Acts 4:18-31

So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. (Acts 4:18 )
      Lord Jesus, this is becoming the pattern in our nation — great pressure is put on your people to not speak or teach in your name.

But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19-20)
      Holy Spirit, please help us make the choice that Peter and John made: to boldly speak of the things we have seen and heard about Jesus.

So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. (Acts 4:21)
      Father, please help us shrug off the threats that come our way and do and say those things which will bring you glory.

For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed. (Acts 4:22)
      Holy Spirit, move in the healing ministry throughout this diocese and do miracles of healing. Thank you.

And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. (Acts 4:23)
      Jesus, we ask your blessing on Bishop Bill as he speaks at the various Deanery meetings starting this week. Be present with your Holy Spirit and give us ears to hear your guidance. Thank you.

      [Please attend and pray for Bishop Love’s visits to the Deaneries to meet with the clergy and laity to discuss General Convention 2009. (Meetings will end by 9 PM:)
      Sep 8 - Metropolitan Deanery – St. Paul’s, Troy
            6:30 PM, Evening Prayer followed by light refreshments and discussion
      Sep 10 – Southern Adirondack Deanery - St. James, Lake George
            6:30 PM, Evening Prayer followed by light refreshments and discussion
      Sep 15 – Upper Hudson Deanery – Calvary Church, Burnt Hills
            5:30 PM, Evening Prayer followed by light refreshments and discussion
      Sep 17 – Hudson Deanery – Christ Church Coxsackie
            6:30 PM Evening Prayer followed light refreshments and discussion
      Sep 20 – Western Mohawk Deanery – Christ Church, Herkimer
            5:30 PM Evening Prayer followed by dinner and discussion
      Sep 27 – St. Lawrence Deanery – Trinity, Potsdam
            6 PM Evening Prayer followed by dinner and discussion
      Sept 29 – Susquehanna Deanery – St. James, Oneonta
            6 PM Evening Prayer followed by dinner and discussion
      Oct 6 – Northern Adirondack Deanery – Trinity, Plattsburgh
            6 PM Evening Prayer followed by dinner and discussion]

So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, you are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against his Christ.’” (Acts 4:24-26)
      Father, there are so many in authority who are gathered together against you and your son Jesus Christ. Guide us by your Holy Spirit through these times.

“For truly against your holy Servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever your hand and your purpose determined before to be done.” (Acts 4:27-28 )
      Holy Father, it was your purposes which triumphed, not theirs; please let us see your purpose triumph in our day.

“Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to your servants that with all boldness they may speak your word, by stretching out your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29-30)
      I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee; let me be full, let me be empty; let me have all things, let me have nothing; I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
      And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.
      [From the Watch Night Service by John Wesley.]

And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31)
      Holy Spirit, shake us out of our complacency and timidity and move us to speak your word with all boldness. Thank you.

      A word received: Pray for my will and purposes to be revealed to my people.
      Pray that my people will desire the desires of my heart.
      Pray for the new life that comes when my Spirit and my word penetrate the heart.

Sunday: 63:1-8(9-11), 98; 1 Kings 12:21-33; Acts 4:18-31; John 10:31-42
Monday: 41, 52; 1 Kings 13:1-10; Philippians 1:1-11; Mark 15:40-47

Albany Intercessor

Sudan menu

There is a wonderful plethora of prayer resources for Sudan. This list commences with L&B prayers in chronological order, followed by other resources.

Open a portal

Forty men, women and children were killed in Southern Sudan’s recent violence. Among the dead was the Ven. Joseph Mabior Garang, Archdeacon of Wernyol and Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul Yak’s Commissary in the new Diocese of Twic East. He was shot at the altar of the church in Wernyol during a service of Morning Prayer.

Father,
Your Son gave us the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever we bind on earth is bound in heaven and whatever we loose on earth is loosed in heaven. We claim this free access to God’s kingdom and declare that there are no more barriers between heaven and earth at the altar where the Venerable Joseph Garang and his companions were martyred.
Open a portal into the heavens where the angels can ascend and descend, where anointings can flow from the realms of glory, and where the people of God can enter into a heavenly visitation. May the spilled blood of Garang and his companions be the bedrock for a heavenly highway to Wernoyl and the worship of Your children be the paving stones.
Sudan has known conflict for two millenia. We see through a glass darkly and know only in part. If there are portals over this land that allow access of the demonic, we decree them bound. We speak in unity with our brothers and sisters in Sudan and claim the promise of Your blessing. Amen.
Matthew 16:19, Psalm 133

Sudan

Horrendous violence. It appears that the attack in Twic East was a deliberately organized attack on civilians by those that are against the peace in Southern Sudan and that the attack in Ezo was by the Lord’s Resistance Army.

