and IMF headquarters in Washington.

[Greek Prime Minister Alexis] Tsipras revived demands for reparations for the Nazi German occupation of Greece in 1941-44, which his government put at 279 billion euros ($303.5 billion) - more than its 240 billion euro bailout from the euro zone and the International Monetary Fund.
Berlin responded that it had already compensated victims and a 1990 agreement with the four victorious World War Two powers on German unification had put an end to war claims.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been careful to express goodwill and tried to build a relationship of trust with Tsipras while insisting Greece must meet its lenders' reform conditions, which include fiercely resisted pension cuts and labor reforms
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Prayer Points:
1)    The Greek position is very weak in that it was agreed in the 1990 reunification of Germany that all reparations were canceled. Pray for Greece as it faces difficult decisions.
2)    Greece is in deep financial trouble due to mismanagement of state funds, for which it does not want to take ownership. The Greek government simply must take fiscal responsibility and make though decisions. Pray that Greece would accept the bitter medicine.
3)    The pill of humility is hard to swallow; pray for Greece to accept this reality. May the Lord help the Greeks to accept this reality.

The Greek Orthodox Church is important to the Greek people; their identity as a people rest upon this Church and its teachings. It is the national religion. To see a full revival in Greece you must ask the Lord to do one of two things, 1) bring a move of God in the Orthodox Church, or 2) the Greek people need to be convinced GOC is irrelevant to their current needs and a renewal of first century Christianity break out. The Greek Orthodox Church is deeply entrenched in tradition, gripped by a religious spirit, and a stiff-necked attitude. Their worship of the holy Fathers and the belief that their cathedrals are the manifestation of heaven on earth are just not resulting in changed lives.

The Orthodox Church  observes Easter and the fifty days that lead up to Pentecost. (You can google Bright Week or Orthodox Easter to learn more) The Western Catholic Church puts an importance on the 40 days before Easter (Lent), while the Eastern Orthodox put importance on the 50 days following Easter. The fifty days lead up to Pentecost. These days are filled with special rituals and meetings that do present the Gospel message. Interestingly, there is a day when the Holy Spirit is esteemed with great honor. Honoring the Holy Spirit is rarely seen among protestant denominations.

4)    Let us ask the Lord to use this time of Bright Week and the days leading up to Pentecost to break into the hearts of Greeks and Orthodox believers everywhere.
5)    Let us pray for angelic visitations to intervene as the priest conduct these traditional rituals.
6)    Lord Jesus, have mercy on the Orthodox Church and bind those religious spirits that would operate during these fifty days. Let Your Word come forth in authority as it is read. Lord, we know that Your Word does not return void.
7)    Most of all we want to see the Greek Orthodox Church (GOC) changed and come alive; Lord, release freedom. Let us pray that many Greeks would be filled with the Holy Spirit.

The Orthodox Church is steeped with the bondage of religion and is lifeless. Sometimes you have to just let the dead bury their dead and go follow life in another direction. However we pray that God would call forth the remnant from among them.

Let us pray for the second scenario, GOC becoming irrelevant. To many Greeks this has already happened, especially the younger generation. Simply, Lord, show them where to turn. Lord, show them you are not just an icon but rather You are there to comfort them in their times of need.

8)    May the Lord raise up ministries that will flow with the Holy Spirit to draw Greeks to true salvation.
9)    Let us pray for Greeks that will go hard after God. Jeremiah 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
10)    Let us pray for evangelist to reach the people of Greece. Lord, release those that will have a love for Greeks and a burden to see them come to know Jesus.

Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you Prayed.

Pray for Bulgaria

Week of March 4-10, 2013

Operation Capitals of Europe is an organization set up to hold prayer and intercessory events in the capital cities of Europe. They just completed a four day prayer event in Sophia, Bulgaria. Following is a report from that meeting.
OCE in Sofia 20-24 Feb. 2013

The most dramatic event occurred on the day of arrival into Sofia; the Government of Bulgaria resigned, after much turmoil in the country, which led to conflicts with the Police and bloodshed.

We perceived the timing of the event as the Voice of the Lord saying “this is the timing for a shift in government”, meaning, also in matters pertaining to the Body of Christ and its leaders. No wonder our host Pastor, Pavel Ignatov, had also resigned a few days earlier, from a position he has had as leader of many churches in Bulgaria. Further, on Sunday 24 Feb. the Orthodox Church of Bulgaria was scheduled to elect their new Patriarch!

When the event of the OCE in Sofia was decided a year earlier, we had had no knowledge, and none could predict, that it would be God’s timing for a major shift in the heavenly places, causing major shifts in positions of government on the earth. As Pastor Pavel Ignatov repeatedly said, that was a “a sign from God” that the Operation Capitals of Europe in Sofia was an event for which God sent His servants to perform His good will in Bulgaria.

