While Kim Jong Un seems to be trying to present himself as a popular figure sporting his attractive, young (and possibly pregnant) wife and concerned with the economy, the measures that he has been enacting have not been popular. As he has been ignoring the practical advice of his farm experts internal criticism has increased. In response to a shocking front line defection in which a North Korean soldier killed two of his senior officers there has been a major indoctrination effort and crackdown on sources of "Western corruption." At the same time, there has been an ongoing effort to tighten border security resulting in fewer people being able to flee the country. For those who do manage to escape and make it to South Korea, life is harsh especially for the women. Most defectors also have to spend time in very difficult conditions in detention centers in Thailand.
Through all of this, Kim Jong Un continues to consolidate power by replacing many of the old guard with his own picks. In his effort to secure his rule and North Korea's position in the world, it is as unlikely that he will surrender his nuclear arms program as that his reform programs will bring prosperity.
We need to continue to pray for the people of North Korea and for North Korea's impact on the world situation.
We are running this again because of its importance. Please keep praying for these two nations and the ongoing war.
North Waziristan in Pakistan has become a haven for militants. Tribal and local intelligence sources say some 15,000 militants shelter in this semiautonomous tribal belt. A number of Taliban leaders and others have been killed in drone strikes; however they have a refuge along the border inside Pakistan and from there they continue to mount attacks on Afghan and Coalition forces inside Afghanistan, keeping that nation in perpetual war and instability. It is essential that we pray that, before the foreign forces are withdrawn in 2014, the Taliban will dissolve and be defeated and that the Pakistani government will aggressively combat them, not allowing them any more safe-haven in their country.
A friend who with a great burden to pray for these two countries, wrote: “In one of our prayer meetings the Lord reminded us that he told us clearly in 2001 that we must proclaim "Taliban-time is over" and we faithfully did it and there was a powerful anointing on us when we did this…The message was: "spring time is coming"…And the Taliban regime began to crumble. In 2002, so many Christians came into the country and it looked like the Taliban movement was over but it was not destroyed. It regrouped and came back again and now it has become such a powerful force that even NATO admitted that they can't win this war. ... We feel that we must proclaim again what the Lord told us at that time and also the other scriptures that the Lord gave us like Ps 37.
Also the word was given to us clearly about King Joash coming to Elisha and he told the king to strike the ground and he did it only 3 times and stopped. Then the man of God became angry with him. You know the story, he should have struck five or six times 2 King 13.18 ff. We did the same, proclaimed for a while and then we stopped. This word came clearly to us and we repented, also on behalf of others that have just turned away from the land and thought "it was done". Let's proclaim again and strike the ground again. It is not too late even though in the natural things look like a big disaster coming...The key is also to pray against the demon powers that rule over and through the Pashtuns. About 20 Christian workers were lost in the last 6 - 7 years, and all were killed by Pashtuns.
Many times the Lord spoke to us to pray against the demonic alliances between the Pakistan government/army and certain Taliban groups, Haqqaanis, Gulbadin and Al Qaeda. These groups work together and build a strong unity against the government of Afghanistan... This needs to be broken.
Let's pray also that their power would be broken. That the people themselves would stand up against the Taliban and say: enough!! This happened in a few areas and may it become a movement. Pray that many Pashtun tribal lealders would stand up and turn against the Taliban. God can do it. As quick as this movement came the Lord can cause it to die out. We must specially pray for that...
More workers are needed. Many workers have left and organisations pulled out. We need strong people that know how to stand against such pressures and know how to pray. Also that many of the Pashtun would come to the Lord and they would see signs and miracles and many visions and dreams.
The Un-lock North Africa strategic prayer initiative is a campaign of CHI – Ministries and the (APN) Australian Prayer Network under my leadership. In August 2004 whilst praying on the rock of Gibraltar, the Holy Spirit indicated that one day He would take me to Morocco – something I had never contemplated. A visit to Morocco occurred the following September 2005. The visit was under the banner of a ‘cultural awareness’ excursion, exposing people to other cultures and expressions of life. As we travelled between the cities of Rebat and Meknes, the Holy Spirit strongly impress upon me the need for strategic kingdom breakthrough in prayer across the nations of North Africa. North Africa was not in my plans at all at that time, far from it: I was focused in other regions.
