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40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020

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2 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020
40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020
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Contents
7 Hearing the Holy Spirit for the Times
We Live In

9 Day 1-3: Preparing Our Heart, Mind


and Spirit to Hear

13 Day 4-8: Renewing Our First Love


19 Day 9-13: The Faithful Restored

4 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


25 Day 14-18: The Sharp Two-Edged Sword
31 Day 19-23: The Power of Holiness
and the Prophetic

37 Day 24-29: Awakened to be Alive

44 Day 30-34: An Open Door


No One Can Shut

50 Day 35-40: Refiner’s Fire.


Prepare to Overcome

57 Acknowledgement

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


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6 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020
Hearing the Holy Spirit
for the Times We Live In
(Foreword by the Editorial Team)

Shalom, everyone!

This year, our theme for 40-Day Fast and Prayer is “Hearing
the Holy Spirit for the Times We Live In.” The key verses we use
for this period of 40 days is found in chapters 2 and 3 of the
book of Revelation.

Revelation? Tough passage, right? Yes! However, we are


living in a time where this book of the Bible becomes relevant
to us because of the messages it carries! Read through
the daily scriptures and devotions, and you will come to
understand more of it.

As kids, we are used to listening to what the adults have


to tell us, whether we are right or wrong, and whether we are
obedient or disobedient.

It is a good practice for us to hear advice and warnings


from our parents or teachers, and equally good practice to
train ourselves to hear from God directly.

How do we hear from God? How does God speak to us?


It is through the impression or conviction of the Holy Spirit with
the Word of God, as the Holy Spirit will remind us of every
word that we have read in the Bible!

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


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Hence, when we say “Hearing the Holy Spirit for the
Times We Live In”, most of the time if not all the time, we are
hearing Him with the Word we meditate on every day, and
God gives us the insights and understanding we need about
His will and desires.

If we do not have the Word of God as our reference, we


might wrongly think that our feelings and our emotions are
what God is speaking to us! So, it is very important that we
read the Word and meditate on it day and night and see
what the Lord has to say to us!

There are 3 things you can do:

1) First, we encourage those who doing this 40-Day Fast and


Prayer 2020 to set apart one hour (if not, half an hour)
daily to at least read all the suggested daily passages
(or some of them if you don’t have the time) and
meditate on His word. E.g. Daily passages for Day 1 will
be Matthew 1-5.

2) Second, use the prayer guidelines provided daily to help


us pray for ourselves, our churches and leaders in our
nation.

3) Third, fast for the nation if you want to do so. Choose to fast
from certain foods or drinks (especially your favourites.)
Don’t do certain activities (such as those games or toys
you can’t seem to live without) so that you can pay full
attention to God and His Word!

May God give you a fruitful time as you ride through this
40-day journey, and may He make you smarter in God, more
on fire and more obedient to Him than ever before!

Let’s enjoy God and His presence together!

8 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Day 1-3

Preparing Our Heart,


Mind and Spirit to Hear
(Revelation 2-3)

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


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Bible Reading

Day 1 7 August 2020, Fri Matthew 1-5

A Man Who Did God’s Will


Have you ever wondered why A baby? Argh! He hadn’t even slept
Matthew considered “only” Joseph a with Mary!
“righteous” man?
Joseph had the right to ditch Mary
To Jews, a “righteous” man was or tell others about her ugly deed,
someone born into a Jewish family and Mary would have been stoned
and who followed the Law of Moses. to death!
To God, righteousness is knowing
God personally and obeying His That was what the Pharisees tried
will and heart. to do when a woman was caught
sleeping with a man who wasn’t her
In our day, kids or adults may husband (called adultery)! They didn’t
also follow churchy programs or care about the poor woman who
tra di tio n s w i t h o u t k nowing and needed God’s love, grace and mercy.
following Jesus personally.
Instead, Joseph planned to divorce
Joseph was about to marry a lady Mary secretly in order not to shame her
named Mary when he discovered that publicly. The angel of God appeared
she was already carrying a baby a few to him in a dream and told him Mary’s
months in her womb! pregnancy had to do with the Holy
Spirit! He responded to God’s message
It must have been a nightmare to obediently by taking Mary to be his
Joseph! How painful and angry he wife, knowing that the Baby would be
would have been! God’s salvation for His people.

Think for a moment:


Will you give up your rights for God? (E.g. forgive those who have
wronged you? )

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that as children of God, we will be salt and light and choose to do
His Will (heart) and reveal His Being (character). Be loving and merciful to
others as God is to us.

• Pray that The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-
Mustafa Billah Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in
Billah, will continue to be wise in using his power and authority and in
supporting the peace, harmony and success of the nation.

10 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Bible Reading

Day 2 8 August 2020, Sat Matthew 6-10

A Man Who Dispensed Light


This was how Jesus dispensed His their earthly possessions.
light and life unto the darkness…
He corrected the wrong attitude
He came and lived among His people had for prayer and fasting,
people. He taught them the Truth, making clear that it should be done
healed the sick, met their needs and out of our love for God. It isn’t a kind
showed them the Kingdom’s lifestyle. of religious act to show off that we
Everywhere He went, He brought in are holier or better than others.
new ideas, gave rise to new hope
and stirred changes in others. He Most churches in Revelation 2-3
made people smart for God. failed God and lived under the
influence of darkness. They could
He encouraged them not to worry have obeyed God’s voice to be salt
about food or clothing but to seek first and light and make a difference in
His Kingdom and His righteousness. the communities, but like the priests,
He taught them to love treasures in the Pharisees and most of the Jews in
heaven instead of holding tightly to Jesus’ time, they didn’t.

Think for a moment:


Do we take time to pay attention to others’ needs, care for them
and share our extras with them?

Do we pray for them and tell them about the truth and the goodness
of God?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that we will be smart heavenly kids, dispenser of His light and life,
and that the world which is full of darkness, will be brightened through our
actions.

• Pray for the Prime Minister of Malaysia, that the Lord will bless him with
good health and excellent spirit, that he shall be the pillar of strength and
exercise sound and wise judgment with a heart of integrity.

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


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Bible Reading

Day 3 9 August 2020, Sun Matthew 11-15

Hear What the Spirit Says


How do you react when somebody Hence, Herod beheaded John
tells you that you are wrong? whom he considered a “busybody”.
The Pharisees tried to kill Jesus, who
King Herod was mad at John who simply said and did things the way
said it wasn’t right for him to marry his “He liked”.
brother’s wife.
The Jewish world was confused.
The Pharisees were also driven crazy They were told by these two men
by Jesus as He allowed his disciples to that they were wrong and that they
pluck heads of grain to fill their hungry were sinning against God and in need
stomachs and healed a man with a of repentance and salvation. They
shriveled hand on the Sabbath – the thought they were children of God,
day where everybody was supposed that they had done God’s will and
to rest and not work. knew the Truth. Then Somebody came
and said they weren’t! This Somebody
They wondered who was this John, did horrible things against their culture.
trying to rebuke the King? Who was Worst still, many believed in this
this Jesus who dared to talk back Somebody’s teachings!
to the Jewish teachers about their
supreme laws? Churches in Revelation 2-3
were war ned about their need to
repent too.

