Day of Fasting & Prayer - April 8, 2020
What kind of king did you expect?
This week is known as the Passion week of Christ – His sufferings. Within this week we will find various groups of people with different expectations of Him. This Holy Week was all about expectations. But we all have expectations of Jesus, right?
The crowds in Jesus’ day adored him on Palm Sunday. Christ rode into Jerusalem to the shouts and praises of the people as they waved palm branches (Matthew 21:8-11) What a sight and sound it must have been! The people were thrilled with the prospect that Jesus would fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9-10. But not just the idea of riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. The common people and the disciples, were expecting Jesus to turn the table on the oppressive Roman government and set up His earthly kingdom in its place. To make their lives better, deliver them from the oppressive Roman system which they lived and worked under. The expectation of deliverance and freedom caused them to worship Him.
Jesus had disappointed, offended and alienated the religious rulers and leaders of the day by his actions during the week too. When Jesus miraculously saves a lame man by first saying, “Your sins are forgiven” and then healing him, he challenged the authority of the Temple system. When Jesus drove the money-changers from the Temple, proclaiming that Temple was to be a house of prayer for all nations, but that religious leaders had made it a den of thieves, Jesus exposed the corruption of Temple tax, the scandalous monetary exchange rate, and the dishonesty of those who sold animals for sacrifice. He said to them that the Temple was not the only way to find God’s forgiveness; and further, that the Temple would be destroyed, with not one stone left on another. He spoke the truth, but it sure made them mad!
So within a few short days, the Jewish religious leaders, the Roman empire and the common people all turned on Jesus. Jesus would find himself betrayed by one of his own disciples, arrested by the high priest’s guard, accused by a coalition of religious leaders, tried by the Roman governor, and sentenced to die the death of a common criminal—death by crucifixion. Even those closest to Jesus, the 12 disciples, will either betray him outright, or abandon him in confusion and fear.
What are your expectations of Jesus this week? Many of us were hoping we could gather together for Good Friday and Easter Sunday services. Not to mention family gatherings over a delicious meal and some fun activities. But maybe Christ has some different plans for this week and weekend? He might not meet your expectations, but could it mean something even more powerful is about to happen? Something more powerful in the spirit realm than any of us can imagine, comprehend or fully appreciate… like the holy week.
Let’s trust Him in this season of crisis, that God is at work in unexpected ways to fulfill His purposes in the earth – the salvation of many souls, the revival of others, and the advancement of His prophetic plan for the world!
Pastor Barry Risto
Prayer Points
Scriptures: Matthew 6:10; 21:8-11; 24:3-14; Zechariah 9:9-10
Confess any known and unknown sins.
Father, I thank You that I am able to participate in today’s fasting program.
Commit the month of April into the Lord’s hands. Pray that you will end the month well in Jesus’ name.
Matt 6:10 – Lord, let us experience Your sovereign rule in the lives of our households and church during these difficult days.
Matt 6:10 – Lord, let us experience Your sovereign rule among the nations during this pandemic.
Matt 6:10 – Father, let Your perfect will be done in our lives (myself, family, church, world) during this pandemic.
Matt 21:9 - Jesus, Son of God, save me, my household and extended family from this deadly pandemic – COVID 19 (pray this seriously)
Matt 21: 9 – Jesus, Son of Man, save our nation and the nations of the world from this deadly pandemic – COVID 19. (pray this seriously)
Matt 24:6 – 8 - Jehovah Shamma, let Your divine presence surround me and my household during this pandemic.
Matt 24: 6 – 8 – Jehovah Shamma, let Your divine presence surround Your people all over the world during this pandemic.
Matt 24: 9-13 – Father we ask for Your protection for our families (mention them), church and the global body of Christ during these difficult times and the evil days ahead.
Matt 24:14 - Lord, let the gospel of Christ permeate through the minds and hearts of everyone on the face of the world during this difficult time.
Jesus, use this pandemic of COVID-19 to bring the world to Your saving knowledge.
Zech 9:10 – In Jesus’ name I speak peace into the lives of all those who have been adversely impacted by this COVID-19 pandemic. (loss of jobs, livelihood, death)
Elohim, we ask for Your protection for the front-line workers (mention them) during this pandemic.
Unleash Your protection and providence upon the persecuted church globally in Jesus’ name.
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Prayer Conference Call at 5:30 am
Dial: 647-977-2648 (Canada) / 202-602-1295 (USA)
Code: 827-220-552#
Teaching & Prayer Live at 8:00 pm
ppt.church/live
OR
Dial: 647-977-2648 (Canada) / 202-602-1295 (USA)
Code: 827-220-552#