Today's prayer focus is the Antaisaka people of Madagascar. I'd like to ask you to watch the following video. It's an individual presenting the gospel in the Antaisaka language with pictures of people from this region.
The title of the presentation is "Are You Going to Heaven?"
Please watch and pray for the people who are on this island. A team is being formed now to go to Madagascar. Maybe God is speaking to you to go with them? Maybe God is speaking to you about being a long term prayer partner for these people?
Please take a few moments and pray for the faces that appear in the video. Pray that this gospel message we hear - will be heard in places it has not been heard before.
Write your prayers in the comments section, and I'll pass them along to those Live|Dead Team members.
This is the translation of the message the man is sharing:
My friends, I am going to ask you a question that many people cannot answer, but it is a question that everyone should answer. "Are you going to heaven?" God's Word tells us how we can know.
First, you must be on the right road. The Bible says, "Believe in your heart in the Lord Jesus and confess with your mouth that God has raised Him from the dead and you will be saved." Jesus is the way. He said, "I am the way . . no man comes unto the Father but by Me." No other way is possible. For Jesus Christ alone is the way to God. If you have confessed that you were a lost sinner and received Christ as your Saviour, you have a right start to heaven and are on the right road.
Then there is an outward sign which others should be able to see. That is a changed life. Look and see if your life has been different since you believed. God not only intends to forgive your past sins but He makes you a new person. Many people think that if they add a few religious exercises to their sinful lives, their souls will be insured against punishment. Do not be fooled. Being religious does not save you. Only Christ can save you, and when He does it you are made clean inside. You are changed. You make things right with your neighbor, you have a new conscience, new desires and new pleasures.
The third way you may know you are saved and on the road to heaven is by an inward sign called the witness of God's Spirit, who comes to live in your heart. This is very real. You have a sense of belonging to God. There is no loneliness now. You are a child of God. He is your Father. You talk to Him with love and confidence, and can face anything evil without fear. You have comfort and peace. You know that your sins are all forgiven. Look at your own life and see if you have these three signs that you are on the way to heaven. Have you started right by asking Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and believing that He did it? Is your life changed so that you belong to Him and that He is now living within you? My friend, if you do not find these signs, come to Jesus now and be forgiven. The Bible says you should "believe on the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life." "Hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us." Jesus said, "Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out." Rom. l0:9; John 14:6; I John 5:13; I John 3:24; John 6:37
8 comments:
Since visiting Madagascar in 2007, my heart has been drawn to the people there. Looking at the faces of the Antaisaka people brings back so many memories and feelings.
I feel the Lord is encouraging me to commit to being a long-term prayer partner with those who are heading to work with the Antaisaka people. I want to willingly respond - with joy - to be a part of reaching these beautiful people with the gospel of Christ.
"Lord, let Your anointing be upon those who are going to work with the Antaisaka people. Give them favor with the leaders in each village. Allow them to communicate Your Gospel in such a compelling way, and move upon the hearts of the Antaisaka to receive the good news. Let YOUR name be glorified in that region. I pray for miracles, signs, and wonders to accompany the team so that all may know they are sent by God. Amen."
The images of the children draw me near and I am compelled to pray specifically for them this morning.
Lord, I believe that your desire is to move among the people of Antaisaka and throughout the region of Madagascar...to demonstrate your saving love and amazing grace to all who will hear. I also believe that you have called and are continuing to call individuals ready and willing to go to this area of the world. So, with this understanding, I boldly ask that you open doors of opportunity to share through words and actions your salvation.
Lord, I also ask that your presence be especially felt among the children. Your very word says, "God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he's rich in love. He doesn't endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever. He doesn't treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him. And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins. As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him. He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we're made of mud. Men and women don't live very long; like wildflowers they spring up and blossom, But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly, leaving nothing to show they were here. God's love, though, is ever and always, eternally present to all who fear him, Making everything right for them and their children as they follow his Covenant ways" (Psalm 103:6-18). Thank you for being our Father and for loving us - all of us - with the heart of a Daddy!
After watching this video and reading the words, the first thing that came to my mind were the words to a song I learned as a child. "Living for Jesus". ....Living for Jesus a life that is true. Striving to please him in all that I do. Yeilding allegiance, glad hearted and free. This is the pathway of blessing for me. O Jesus Lord and Savior, I give myself to thee. For thy in thy atonement, didst give thyself for me. I own no other master. My heart shall be thy throne. My life I give, henceforth to live. O Christ for thee alone
Father I pray that the Antaisaka people would hear the word and believe and break through the bondages that are keeping them a slave to sin. I pray for strength and power and protection for the missionaries who carry the truth to these people. I pray that these children become a generation of believers who will lead their people to You. Bless them Father. Let them see your love. Help us see their need. Amen
Brian, Terri, and Suzanne - amen, amen, and amen!!!
Wow. It's not fair following 3 eloquently spoken prayers. Following those, all I can say is "What they said."
What a beautiful people! I have been unfamiliar with the people of Madagascar until now. I totally stand in agreement with the prayers written here. Freedom through the Father for the Antaisaka. Favor for the missionaries who will go to share the news of freedom. Lord, do amazing miraculous works among these people. May your power be evident, may your glory be known, may your majesty be undeniable to these precious people.
I try to imagine myself being in a country such as this. Trying to share the gospel with this village and these children. Wondering, hoping, praying that somewhere someone is praying.
We have the incredible opportunity to share our daily prayers with the team members of these mission teams. Can you imagine how they must feel. There must be days when they feel alone or defeated or just don't feel like they have the strength to do it. How much would one encouraging word or small prayer mean to them?
I imagine it would be a breath of fresh air to these people who have given up everything to be where they are.
Where is your prayer? Let's lift these people up to the Lord and blow some fresh air of encouragement their way. There is power in the blood and there is power in prayer.
Let them hear your voice.
Being religious does not save you... if you are not a changed person do not be fooled! OUCH! i know they say that who you are when no one is looking is a true test of your character. I know I would like to confidently say that i am in the likeliness of Jesus, but the truth of the matter is I am not!
Lord Father God,
please forgive me for the wrongs i have commited that if held up for the whole world to see I would be shameful! There is no fear in you and I pray that one day I can see this in my own life. You are with me throughout my days and I so desperately hold onto that with each passing moment.
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