Think for a moment:


Sometimes, we are wrong and God speaks through His Word, His
Spirit or His people (who can be our parents, teacher, friend, or, yes,
even our annoying little sibling).
Are we willing to take heed?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that we will be humble boys and girls who listen to good advice when
we have done something wrong. For Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear,
let him hear” (Matt 11:13).

• Pray that the Government (Religious Affairs Division within the Prime
Minister’s Department) will work hard to make sure that everybody will be
respected, so that everybody will live together in peace and harmony.

12 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Day 4-8

Renewing Our First Love


(Revelation 2:1-7)

1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the
seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you
cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves
apostles and are not, and found them to be false.
3I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and
you have not grown weary.
4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

5Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works
you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its
place, unless you repent.
6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the
one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of
God.’

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


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Bible Reading

Day 4 10 August 2020, Mon Matthew 16-20

Keep Your Lamps Burning


Aaron and all the high priests after showbread, which is the Word of God.
him had a sacred task to arrange
lamps on the golden lampstand before Revelation 1:20 refers to the seven
the Lord regularly. lampstands as the seven churches
mentioned in Revelation 2-3. Jesus
The fire on the lampstand (or walked among the seven golden
candlestick) was the only item that lampstands and gave His words to the
gave light to the tabernacle, and it seven churches individually.
had to keep burning and shedding its
light on the table of showbread. The Church of Ephesus threw away
their first love for God. Jesus called
Jewish Rabbis/teachers see the them to repent or their lampstand
lampstand as the nation of Israel. Some would be removed from its place. That
see it as the presence of God because meant, the church wouldn’t be there
Jesus said He is the light of the world. anymore - the presence of God, the
Others believe it to be a shining of people of God and the work of the
the Holy Spirit as it sheds light on the Holy Spirit - would be gone.

Think for a moment:


What happened when the lampstand was removed from the
tabernacle? The whole tabernacle became utterly dark!

Our light dims when we lose our first love for God. Eventually we
cease shining. Soon and very soon, all will end up in the darkness!

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that our love for God will get stronger each day as we learn to
fellowship with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit through reading the
Word, praying, loving others, and sharing the good news and testimonies
with others.

• Pray that the Government (the Parliament and Law Division in the Prime
Minister’s Department) will write, change and abolish (or cancel) laws to
make all laws fair and equal for all.

14 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Bible Reading

Day 5 11 August 2020, Tue Matthew 21-25

Check Our Fire


Do your parents spot check your If we are careless and leave some
school bags sometimes? studies undone, they find out and help
us go through it and, because of that,
You might not feel happy about it. we will be spared from panic the next
It is definitely not a good feeling when day in school. That is discipline!
someone checks on you, especially
if you can’t handle things well, like God did His spot check on the
finishing your homework on time. Church of Ephesus and warned them
of their wrongdoing, and asked them
However, they are helping us to to get it right immediately.
be more disciplined in our attitudes,
behaviour and minds. God also does His regular spot
check on us individually. He helps us
If we are too tired and think that examine our spiritual life, making sure
we can skip homework and do it that our fire does not go out, and that
“tomorrow”, they come to sit beside we do whatever we need to do as a
us and make sure we finish it “today,” Christian to keep our fire burning.
before we go to bed. That is discipline!

Think for a moment:


Can we learn to appreciate our parents’ and God’s spot checks?

We become better in our studies with those spot checks. Our spiritual
lives become better too with God’s constant spot checks, through
warnings of our parents or Sunday school teachers!

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that we will have a humble heart to do self-checks today and respond
to God in repentance in areas where we have gone wrong. Give thanks
to God for His correction upon our lives and churches as His intention
is always for our own good and to lead us back to His righteousness
and light.

• Pray that the Election Commission will ensure fair and good operations are
carried out in the coming Malaysian General Elections and that there will
be no cheating or mistakes.

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


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Bible Reading

Day 6 12 August 2020, Wed Matthew 26-28


Mark 1-2

“Fallen” and “Restored”


In Mark 2, Jesus called Levi to Levi heard Jesus calling him and he
follow him. left his tax booth and followed Jesus.
He gathered friends he knew, sinners
Levi was his Hebrew name and and tax collectors who hang around
Matthew was his Greek name. He was with him. They had a big party eating
a tax collector. and drinking at his house, listening to
Jesus telling them about the Kingdom
Tax collectors in Jesus’ time were of God.
seen by the other Jews as “sinners”
because they were really, really bad. Levi might have been very sinful
They collected very heavy taxes (more in the eyes of men, but Jesus offered
than the amount the people were him an opportunity to start a new life.
forced to pay by the Roman Empire), Levi responded and even grew to
even from the poor. become one of Jesus’s disciples and
the writer of the Gospel of Matthew.
They were not allowed to go into What a big change!
the Jewish synagogues and Temple,
and were cut off from all “church God is calling all sinners to return to
fellowship”. They could only have Him through Jesus Christ. All of us have
social fellowship with other tax a chance to be restored to God, no
collectors and sinners. matter how far we have fallen away.

Think for a moment:


Have you ever thought that somebody around you is too bad to be
forgiven or to be treated as a friend?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that we will love sinners, even those who we consider bad and terrible,
and will keep them in our prayers. Pray also we will be like Levi. If Levi can
bring “bad” gangs to Jesus, we can bring “good” friends to Christ too!

• Pray that the Parliament of Malaysia will be very careful in passing,


changing and repealing (or cancelling) acts of law. Pray also that bills (or
suggestions for new laws or changes to laws) approved by the Yang di-
Pertuan Agong will help bring peace, justice and fairness to our society.

16 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Bible Reading

Day 7 13 August 2020, Thur Mark 3-7

Be the Good Soil


Jesus taught a parable of the sower differently towards the Word of God?
and brought out the truth that our heart
condition determines how the Word of Some seem to easily obey and
God (the seeds) take effect in us. follow all the instructions given by
their Sunday school teachers or youth
Some seeds fell along the path leaders. Some may take instructions
and were devoured by birds (Satan). a bit slower and will only respond well
Some fell on rocky ground, grew but when certain incentives are given, like
were scorched by hot sun (because gifts, praises, etc. Some may have to
they were treated badly or cruelly and be scolded before they submit. Sadly,
because of troubles) and withered. some children just don’t care what
Some fell among thorns (things we their teachers say and only live in their
worry about, like exams; desires, like own world.
new phones; and hours and hours of
computer games) and the seeds It all has to do with our hearts!
get choked. Some fell into good soil When we have a good heart, it is like
and produced thirtyfold, sixtyfold good soil that allows the seed of God
and a hundredfold. to grow, and our lives will bear good
fruit. However, if our heart is divided or
Have we ever wondered why all hardened, we just can’t obey!
the kids in church seem to behave

Think for a moment:


Is your heart soft before God? Are you quick to obey Jesus and bear
fruit in your life? Or do you pay no attention to what God says?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that God will forgive us if we don’t care about His Word or His voice.
Pray that our hearts and spiritual ears will be sensitive and open to hear
from Him, and that we will soak ourselves in His presence and seek Him with
all our heart.

