Prayers for Turkey: A 365 Day Global Prayer Journey - November 26

Today we conclude our prayers for Turkey. Please review pages 830-835.

Many of the New Testament locations are in modern-day Turkey - including all of the 7 churches of Revelation - and yet as a whole the country has rejected these roots. The church only accounts for .005% of the total population, and it is increasingly persecuted. The church needs to be united and focused on Biblical truth in order to survive. Today, let's focus our prayers on the church in Turkey using the 7 churches of Revelation as a scriptural foundation.

My prayer for today: Lord, we lift up the church in Turkey to You today. As You taught us through John centuries ago, You walk among the churches. You hold their leaders in Your hand. You are always at work among them, observing, shaping, correcting, growing. We pray for the church in Turkey - and each individual congregation - to know this truth about You deeply. We pray for them to realize they follow You, the faithful witness, and that You lead them into all truth and through all trials. We pray for them to be an overcoming church, as these verses describe: that they will practice righteous deeds; reject evil; test all claims against truth; persevere for Your name without growing weary; love You and others; endure tribulation and poverty without compromise. Enable them to remain faithful to death; hold fast to Your name without denying You in word or deed; reject idolatry; reject immorality; and complete all the deeds You give them to do. Help them remain alive and strengthened for Your purposes; use what they has; keep Your word without denying Your name; hold firmly to what You give and walk through the doors You open. May the church in Turkey be useful to Your kingdom; recognize its needs; have a proven faith; and be characterized by righteous deeds. And Lord, please give them spiritual vision; and most of all, enable them to  focus on relationship with You and not merely religion. Help them overcome, Lord Jesus, by Your grace and for Your glory.

Prayers for Turkey: A 365 Day Global Prayer Journey - November 25

Today we continue to pray for Turkey. We are blessed with insights from one currently serving in that land. Please review pages 830-835 and then read his words and pray along with this servant of the Lord!

The Republic of Turkey is a quickly growing, and changing nation, and a regional power located right in the middle of Europe, Asia and the Middle East. It is a fairly young nation, not even a century old yet. After the defeat of The Ottoman Empire in World War I, the people were without leadership, and they were occupied by the Allies, with seemingly no hope of a comeback. But just a few years later, under the extraordinary leadership and vision of a man name Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, they succeeded in regaining their homeland, and establishing a republic. Not stopping at that victory he introduced many radical reforms  completely transforming the political, social, economic, legal, educational landscape of the nation, and effectively taking huge steps in modernizing the country.

Turkey is considered the largest unreached nation in the world. Although it technically has a secular government, Islam is the predominant religion, exceeding 99%. The number of Christian believers in the nation is around 5,000. At that percentage the number of believers in the state of Arkansas would only be around 200. If they were spread out evenly there would only be 2 believers in Fayetteville! Although there is freedom of religion in Turkey believers do endure much persecution, sometimes religious, and sometimes social. Accepting Jesus in Turkey many times means being disowned by your entire family. Just across the border in Iran, Jesus is encountering his people, and many many are being saved. Even among Iranians within Turkey revival is happening. It seems that among the Turks it's just not time yet, but as we pray we feel that Turkey's time is coming. There have been reports of the dead being raised, of the sick being healed, and we believe, we know this is only the beginning.

Islam may be a big stronghold, but it is not Turkey's only stronghold, after the long and ancient history of this land, there are literally idols buried in the ground beneath our feet. But this is the land of Abraham, this is the land where Paul lived, this is the land of the seven churches of revelation!

Please pray for persecuted believers, for the protection, comfort, and strength that only the Lord can give, and then they would be able to be a witness of his love to their brothers, sisters, parents, and spouses.

Please pray that the Lord would raise up workers for the harvest, equipping them, providing for them, and sending them out with fire and vision in their hearts and faith for the impossible.

Please pray specifically for the health of the workers who are here, for their spouses, and children, for protection and healing from all illness and disease.

Pray that God would release His presence, that He would come and work supernaturally in signs, wonders, and miracles, and just as importantly that He would work supernaturally in the hearts and minds of every believer and worker, giving them His character, His mind, and His will so that they will be able to display the life changing power of Christ.

Prayers for Turkey: A 365 Day Global Prayer Journey - November 24

For the next 3 days we will focus our prayers on Turkey, a unique country within the Muslim world. It has historically been a secular Muslim country. Recently, though, it has been moving toward more Islamic structures. Please read about this land on pages 830-835, then watch this video and join in prayer today.

http://youtu.be/f_T0tgW1CII