Tag: Prayer

Pray for Enemies: How and What

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Osama bin LadenHOW to Pray:

• In obedience (regardless of how you feel)
• In faith (certain of what God desires)
• In hope (confident of God’s goodness)
• In love (forgiving as you have been forgiven)
• In earnest (seriously and passionately)
• Without fear (courageously)
• With faithfulness (disciplined regular intervals)
• In a group (2-3 gathered together)

WHAT to Pray:

• For heart changes – example: “Father, lead ___ to repent for rejecting Jesus and declaring war on your children.”
• For dreams and visions – example: “Jesus, reveal yourself in dreams and visions to ___. May he not sleep in peace until he surrenders to you.”
• For irresistible pursuit by God’s Spirit – example: “Holy Spirit, relentlessly pursue ___ to the depths of his hideout, that he may not escape your grace.”
• For inescapable proclamation of God’s Word – example: “Jesus, may news of your free gift of eternal salvation reach the opened ears of ___.”
• For powerful demonstrations of God’s grace – example: “Lord, expose ___ to the precious testimony of Jesus’ followers.”
• For providential convergence of circumstances – example: “Father, orchestrate events (research and cite some) around ___ and his friends to facilitate these prayers.”
• For vulnerability – example: “Dear God, strip from ___ all his defenses that he may turn to Jesus for hope and salvation.”
• For conviction of sin and sense of shame – example: “Jesus, confront and overwhelm ___ with his shameful deeds and sinful nature till he becomes desperate for righteousness from you.”
• For freedom to respond – example: “Father, provide an environment to ___ in which he is free to confess and believe in Jesus as Lord openly.”
• For follow-up resources – example: “Lord, surround ___ with devotional materials, gospel broadcasts, fellowship opportunities, and courageous mentors.”
• For God’s honor – example: “God, may the redemption of ___ clearly display your character and glory.”
• Against spiritual blindness and bondage – example: “Lord, release ___ from Satan’s grip and open him to sense and know your grace in Jesus.”
• Against enabling socio-economic conditions – example: “Father, destroy the economic and social situations (research and name some) that constrain gospel proclamation, limit free response, promote ignorance, and perpetuate rejection of Jesus in the environment of ___.”

Click here for a PDF Study Guide from ATFP

Adopt A Terrorist For Prayer Upgrades

Bruce 1 Comment

Terrorists want to attack America, and Brother Thomas Bruce wants you to pray for them. His web site is ATFP.org. A-T-F-P stands for “Adopt a Terrorist For Prayer.” Those letters stand for “Anti-Terrorism Force Protection” in Defense Department terminology and on the equivalent .net and .com web sites.

Brother Thomas believes the best defense is a good offense. He asserts that the best way to overcome terrorists is to pray for them and their sponsors.

For the past year, ATFP’s web site has featured a gallery with brief biographies of the FBI’s most wanted terrorists and the State Department’s identified terrorism sponsors. It has also featured space for visitors to post prayers for those people.

Brother Thomas recently returned from a year of duty with the Army Reserves in Iraq, and he has updated the web site. Now visitors can register and create a profile so that the number of people committed to praying for each featured terrorist or terrorism sponsor can be counted and posted.

For the past year, Brother Thomas has been in harm’s way at the front line of America’s national response to terrorism. He believes that through this web site everyone can get on the front line of a Christian response.

He believes that the struggle against violence done in the name of Islam is primarily spiritual. Therefore, he believes that defeating such religiously inspired violence requires spiritual engagement. He says, “The intent of terrorists is to inspire terror.” And he says, “According to Jesus, the antidote to fear is love.”

On the home page Brother Thomas writes, “When we hate, we are reactive victims. When we love we seize the initiative. Love for country helps soldiers to risk their lives. Love for children enables parents to discipline them without being intimidated. Love for us took Jesus to the cross. Love for enemies will give courage to face, overcome, and transform them and the environment that breeds them.”

Brother Thomas asserts that the Apostle Paul was once a religiously inspired terrorist. He notes that Stephen was one of his first victims. According to the Bible, as he was dying from Paul’s orchestrated stoning, Stephen prayed, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” Later, Paul met Jesus in a vision and repented. He became as zealous for the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ as he had been against it.

Brother Thomas asks, “Can we pray today like Stephen prayed then?” And he wonders, “Would Paul have seen Jesus if Stephen hadn’t prayed?”

So why the alias “Thomas Bruce?” Brother Thomas identifies with the Apostle Thomas who gets slandered for his skepticism about Jesus’ resurrection. He also notes that of all of Jesus’ closest followers, only Thomas and the women were brave enough to be out on the streets of Jerusalem when afraid for their lives following Jesus’ crucifixion. And what about the pseudo-surname Bruce? Brother Thomas says, “Lots of courageous famous characters have the name Bruce. Heck, Chuck Norris himself probably wishes it’d been his.”

Prayer Letters from Tour in Iraq

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While on my last tour of duty I published a regular prayer letter for my friends and supporters. These prayer newsletters are intended to help mobilize spiritual resources for what is ultimately a spiritual struggle. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12)