• Pray that the Government (the Ministry of Finance) will set good policies,
rules and budgets that will make our nation grow and help all Malaysians.

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


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Bible Reading

Day 8 14 August 2020, Fri Mark 8-12

Be Giving & Trusting


In Mark 9:33-37, the disciples were will only find themselves giving, giving
arguing about who was the greatest. and giving.
Jesus took a child in his arms and said,
“whoever receives one such child in In Mark 10:13-16 we see that the
my name receives me….” He was like disciples were trying to stop children
saying, “Hey, guys! If you want to be from coming near to Jesus for prayers.
the greatest, serve these little ones Jesus was angry with them and said,
for me.” “Let the little children come to me, and
don’t hinder them, for the Kingdom of
Why? It’s because serving children God belongs to such as these”.
is often a free service! Children don’t
pay the servers (be they teachers or He asked the adults to receive the
parents). They don’t buy anyone gifts. Kingdom, just like we children can, in
They don’t treat anyone to meals. order to enter it! He was like saying,
They can’t do favours for anyone, like, “Hey, guys! Be simple, honest, humble,
helping to get promotions at their jobs and very eager, like children who trust
or even earning money for food for Me easily!”
the family.
What a privilege to be used by Jesus
Children can’t be of much benefit to as lesson examples to the adults!
the servers in almost anything! Servers

Think for a moment:


Jesus taught us it is more blessed to give than to receive. As children
without much money, how can we give to Jesus?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that God will teach us how to give as little children and that we will
learn to trust God more and more. Pray that we will remain simple in our
faith and will learn to be obedient as we grow up.

• Pray that the Government (The Ministry of Youth and Sport) will build a
stronger bond and good relationship among all the youths using sports
training and education. Pray also that youths who had done wrong things
will be trained in good skills so that they can get good jobs and start a new
and better life.

18 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Day 9-13

The Faithful Restored


(Revelation 2:8-11)

8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the
last, who died and came to life.
9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of
those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw
some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have
tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one
who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


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Bible Reading

Day 9 15 August 2020, Sat Mark 13-16


Luke 1

The Risen One. The First and the Last


In Mark 13-16, Jesus alarmed His and more dangerous. Wars, diseases,
disciples about the coming worldwide earthquakes, fires, tsunamis, violence,
disasters and asked them to be etc. And, yes. Christians have
watchful. Then He was crucified and been killed and thrown into prison
died on the Cross. everywhere.

Yet, the greatest news to all mankind Our journey on earth is like riding a
is: He rose from the dead! roller coaster. We might be screaming
our lungs out but if we hold tightly onto
The faith of the disciples were the handle, we will arrive at our starting
strengthened to see the Risen Christ point safely.
who conquered death, though it
frightened most of them. Our Lord Jesus travelled this journey
and He knew how dangerous it was.
Jesus also warned the Church in He promised that He will be with us and
Smyrna about the coming dangers that He will help us along the way.
and possible death. Yet they could be
victors as He is the First and the Last, Like holding onto the handle of a
who died and came to Life (Rev 2:8). roller coaster, we hold on to His firm
promises and ride through our rocky
Our world might become more moments in the world.

Think for a moment:


Our parents cheer and applaud when we finish our roller coaster ride,
right?

In about the same way, we have Jesus too standing right there at the
starting and ending point. As we obey Him, He shall welcome us into His
glory with crowns of life.

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that we will know Jesus more and more, as the Risen Christ, the Eternal
King, our Lord and Saviour, the First and the Last, so that we will experience
peace and victory in our life journey.

• Pray that the Government (the Ministry of Defence) will work well to keep
our country safe and that they will be wise in buying weapons for their use.

20 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Bible Reading

Day 10 16 August 2020, Sun Luke 2-6

Jesus is Our Lord and King


The biggest difficulties the Church of “Pax Romana” (which means “Roman
Smyrna faced was idol worship. People Peace”) on earth.
were forced to burn incense to their
Roman emperors and confess that Suddenly, there came Jesus, a
“Caesar is Lord.” carpenter’s son, who proclaimed
that His was the Kingdom of God, the
Caesar was the founder of the Kingdom of Peace and Power, with its
Roman Empire. His name was used as King calling forth His subjects to return
a “title” to refer to all Roman emperors to Him.
after him. His successor, Augustus (the
ruler who took census in Luke 2), was Christians in Smyrna who confessed
first worshipped as divine in his lifetime. that “Jesus is Lord” went against their
rulers and they paid a big price for
In Luke 2, we read that Jesus was doing so. Some went to jail. Some were
born at a time when the emperor killed. Some became homeless.
worship started. Everybody could see
and agree how big and powerful How painful and tearful it was for
the Roman Empire was. The Romans them to insist that, “Jesus is Lord”.
even declared that they brought However, they said it steadfastly.

Think for a moment:


Do you see two kingdoms both in Luke and Revelation? One physical
and another spiritual?
Both kingdoms exist now and demand our worship, commitment and
loyalty.
If Jesus is truly our Lord and King”, then He deserves our time, energy,
attention, obedience and worship.

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that we will worship God in Spirit (with the help of the Holy Spirit) and
in Truth (with the truth revealed in the Bible), and we will get rid of things or
activities that cause us to lose our focus and interest to worship God and
to know Him more.
• Pray that our Government (the Ministry of Transport) will do well in making
sure our land, air and sea transport run well for the country, and that our
people will get safe and good public transportation.

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


21
Bible Reading

Day 11 17 August 2020, Mon Luke 7-11

Do Not Fear
Do you know? Being a “real” don’t live how they live. You don’t lie or
Christian is never ever easy. gossip, drink or smoke, cheat or fight.

“Real” means you live the way Bible When you tell them about Jesus and
asks you to live, and you tell others that ask them to believe in Him and not die
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. in sin, it makes them really, really, angry.

Jesus told folks in the Church of They don’t like your “holier than
Smyrna, that they would go through thou” style. They can’t stand you singing
persecution, even thrown into prison. praises to Jesus. Persecution can be as
simple as these. They don’t want to chit
They didn’t go to jail because chat with you or play games with you.
they did something wrong. Instead, They may refuse to sit next to you.
they loved those who did bad things
to them. So, what will you do?

Now, what is persecution? Jesus said, fear not. He is the first


and the last, and He came to life
It means that “you are unfairly or after death! We are safe in His hand.
cruelly treated because you believe Continue to be kind to others and do
in Jesus and you follow Him.” People what is right. We will be overcomers in
aren’t happy with you because you His eyes!

Think for a moment:


Do you fear rejection and dare not do what is right?

Today’s Prayers:

• Pray that Jesus will remove any fears of rejection in us, and give us boldness
to do the right things, to live to please Him and to obey His Word in all
situations.

• Pray that our Government (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) will build good
relationships with other countries so that we can help each other.