We give thanks to the Lord for Philip Rashev who did all the hard work for the OCE in Sofia, and involved his Pastor Pavel Ignatov and their church. Thanks to them several Pastors attended. On the opening meeting 10 Bulgarian Pastors came to the platform to lead prayer for their country.

Philip also organized prayer for Sofia to be held on Mount Vitosha, overlooking the city. That memorable event was held on Saturday morning. Even though Vitosha was covered in snow, the Lord granted us good weather that day so we could reach the place where we could pray from.

We also prayed a lot for the foundations of the city. It's not a coincidence as the government did a lot of road and city building the recent years, they uncovered the foundations of the ancient city which was called Serdika. As the physical often is a reflection of the spiritual, we saw this as a sign. We prayed often Isaiah 62:1-6, praying for the new name and identity as God sees the city to come forth. We also prayed and declared Psalm 24 for the Government and in front of the main entrance door; that Jesus, the King of Glory may come in there!

The event was closed with a celebration lunch after Sunday church service in Sofia, before the OCE team and 3 Bulgarian friends drove off to Skopje.

An awesome testimony of God’s power released through the OCE in Sofia became known to us on Sunday 3 March, through a Bulgarian sister who has been praying for the salvation of her family. Two ladies in Bulgaria suddenly opened their hearts to Jesus and started praying and reading the Bible, as each one separately had a divine visitation on Friday 22 March. That was the 2nd day of our prayers in Sofia, and more specifically, the day we prayer-walked in the center of the city!
www.oceprayer.com

LET US PRAY:
1.    Thank You, Jesus, for moving OCE to have this prayer event at this critical time in Bulgaria’s history. Let us seal the prayers that were prayed in Sophia, asking the Lord to guard the spiritual stones that were set in place.
2.    Let us pray for those that gave of their time to go and pray. Lord, we ask You to guard them as they have returned to their homes and occupations. Protect them from the enemy who would now like to stir up doubt and insignificance.
3.    Lord, we thank You for encouraging the evangelical pastors in Bulgaria.
4.    An extra measure of dominion was granted by these acts of obedience. May they seize upon the open window in heaven and receive from the Lord His blessings for their country.

It is a time of trouble for Bulgaria. If you have time read the following link: http://www.pri.org/stories/politics-society/religion/bulgaria-chooses-new-religious-leader-with-complex-past-13086.html

There is no moral compass for the Bulgarian people. With the Bulgarian Orthodox church compromising with the communist government for many years and even now the people feel the church is compromising with the present corrupt government.

5.    Lord, the government is in disorder, so we pray for order and peace. Let us pray for men and women of peace to step into the void.
6.    Let us pray for revival in Bulgaria. There is emptiness in the hearts of Bulgarians and we know the Gospel is the solution.
7.    It is time for the Truth to be spoken to the Bulgarian people. Lord, let the Gospel go forth in the media. Lord, we pray for a reordering of the public news outlets. Lord, move your redeemed ones, those having a Christian worldview, into the media of Bulgaria.
8.    Let us pray for a move-of-God among the print and broadcast media of Bulgaria. Let us pray that many in the media would get saved.  May the intercessors of Bulgaria press forward on this media issue.
9.    Holy Spirit, come quickly on behalf of Bulgaria; The Lord’s wisdom is the solution for the confusion.

Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you Prayed.

Pray for Macedonia 7-2-2012

Pray for Macedonia 

Week of July 2-8,2012

 Acts 2:  38- 40 (NKJV) Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off —for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”

1)      I read these verses and knew I needed to pray for evangelist to be sent and raised up in Macedonia. Let us pray to the Lord for the ministry of evangelism.

2)      Pray for evangelism to not merely be taught in the Macedonian churches but that it would be acted upon. Street evangelism, mass evangelism, radio evangelism, internet evangelism, neighbor to neighbor, family to family may the Good News be proclaimed.

3)      May the Lord expose the sin of this “corrupt generation” and call many Macedonians unto salvation.

Luke 8: 11-15

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.  Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.  But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.  Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.  But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

4)      As the Good News goes forth and many are saved, may there be great celebrations when they are baptized.

5)      Lord, we ask that You protect the seeds. I can’t help but believe that as we fervently pray for the mission field, God causes the ground to be “good ground”.

6)      Lord, You know men’s hearts and how they will receive. May the Macedonian Christians enjoy sowing the seeds and watch as the Lord brings increase. 

7)      Holy Spirit, we cry out for Your fire to come and dwell in Your people in Macedonia. Some say Macedonia is the heart of the Balkans, may the heart catch on fire for Jesus.

