Day 17

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 your God that “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1)

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

God didn’t tell you to completely stop eating, but to put a priority on all things.  What priority should you put on earthly food and heavenly food?[i]

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Therefore do worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or What shall we wear?’  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:25, 31, 33)

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? 

“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

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

“To the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.” (Proverbs 27:7)

GLOBAL PROCLAMATION:

Forgotten People Group: The Turk of Turkey

The Turk originated in Turan, a region that lies between the Caspian Sea and the Mongolian Desert. They arrived in Antolia, Turkey (Asia Minor) in the eleventh century as conquering warriors. By the year 1299, the Ottoman Dynasty began ruling over what would soon become a vast empire. Over twenty states fell under the Ottoman rule, including Southern Russia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Libya, and Saudi Arabia. This huge empire lasted until Turkey became a republic in 1923.

What are their beliefs?
The Turk of Turkey are predominantly Muslim, believing in one god (Allah), and an eternal heaven and hell. However, they also have many ethnic beliefs and superstitions as well. For example, they believe that men have the power to curse others by giving them the "evil eye." They believe that one is protected against such a curse by wearing blue beads, which the evil eye cannot face. Another way to avoid this cursing glare is to spit in a fire and pray to Allah. They also believe that if a woman puts fish oil around a door and a man walks through it, he will love her for the rest of his life.

What are their needs?
Although the Turk of Turkey have Christian resources available to them in their language and seven missions agencies currently working among them, they remain 99.9% Muslim. Under Islamic law, the penalty for a change of faith is death. Prayer alone has the power to break through the strongholds of Islam. Intercessors are needed to daily stand in the gap and pray for the salvation of these precious people.

Prayer Points

• Ask the Lord to call people who are willing to go to Turkey and share Christ with the Turk.
• Pray that churches and missions organizations will accept the challenge of adopting and reaching the Turk.
• Ask God to give the Turk believers boldness to share the Gospel with their own people.
• Pray that God will grant wisdom and favor to the missions agencies that are targeting the Turk.
• Take authority over the spiritual principalities and powers that are keeping the Turk bound.
• Ask the Lord to save key leaders among the Turk who will boldly declare the Gospel.
• Pray that God will begin revealing Himself to the Turk through dreams and visions.
• Ask the Lord to raise up strong local churches among the Turk by the year 2010.

Promise from Scripture:

“…Every one who is found written in the book, and many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.” Daniel 12:1-3

Generational Barrier:

Overcoming Pluralism – In many corners of the student world there are those who are doubting absolute truth being found in Jesus alone and who are seeking to accommodate the beliefs of other religions as equal to their own. Pray for a steadfast commitment among the emerging generation to be a people of rock-solid faith in what the scriptures claim about Jesus and seek to live this out with love and servant-hood among the lost.

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.