22 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Bible Reading

Day 12 18 August 2020, Tue Luke 12-16

Be Faithful & Grateful


We often think that “the grass is they were living in “hell” as they lived
always greener on the other side of the among people who wanted to take
fence”. But is it? away their properties, or throw them in
prison or kill them.
Some of us might have friends who
emigrated overseas with their family. However, Jesus didn’t tell them
There could be dozens of reasons to “flee!” He instructed them to “be
why they left Malaysia for their new faithful unto death”. (Revelation 2:10)
countries, like, a cleaner environment, They were told to remain in a place
a better learning place, a safer where there was nothing else but
country, etc. hopelessness.

We might even envy them and Why? Because many people there
think that they are “lucky” or “blessed” had yet to come to know Jesus Christ,
enough to live in a better place. Unlike and this included those who wanted to
us, who are still very much bothered by harm them! Though the city was under
traffic jam, pollution, poor education the control of evil ones, the Church was
system, etc. called by God to be the Light Tower in
the darkness.
When we look at the Christians in
Smyrna, we almost can agree that

Think for a moment:


Are you grateful to be a Malaysian and believe that God has placed
you here for a purpose?
There is no better place other than the place God has called us,
except Heaven, our eternal home.

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that Malaysians will come to understand the reasons why we were
born here and not elsewhere, and that we will be faithful to our calling, far
above all the comfort and good future the world might promise us. Give
thanks to God for Malaysia, a beautiful country that matters to God.

• Pray that the Government (the Sabah and Sarawak Affairs Division in the
Prime Minister’s Department) will help build a good relationship and trust
between the federal government and East Malaysians so that everybody
can work well together towards a great nation.

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


23
Bible Reading

Day 13 19 August 2020, Wed Luke 17-21

Rich in Christ
The Church of Smyrna was one of Jesus. In contrast, a rich ruler was
only two among the seven churches unwilling to let go of his wealth on earth
mentioned in the book of Revelation to enter God’s Kingdom (Luke 18:18-
that received commendations by the 25). He was so sad when Jesus told him
Lord Jesus Christ. to sell off everything and follow him
empty handed.
Jesus said they were rich (spiritually)
though they thought they were poor We naturally think that richness has
(physically) and afflicted because they to do with lots of money or property.
were bullied by authorities and some Jesus came and showed us that true
had lost their houses and monies. Yet, riches has nothing to do with earthly
there was something that the devil possessions, but with our heavenly
could not take away from them - their inheritance (our life in and with Christ).
richness in Christ Jesus, which meant
their faith and trust in God. We will remain poor in heart and
spirit if we do not build our treasures in
Believers in Smyrna were willing to heaven.
let go of their wealth in order to follow

Think for a moment:


How do we define richness? Does being rich mean having a big
house, a big car and a big sum of money?
Or, does it have to do with good gifts we receive in Christ? E.g. eternal
life, Holy Spirit, peace, love and joy?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that we will come to understand that true richness has to do with our
heavenly and eternal inheritance, and we can only get it through a right
relationship with Christ. In Him, we are called children of God and we are
heirs of God’s Kingdom.

• Pray for the media, e.g. television, radio, newspapers and all kinds of web-
based media, to be channels that tell us the truth and not fake news. Pray
that the journalists and the general public will know what is right and what
is wrong when they present and make comments publicly.

24 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Day 14-18

The Sharp Two-Edged Sword


(Revelation 2:12-17)

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who
has the sharp two-edged sword.
13“‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name,
and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness,
who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the
teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the
sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual
immorality.
15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

16Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the
sword of my mouth.
17 Hewho has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the
one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a
white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except
the one who receives it.’

40-DAY
40-DAY FAST&&PRAYER
FAST PRAYER 2020
2020
25
25
Bible Reading

Day 14 20 August 2020, Thur Luke 22-24


John 1-2

The Sharp Two-Edged Sword


Many heroes in comics hold swords in his mouth and the people of
in their hands, right? Judah like wood. His words were to
consume them!
Like the Iron man. Wow! He even
holds a sword of fire in his hands when Hence, the sword of God could be
he confronts his enemies! used as a rod to strike the earth and
a breath to slay the wicked! (Isaiah
The book of Revelation describes 11:3-4) Wow! Wonderful? The sword in
Jesus Christ as Someone who His or His prophets shall destroy all evil
had a sharp, double-edged sword and wickedness!
(Revelation 2:12) and this sword literally
came out from His mouth! (Revelation The sword of God deals with us,
1:16) Whenever John heard Jesus Christians, too. It is living and active,
speaking, he saw this sword wielding sharper than any two-edged sword,
not in His hands, but out of His mouth! piercing to the division of soul and of
spirit, of joints and of marrow, and
The sword, which is the Word of God, discerning the thoughts and intentions
is like a fire. (Jeremiah 23:29) It burnt so of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
vigorously in the bones of Jeremiah
that he became tired of holding it in That means it helps us know whether
and had to spill it out! (Jeremiah 20:9) we are in line with God’s way and
God made Jeremiah’s words like fire His thoughts!

Think for a moment:


Do we have this sword to destroy the enemies of our souls? (e.g.
fears, jealousy, anger, etc.)

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that we will read and meditate on the Word of God (that is, the Bible!)
daily and allow His word to tell us our wrongs and change us inside out so
that we can be kids who reveal God’s glory.

• Pray that the Government (the Ministry of International Trade and Industry)
will make Malaysia a place where people from all over the world want
to come and do business and that our products will become hot items
everywhere.

26 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Bible Reading

Day 15 21 August 2020, Fri John 3-7

No Other God but Jesus


Antipas was praised by Jesus as His would only worship the Father, the Son
faithful servant in Revelation 2:13. and the Holy Spirit.

He was the pastor of the church The furious pagan priests dragged
of Pergamum who was martyred in him to the temple of Artemis and threw
the reign of Emperor Nero (54-68AD). him into an altar consisting of a red-hot
His name, Antipas, described his faith copper bull where they put their
in Jesus. “Anti” (means “against”) sacrifices to the idols. They burnt
and “pas” (means “all”). He stood up him alive!
against all who worshipped idols.
How did the church react on seeing
Pergamum was a pagan city and their pastor being burnt alive? They
idol worship was common. Antipas led remained strong. They refused to
the church and he preached Jesus deny Jesus.
fearlessly. Many turned to the Lord and
stopped offering sacrifices to the idols. However, as time went on, there
appeared two groups of people. One
This made the pagan priests was faithful to Jesus, while the other
really angry. They asked him to stop followed the teaching of Balaam and
preaching about Christ and join them Nicolaitans, both of which taught them
in offering sacrifices to idols too. Antipas to make sacrifices to idols and practice
refused to do so and insisted that he sexual immorality!

Think for a moment:


How do we keep our faith strong when nobody helps monitor nor
teaches us the right way? By the power of the Holy Spirit!

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that the Holy Spirit will fill you afresh today, making you trust in Jesus.
Let not your faith be shaken by the things the world brings to you everyday.
For example, your friends might tell you some gods are more interesting or
powerful and can bring you more good things than Jesus.

• Pray that the Government (the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer
Affairs) will keep the prices of goods fair so that we will all be able to buy
them.

