Week of June 2-8, 2014

In the News: Muslims pray to turn Turkey's greatest monument back into a mosque

(Reuters) - It has served as the exalted seat of two faiths since its vast dome and lustrous gold mosaics first levitated above Istanbul in the 6th Century: Christendom's greatest cathedral for 900 years and one of Islam's greatest mosques for another 500.

Today, the Hagia Sophia, or Ayasofya in Turkish, is officially a museum: Turkey's most-visited monument, whose formally neutral status symbolizes the secular nature of the modern Turkish state.

But tens of thousands of Muslim worshippers gathering there on Saturday hope it will again be a mosque, a dream they believe Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan can fulfill.

There are even rumors - denied by the government - that Erdogan, a religious conservative who is seeking the presidency at an election in August, could lead prayers there one day soon.

"This is a serious push to break Ayasofya's chains," said Salih Turan, head of the Anatolia Youth Association, which has collected 15 million signatures to petition for it to be turned back into a mosque.

If you love history, this is definitely an excellent read; it sheds light on the influence of two religions of Turkey’s past and presence. As intercessors, we often look into history for the roots of sin or the beginnings of blessing so we will know how to pray for a nation or region. As we work toward transformation of Turkey, this story can give insight to their spiritual past. It is evident that spiritual conflict is brewing and the invitation from heaven is spiritual warfare.

Prayer Points:
1)    The Lord chose Turkey (Asia Minor) to pour out the Holy Spirit in the first centuries (the seven churches of Revelations).  Let us ask the Lord to show forth His glory there once again.
2)    With Turkey being 97% Muslim, the task is great. Let us not limit God but pray for doors to open for the Gospel to be heard across Turkey.
3)    Let us pray for the many efforts being made to reach Turkey through the radio and Internet. May the Lord even raise up more media evangelist.
4)    Lord, we pray that the Turkish Christians would be encouraged in the midst of the culture they live in. Give them power in the Holy Spirit to press through the oppression around them.
5)    For the last six or more years, there has been houses of prayer raised up across Turkey. God has a remnant in Turkey calling upon His name daily. May they encounter heaven as they do spiritual warfare over Turkey.
6)    Many Christians have been persecuted upon the soil of Turkey and the wrath of God is their due judgment. Let us ask the Lord for mercy to be extended so we as the Church may have more time to proclaim the Gospel.
7)    Let us pray that all efforts of evangelism to Turkey will be doubled, even tripled.

John 3: 20-22 (NKJV) “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches,”

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Week of April 29 - May 5, 2013

 

What is the largest city in Europe?  - lubnatsI

Istanbul, with an estimated population of 14 million, it is the second largest city in the world after Shanghai, China.

First established 660 BC as Byzantium, the city now known as Istanbul developed to become one of the most significant cities in history. For nearly sixteen centuries following its reestablishment as Constantinople in 330 AD, it served as the capital of four empires: the Roman Empire (330–395), the Byzantine Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire (1204–1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922). It was instrumental in the advancement of Christianity during Roman and Byzantine times, before the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453 and transformed it into an Islamic stronghold and the seat of the last caliphate.

The Roman emperor Constantine in 330 established Istanbul (Constantinople) as the new Christian Rome. The historians debate his motives, but the result was a place where Christianity had a foothold and a major city to be launched from. In 1453, Sultan Mahmed II finally captured the city for the Ottoman Empire and it has been an Islamic ever since.

A Great City well worthy of our Prayers –

1)      Let us pray for Istanbul. May the Lord visit the city in a special way. Lord, come release your compassion on this city.

2)      Churches are allowed to exist in the city but it had for them the get established. There is much resistance from the predominant Muslim neighborhoods and magistrates. Let us pray for open doors and open hearts.

3)      There are houses of prayer in the city and they are contending in prayer for the city. Let us first pray for them to have an open heaven to intercede from.

4)      May there be a release of creative strategies to reach many in the city with the Gospel.

5)      Lord, we ask You for protection on behalf of every Christian in Istanbul.

6)      Lord, we pray for the positioning of Christians to be lights among their Muslim neighbors. May they excel in wisdom, kindness and favor. Help them be able to walk above the oppression of Islam that is now allowed to dominate the city.

7)      Let us believe for a day when the city can once again be established as stronghold of the Gospel. Let us believe for a day when Muslims find their true redeemer.

8)      Let us pray for many missionaries to be sent to Istanbul. There is a new generation of missionaries being raised up to preach the end-time message to the world; may they find an open door to Istanbul.

