Sunday, February 10, 2013
AFWIS Joins Operation World in Prayer for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan - Asia
Published on Operation World (http://www.operationworld.org)
Feb 10: Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Asia
See Prayer Information
Geography
Area: 652,225 sq kmDry and mountainous but with fertile valleys. This strategic land has been fought over by rival foreign empires for nearly three thousand years.
Population: 29,117,489 Annual Growth: 3.51%
Capital: Kabul
Urbanites: 24.8%
HDI Rank: 181 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)
Peoples
Peoples: 76 (93% unreached) All peoplesUnreached Peoples Prayer Card
Official language: Pashtu (used by 50% of population), Dari (Afghan Persian, used by 70%) Languages: 41 All languages
Religion
Largest Religion: Muslim| Religion | Pop % | Ann Gr | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christians | 14,559 | 0.05 | 14.6 |
| Evangelicals | 8,442 | 0.0 | 16.7 |
| Muslim | 29,074,395 | 99.85 |
Challenges for Prayer
Afghanistan is one of the least reached countries in the world. There are 48,000 mosques but not a single church building. Pray for the 70 unreached peoples of this land, especially for the following groups:a) Pashtuns. They number over 40% of the Afghan population and are politically dominant. Pashtun on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border comprise what has been called the largest Muslim tribal society in the world – as many as 46 million people in over 30 major sub-tribes. Christians among them remain few, though urban, educated Pashtuns in exile have shown some response. Pray that multitudes might be released from fear, prejudice, the strongholds of Islam and pride in pashtunwali(their tribal code of honour); there is evidence of an intense spiritual battle for breakthrough among this people.
b) Tajiks in the northeast. Speaking Dari (a form of Persian), they are closely related to the Pashtuns. Some Tajik groups were among the last people to resist the Taliban, yet they remain over 99% Muslim. Pray for their spiritual freedom.
c) Hazaras, Shi’a Muslims of Mongol descent. Being a Shi’a group, they have been severely persecuted through the years and were even massacred by the Sunni Taliban. They have demonstrated greater openness to the gospel in recent years.
d) Uzbeks and Turkmen of the north have shown encouraging responsiveness as refugees in other lands, but as in their namesake countries, only a tiny proportion are believers.
e) The six Aimaq tribes of the west, of nomadic background, and the Baloch and Brahui of the south. There are very few if any believers from these isolated groups.
f) The nine Nuristani tribal groups in the mountains north and east of Kabul. They speak five languages and 16 dialects; many of these are mutually unintelligible.
g) The five Ismaili Muslim Pamir people groups and the Kyrgyz living in the far northeast of Afghanistan, along the high Pamir Mountain range. These people groups are isolated in small valleys, far from good roads. Ismaili Muslims tend to be more open to the good news, and a small community of believers was birthed some years ago. Praise God for good distribution of gospel audio materials among the Kyrgyz.
h) The numerous Dardic people groups near the volatile border region with Pakistan. The largest of these is the Pashai, numbering in the hundreds of thousands of people.
i) The nomadic Gujar and Jugi/Kuchi/Ghorbat people groups.
The Church in Afghanistan remains almost entirely underground, despite a slight improvement in the situation since the fall of the Taliban. Expat believers, who have increased greatly in number, must be very circumspect in their faith and witness. Pray for:
a) Afghan believers. Their numbers are increasing, as are the resources available to help disciple them. There are probably several thousand indigenous Christians; no exact number is known. They can never meet publicly, and even their secret meetings must change times and locations to avoid detection. In rural areas, they often believe as family groups, even as extended families. Also multiplying are small groups of Afghan believers in South Asia, Europe and North America. Pray for the protection of these precious believers, and for the clarity and consistency of their witness.
b) Afghans being reached by the gospel. Most are devoutly Muslim, but many, uncomfortable with terrorist actions in Islam’s name, are interested in discovering more about Jesus Christ. The long-term presence of Christians working in aid, development and business, the return of former refugees who encountered the gospel while abroad, the presence of Christian radio as well as dreams and visions of Jesus have all moved mountains. The greatest difficulty is that of identity – many cannot see how to be both Afghan and openly Christian, especially when no such recognition is offered within the wider Afghan society. Pray that an expression of faith will emerge that allows them to be truly Afghan while truly following Jesus.
c) Safety and perseverance for believers as severe repercussions and persecution loom. The inevitable discovery of spiritual movements among believers from a Muslim background received high profile media coverage in Afghanistan and promises of harsh penalties – even death – from both family members and the authorities. Pray that no attacks of the enemies of the gospel might discourage or destroy the Church, but that in the crucible of suffering, the body of Christ might mature and even grow.
For an additional 6 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.
More Information
The Operation World book, CD-ROM, and DVD-ROM provide far more information and fuel for prayer for the people of Afghanistan.Names of God
THANK YOU!!! 1 Million + Hits! It's amazing how I've gotten emails and heard about how this video has gone around the world. Praise the LORD!!
Aaronic Blessing
This beautiful scriptural song brought to life by Ronen Shalom is used by permission and the video was shot by me, clouds provided by The Lord. May He bless you and keep you and make His face to shine upon you.