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


27
Bible Reading

Day 16 22 August 2020, Sat John 8-12

Love Jesus Above All


In Numbers 22, Balaam was asked - Balaam was so eager to go that he
by Balak, the king of Moab, to curse couldn’t see the angel!
the Israelites.
However, his donkey saw it and
When Balak’s officials came with behaved in some strange ways.
money the first time, Balaam allowed Balaam was so angry that he beat
them to stay overnight so that he his donkey three times until the poor
could ask God what to do. Because donkey complaint!
God said, “No,” he refused to go with
Balak’s officials. Then God opened Balaam’s eyes
and he saw the angel at last! The Lord
Then Balak’s officials came again, rebuked Balaam and told him the
bringing with them a much higher pay. right thing to do. Balaam obeyed and
Balaam, again, asked them to stay blessed Israelites three times, instead of
overnight so that he could hear cursing the Israelites.
from God. This time, he heard God
say, “Go!” Balaam must have been bribed by
Balak after that because he taught
So, the next morning Balaam happily Balak to get the Israelites to eat
went to Balak riding on his donkey. The food sacrificed to idols and practice
angel of the Lord appeared to them sexual immorality (Revelation 2:14). He
three times. You would be surprised betrayed God in the end because of
his love for money.

Think for a moment:


Do we do things that God has told us is wrong to do? Do we love
anything more than God?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that we will obey Jesus in every area of our lives, and that we won’t
let anything take away our love and obedience to Jesus. Also pray that
we won’t falsely think what Jesus has said “no” to in the Bible will be “yes”
sometimes for us.

• Pray that the Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) will keep our country safe so that
we can become a successful nation.

28 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Bible Reading

Day 17 23 August 2020, Sun John 13-17

The Vine and the Branches


In John 15, Jesus drew a very detached from the Vine, they couldn’t
beautiful picture about relationships. have life by themselves. They would
He talked about a gardener who only be treated like rubbish or firewood
planted a vine. to be burnt!

What does a gardener usually do? However, if they remained on the


He takes care of the vine, waters it, Vine, they would receive their pruning
fertilizes it and prunes it. He makes sure and nutrition for life and fruitfulness!
that it bears a lot of fruits. Jesus said
that the Father was the Gardener, and This is how Jesus relates with His
He was the Vine, and His disciples were Heavenly Father. He lets God the Father
the branches. take charge of His life fully. He also asks
us to remain in Him, rely on Him and
Where do the branches receive their allow Him to be the center of our lives.
lives? From the vine! Any branches that
fell off from the vine wouldn’t be useful By doing so, we can remain in Him,
anymore and were fit only to be thrown His Word and His love, and we can love
into the fire and burnt like rubbish! one another like how Jesus loves us.

Jesus was telling His disciples that,


like branches not bearing fruits or were

Think for a moment:


Do you find it easier to love others when you make Jesus, instead of
yourself, the center of your life?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that we, our families, our churches and our church leaders will
continue to remain in Jesus, to receive the Word into our hearts. Pray that
we will let Him shape our behaviors so that we can have life with love and
grace, and whatever we do will give life to others too.

• Pray that the Government (Ministry of Home Affairs) will do well in their
duties in all areas so that all Malaysians will be safe and all our rights will be
protected.

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


29
Bible Reading

Day 18 24 August 2020, Mon John 18-21

God’s Promise for Overcomers


Jesus will give the hidden manna for In Philippians 3:14, Paul said he
him who overcomes, and a new name pressed on to get the heavenly prize of
shall be written for him on a white stone. God. When he knew that he was about
(Revelation 2:17) to die, he said he had finished his race,
fought the good fight and kept the
“Overcome” means “conquer, faith and knew he would be awarded
overpower or be victorious” in a with the crown of righteousness from
contest or military conquest. In ancient the Lord (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
Rome, a victor of an athletic game
was awarded a white stone with his So, our lives on earth is a race we
name inscribed on it and it was like run to get our heavenly prizes. The new
a ticket for him to enter a banquet name on the white stone reminds us
for celebration. that we have to run in order to receive
our “tickets” to the heavenly banquet
Paul saw our journey on earth like where we will sit with Jesus Christ
running a “race”. He encouraged all who have overcome and make us
Corinthians to exercise self-control in all overcomers in Him.
things, so that they ran at their best
to receive their imperishable wreath
(1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

Think for a moment:


What are the things that can stop or distract us from running the
race? Could fears, bad habits, laziness, lack of self-control and so
on, do that?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that we will be overcomers and believe strongly in Jesus’ promise that
those who overcome shall inherit all things, and Jesus will be our God and
we will be His sons and daughters (Rev 21:7).

• Pray for more good teachers to teach in preschool, primary, and


secondary schools as well as universities whether they are public, private,
international or homeschooling schools so that our education system will
produce excellent people who will become skilful and responsible workers.

30 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Day 19-23

The Power of Holiness


and the Prophetic
(Revelation 2:18-29)
18
“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of
God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
19 “‘I
know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance,
and that your latter works exceed the first.
20 ButI have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls
herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice
sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.
21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.

22Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with
her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works,
23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he
who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your
works.
24 Butto the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not
learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on
you any other burden.
25 Only hold fast what you have until I come.

26 Theone who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will
give authority over the nations,
27 andhe will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in
pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020
31
Bible Reading

Day 19 25 August 2020, Tue Acts 1-5

Spiritual Discipline
Peter and John were two spiritual Both these men followed Jesus
giants in the Bible. and were busy with healing activities,
seeing miracles and handling big
They didn’t become spiritual giants groups of people. Yet, the Gospels
overnight. Peter was once a very- never mentioned that they prayed to
quick-to-act man, and John was God. They failed to understand the true
once a son of thunder, whose temper meaning of following Jesus.
frayed easily.
It was only after they had spent time
Peter said that Jesus was the Word in the upper room for 10 days praying
of life and that he won’t leave Him. He and were filled with the Holy Spirit that
swore even to die with Jesus. However, they started praying regularly.
Peter denied Jesus three times when
He was put on the cross because he They were never the same again
was afraid to suffer together with Him. with such spiritual discipline in their
lives. They understood who Jesus was
John was very keen to sit next to and what the Kingdom was that He
Jesus with his brother James when had been talking about. They followed
Jesus became king. He followed God and served Him with kingdom
Jesus because he wanted to become character, mindset and purpose.
someone great.

Think for a moment:


Somebody said we can cultivate a good habit by doing it 21 days in
a row. Do you want to make prayer and seeking God a habit in the
next 21 days?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that we will build a habit of prayer and that we will spend time praying
for our families and churches, that our families will experience healing from
God, and that our churches will become holy people of God.

• Pray that the Education Ministry will design an education system and school
curriculum that meet the needs of students, building a generation of noble
and ethical people who know our citizenship rights and responsibilities.

