The Apostles Persecuted in Jerusalem

A Statement

In many parts of this world today, fellow Christians and communities will endure persecution. Pray, lament, and plead on their behalf.

A Prayer

Almighty God, Bring your strength, boldness and life eternal to your persecuted Church. Bring victory over evil powers. Bring restoration to devastated cities. Bring repentance to those who are the persecutors that they may find you, know you and declare you just like Saul. Raise up godly men and women who in the face of death look to you, and in the face of persecution cry out for your extraordinary forgiveness. Amen.

Journal Exercise

Research one country where Christians are persecuted for their faith. Write a prayer asking God to protect them, give them boldness to testify to Christ, and grace to forgive their persecutors.

Following Stephen’s persecution we find that Christians are scattered; that Phillip, the evangelist, preached the gospel to the Samaritans; that the church at Antioch was formed; and that Saul met the risen Lord and became the apostle to the nations. Write a prayer praying for the places to which Christians have been scattered by persecution and ask God, the Sovereign Lord, that he might further his mission through his servants.

A Quote

To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.

– Karl Barth

A Challenging Prayer

Pray that God’s people, in submission the the Lord Jesus Christ and his command to make disciples of all nations, will:

• Reform the life of the Church (including our culture, ordinances, customs, use of resources and the deployment of ministry), which will in turn;
• Encourage and enable the multiplication of faithful Christian fellowships, congregations and churches, obedient to the teaching of the Bible, which equip and nurture their members, and extend into our villages, towns and cities and in all the world.