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
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

The reports are encouraging from Turkey that many are coming to Jesus. There is an invasion into the Muslim world and Turkey is a gateway.

1) Lord, first we lift up the brothers and sisters that have committed their lives “even unto death” to share You with others.
a. Let us pray for their protection, not only from the authorities but their families that have rejected them because they want to follow Jesus.
b. Lord, bless them as they have to have to leave their families for the sake of the Kingdom. They are truly worthy of much grace.
c. Matthew 10:37
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. This is a hard verse, but let us pray for those that have to stand on this verse, may they have strength not to shrink back.

2) Lord protect those called to pass out New Testaments in the market places of Turkey.
a. Lord, we ask that angels would ride upon these New Testaments and direct them to the hearts that the Holy Spirit has softened.
b. Lord, protect these NTs from the eyes of devious Muslim zealots.

3) Thank You Lord for the prayer-houses that have been raised up in Turkey. Let Your power fall in their mist. Give them an open heaven in their dark surroundings.

4) Lord, we ask for the elevation of dedicated Christians to positions of responsibilities in institutions all over Turkey. We are asking for godly wisdom that sets in order secular systems. May these saints be found irreplaceable and honor will be given them.

5) Let us pray for the missionaries that the Lord has sent to Turkey. May they not be discouraged but that there would be a miracle for them every day. May their vision be sharpened. Lord, we pray for their supporters; May they be blessed and be assured they are part of Your fulfillments.

Please leave a comment or reaction to let us know you prayed, Thanks.

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.