However as we drove, God spoke a word into my spirit from Isaiah, chapter 62 verse 10, … to (unlock) open the ancient doors (gates) and rebuilding the highway of righteousness from Gibraltar to Jerusalem. The clear impression I got was that God wanted me to return and lead prayer journey’s into this region of the world; to work in strategic and informed intercession for the purpose of opening up this region to God’s transforming love, power and grace; to see freedom emerge amongst its people and to make way for the fulfillment of His prophetic word to the region. Isaiah chapter 62:10 and chapter 19, verses 23 to 25 provided background and focus concerning this mission.
In 2006, I formed our Strategic Research Unit (SRU). This unit has become key to building explicit national profiling on our target nation by gathering information around areas such as; demographics, culture, religion, history – both ancient and modern, along with specific spiritual revelation. From this collective information we develop our ‘meta-narrative’ on a nation and its people groups, which enables our prayer teams on the ground to be guided by the best intelligence we can offer. All our team members read this dossier before spending several weeks seeking prophetic revelation from the Lord for the places we visit. This was the genesis of the Un-Lock North Africa campaign that has now seen Australian teams visit all five nations of North Africa, including three Mediterranean gateway nations. From 2007 to 2012 we have prayed our way through Morocco, Gibraltar, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Malta, Istanbul and Algeria. God specifically revealed to us to include in our assignment the three spiritual gateways that exist across the Mediterranean region. They are Gibraltar in the West (Western Gate), Malta in the central Mediterranean (Central or Northern Gate) and Istanbul – Turkey in the East (Eastern Gate).
Many were surprised in 2011 when tiny Tunisia ignited a desire among Arab youth for justice and good government. As the fires of protest took hold, strongmen dictators have been cast down. The Lord spoke to the team in 2009 that, “Tunisia would be the thin-end of the wedge, that would open up North Africa” and as we’ve now seen, the rest of the Arab World in general. Words of a similar nature relating to places like Egypt and Libya were also given as we traveled there in 2008 and 2010.
As those who are to be able to read the signs of the times, we need to look beyond the media headlines and ask God what He is doing, especially in this region of the world.
Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations. Isaiah 62:10 (NIV)
‘Government makes U-turn on abortion consultation
The Government has dropped its plans to hold a public consultation on whether women seeking an abortion should be offered independent counselling. Health Minister Anna Soubry announced, last week, that the Government ‘did not intend to change the law or the guidelines’. She said that pressing ahead with a consultation on the issue would therefore be nothing more than an ‘otiose exercise’. Last year, MP Nadine Dorries introduced proposals to ensure that women considering an abortion would be guaranteed access to independent advice prior to being referred to an abortion provider. Currently, women considering an abortion are often referred to abortion providers themselves for advice. Ms Dorries argued it was necessary for such women to receive impartial advice and to remove the conflict of interest that exists for abortion providers in the procedure going ahead. Andrea Minichiello Williams, of Christian Concern, commented: ‘This is very disappointing and very little has been given to justify the decision to drop the consultation.
Pray: for all those facing the prospect of having an abortion and for them to have access to quality, independant advice. (Ps.32:8 )
Disabled must be included in development plans
Worldwide: Disabled people not to be ignored
Disabled people must be put ‘at the heart’ of international development, The Leprosy Mission has said. The estimated billion disabled people worldwide were ‘not effectively included’ within the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). International leaders were hosted by David Cameron in London last week for discussions on a global development strategy post 2015 - the target year for the fulfilment of the MDGs. The panel is to make recommendations to the United Nations about what should replace the MDGs. The Leprosy Mission said many disabled people around the world were ‘excluded’ from society and at a greater risk of being trapped in extreme poverty, with half of disabled people being out of work. Head of Programmes Co-ordination at The Leprosy Mission, Sian Arulanantham, said: ‘We are lobbying for disability to be specifically included in the new post 2015 framework.'
Pray: for the work of The Leprosy Mission and for a greater awareness of the issues faced by those with any form of disability across the world. (Gal.6:2)
Increase in persecution across '10/40 window'
There has been a steep increase in persecution across the ‘10/40 window’ in the last decade, says Gospel for Asia. It warned that in India alone there had been a ‘400 per cent’ increase in persecution. The 10/40 window encompasses the countries that have been least reached with the Gospel. Gospel for Asia president K P Yohannan said that people who had not experienced persecution ‘do not fully understand what it means to have their lives threatened, homes destroyed, rights violated and loved ones imprisoned, all because of embracing faith in Jesus Christ’. Christians in the 10/40 region have had their homes destroyed or been imprisoned because of accusations against them, including accusations of forced conversions. Many have been killed because of their belief in Christ and others have been forced to go underground. ‘The increase of this kind of persecution should not be surprising where the gospel is going forth in unfriendly world areas,’ said Yohannan. ‘.