9)      Let me describe a mental vision I received while praying the directive I had written above. I seen the Lord standing above Istanbul with His feet resting on the city. I looked and He had His hands stretched out in a welcoming jester. Then I looked again and He had a sword held at His side. I ask what did this mean? The Holy Spirit  said the Lord would stand above the city and He would be seen by two types of people. Some would see him as a welcoming friend and loving Savior. Some would see Him as a conquering warrior, a man of authority. Both would receive Him as Savior.; both would enter into His peace.



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

Pray for Turkey

Asia Minor (Turkey) was once the center of Christianity. From the church in Antioch, mission outreaches went north into Asia Minor and had great success proclaiming Jesus to the Greek and pagan idol worships. Then starting in the 11^th century the Seljuk Turks from Central Asia begin to move in through conquest. They had embraced Islam so they slowly drove the Christian culture out, usually at the point of a sword. There was a backlash from European Nobles and the organized church. They sent forth the Crusades with the main objective of recapturing the Holy Land. The Crusades were defeated and the final conquest was marked by the fall of Constantinople (modern Istanbul) in 1453. This was a massive blow to Christendom, and the Ottoman Turks thereafter were free to advance into Europe without an adversary to their rear. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_of_Constantinople

 

Now in the modern age, Turkey is a solid 99% Islamic nation. Having a population of 75 million people, Turkey has an estimated 100,000 Christians and only about 7,000 are evangelical.  

  

   1)       Let us pray for this vast amount of people that do not know Jesus as savior.

  2)      There is a serious concerted effort of intercessory groups praying for Turkey. Lord, we ask that You encourage them daily with direction, favor and most of all Your presence. Show these dedicated intercessors Your plans for Turkey. Help them to raise up Houses of Prayer in the vital cities and ports of entry. Lord, we ask that these houses of prayer have an open heaven where revelation flows freely.

  3)     Let us pray for the Christian tent-maker, marketplace ministers the Lord has sent to Turkey. Open the market place positions where they can apply Biblical solutions to business problems.

  4)      As technology spreads out across Turkey may many Turks login to Gospel Internet sites.

  5)      Let us pray that the Gospel will be broadcast louder than Western humanism over radio, television and the internet.

  6)      Lord, raise up evangelist that have a burning heart for the Turkish people. Open the doors into the cities for these evangelist to proclaim the Gospel.

  7)      Let us pray for Turkish Facebook evangelist, keyboard evangelist with zeal to reach Turkey.

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

Pray for Turkey
Week of May 21-27,2012

In the Early Church, they first sent missionaries to Asia Minor (Turkey). Turkey was evangelized to the point that a third of the great city, Ephesus, was Christian. From Turkey missionaries went out to all the world. Then in the 14^th and 15^th centuries the Muslim hoards came, conquered Turkey and forced many to convert to Islam. Then the Turks, through the Ottoman Empire, expanded their economic base and their zeal for Islam toward the west and thereby dominated the Balkans for the next 500 years. Turkey has been a land where great movements have been launched.

Although we don’t have the actual numbers, Turkey in the 2^nd and 3^rd centuries was 33% Christian and by the 5^th Century near 100% culturally Christian. Now there is around 0.2% Christians and that includes all Christian denominations. Also it is 100% culturally Islam.

1.       Oh, Lord, what can we do? How can we proclaim Your freedom in Turkey? How did the former saints loose the land, How can it be regained?

2.       Lord, we know Your judgments are serious and Your plans are beyond our ability to figure out, but we will cry out for Your mercy. We just simply ask You to lift Your judgment.

3.       Let us pray for the seeds planted by the Early Church. May they come forth once again and grow in Turkey.

4.       The report is that the evangelicals that are in Turkey are strong in their faith. We first ask You, Lord, for their protection. Next we ask for their encouragement. Lord, we pray that Your presence will be with them daily; Divine guidance.

A great number of youth in Turkey and the Muslim world are getting tired of the “don’ts” of the Muslin culture. Through the internet and their cell phones they are finding out that other teenagers are living life to the fullest.

5.       This is good and this is bad. We know materialism is deceptive and following secular pop-stars is also. Let us pray that they would hear of the greatest star of all, Lord Jesus.

6.       Thank You, Lord, for the dreams and visions You are giving many Muslims. The Muslim understands the dream language, so Lord we ask that You continue to speak to them in the night.

7.       Let us pray for intercessors that will develop a discipline to pray for Turkey.

8.       Let us pray for more Turkish speaking evangelist that will go.

9.       Lord, send out Turkish ministers on radio, television and the internet. Lord, we ask for invasion.

Pray for Turkey

The Selimiye Mosque is an Ottoman mosque in the city of Edirne, Turkey. The mosque was commissioned by Sultan Selim II and was built by architect Mimar Sinan between 1568 and 1574. It was considered by Sinan to be his masterpiece and is one of the highest achievements of Islamic architecture. The four minarets are the tallest in Turkey.