32 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Bible Reading

Day 20 26 August 2020, Wed Acts 6-10

A Spirit-filled Life
In Acts 6, Stephen was one of the in handling all needs and situations.
seven deacons chosen in the early
church. His main job was to serve the However, Stephen did not remain
tables, making sure that food was well in the kitchen or market or any of the
distributed to all the believers, both the other places related to meals only. He
Hebrews and the Hellenists. was full of grace and power, doing
great wonders and signs among
The seven deacons were said to the people.
be men of good repute, full of the
Spirit and of wisdom. They were not He spoke to people about Jesus. He
chosen to do some “great” things, like prepared not just physical food but also
preaching or leading worship sessions. spiritual food for them. Nothing could
They basically stayed behind the scene stop him from talking about Christ,
helping to make sure everybody was not his busy errands, nor the enraged
well fed. crowd who stoned him to death.

To do a good job, they needed He preached Jesus until his last


wisdom to handle costs, food choices breath, and even blessed those who
and manage people. They also stoned him until, peacefully, he fell
needed the Spirit of God to be sensitive asleep in the Lord.

Think for a moment:


What made Stephen so gracious and courageous? What contributed
to his wisdom and Spirit-filled life?
It had to do with his personal walk with Jesus. A spiritually disciplined life.

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that, like Stephen, we will always be reminded that whatever we are
doing, we are doing it for the Lord. Pray too that we will do it with an
excellent spirit, with His wisdom, power and grace. Pray that we will not
forget to share Christ in all that we do.

• Pray that the Government (the Ministry of Works) will carry out good and
useful projects for highways and other public works, and that we will have
excellent professional people such as engineers, architects and quantity
surveyors to do these jobs.

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


33
Bible Reading

Day 21 27 August 2020, Thur Acts 11-15

We are the “Little Anointed”


Do y o u k n o w why we a re However, did you know that
ca l l ed “ C h ri st i an s” ? Christians were later known as
“Chrestos” (which sounds exactly like
Well, the book of Acts tells us that “Christos” in Greek) in some historical
it all started in the Church of Antioch, texts? In Greek, “Chrestos” means “kind
in the year when Barnabas and Saul and good”.
(Paul) ministered there (Acts 11:26)
when many came to believe in Christ. These two names tell us something
important about our nature. We are
Believers in Antioch were called supposed to be the “little anointed”,
“Christians” (“Christianos” in Greek) kind and good.
by their fellow countrymen who didn’t
believe in Christ. They saw that these Luke tells us that Barnabas was a
people were very fascinated with good man, full of the Holy Spirit and
someone called “Christos”, and of faith (Acts 11:24). Because of his
His name seemed to be always on goodness and kindness, he was able to
their lips. The unbelievers jeered at train Paul and Mark, who were rejected
them, calling them, “Christianos”, once, and helped them to become
which originally means “little christ” great men in the Kingdom of God.
or “little anointed”.

Think for a moment:


Are we good and kind Christians in the eyes of others?
Do they find us safe, friendly or helpful? Do they see a Barnabas in
us? A good “little anointed”, full of the Holy Spirit and faith?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that Christian families (that includes our parents) and churches will
train us and disciple us in the way of the Lord, and that we will follow their
godly examples to serve Christ, so that we will grow up in faith and good
deeds.

• Pray that the Attorney General’s Chambers in Malaysia will serve well in
advising the Malaysian government.

34 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Bible Reading

Day 22 28 August 2020, Fri James 1-5


Acts 16

Faith Produces Fruit


James taught us about faith and Sometimes unknowingly, we use
work. He meant that, if you believe in tongues and words for bad purposes!
what God says in His Word, you have to Some use it to gossip. Some use it to
live it out in actions! criticize and slander. Some use it to
say all kinds of unkind, hurtful or angry
One of the things James mentioned words. Worst still, some might use it to
was the “tongue”. It is a small member curse people!
in our body, like a small fire, yet it can
set the whole forest ablaze if it is not To James, it would be something
under control! Scary, right? strange. He said that a spring can’t
pour out both fresh (clean and alive)
So, if we are careless in our and salty (unclean and dead) water.
words, we may cause big quarrels or Neither can a fig tree bear olives
misunderstanding among members of or a grapevine produce figs (it’s
our family, church or friends. impossible!).

God gives us tongues to tell of His By right, good things and bad things
wonders and words to praise Him just should not come out from the same
and bless others. Do you realize this? source – our mouths!

Think for a moment:


Do we simply say whatever we feel like saying without controlling our
tongues?
If we have faith and live by the Spirit, we will produce fruit, and our
words will glorify God and build others up.

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that kids like us will continue to hear the Spirit of God as we meditate
on the Word of God. And that we will love to practise whatever the Bible
says, making our lives testimonies of His living Word!

• Pray that the Malaysian Anti-corruption Commission (MACC) will look into
all corruption cases, and deal with them fairly and honestly for the good of
all citizens.

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


35
Bible Reading

Day 23 29 August 2020, Sat Galatians 1-6


Acts 17

Holiness & Holy Spirit


Both the Old Testament and the LORD your God am holy.”(Leviticus
New Testament tell us ways to live a life 19:2) God declares Himself holy and
of holiness. He demands that we are holy too. The
seraphim, angels who served God,
Have you read Leviticus? The entire cried out, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD
book is about holiness. Many rules of hosts…”(Isaiah 6:3). The heaven
were given to help the Israelites live declares His holiness!
in the holiness of God. Other books in
the Bible might not spell out the word We are called the holy nation of
“holiness” but they all show us how to God when He set us apart. However,
be holy. we can only maintain our holiness
when we allow the Holy Spirit to work in
Why? It is because we are worshiping us continually. Paul in Galatians 5:16-24
a holy God, and the book He gave us is showed us many differences between
called the Holy Bible! the flesh and the Spirit. It’s only those
who live in the Spirit who can enter the
Holiness is God’s very nature. He Kingdom of God!
said, “…You shall be holy, for I the

Think for a moment:


Paul said in Acts 17:28, “In him we live and move and have our
being”; …For we are indeed His offspring.”
Are you sure you are God’s offspring? Then live and move in Him and
we shall become who we are supposed to be – a holy people of
God dwelling in His Spirit.

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that we will train ourselves to think and respond in God’s ways in every
circumstance, so that kids around us will see God in us as they feel our love
and care with the fruit of the Spirit bearing in our lives.

• Pray that the Government (the Ministry of Rural Development) will help
the 7.3 million rural people who live in 26,400 villages all over Malaysia
(especially in Sabah & Sarawak) so that they will have better living
conditions and job opportunities.

36 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Day 24-29

Awakened to be Alive
(Revelation 3:1-6)

1“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the
seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

“‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not
found your works complete in the sight of my God.
3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you
will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will
come against you.
4 Yet
you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their
garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
5The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never
blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father
and before his angels.
6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


37
Bible Reading

Day 24 30 August 2020, Sun 1 & 2 Thessalonians

Awaken & Alive


Have you ever fallen asleep or Oh no! You might have to stand
dozed off during your classes? there to keep yourself awake as a
punishment from your teacher!
I’m guessing some of you have.
The church in Sardis was found to
You might be too tired physically have their sleeping mode on when
because you didn’t sleep well the they were supposed to stay awake and
night before. Or the class might have serve God. Hence, Jesus sent them His
been boring. Or the breakfast you ate stern warning!
might have been so heavy that you just
couldn’t help but doze off. Just as your teacher might appear
before you in your most “relaxed”
Yes, you were in the class. You were mode, the Lord Jesus could appear
supposed to pay attention to the to them like a thief at a time they
lesson and study, but your mind was least expected!
wondering away, even to point of
shutting down. Just as the sleeping mode causes
us to study badly, the sleeping mode
Have you then ever been awakened also gives us poor spirituality. We have
by your teacher? Did he suddenly to stay awake and pay attention to our
appear and yell at you, causing teachers and our God.
you much embarrassment because
everyone was looking at you?!

