Matthew 8:5–17

Today is our 48th anniversary. “More than yesterday, less than tomorrow.”

Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, pleading with him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” (Matthew 8:5-6)
      Holy Spirit, please give us a heart to plead to Jesus for all those who are in need in our households.

And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (Matthew 8:7-9)
      Jesus, help us learn to be disciples who operate under your authority and stay within the boundaries you set for us.

When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 8:10-12)
      Father, your son Jesus recognized true faith in the Centurion’s submitting himself to authority. Help us daily submit ourselves to Jesus and his authority — help us to be disciples of his in faith and obedience.. Let him truly be Lord of our lives.

Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour. Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. 15So he touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them. (Matthew 8:13-14)
      Jesus, please come into our homes with your healing power and enable us to serve you.

When evening had come, they brought to him many who were demon-possessed. And he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.” (Matthew 8:16-17)
      Holy Father, there is a war going on — we wrestle against principalities and powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Help us daily put on your full armor so that we are equipped for the battle.

      Father, please put on all of us the shoes of the preparation to share the gospel of peace; gird our loins with your truth; put on us the breastplate of righteousness, and the helmet of salvation. Place on our arm the shield of faith with which to quench every fiery dart of the evil one; and place in our hand the sword of your Spirit which is your word; that having stood all, we might yet stand. Finally, help us to be strong in Jesus and in the power of his might, and cast off from us the chains of apathy that keep us from speaking boldly as we ought to speak. Thank you. (See Ephesians 6:10-20)

Monday: 89:1-18 * 89:19-52; Joshua 1:1-9: Eph. 3:1-13: Matt. 8:5-17
Tuesday: 97, 99, [100] * 94, [95]; 1 Sam. 16:1-13a: Eph. 3:14-21: Matt. 8:18-27

      Notes from the Front Line

***** Start now reading and reflecting on the lessons for next Sunday so that you can receive all that God has for you (104:25-37 or 104:25-32 or 33:12-15,18-22; Acts 2:1-11 or Isaiah 44:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-13 or Acts 2:1-11; John 20:19-23 or John 14:8-17).

***** Date: Sun, 20 May 2012
From: Nigel Mumford
Subject: Daily quote
      I spend a lot of time in airports traveling to spread the Good News.
      I am amazed at how many people get so lost in texting, totally lost. One has to be on the lookout in a mobility scoter for “walking texters.” Even the scooter horn does not deter them. I am now keeping a tally on how many near misses I have. If you are a texter while on the move please be very careful.
      Peripheral vision seems to be closed down with such intense focus.
      Look, If people can’t see where they are going on foot while texting, imagine what they can’t see while driving!
      BTW, The score so far 8:0!
      Someone said, if you want to meet Jesus, text and drive!

***** Date: Sun, 20 May 2012
From: Susan Plaske
Subject: Cathedral Prayer Report May 9, 2011 Cloudy Dcn Christine Wickman, Beth Collum, Hilda Hardy
Dave – prayed for Marlene and Bonnie continued healing
+Dashawn – on his way to community service prayed that he would find where he needs to go and does the work he needs to do.
Allison – delighted to find our table as she was on her way to a job interview! We prayed that she would have a good interview and sense God’s leading to know if this is the job for her.
Helen – Father passed away
Sean Wisdom teeth out today (Sean had very little pain and has healed nicely since)
Cathedral Roof lead
Visually impaired man walking past – blessings as he navigated the sidewalks with his stick

May 16, 2012 Sunny, beautiful Beth Collum, Hilda Hardy
Kris – prayer for her son in trouble
Sue’s Mom – not feeling well today
Sean’s tooth extraction that he continue healing
Dave – Bonnie , Marilyn and Jamie continued healing
Sharon – Jim is back to work but, still troubled with anxiety,
Teriqua, Michael (for Connie)
Chris – opportunity to work abroad but things keep coming up to block progress. Prayed for God’s timing.
Crystal – safety for travel tomorrow.

Albany Intercessor

Praying for Sudan

After decades of civil war, the mostly Christian South Sudan achieved its independence from the mostly Muslim Sudan a year ago. Violent conflicts over borderlines and oil fields continue.
Sudan is executing an ethnic cleansing campaign on its own people in the Nuba Mountains. The first genocide of the century was the Sudanese government against Darfur, and the second genocide of the century is the same government against the Nubans.
The Nuba Mountains is home to many Christians. The farmers have not been able to grow food due to the bombings. Many Nubans have fled to refugee camps in South Sudan.