Edirne’s site and turbulent history were determined by its strategic position on the main route from Asia Minor to the Balkans. After a long and varied career, including being conquered by Constantine in 328 AD, the city was captured by Sultan Murat I in 1362 and served as the capital of the Ottoman empire between 1365 and 1453.

Of Edirne's Christian heritage, there remains two Bulgarian Orthodox churches: Saint George (dating to 1880) and Saints Constantine and Helena (built in 1869).

I felt compelled to pray for this city on the western edge on European Turkey. I searched the Internet for about two hours and could find no mention of an evangelical church in Edirne, Turkey. Present population, 142,000.

1) Let us pray for Edirne (e-DEER-neh):
a. I know the Lord always has a remnant. Lord, we lift up Your likely hidden saints in Edirne. Send someone full of the Holy Spirit to visit them and encourage them.
b. Lord let Your Word be preached, mercy extended and the people of Edirne be given the chance to repent.
c. Let the Christians find each other and unite in a Bible study or Prayer group.
d. Lord, light a fire in Christians of Edirne. I am thinking of the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, fire fell on them and 3,000 was saved.
e. Lord, You can move through those Bulgarian Orthodox Churches. A priest, full of the Holy Spirit could lead many to You, Lord.

Missionary activities are still considered a national threat despite the existence of Turkish laws guaranteeing citizens the freedom to propagate their faith. Non-Muslim children are victims of discrimination at school. http://www.centrepointnews.com/?p=12097

2) Over the past few years the Lord has raised up some Houses of Prayer in Turkey. Thank You, Lord, for these houses of prayer. As they stand in the gap, we pray You give them breakthrough over demonic spirits in all their regions.

3) Lord, we ask for divine protection over the Christian children in the schools. May they be students that excel in academics and temperament; causing teachers and administrators to take notice.
4) We thank the Lord for Christian television and radio in the Turkish language. May the Lord bless all efforts to broadcast the Gospel into Turkey.

5) Let us pray for Turkish Internet Gospel ministries to be raised up to reach those Turks searching the Internet.

6) Let us pray for the Christians in Turkey. My they be able to live peaceful lives in the mist of Islam’s lies. Lord show them how to be examples of Your good works to their neighbors.

The following is a report from ASLAN International, a ministry reaching out to the poor of Turkey.

God loves Turkey so much that He is sending labors to distribute His Word. Over half a million (500,000) Turkish New Testaments have been distributed! Turkish believers have been trained, and sent out to do evangelism! Four (4) NT book companies have been started! We’ve been arrested, and harassed over 55 times. We’ve done open-air preaching, endured many threats. (2 Cor. 3:5) The Gospel has been preached, and red Turkish NTs have been distributed in Ankara, Istanbul, Diyarbakir, Izmir, Antalya, Adana, Sivas, Samsun, Erzurum, Elazig, Mersin, Eskisehir, Bursa, Gaziantep, Van, etc. all over this nation.
Read More at www.aslanintl.org

7) Let us pray for ASLAN International ministry. Pray for these dear labors that are living on the edge. Although they are rebuked, spit upon, cursed, and imprisoned, may they have strength within their minds and bodies to continue.
Ro. 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
8) Lord, thank You for the great favor You give them with the people. We pray they also have favor with those in authority.
9) Lord, we pray that signs and wonders would follow them as they boldly go where You lead them to reach the lost and deceived.

They call us the persecuted church of Turkey. And yet, we're the happy church. The reason we're happy is not just because of all the persecution we've been through. We're happy because we're confident in God's love for us, just like His love for YOU. He never lets go, never, ever. (Another report from ASLAN)
10) Satan cannot compete with the joy God gives His servants. Let us pray that the Joy of the Lord would rest upon His servants in Turkey.

Some may ask why we pray for Turkey. Although only 7% of Turkey is on the European side of the Bosporus, that part is still part of the Balkans. Plus you cannot deny the influence Turkey has had on the Balkans. Read more about Turkey, especially the history at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey

Please leave a comment or reaction so we will know you prayed.

Pray for Turkey

* Please leave a comment or reaction at the end of this article.*

God loves Turkey so much that He is sending labors to distribute His Word.