Think for a moment:


Have we been sleeping away in church, Sunday school or our walk
with Jesus because other things (like smart phones) have distracted
us and put our spiritual lives in sleeping mode?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that we will make some adjustments in our priorities so that we can
stay awake on the things of God, e.g. read Bible, pray, and do things we
are asked to do as a way to serve God.
• Pray that the Government (the Ministry of Women and Family Development)
will be successful in creating a caring people of all races without being
unfair to women, and providing hope and development for children,
old folks, the homeless and other people who might not be taken care
of or harmed.

38 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Bible Reading

Day 25 31 August 2020, Mon Acts 18-19


1 Corinthians 1-5

It is Foolish to Quarrel
After risking his life for one and a So they quarrelled and quarrelled,
half years in the city of Corinth and argued and argued, all with human
preaching Christ in the power of the foolishness. It had nothing to do with
Holy Spirit, Paul was happy to see a Paul, Peter, Apollos, or even Christ!
church started in Corinth. Instead, it had to do with people’s
preferences! They just wanted to make
Sadly, after he’d left, Paul found their preferred man their leader!
out that the church was in a total
mess. People were fighting against Paul scolded them, saying that it
one another because they followed was foolish to do so. He reminded them
different teachers. that, except for Christ, none of them
had ever laid down his life for them.
Some supported their pioneer, So it was utterly nonsense to fight and
Paul. Another followed their eloquent divide! Christ should be the Head.
teacher, Apollos. Yet another preferred He should be preached, exalted,
their Jewish bishop, Peter. The rest said honoured and embraced by all!
they wanted Christ only.

Think for a moment:


Don’t we often also have our preferences? We prefer certain
teachers because they treat us better. We support certain leaders
because they do things better, work smarter, look cooler or speak
with more charm. We fight for all sorts of crazy reasons.
Hence, the advice of Paul is applicable to us: Don’t fight! Preach
Christ. Share Christ! Unite ourselves in Christ!

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray for unity in Christ, for Christ and with Christ as it is a sweet spirit we can
cultivate since young. Let the aroma of Christ flow naturally out of us as we
pray and serve in unison.

• Pray that the spirit of Merdeka, the spirit of caring, sharing and working
together will come alive again among all Malaysians as we celebrate
Merdeka Day 2020.

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


39
Bible Reading

Day 26 1 September 2020, Tue 1 Corinthians 6-16

Don’t Play Play. God is Serious


Sometimes blessings from God can Corinthian church. They were rich
cause us to fall away from Him if we not merely physically, but also in their
don’t appreciate God for them and spiritual gifts. They spoke in tongues
don’t use them for His glory. like angels. Their prophecies came out
non-stop.
The city of Sardis was rich. The River
Pactolus that ran through it was literally However, Paul pointed out their
filled with gold sand! Yes. Gold sand! problems one by one. They had
misused their good gifts without love for
So, Christians in the Sardis Church one another. Lawsuit, adultery, division,
were very rich. They had so little to worry rebellion, just to name a few here.
about in life that they thought they
didn’t need to worry about anything, Both churches were warned to turn
including their relationship with God. over a new leaf before they came
Therefore, Jesus told them that they under the wrath and judgment of God.
were dead in their spirit! God is serious about getting us right
with Him whenever we go haywire
Rich physically and dead spiritually! spiritually.
How sad!
He wants us to use His blessings in a
The same sickness plagued the right manner.

Think for a moment:


Do you know how sad God is when we behave badly?
What blessings has God given to you that you can use to
please Him?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that we will be serious in keeping a good relationship with Jesus and
with others. Loving others shows that we love God and that we are alive in
our spirit, for faith without love is nothing.

• Pray that the Government (the Minnistry of Human Resources) will have
good and successful plans to train up good workers for our country.

40 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Bible Reading

Day 27 2 September 2020, Wed 2 Corinthians 1-10

Boast in Christ
Paul gave us a good example of You can be sure the Corinthians
how to boast, if we ever need to do so. did not think all these sufferings were
anything good. In fact, they rejected
From a man who made people Paul because he didn’t look or sound
suffer because they followed Christ, too great when compared with the
Paul became a believer when he met super apostles who used big words
Jesus face-to-face in Damascus. After to talk about big dreams and
that, he was willing to suffer at all costs great blessings.
for Christ.
It is natural that worldly men
He was beaten. He was put into and women will boast about
prison. He was caught up in riots. He themselves. Sometimes, we do that
went th ro u gh sl e e p le s s nig ht s without knowing it too.
a nd so m e ti m e s h a d no f ood t o
ea t. (2 Co ri n t h i an s 6 : 4 - 1 0 ) Yet Paul reminded us to boast in
Christ. It was Christ who made all of
Do you notice something? Paul Paul’s sufferings worthwhile. It was
seemed to be “boasting” about because of Christ that Paul was not
his sufferings. He was showing his ashamed of the Gospel he preached.
audiences all the medals he had Paul was willing to look foolish because
collected, all in relation to his hardships Christ was wisdom to him.
and pains.

Think for a moment:


Do you like to boast about yourself or something you have?
Why don’t you boast in Christ instead? Boast that you know God and
understand that He is the Lord who exercises kindness, justice and
righteousness on earth. (Jeremiah 9:24)

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that we will continue to read the Word of God and pray with the help
of the Spirit so that we can be wise and understanding, and will magnify
Christ and His wisdom.
• Pray that the Government (the Ministry of Plantation Industries and
Commodities) will be able to find more international buyers for our local
products, such as palm oil, rubber, timber, cocoa, pepper and furniture,
and will take all actions to increase money earned from those industries
and products.

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


41
Bible Reading

Day 28 3 September 2020, Thur 2 Corinthians 11-13


Romans 1-5

Judging Others
A man was riding a train with his “Yes, in fact we just came out of the
24-year-old son. hospital. My son had been blind since
birth but he just got an operation so
Leaning out of the window, the son
that he can see.”
kept shouting with excitement about
what he was seeing. You see, the couple judged. They
thought the young man was mentally ill,
“Dad, you see! Trees are going
and that the father was irresponsible
behind us!”
to let his son make so much noise in
While his dad just smiled, the couple the train.
behind them found the younger man’s
By judging, they could be seen as
behaviour greatly disturbing.
ignorant, merciless and intolerant by
With a high note the son shouted the one who was being judged.
again, “Dad, you see! Clouds are
Paul advised the Romans not to
running with us!”
judge others because they were
Again, his dad smiled warmly. doing exactly the wrong things they
After hearing a few more rounds of had judged other people about!
loud talking, the couple couldn’t stand By judging others without self-
it any longer. They advised his dad, examination, they would come under
“Why don’t you bring your son to see a the judgment of God.
doctor?” Instead of judging others, they
should live lives that please God.
The dad smiled politely and replied,

Think for a moment:


Are we quick to judge others?
Why not learn to examine and judge ourselves first with help from
God’s Word?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that we will be quick to appreciate and encourage others of their
goodness and be slow to judge and criticize. Always do a self-check
before we point fingers at others.