1 Samuel 25:18-29 (AMP)
Then Abigail made haste and took 200 loaves, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five measures of parched grain, 100 clusters of raisins, and 200 cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys.
Our Father in heaven, Your very name is Jehovah-jireh, The Lord Who Provides. Make haste and release provisions for Southern Sudan before the rainy season starts. Pour out Your provision on the Nuban refugee camps of Yida, Pariang, and Nyeel. Have mercy on the residents of Blue Nile state and South Kordofan.
Grace! Grace! Grace!
And she said to her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she did not tell her husband Nabal.
We humbly beseech You to send Your holy angels before Your people.
As she rode on her donkey, she came down hidden by the mountain, and behold, David and his men came down opposite her, and she met them.
Hide Your children from those who are bent on their destruction.
Now David had said, Surely in vain have I protected all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him; and he has repaid me evil for good. May God do so, and more also, to David if I leave of all who belong to him one male alive by morning.
Let not the prayers and the work of Your people be in vain. Send Your angels forth in battle against the demonic forces in this region. The Sudanese and Nuban Christians are not slaves; they are the sons and daughters of the Most High God!
When Abigail saw David, she hastened and lighted off the donkey, and fell before David on her face and did obeisance.
We fall before You, Lord God. Would that our spiritual sacrifices were pleasing in Your eyes. Would that the fruit of our spirits were as bountiful as Abigail’s gifts.
Kneeling at his feet she said, Upon me alone let this guilt be, my lord. And let your handmaid, I pray you, speak in your presence, and hear the words of your handmaid.
We kneel at Your feet. How we have failed in establishing Your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. How we have failed to respond to those in distress.
Only through Your rich mercy and great love, and by Your grace, we have been saved. Only under the blood covenant of Christ Jesus are we seated together in heavenly places in Him. Display the exceeding riches of Your grace in kindness in Christ Jesus to Your children in Sudan and South Sudan. Let Your kindnesses fly like a banner in the atmosphere and spring like flowers from the earth. Hear our prayers.
Let not my lord, I pray you, regard this foolish and wicked fellow Nabal, for as his name is, so is he—Nabal [foolish, wicked] is his name, and folly is with him. But I, your handmaid, did not see my lord’s young men whom you sent. So now, my lord, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, seeing that the Lord has prevented you from bloodguiltiness and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal.
May the enemies of Christ Jesus be as Nabal.
And now this gift, which your handmaid has brought my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord.
May this prayer bring provision and protection for the Sudanese and South Sudanese who follow Jesus.
Forgive, I pray you, the trespass of your handmaid, for the Lord will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord is fighting the Lord’s battles, and evil has not been found in you all your days.
Forgive us intercessors our sins. You will certainly make Christ Jesus a sure house in Sudan. He is fighting Your battles, and He is without sin.
Though man is risen up to pursue you and to seek your life, yet the life of my lord shall be bound in the living bundle with the Lord your God. And the lives of your enemies—them shall He sling out as out of the center of a sling.
Though the Sudanese are risen up to pursue the Nubans and the Southern Sudanese and to seek their lives, yet the lives of Your children are bound in the living bundle with Christ Jesus their Lord. And the lives of their enemies will be hurled aside as a stone is thrown from a sling.

Resources:
Sudan Prayer Network
Serving in Mission
Frontline Fellowship

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This entry is part of our “praying for the nations” blog series in preparation for the Global Day of Prayer 2012.

10 Days of Prayer: Day 5

This is part of our “praying for the nations” blog series in preparation for the Global Day of Prayer 2012.

The ten days of prayer from Ascension to Pentecost are focused on praying and meditating through Acts.  You can learn more by reading the Global Day of Prayer 10 Days Prayer Guide.

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Day 5 : 21 May 2012 

Convict us!

REPENT AND BELIEVE

[Jesus said:] “When He [the Holy Spirit] comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.” John 16:8

PRAY:

• For anointed teaching and preaching to pierce the hearts of unbelievers, hard-hearted sinners and backslidden Christians and bring them to repentance
• For the world to experience God’s kindness through a Church who loves unconditionally, without judgment, criticism or arrogance
• For Christians to deny themselves, to submit and obey the voice of the Holy Spirit

Read and meditate on Acts 12,13 and 14

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Join us today in praying for SUDAN.