In my research I am finding there are investments coming into Macedonia because they have created sound economic policies. The culture is modernizing.

8)      Modernization can have positive and negative effect.  Lord, we ask for Your protection of Macedonia. Lord, draw well-intended investors. Let us pray for Christian based businesses to invest.

9)      It is believed that the gray-market business in Macedonia is 40% of the economy, which can breed corruption. Lord, we pray for the exposure of those involved in dishonest trade.

10)  With a rate of 29% unemployment, let us pray for the Christians in Macedonia to be blessed with jobs.

11)  May the Christians bring their gifting to the market place. Lord, inspire them with inventions and successful methods of commerce.

12)  We pray also for Christians in the Macedonian government. Lord, open doors of influence.

Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you Prayed.

Pray for Montenegro

Week of April 23-29, 2012

When I begin to pray and meditate on Montenegro, I got the word Cronyism.

Cronyism defined - partiality given to long-standing friends, especially by appointing them to positions of authority, regardless of their qualifications.

1)      Let us pray against unmerited favor in Montenegrin government. How can the citizens have faith in their government when Cronyism is the standard.

2)      Lord, we ask You to expose all officials involved in this practice.

Second thing to pray about is the International Donors Conference scheduled for April 24^th in Sarajevo, Bosnia. This can have an impact on the Kosovo Gypsy Refugees trapped in under-furnished camps in Montenegro. The Montenegrin government has a plan to build housing for these refugees but they need funding. (Prayer for these gypsies has been included in past “Praying for the Balkans, Project” directives) Source: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/montenegro-needs-donors-for-roma-refugees

3)      Lord, only You know, but this International Donors Conference may be an answer to our past prayers. Thank You, Lord.

4)      Thank You, Lord, for the plan and the men and women that took part in the development. May they see the Lord guiding their hands.

5)      Let us ask for a holistic approach to this refugee problem. Holistic in the fact that the people’s souls are ministered to and they are treated as individuals and not just a needy group. Lord, we just ask for an open door for Christians to supply spiritual healing.

6)      Lord, we pray for anointed saints to be burdened for these refugees. Lord, is this an open door similar to what the Apostle Paul had: 1 Cor. 16: 8-9 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost.  For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

7)      There is a Christian mission group that has been ministering in these camps – Eurovangelism (www.eurovangelism.org.uk). Lord, we pray they would be awarded with more anointing and finances to continue their work.

I also heard in my spirit that Montenegro needs intercessors.

8)      Lord, we ask that You put Montenegro on the hearts of the intercessors. May the bowls before God’s throne be filled with incense of prayers for Montenegro.

9)      Let us pray that the Holy Spirit would be released in Montenegro to draw men unto Jesus.

10)   Let us pray for Montenegrin Christians that will follow Jesus no matter what. Pastors, teachers, evangelist, etc. that love Jesus with all their heart.

1 Cor. 2:9  - But as it is written:  “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you Prayed.

Pray for Serbia

Serbia is being hit hard by the present cold-snap in Europe. This cold weather and the many feet of snow has caused really bad conditions in Serbia. Twelve have died in Serbia from the cold. The Ibar river that runs through Kraljevo is frozen over. There is fear of flooding because of the thickness of the ice. It looks like they will have to use dynamite to break it up.


1) Let us pray for those suffering from this extreme cold weather in Serbia. Those that were not prepared with heating fuel may they find the fuel they need.

2) Let us pray for the churches; may the Lord bless them with an abundance of wood and coal so they may give to those in need. Because of the weather it is hard to transport this fuel in now, so let us pray for the multiplication of what they have.

Sandjak is an area of Southwest Serbia that is predominately Muslim. The area was established as a province in the Ottoman Empire over four hundred years ago. Part of the old Sandjak province is in Montenegro. As the Ottoman Empire collapsed, this area remained Muslim.

There are no known evangelical churches in Sandjak. There are some scattered Christians in the area but they are separated and have to travel out of the area for fellowship.

Beautiful, Special and Spiritually deprived is the Sandjak area of Serbia. For a view of Sandjak see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1O8Xn5O2e8&feature=player_embedded also Read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand%C5%BEak

3) Lord, we pray for Your grace to be extended to the Sandjak area.

4) Lord, we believe that as we pray, You will send ministering spirits (angels) to prepare a way for the Gospel to be preached and lived out before the people.

5) Lord, for Your remnant that is there, give them hope. May they hear a good word from afar that You are coming to fulfill their hope.

6) Let us pray for Christians outside Sandjak to hear of the needs there and be moved by the Holy Spirit to get involved. Lord, raise up Christian based support for Sandjak.

