Day 5

ABANDONED DEVOTION:

Creative Praise:

In response to the following Scripture, sing a song of praise to Jesus, draw Him a picture, or write Him a poem.  

“Praise Jesus that by Him all things were created, that He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together… in everything he has the supremacy. God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things.” (Colossians 1:16-20)

3-Stage Bible Study:  Read the Q—Analyze the Verse—Write Your Response

God speaks to you through many ways.  What have you heard God say to you through nature?[i]

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.  Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night rev4eals knowledge.” (Psalm 19:1-2)

Prayer Journal Questions: Listen to the Lord as you meditate on the following verses. 

What are sins that God is showing you that need to be confessed in your life and in your generation? 

“And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.” (Acts 19:18)

What are ways you can pray for and pursue revival on your campus?

“You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.” (Acts 7:51)

GLOBAL PROCLAMATION:

Forgotten People Group: The Omani Arab of Djibouti

The Omani Arab represent eleven percent of Djibouti's total population of nearly 600,000. It is believed that they immigrated to Djibouti from Oman during the nineteenth century. The Omani are set apart from other peoples in Djibouti by their unique use of the Arabic language and by their culture. They have a reputation for being excessively generous and polite, while still remaining impersonal.

Djibouti, a tiny republic situated on the east coast of Africa, is sometimes referred to as "a valley of hell" because it has one of the hottest, driest climates in the world. From May to October, temperatures reach 107F, and the annual rainfall is less than five inches. Djibouti is an impoverished nation with almost no natural resources. The land is desolate, vegetation is scarce, and almost all consumer goods must be imported. In addition, Djibouti has been adversely affected by regional tensions between the neighboring countries of Somalia and Ethiopia.

What are their beliefs?
Most of the people living in Djibouti, including the Omani, are Sunni Muslims who practice a moderate form of Islam. They adhere to the five "pillars" of Islam. These include reciting prayers five times a day while facing Mecca, observing the prescribed fasts, giving alms to the poor, and making at least one pilgrimage to Mecca.

The Omani standard is to accept others on their terms. For example, they view anything less than excessive generosity as rudeness. Even Christians are tolerated as long as they are not Muslim converts.

What are their needs?
There are only 70 known Omani Arab Christians in Djibouti. Presently, there are no missions agencies working among them. Prayer is the key to penetrating these precious people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Prayer Points

• Pray that the Lord will send forth many laborers into the harvest fields of Djibouti.
• Ask God to give the 70 known Omani believers living in Djibouti opportunities to share the Gospel with their own people.
• Pray that the Holy Spirit will anoint the Gospel as it goes forth via radio among the Omani Arab.
• Ask God to soften the hearts of the Omani Arab to the Gospel as it is presented to them.
• Pray that the Lord will reveal Himself to these precious people through dreams and visions.
• Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Omani Arab bound.
• Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through intercession.

Promise from Scripture:

“Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all…” Romans 4:16

Generational Barrier:

Embracing Sacrifice – Cross-cultural ministry requires sacrifice. This sacrifice comes in all kinds of forms. To see the most forgotten peoples of the earth given the opportunity to be brought to Christ will require a people who embrace hardship, adversity and sacrifice. Often the message of sacrifice is drowned out today, yet God’s heart is that we embrace the sufferings of this world and identify with Christ and His sufferings on the cross. Is Jesus’ love being demonstrated with power among the unreached worth it? May we give ourselves to cultivating a heart today that begins to embrace sacrifice and not shun it (Philippians 3:10; Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 4:12,13)

Prayer Journaling Response:

Take a few moments to record thoughts, prayers, and any insight. Also, it is often helpful to record how the Lord led in prayer – Scriptures, mental pictures, or a word or thought. Practice not only praying but also listening to the Lord. As we understand how the Lord is leading us, we can more quickly tune into the Lord’s voice when we have major decisions facing us or in times when the Lord feels far from us.