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Galatians 4 (New International Version, ©2010)
Galatians 4
1 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces[a] of the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.[b] 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba,[c] Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Paul's Concern for the Galatians
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[d]? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Hagar and Sarah
21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.
24 These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written: "Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child;
shout for joy and cry aloud, you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband."[e]
28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son."[f] 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
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2 Kings 9 (New International Version)
2 Kings 9
Jehu Anointed King of Israel
1 The prophet Elisha summoned a man from the company of the prophets and said to him, "Tuck your cloak into your belt, take this flask of oil with you and go to Ramoth Gilead. 2 When you get there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go to him, get him away from his companions and take him into an inner room. 3 Then take the flask and pour the oil on his head and declare, 'This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.' Then open the door and run; don't delay!"
4 So the young man, the prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead. 5 When he arrived, he found the army officers sitting together. "I have a message for you, commander," he said. "For which of us?" asked Jehu. "For you, commander," he replied.
6 Jehu got up and went into the house. Then the prophet poured the oil on Jehu's head and declared, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anoint you king over the LORD's people Israel. 7 You are to destroy the house of Ahab your master, and I will avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and the blood of all the LORD's servants shed by Jezebel. 8 The whole house of Ahab will perish. I will cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free. 9 I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah. 10 As for Jezebel, dogs will devour her on the plot of ground at Jezreel, and no one will bury her.' " Then he opened the door and ran.
11 When Jehu went out to his fellow officers, one of them asked him, "Is everything all right? Why did this madman come to you?" "You know the man and the sort of things he says," Jehu replied.
12 "That's not true!" they said. "Tell us." Jehu said, "Here is what he told me: 'This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.' "
13 They hurried and took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, "Jehu is king!"
Jehu Kills Joram and Ahaziah
14 So Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram. (Now Joram and all Israel had been defending Ramoth Gilead against Hazael king of Aram, 15 but King Joram [a] had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds the Arameans had inflicted on him in the battle with Hazael king of Aram.) Jehu said, "If this is the way you feel, don't let anyone slip out of the city to go and tell the news in Jezreel." 16 Then he got into his chariot and rode to Jezreel, because Joram was resting there and Ahaziah king of Judah had gone down to see him.
17 When the lookout standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu's troops approaching, he called out, "I see some troops coming." "Get a horseman," Joram ordered. "Send him to meet them and ask, 'Do you come in peace?' "
18 The horseman rode off to meet Jehu and said, "This is what the king says: 'Do you come in peace?' " "What do you have to do with peace?" Jehu replied. "Fall in behind me." The lookout reported, "The messenger has reached them, but he isn't coming back."
19 So the king sent out a second horseman. When he came to them he said, "This is what the king says: 'Do you come in peace?' " Jehu replied, "What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me."
20 The lookout reported, "He has reached them, but he isn't coming back either. The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi—he drives like a madman."
21 "Hitch up my chariot," Joram ordered. And when it was hitched up, Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah rode out, each in his own chariot, to meet Jehu. They met him at the plot of ground that had belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite. 22 When Joram saw Jehu he asked, "Have you come in peace, Jehu?" "How can there be peace," Jehu replied, "as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?"
23 Joram turned about and fled, calling out to Ahaziah, "Treachery, Ahaziah!"
24 Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart and he slumped down in his chariot. 25 Jehu said to Bidkar, his chariot officer, "Pick him up and throw him on the field that belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite. Remember how you and I were riding together in chariots behind Ahab his father when the LORD made this prophecy about him: 26 'Yesterday I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons, declares the LORD, and I will surely make you pay for it on this plot of ground, declares the LORD.' [b] Now then, pick him up and throw him on that plot, in accordance with the word of the LORD."
For more text press: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?...
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Proverbs 10 (New International Version)
Proverbs 10
Proverbs of Solomon
1 The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.
2 Ill-gotten treasures are of no value, but righteousness delivers from death.
3 The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
4 Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
5 He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
6 Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. [a]
7 The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.
8 The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.
9 The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.
10 He who winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.
12 Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.
14 Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.
15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
16 The wages of the righteous bring them life, but the income of the wicked brings them punishment.
17 He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
18 He who conceals his hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.
21 The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
22 The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.
23 A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct, but a man of understanding delights in wisdom.
24 What the wicked dreads will overtake him; what the righteous desire will be granted.
25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.
26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is a sluggard to those who send him.
27 The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
28 The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
29 The way of the LORD is a refuge for the righteous, but it is the ruin of those who do evil.
30 The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land.
31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.
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Psalm 41 (New International Version)
Psalm 41 (New International Version)
Psalm 41
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.
2 The LORD will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes.
3 The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness.
4 I said, "O LORD, have mercy on me; heal me, for I have sinned against you."
5 My enemies say of me in malice, "When will he die and his name perish?"
6 Whenever one comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it abroad.
7 All my enemies whisper together against me; they imagine the worst for me, saying,
8 "A vile disease has beset him; he will never get up from the place where he lies."
9 Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
10 But you, O LORD, have mercy on me; raise me up, that I may repay them.
11 I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.
12 In my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.
13 Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.
Psalm 41
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1 Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.
