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 the Lord as David did. “‘He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.’ Our God delivers us and rescues us from the enemy.” (2 Samuel 22:17-18)
3-Stage Bible Study: Read the Q—Analyze the Verse—Write Your Response
List the four things you can do when God shuts up heaven to you.[i]
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
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?
“He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13)
What are ways you can pray for and pursue revival on your campus?
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
GLOBAL PROCLAMATION:
Forgotten People Group: The Bengali of India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand
The Bengali are considered to be the original inhabitants of the Bengal region of southwest Asia. This territory is divided politically between Bangladesh and West Bengal, a state in India. Bengali is the native language spoken by most of the groups in this region. While the vast majority of Bengalis live in Bangladesh and northeast India, there are significant communities in a number of other countries and other parts of India as well.
What are their beliefs?
The majority of Bengalis are Muslims (60%), while the rest are Hindu or Hinduized animists. The 95 million Bengali of Bangladesh are the largest group and are 99.9% Mulsim. In Islam, recruitment of clergy is voluntary. Any man who has a desire to study the Qur'an may do so. Then, he may eventually become the mullah (one highly trained in doctrine and holding a position in the local mosque) if chosen by the congregation.
Bengali Hindu worship many gods, some of which are animals. Cows are sacred, but they revere monkeys, snakes, and other animals as well. They teach such things as yoga and reincarnation (a continual cycle of death and rebirth). They believe that the soul may be reincarnated, or reborn, as an animal or as a human. The law of karma states that every action influences how the soul will be born in the next life. If a person lives a good life, his soul will be born into a higher state. Whereas, if he leads an evil life, his soul will be born into a lower state, perhaps even as a worm! The cycle continues until spiritual perfection is achieved. Then the soul enters moksha, a new level of existence, from which it never returns.
Hindu shrines contain sculptured images of their gods. Everyday priests wash and dress the images and bring them food. This is not considered idol worship since they believe the gods are actually present in the images.
What are their needs?
The Bengali are one of the most significant people groups in South Asia. Although there have been reports of real progress among the Muslims in Bangladesh, a determined effort must be sustained in order to reach the Bengali with the Gospel. The city of Calcutta, home to many Bengalis, is a city of massive oppression, disease, and poverty. The power of evil expressed in the thousands of Hindu gods must be broken before these people can understand and respond to the Gospel.
Prayer Points
- Take authoritory over the principalities and powers that have kept the Bengalis in spiritual darkness for generations.
- Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go to the Bengal region and share Christ with the Bengalis.
- Pray that the small number of Bengali Christians will be a light for the Gospel in this area of spiritual darkness.
- Ask God to raise up Christian medical teams, businessmen, and teachers to take the Gospel into this region.
- Pray that Christian radio broadcasts, Bibles, and other literature will be made available to the people of the Bengal region.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to soften the hearts of these Hindus and Muslims towards Christians so that they will be receptive to the Gospel.
- Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches in the Bengal region by the year 2010.
Promise from Scripture:
“The humble shall see this and be glad; and you who seek God, your hearts shall live. For the Lord hears the poor, and does not despise His prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise Him. The seas and everything that moves in them.” Psalm 69:32-34
Generational Barrier:
An Army of Lovers – In the spiritual arena the best workers are lovers. Those whose hearts have been ravished by God and who as a result love deeply and widely will be the ones who have the most fruitful ministry. They will lean on the breast of Jesus as John did and listen to His heartbeat and sit at His feet as Mary did and listen to Him teach. Pray that the emerging generation encounters Jesus as the extreme intimate One and is forever changed in their foundations of identity. (Phil 3:7-10)
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.
