Scripture of the Day

Luke 9

1.Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
2. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
3. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
4. And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.
5. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.
6. And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

Scripture of the Day

Proverbs 28

4. They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
5. Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.
6. Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

Scripture of the Day

Luke 4

2. Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
3. And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
5. And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
9. And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
10. For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
11. And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
12. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
13. And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
14. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
15. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.

Scripture of the Day

Proverbs 17

8. A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9. He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
10. A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
11. An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12. Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13. Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14. The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

Scripture of the Day

1st Corinthians 14

20. Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
21. In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
22. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
23. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

Pray Christ is Revealed During Ramadan

Learn more at http://www.OpenDoorsUSA.org/PrayerApp

As we are in the last week of Ramadan, please continue to pray with believers who often face increased persecution during this Muslim holy month and also for seeking Muslims to find the one true God.

Ramadan is often a time that can put even more pressures on secret Christ-followers as they spend time with family, friends and their community. It is also a time where those who follow Jesus stand out even more than usual as their communities observe the Muslim holy month.

At the same time, Ramadan is a unique time for seeking Muslims to encounter Christ as they seek God. There are many stories of Muslims coming to Christ during Ramadan as faithful Christians share—often at great risk to themselves—their stories of encountering Christ.

As the Body of Christ, Ramadan gives us the opportunity to intercede and pray for the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims—asking Jesus to reveal Himself to seeking Muslims.

We can also stand with our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world in prayer—asking God to protect and bless them.

And we can pray against attacks from Islamic extremists who often use Ramadan as an opportunity to call their followers to violence.

*Representative names and photos are sometimes used to protect identity.

Scripture of the Day

Matthew 13

3. And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4. And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5. Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6. And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8. But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

UPDATE: Continued Prayer Needed for Eritrea and Sudan

Learn more at http://www.OpenDoorsUSA.org/PrayerApp

Friends, we just received word that another 31 Christians have been arrested in Eritrea—this time from Godife, an area in the south of Asmara. No further details are available at this time. However, the arrest does suggest the situation for Christians in Eritrea is intensifying as 141 Christians were taken from the Mai Temenai area about a week earlier.Please remain in prayer for all those taken. Pray that they will experience the Lord’s peace and courage at this time.Pray for wisdom as they interact with the authorities and for grace to be a clear testimony for our Lord Jesus Christ at this time. Meanwhile, we are thankful to report that under the current circumstances the church in Sudan is doing fine. So far during the revolution and riots, there have been no targeted attacks against them. However, the atmosphere remains tense, complicating travel and making churches work harder. There is also concern about increasing pressure on negotiators to incorporate Sharia Law into the transition. The church in Sudan is calling on Christians around the world to join them in prayer for their country. They ask that we pray:For God’s intervention in the situation in Sudan, including the need for good leaders for the people. “There are many mature Muslims and Christians who can be good leaders of our country,” one source commented.That the current political change will result in equal treatment of Christians as Sudanese citizens in all sphere of life, including justice, education and politics. Pray especially that Christians will come to have representation in Parliament.That the revolution will not be hijacked by Islamic extremists, but that justice and peace will prevail for the people of Sudan. *Representative names and photos are sometimes used to protect identity.

Pray for Widow and Children of Murdered Christian in Libya

Learn more at http://www.OpenDoorsUSA.org/PrayerApp

We recently received news of a Christian believer named Golibe* who was murdered while rushing another wounded Christian man to the hospital in Libya. During their journey, the men were stopped at a checkpoint. Golibe got into a verbal argument with one of the soldiers there. While the wounded Christian man survived, reports suggest the soldier pointed his gun at Golibe’s head and shot him without any hesitation.

Golibe was a married father of eight children.

Sadly, the situation for other Christians in equally difficult. An armed conflict started in Libya—which is #4 on the World Watch List—at the beginning of April, which aims to take control over the country’s capital of Tripoli. The conflict has already caused several civilian casualties because of shelling and aerial bombardments. Because of the intense fighting, tens of thousands of Libyans have fled their houses and have been displaced to other regions.

Pray for the widow of Golibe and his eight children and that the expat-church in Libya continues to be able to support her.

Please pray Golibe’s widow and her children will be comforted by the Lord. Pray they have strength to be able to forgive Golibe’s murderer whose family has asked for forgiveness.

Pray that the violence in the country will end without further casualties and that stability will come to the country.

*Representative names and photos are sometimes used to protect identity.

Pray for Teams Traveling in South Asia

Learn more at http://www.OpenDoorsUSA.org/PrayerApp

This week, a local network of churches known as ALIVE—sent outreach teams all over South Asia. They are on a mission to talk to pastors and church workers about their ministry and find out how ALIVE can serve them better.

One team is currently in an extremely dangerous and tense part of South Asia. There has been violence in this region very recently so we value your prayers for the teams.

Please pray for the teams’ safety.

Pray for profound connections as they seek to strengthen their networks, to be present with persecuted Christians and to share the hope of Christ.

Pray the teams have wisdom and discernment as they navigate risky situations.

*Representative names and photos are sometimes used to protect identity.

Scripture of the Day

Psalms 149
1. Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
2. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3. Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
4. For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
5. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
6. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;
7. To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
8. To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9. To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.

Scripture of the Day

Psalm 147
1. Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
2. The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
3. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
4. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.
5. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
6. The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
7. Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
8. Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
9. He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
10. He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
11. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
12. Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.
13. For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.
14. He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.
15. He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.
16. He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
17. He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?
18. He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
19. He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
20. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.

Ephesians 4

11. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.