“God, we honor You for all that You’ve done!” Over half a million (500,000) Turkish New Testaments have been distributed! Turkish believers have been trained, and sent out to do evangelism! Four (4) NT book companies have been started! We’ve been arrested, and harassed over 55 times. We’ve done open-air preaching, endured many threats. (2 Cor. 3:5) The Gospel has been preached, and red Turkish NTs have been distributed in Ankara, Istanbul, Diyarbakir, Izmir, Antalya, Adana, Sivas, Samsun, Erzurum, Elazig, Mersin, Eskisehir, Bursa, Gaziantep, Van, etc. all over this nation. (This is a report from ASLAN International, a ministry reaching out to the poor of Turkey. Read More at http://www.aslanintl.org/)

1) Let us pray for ASLAN International ministry. Pray for these dear labors that are living on the edge. Although they are rebuked, spit upon, cursed, and imprisoned, may they have strength within their minds and bodies to continue.
Ro. 8: 18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
2) Lord, thank You for the great favor You give them with the people. We pray they also have favor with those in authority.
3) Lord, we pray that signs and wonders would follow them as they boldly go where You lead them to reach the lost and deceived.

They call us the persecuted church of Turkey. And yet, we're the happy church. The reason we're happy is not just because of all the persecution we've been through. We're happy because we're confident in God's love for us, just like His love for YOU. He never lets go, never, ever. (Another report from ASLAN)

4) Satan cannot compete with the joy God gives His servants. Let us pray that the Joy of the Lord would rest upon His servants in Turkey.
5) We remember how the Soviet Union’s anti-Christian policies quickly fell; Let us ask the Lord to do the same in Turkey and throughout the Muslim lands.
a. Lord, we ask that the hearts of the Turkish people be soften
b. Lord, we pray that the present trend in government against freedom of worship would be changed and wise leaders be raised up
c. We pray that new churches be allowed to open and freely worship
6) Let us pray for the houses-of-prayer in Turkey. Lord, protect them from the enemy. Let Your glory fall in their meetings. May there continually be an open heaven above them with the Holy Spirit hovering.
7) Lord, we pray for all that attend these houses-of-prayer. May they meet with You intimately and be changed to Your likeness. Birth within them vision and the burdens of ministry You have designed for their lives.
8) Let us pray for the families of Turkey. We can be thankful that there are less divorcés in Muslim countries, but the enemy has other destructive forces at work. We pray that the father’s hearts would be softened toward their wives, sons and daughters.

Pray for Turkey

Although Turkey has a secular constitution that offers religious freedom, that is not actually the case. I say “offers” because it is not enforced. Overwhelming favor is always shown to Islam. Turkey officials boast about quickly arresting those that attack other religions, but for some reason they never go to court. Radical Islam has been disfavored In Turkey in the past, but it is gaining acceptance, especially since 9-11. Most likely the man on the street does not know what religious freedom really means. To him not being Muslim is just not being Turkish.

1) Let us pray for the people in Turkey that they would strive to be Turks and realize that is separate from Islam. It is a good thing to be a Turk with a distinct history (good and bad).
2) Although peoples’ hearts are won on a one to one level or family level, Let us pray for the government to stand by their freedom of religion laws.
3) Let us pray that Turks would know that freedom of conscience is a fundamental human right.
4) Let us pray that Turks would hear the real Christian message of how Jesus went forth doing good not encouraging crusades. Jesus never converted others at the point of a sword.
5) Lord, we ask You to confuse the enemy and bring disunity and adherence to radical Islam. As a culture Muslims may be peaceful but radical Islam is a criminal mind set.

6) Let us pray for the Christians in Turkey. My they be able to live peaceful lives in the mist of Islam’s lies.
7) Lord show them how to be examples of Your good works to their neighbors.
8) Lord we pray for the Houses of Prayer that are popping up in Turkey. Lord, this is Your wisdom at work to impact a culture. Houses of Prayer not only create a center for prayer warfare but they help mature the Christians so they can plan strategies for building the Kingdom.
9) Lord, we pray for protection for those missionaries that You have sent into Turkey. May they teach the Turkish Christians the joy of serving You.

Acts 14: 1-3 Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

10) Lord, we ask that signs and wonders would be performed at the hands of Turkish believers as they speak boldly in Your name.

Extra reading: http://www.austindailyherald.com/news/2010/jul/05/true-religious-freedom-not-be-found-turkey/ , http://article.nationalreview.com/437766/turkey-christians-in-danger/john-f-cullinan, http://www.wnponline.org/wnp/wnp1005/turkey-crossroads.htm, http://www.two-fot.org/ Also read the book of Acts to see how the people in Turkey (Asia Minor) quickly received the Gospel from the disciples.

We want to know how you feel about this Blogspot, so please use the comments link below. If you have information about any of the other Balkan countries please share them also by commenting. Thanks for sharing a burden for the Balkan countries. There is a continual testimony throughout Christian history of revivals and before they broke out intercessory prayer went first. There are different theologies on this matter, but prayer moves the hand of God. Know that your prayers are not in vane; God will have mercy on the Balkan people. Someday you will see God's glory there and you will be able to say, "I prayed for that".

- Jerry Low, Editor and Webmaster

URL: http://www.freebalkans.com
Email: djerilo@yahoo.com