2 The LORD will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes.
3 The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness.
4 I said, "O LORD, have mercy on me; heal me, for I have sinned against you."
5 My enemies say of me in malice, "When will he die and his name perish?"
6 Whenever one comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it abroad.
7 All my enemies whisper together against me; they imagine the worst for me, saying,
8 "A vile disease has beset him; he will never get up from the place where he lies."
9 Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
10 But you, O LORD, have mercy on me; raise me up, that I may repay them.
11 I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.
12 In my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.
13 Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.
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Paul Wilbur "Dance with Me"
aken from the DVD "A Night of Extravagant Worship" available athttp://www.WilburMinistries.com
Directed by Carey Goin
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MI MIZRACH SHEMESH/FROM THE RISING OF THE SUN (Tehilim/Psalm 113)
Tehilim/Psalm 113:3-6
FROM THE RISING OF THE SUN TO ITS SETTING
THE NAME OF THE LORD IS TO BE PRAISED
HIGH ABOVE ALL NATIONS IS THE LORD
ABOVE THE HEAVENS IS HIS GLORY
MI MIZRACH SHEMESH AD MEVO'O MEHULAL SHEM ADONAI
RAM AL KOL GOYIM ADONAI AL HASHAMAYIM KEVODO
MI KA HASHEM ELOHEINU HAMAGBIHI LASHAVET
HAMASHPILI LIR'OT BASHAMAYIM UVA'ARETZ
WHO IS LIKE THE LORD OUR GOD WHO DWELLS ON HIGH
WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF TO BEHOLD THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH
MEHULAL, MEHULAL, MEHULAL, MEHULAL SHEM HASHEM EL SHADDAI EL ELYON ELOHIM ADONAI TSEVAOT
MAY THE NAME OF THE LORD, THE NAME OF THE LORD BE PRAISED!
YESHUA
NOTE: Fred and Jenn and I had so much FUN shooting this promotional Video for "Mi Mizrach Shemesh" (from Tehilim/Psalm 113) that most of the times we were together we were laughing non-stop with pure JOY/SIMCHA! HaShem was blessing us sooooo much! And He blessed us with an amazing sunset after freezing our butts off for a while at 10,000 feet on Mount Halehakala; couldn't help but danced but unfortunately lots of the dance footage isn't on there; sorry :-( Next time! I'm sure it was challenging enough for Fred and Jenn to cut and edit these footage that you now see especially with their busy schedules shooting weddings on Maui! YAH bless! Anyway, Baruch HaShem! Until the millions come, this is a "Taste & See" of what is to COME soon B"H! The CDVD will be titled: OMER L'ZION/ SAY TO ZION from Isaiah 52:7... Special SHOUT OUT to my RABBI, the ONLY RABBI WHO EVER ROSE FROM THE DEAD, and to my Co-Producer & Friend, Phil Rogers, the Chief Musician/Menatzeach, and of course to my beautiful friends Jenn & Fred! Rich blessings ALL! Shalom Aleychem!
Micha'el,
His Beloved4ever!
THE NAME OF THE LORD IS TO BE PRAISED
HIGH ABOVE ALL NATIONS IS THE LORD
ABOVE THE HEAVENS IS HIS GLORY
MI MIZRACH SHEMESH AD MEVO'O MEHULAL SHEM ADONAI
RAM AL KOL GOYIM ADONAI AL HASHAMAYIM KEVODO
MI KA HASHEM ELOHEINU HAMAGBIHI LASHAVET
HAMASHPILI LIR'OT BASHAMAYIM UVA'ARETZ
WHO IS LIKE THE LORD OUR GOD WHO DWELLS ON HIGH
WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF TO BEHOLD THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH
MEHULAL, MEHULAL, MEHULAL, MEHULAL SHEM HASHEM EL SHADDAI EL ELYON ELOHIM ADONAI TSEVAOT
MAY THE NAME OF THE LORD, THE NAME OF THE LORD BE PRAISED!
YESHUA
NOTE: Fred and Jenn and I had so much FUN shooting this promotional Video for "Mi Mizrach Shemesh" (from Tehilim/Psalm 113) that most of the times we were together we were laughing non-stop with pure JOY/SIMCHA! HaShem was blessing us sooooo much! And He blessed us with an amazing sunset after freezing our butts off for a while at 10,000 feet on Mount Halehakala; couldn't help but danced but unfortunately lots of the dance footage isn't on there; sorry :-( Next time! I'm sure it was challenging enough for Fred and Jenn to cut and edit these footage that you now see especially with their busy schedules shooting weddings on Maui! YAH bless! Anyway, Baruch HaShem! Until the millions come, this is a "Taste & See" of what is to COME soon B"H! The CDVD will be titled: OMER L'ZION/ SAY TO ZION from Isaiah 52:7... Special SHOUT OUT to my RABBI, the ONLY RABBI WHO EVER ROSE FROM THE DEAD, and to my Co-Producer & Friend, Phil Rogers, the Chief Musician/Menatzeach, and of course to my beautiful friends Jenn & Fred! Rich blessings ALL! Shalom Aleychem!
Micha'el,
His Beloved4ever!
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