7) Even now, Lord, put plans in motion for outreach in Sandjak this summer.

8) Let us pray that there would not be another generation of Sandjak children raised up without hearing the true Gospel.

I feel the Lord led me to the following verses to read and meditate on for insight of how to pray further for the Sandjak area of Serbia. There may be curses there that are holding back the people from being able to prepare themselves for the Lord’s visitation.

Ezekiel 23:39-41 (NKJV)
39) For after they had slain their children for their idols, on the same day they came into My sanctuary to profane it; and indeed thus they have done in the midst of My house.
40) “Furthermore you sent for men to come from afar, to whom a messenger was sent; and there they came. And you washed yourself for them, painted your eyes, and adorned yourself with ornaments. 41) You sat on a stately couch, with a table prepared before it, on which you had set My incense and My oil.

Please leave a Comment or Reaction so we will know you prayed.

Pray for Croatia

Croatia is nationalistically a Roman Catholic country. The Catholic Church has to be credited for providing a representation and visual presence of Christianity in the Croatian culture throughout the centuries. Although the atheist in the country discount the influence of the Catholic Church the fact is they still speak for a lot of Croatians.

Let us use the Cardinal’s Christmas message and the statements of senior state officials to guide our prayers for Croatia.

Christmas celebrated throughout Croatia

25. December 2011. | 18:29    

Christian believers adhering to the Gregorian calendar were celebrating Christmas throughout Croatia on Sunday to mark the birth of Jesus Christ.

The Archbishop of Zagreb, Cardinal Josip Bozanic, led Christmas Eve Mass in St Stephen's Cathedral in Zagreb on Saturday, telling the congregation to enjoy the nearness of God and not to be afraid.

"Our hearts are now illuminated by the Holy Spirit and we should not be afraid," the archbishop said. He invited the faithful to open themselves up to God because "God's love is among us."

"The history of humanity is in God's hands, or more precisely, in the very heart of God, even though sometimes it seems that it is run by the power-wielders of this world," Bozanic said.

Bozanic also led Christmas Day Mass in the Zagreb Cathedral, which was attended by senior state officials, including President Ivo Josipovic, Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic and Parliament Speaker Boris Sprem.

Addressing reporters after the Mass, all three officials extended their best wishes for Christmas.

"These were messages of peace and unity. That is what we will need in Croatia, to respect ourselves and others, and have others respect us, to be together in these difficult times," Prime Minister Milanovic said. 

1)      Let us pray as the archbishop said, that hearts would be illuminated by the Holy Spirit and Croatians would not be afraid. Because of the economic situation, young adults are not sure of their future. Those that have saved for their security in their later days, now see that slipping away. Lord, may You take the fear away.

2)      The archbishop is trying to comfort the Croatian people by reinforcing the fact that the future is in God’s hands. He is making a statement to bring comfort. History shows that we are in God’s hands and He guards our destiny, not the “power-wielders of this world”. Lord, we recognize You have Croatia and its people in Your hands.

3)      Let us pray for a realignment of Trust in Croatia. May the Croatian people learn to trust in the Lord.

4)      So many in Croatia still look to the Catholic Church for hope. As evangelicals we tend to only see fault in the Catholic Church. So Lord, help us to pray for the Croatian Catholic priest and the archbishop, Cardinal Josip Bozanic. Lord, help them to minister Your heart to the people. Lord, use them for Your glory in the positions of leadership they have.

5)      The archbishop refers to the fact that the country is not only in God’s hands but in His heart. Let us pray that the Croatian people would truly be comforted by God’s heart. (I believe we can make a point of contact here. As we pray for Croatia, God will/is turning His heart to the people.)

6)      Prime Minister Milanovic, in his comments spoke of the need for peace and unity. He referred to the fact that peace and unity comes through respect; “…to respect ourselves and others, and have others respect us, to be together in these difficult times," Let us pray into what the PM has spoken here. Lord, let there be a return to honor. Let this start in the government. May the government officials respect the wishes of the people, may the people respect government officials as men and women positioned by God to keep peace.

The following verses are hard to swallow, especially when seeing corruption in our governments, but God promises peace.

Romans 13:1-7  Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

I want to pull up two prayers we prayed this past October.

7)      Lord, You can make Croatia a blessing for Europe. Lord, may grace be poured out through all the institutions in the land. We pray that promotions would come to the Christians in the workplace.

8)      …pray for men and women of vision to also come forth this winter. Lord, bring out Your chosen ones. Open their eyes to see Your plan for Croatia. Release courage and assurance of their calling. Let them speak with authority to the demons that stand against the Lord’s plan.