Prayer Guide – Week 28 (March 13-19)

The two Prefectures to pray for this week are Gifu and Aichi

Gifu
A home to vast forest and mountains, Gifu is one of the most sparsely populated areas of the country. There are low numbers of adherents to Buddhism and religion in general while the hardworking and independent attitudes lead people to be conservative and content with their way of life. According to the Operation Japan prayer guide, there are only 11 missionaries ministering in Gifu and church membership accounts for too few of the over 2 million population

Please pray for:

• Workers to tell the people of Gifu about the hope that is in Christ for a relationship with the One True God.
• Satan's strongholds to be completely destroyed.

"'Is not My word like fire?' declares the LORD, 'and like a hammer which shatters a rock?'" - Jeremiah 23:29

Aichi
Many of those who live in Aichi are increasingly uncertain about life. This might be due in part to their bent towards realism. There are few large-scale traditional festivals despite the number of Buddhists.

Aichi is home to Nagoya, the country's third largest city. Its location between Tokyo and Osaka makes it of strategic importance. The laborers are few: there is approximately 1 Japanese Christian for every 335 people.

Please pray for:

• the 34 towns and villages with no church at all
• the 4 large cities with only one church (Bisai, Tokoname, Iwakura, Takahama)
• the believers in Aichi, that they would not be overwhelmed at the massive task before them, but would give their lives to serve their people with the love of Christ, hoping for all to know Him

"Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be saved through the Law of Moses." - Acts 13:38,39

John the Apostle writes in 1 John 3:8, “ The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” Other translations say He came to undo the works of the devil.

We are engaged in a fierce spiritual battle. Paul encourages us to firstly put our armor on and then to realize what is going on…Ephesians 6:11-12

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 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.”

This week let’s put the armor on and go to battle in prayer. Let’s pray Jesus will destroy the evil taking place across Japan – destroy the “High Places” and break chains that have held people free.

Paul also prays that the veil will be lifted (2 Corinthians 3:14) when we turn to the Lord. Pray for the lifting of the veil across Japan and in the lives of Japanese people

Finally in Colossians 4:12, Paul affirms Epaphras because he is always 'wrestling' or 'struggling' in prayer for the church of Colossae.

Let’s wrestle in prayer for Japan.

The Lord is the One who gives us help when the crow's nest cries for food. Let us intercede and pray to the merciful Lord.

Let us pray for the workers.
There are many facilities where people with disabilities live that do not have enough workers and cannot provide adequate care. Let us pray that enough workers will be raised.
Pray that workers who work with joy and pride will be given.
Pray that workers who serve with humility and love will rise up.
Pray for the establishment of laws and systems so that they can be paid appropriately.

Let us pray for the residents.
Pray that they will receive adequate services so that they can live with dignity as human beings.
Pray for the residents to receive adequate services so that they can live with dignity.
Pray that they will be able to live with hope.

Let us pray for the facility that was started in the spirit of Christianity.
Pray that the spirit will be passed on to the next generation.
Pray that the management will be well supported.
Pray that the Lord will give us wisdom and strength to serve the changing needs of the people.
Pray that the Lord will give us wisdom and strength to serve the changing needs of the people.
That more and more workers will be raised up who serve with the mind of Christ.