Pray: for all Christians ouround th World who find themselves persecuted for their faith. (2Ti.3:12 )
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/increase.in.persecution.across.1040.window/30949.htm
From guerrilla leader to church leader
A man sentenced to 190 years behind bars for a brutal murder is now leading a prison church in Colombia. According to associate mission partners Pancha and Terry Barratt, this came about through the prayers of Christian prisoners and through the SEAN theological education by extension programme they help direct. ‘This man was so violent he’d served eight years in solitary confinement. But his Christian fellow prisoners prayed for him daily – they would sit outside his cell singing and praying. ‘One night God touched this man and he believed.’ This had a big impact in the prison. This man eventually graduated from the SEAN programme in 2005 and now helps lead the prison church. His sentence has recently been reduced to 19 more years for good behaviour and the SEAN programme has been welcomed in 23 out of 25 major prisons in Colombia.
Praise: God the He can reach even those who seem far away and lost. ( Ac.3:19)
From guerrilla leader to church leader
A man sentenced to 190 years behind bars for a brutal murder is now leading a prison church in Colombia. According to associate mission partners Pancha and Terry Barratt, this came about through the prayers of Christian prisoners and through the SEAN theological education by extension programme they help direct. ‘This man was so violent he’d served eight years in solitary confinement. But his Christian fellow prisoners prayed for him daily – they would sit outside his cell singing and praying. ‘One night God touched this man and he believed.’ This had a big impact in the prison. This man eventually graduated from the SEAN programme in 2005 and now helps lead the prison church. His sentence has recently been reduced to 19 more years for good behaviour and the SEAN programme has been welcomed in 23 out of 25 major prisons in Colombia.
Praise: God the He can reach even those who seem far away and lost. ( Ac.3:19)
Probably many millions around the world were praying for the U.S. election on November 6. Thanks for your prayers for America at this crucial time in her history. Many who prayed were disappointed at the outcome; others may have rejoiced. The following morning, as I reflected over what happened, I felt the Lord was giving me the doxology from Romans 11- “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord?... For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”
There is comfort in the fact that if so many were praying, the Lord in His all-encompassing wisdom knows what is best for the country at this time and is giving us the leadership we have received as part of His purpose. Even with expected moves towards what some feel could result in far greater government intrusion and control as well as the further implementation of a globalist agenda for a “new world order”, we can be sure that the Lord’s own agenda is still the one that will overshadow everything on the earthly level. In the ups and downs, the vicissitudes of life and history, He is still the one who holds all things in His hands, bringing about His cosmic purposes for all nations.
We should remember, even if it were to come to a loss of cherished freedoms, that believers throughout history have often lived under oppressive regimes from the time of Egypt’s god-worshipped pharaohs, the idolatrous kings of Israel, many dictatorial Roman emperors, and currently in harshly persecuting states like North Korea or Iran. Wherever in the world we are, God can also bring even tyrannical, egomaniacal leaders to repentance and faith as we pray and speak out for Him. For example, He did this with the proud and self-loving King Nebuchadnezzar through the fearless prophetic ministry of youthful yet courageous Daniel.
Yes, the “whole world is under the control of the evil one” as the apostle John tells us, but his book of Revelation also unveils the fact that the Messiah’s coming will surely follow soon after the most unimaginable evils that the Antichrist can bring with him. Jesus gave us the recipe for dealing with far worse circumstances that will eventually come upon our world, cheering us on with these words: “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” In other words, instead of fixating on the negative things happening on the human level, look at them as part of the redemptive working of God which will eventually bring Messiah back to reign. His closing word in the same passage is so relevant for us in the prayer movement: “Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” What a challenge for us all to keep the right perspective and to get ready to appear before the coming King!
Some implications and suggestions:
1) In order to effectively “watch and pray”, don’t be like an ostrich with its head in the sand! Keep informed about political, economic and other significant things happening in your nation and culture so you and others can pray intelligently.
2) Get God’s heart for these situations, listening and praying out what the Spirit gives you, utilizing the perspective and authority of His Word.
3) Unite your prayers with others who share your concerns and intercede specifically.
4) Pray for wisdom, honesty and humility for all those in power that they will come to fear and obey God, even having visions and dreams in the night, and that His guidance will be reflected in their policies and decisions. Speak out boldly yet lovingly to them if you are given the chance.
5) Pray for wisdom, honesty and humility for all those in power that they will come to fear and obey God, even having visions and dreams in the night, and that His guidance will be reflected in their policies and decisions. Speak out boldly yet lovingly to them if you are given the chance.