“Your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground, like a voice calling for revenge.” (Genesis 4:10)

“There was murder in the city, but the blood was not spilled on the ground where the dust could hide it; it was spilled on a bare rock. I have left the blood there where it cannot be hidden, where it demands angry revenge.” (Ezekiel 24:7-8)

Arise, O Lord! We cry out for Your angry revenge on these evil forces. Confront them and bring them down. Deliver Southern Sudan from those who oppose the peace process and from the Lord’s Resistance Army.
In Your wrath, shake the earth. Let the smoke from Your nostrils and the consuming fire from Your mouth route the enemies.
Thunder in the heavens. At Your voice, they lose heart and come trembling from their strongholds. Send hailsones and lightning against them. Deliver Southern Sudan by Your sword.
Your Son said, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers.’ Bless Southern Sudan. Make them the head and not the tail. When the foreigners hear the Word of the Lord, may they cringe and obey the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
The LORD lives! Praise be to our Rock! Exalted be God our Savior! You are the God who avenges Your children, who subdues nations, who saves them from their enemies. Exalt Southern Sudan above its foes; from violent men rescue them.
We praise you among the nations, O LORD; we will sing praises to your name. You give Your people great victories; You show unfailing kindness to Your anointed. Amen.
Psalm 17 & 18

Note: Our prayers for deliverance from the Lord’s Resistance Army have been based on Psalm 17 and 18, based on a word received. We encourage the use of these scriptures when praying for Sudan.

Christ Church Schenectady Prayer Table report

Christ Church Schenectady Prayer Table report September 5, 9:30-10:35 AM Torre Bissell and Don Foust
+–indicates received wooden cross made by Dennis Adams of North Carolina.

On this beautiful Saturday morning people came streaming to the Prayer Table. From the moment the Prayer Table was set-up till it was taken down, someone was receiving prayer. At one point without any prompting, people sat down in the empty chair waiting for the person in front of them to complete their prayers

+Leticia–”My son’s father has swelling of the brain”–pray for healing.

+Minnie–Minnie walked by the Prayer Table and said “I can’t get prayer–I’m sinning“. We convinced her that was the best reason to get prayer. (Minnie came to the Prayer Table a year ago with “drugs and paraphernalia” on her). We prayed for forgiveness of sins and for a change in direction in her life.

Linda–A regular on her way to work. Prayed for her husband Rayford (at work) and for her family in Guyana.

+Pedro–prayed for his wife’s mother, Carmen. Pedro’s wife (Iris) is currently with Carmen. His mother-in-law is having panic attacks. We prayed for God’s Peace in Carmen’s life and for Iris’ ministry to her mother.

+Les–prayed for his daughter Sarah.

Marlene–This young woman walked quickly across the street and directly to the Prayer Table. She was wearing a wooden cross from a previous visit to the Prayer Table. She asked for prayer for a job.

Jim– a regular. Jim said, “I have peace of mind”. Jim has been haunted by memories of his abusive parents and the death of his son. We prayed for peaceful memories.

+Clarence–This young man is sincerely looking for a new start to his life. He is on parole and wants to re-join his family. He said he was “railroaded” into the charges that sent him to prison, but has foregiven these people. He had spent time on the streets doing a lot of bad things. He is seeking a Church and we gave him a card for Christ Church. Clarence returned to the Prayer Table on his way back from the store (wearing the wooded cross) and we prayed again for new direction in his life.

++James–Before we finished praying with Clarence, James sat down in the empty chair at the Prayer Table. James wants to move his family into a better apartment. We prayed for provision.

+Vincent–Before we finished praying with James, Vincent sat down. As Deacon Alan would often say, there is always one person who touches your heart at a session of the Prayer Table; and today that person was Vincent. This middle-aged man lost his son (David) four years ago. His son fell down the stairs to his death when his son was 14 years old. Vincent is tormented by David’s death. At one point, Vincent felt God was punishing him, but Vincent realizes now that is not the case. Yet, his son’s death is constantly on his mind. Vincent spent 3 years in prison because of his problem with alcohol. Vincent was raised in the Church; he was an alter boy at St. Luke’s. With much prompting at the Prayer Table, Vincent re-gave his life to Christ. He said this was a hard thing to do. Through-out his time at the Prayer Table, Vincent was openly weeping. Pray for Vincent–he is in great pain and needs to constantly look toward Christ for answers.

+Joan and her children +Michael and +Daniel–Prayed for blessings in their lives.

+Pedro and +Maria–This young Hispanic couple was walking down State Street hand-in-hand. They were part of a Neighborhood Prayer Walk for Iglesias De Dios, the Spanish Church on State Street. We prayed for their ministry.

Gloria–Prayed that God would lift the burdens from her life.

+James, +Melissa and their children +Juny, +Nathan, +James, and +Michelle–Prayed for safety for this family and that the children might come to know the Lord.

+Agnes–Prayed for a blessing in this tired woman’s life.

+Evelyn–Prayed for protection. She is visiting from Troy and is originally from Puerto Rico.

+Bill– Pray that this young man will successfully completed his para-legal studies in college and find a meaningful job.

Kayla– A regular–Her brother Josh has been released from jail. He has found a job and is staying with their mother. We prayed for blessings for Kayla, her son Nassir, and her mother and her brother.

Man across the street. Made the sign of the cross and bowed when seeing the Prayer Table.

+John–Prayed for his family and his children.

Don Foust

Albany Intercessor