Words about the U.S. election from outside for your discernment
Ian Cole, one of our IPC leadership team from the U.K. encouragingly wrote:
“The Lord says ‘now is the time for America to pray’. I know that much prayer has gone into the election around the world and certainly here in the UK… In our human frailty, we often stop praying at the end of an intense period of praying. I feel strongly to urge the praying folk in your nation to stand on the Towers of prayer and diligently watch and pray in the coming weeks and months. This is not the time to stop; it is the time to stand strong in God and see Him win the real battle for the soul of your nation. We will stand with you.”
Others wrote to say that it would be a time of judgment and purification. I am including the sobering word from Esther, a prayer leader in China, who was praying for the U.S.A. while her own nation is facing a huge leadership transition. An Indonesian prayer leader with the same name spelled “Ester” also sent a similar word about the spiritual danger that America is in and saying that the hurricane “Sandy” is just the beginning of other woes unless we begin to turn back to the Lord. We all know that God’s love and wrath are two sides of the same coin and many American Christian leaders do discern that He as the loving Father has been giving the country a good spanking through so many natural disasters and other unpleasant developments.
From Esther in China:
“Below is the message I received from the Lord when I prayed for U.S. I cried and cried for America so deeply before the Lord. I send it to you and you can discern it.
‘The Lord says to America, Repent! The Lord’s command for America is to repent! American people, you went astray too far, too far from the Lord and his righteous statutes. You followed the world and all the idols in it, you have forsaken the Lord your God, and God of your fathers. You are like the adulteress, turned to other men and betrayed your own husband who provided you and made you prosper. The Lord himself will bring charges against you. I heard the Lord say to America, ”Does a maiden forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number.” I feel the Lord’s heart is so broken for that. He is so painful for his people’s adultery. Repent! Oh American people, turn to your fathers’ God, do not sin against him any more. He is your father! He is your Savior and hope!
Open the Bible and check your life according to his words, not the standards of the world. See what you should repent, and see what and how much the American people have sinned against the Lord.
All Americans, humble before the Lord your God! This is the only chance. If you don’t humble and repent, the only and deserving result is disaster and punishment from the Holy One of Israel! This warning is serious from the Lord! You have already experienced some degree of punishment, it’s God’s warning for you: quickly, quickly turn from your sins and darkness, come to light and truth. If you take it for granted or mock at these, if you don’t change your sinful lifestyle and thinking, the bigger and more severe punishment and judgment is waiting for you. He is merciful, but don’t forget, he is the most Holy One, he is just and righteous, and he is the consuming fire! He has already given you the chance for repentance. If you continue to stiffen your neck, there is no excuse when he comes with punishment and fierce anger.
He doesn’t want to destroy you. Actually all he plans for you are peace and blessings because he loves you. But don’t despise and against his holiness anymore! “The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted, and they will be humbled.” The Lord loves American people so much! He said, come, my sons and daughters, come to father’s heart, come to know me and my heart for you. And you will know how much I love you; don’t forsake me any longer. You are like the prodigal, but I am waiting for you to come back!
Uncover the veil on your face! Remove the blindness in your heart! And you will see me, you will see the truth and know that only me can really satisfy you and give you peace and eternal love. Come to me, and you will be satisfied and you will know that other gods are not gods but idols, what the world is teaching you are totally wrong and that leads you to a ruined and destroyed life and eventually lose your identity, destiny and eternity.
But there is still hope! There is still opportunity! There is still grace and love stored for you!
Repent and let God be God! He will lead you to a new America. Not Obama or Romney or any other person, but God himself! Whoever you choose to be your leaders of this country, if you continue to forsake the Lord your God and his words, the result is the same.
Don’t be like Israelites when in Judges time Israel had no king and everyone did as he saw fit. The Lord God is your king! In every aspect of your society, exalt him and obey him; he will give you new hope and you will see a transformed America filled with his glory, righteousness and holiness! God loves you!
Please be praying with us for Sierra Leone as we go conduct our presidential and parliamentary elections on Nov. 17th, 2012. The campaign is on until Nov. 16th.
1. The campaign rallies in recent days have been violent. In Kono another political party was stoned, vehicle destroyed and a building destroyed.
2. Personality attacks on presidential aspirants from the opposition and ruling parties have been on the increase
3. Missing parts on human beings and mystery disappearance of some people.
4. We pray for tolerance, non-violence, free, fair and transparent elections.
5. That the Lord will give the nation a God-fearing leader who will lead the nation in the fear of the Lord.