• Pray that the Government (the Ministry of Tourism, Art and Culture) will
make Malaysia known as a world-class tourism and cultural place.

42 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Bible Reading

Day 29 4 September 2020, Fri Romans 6-13

Garments of Righteousness
What does a typical mom do when He will wash us with His living water,
she sees that her little boy has gotten cleanse us with His Son’s blood and
himself dirty and muddy after playing clothe us with His righteousness, no
with friends in the field? matter how dirty and smelly or how
bad a shape we had been in.
She may scold him a bit. Warn him a
bit. Spank him a bit. Nag him a bit. He would also warn us: “Don’t
sin again!”
However, she will do the necessary:
Take off his dirty clothes. Wash him The Romans were told to die to sin
with clean water. Dress him up with and to live for Christ. They had to put
clean clothes. off their dirty nature and put on the
new life in Christ.
She might follow all that with
another stern warning: “Don’t dirty The faithful believers in Sardis kept
yourself again!” their garments unsoiled, and Jesus
said they walked in white robes and
This is exactly what our Heavenly were worthy of Him. Their names will be
Father does to us if we seek His confessed before the Father and kept
forgiveness after having been dirtied in the Book of Life.
by sin.

Think for a moment:


Are our garments white before Jesus? Are we doing right things and
not soiling them with our careless thoughts, speeches and actions?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that we will be sensitive to those “little sins” (lies, greed, jealousy,
gossip, etc.) in our lives that turn our character bad and cause us to lose
our purity in Christ. Pray that we will be quick to confess our sins and set our
hearts right before God.

• Pray that the Government (the Ministry of Communications and


Multimedia) will improve the telecommunications systems so that we can
always enjoy high-speed Internet access wherever we are and at a price
everyone is able to pay.

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


43
Day 30-34

An Open Door
No One Can Shut
(Revelation 3: 7-13)

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy
one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut,
who shuts and no one opens.
8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one
is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my
word and have not denied my name.
9 Behold,I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are
Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down
before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.
10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you
from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell
on the earth.
11 I
am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your
crown.
12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never
shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name
of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out
of heaven, and my own new name.
13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

44 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Bible Reading

Day 30 5 September 2020, Sat Romans 14-16


Acts 20-23

Door That God Opens No One Can Shut


Do you believe that when God People there pleaded with Paul
opens a door for you, no one is able to not to go back to Jerusalem. Paul told
shut it? them not to weep and break his heart,
for he was ready to not only be bound
Paul traveled across Asia Minor and but also to die in Jerusalem! Hence,
Europe and preached Christ to the he sailed off to Jerusalem and things
Gentiles. After his missionary trips, he happened exactly as what Agabus
would go back to Jerusalem and make had said. Though Paul was arrested
reports to the elders of the Church. and brought to trial, God kept him
from all harm because he had an
In Acts 21, a prophet named Agabus unfinished mission – preaching Christ
came from Judea to Caesarea to warn to Caesar in Rome!
Paul of the danger that awaited him
in Jerusalem. He took Paul’s belt and Paul was fearless because of his
tied his own hands and feet and said intimate relationship with the risen
that the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem Saviour. Christ had shown him the
would bind Paul and hand him over way he should go, and he went on
to the Gentiles. confidently with the power of the
Holy Spirit.

Think for a moment:


Jesus was backing Paul up because he obeyed Him. Can you trust
God to back you up in your life situations whenever you follow His
Word and instructions?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that even kids as young as we are, will make a firm and sincere
decision to follow God fully and focus on cultivating a spiritual hunger
and thirst after Him; and that we will be free from any fears and instead
trust God and do our best with school work, tests, and examinations, and
competitions, etc.

• Pray that the Government (the Ministry of Federal Territories which takes
care of mosques and religious matters in the territories of Kuala Lumpur,
Putrajaya and Labuan) will work to keep all Malaysians peaceful and
happy, and enable them to live as friends with one another.

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


45
Bible Reading

Day 31 6 September 2020, Sun Acts 24-28

Living Our Lives to the Fullness of God


Paul lived his life to the fullness of obey His Great Commandments, i.e. to
God. He finished his race well in God. love God and others.
What does it mean to live our lives to
the fullness of God? It is to live in a way How do we love God? We show our
that follows the calling and purpose of love to our parents by living with them,
God in our lives. obeying them and chatting with them,
right? Yes. We love God by living in
Many of us may not know our specific His presence, obeying His commands
call from God though we may have through reading His Word and applying
dreams to become someone great them in our daily lives, and we chit-
in future. Some dream of becoming chat with God through prayers.
a doctor, scientist, engineer, lawyer,
etc., and some hope to become a So, we can love people the same
missionary or pastor! way. We befriend them, be with them
in times of need and pray for them that
However, the Bible does show us they will be touched by God, and we
the general call for all, whether we are share Christ with them so that they can
boys or girls, young or old. We have to come to know Him personally.

Think for a moment:


Do we set our hearts to obey the Great Commandments? Are loving
God and loving people our life goals now?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that God’s salvation shall come upon your loved ones, especially
your family members and relatives, friends who are close to you, and
neighbors you see day in and day out, who have yet to come to know
Jesus Christ personally.

• Pray that our Malaysian courts will make fair and good judgment in all the
cases that they hear.

46 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Bible Reading
Colossians 1-4

Day 32 7 September 2020, Mon Philemon


Ephesians 1-2

Breaking Free from the Grip of the Devil


“The Duck and the Devil” is a story for him to admit it and was ever
about a boy who played with his ready to forgive.
slingshot and accidentally killed his
grandmother’s duck. Afraid of being As a result, the boy broke free from
punished, he buried the duck in the his sister’s control and felt so, so free
woods and his sister saw what he and happy. No more fear and guilt.
had done.
In about the same way, the devil
His sister used that as a way to control controls us when we refuse to confess
him, making him do all her chores. The our sins to God. God is all-knowing and
boy, being very afraid that his sister there is nothing we can hide from him.
would tell on him, did everything When we sin, God knows, and the devil
she demanded. also knows. Yet God is ready to forgive
us when we turn to Him in repentance
One day, he couldn’t stand it (or when we decide to turn from our
anymore. He went and confessed sin.) On the other hand, the devil is
to his grandmother. To his surprise, his right there using every possible means
grandmother already knew everything to condemn (or say that we are guilty
for she had also seen what happened and bad) and control us, keeping us
that day. Yet, she waited patiently from doing what is right in God’s eyes.

Think for a moment:


Have we done any wrong that we have kept secret, allowing the
devil to grip us with fear and fright?
Tell God and He will bring us into His light and we will be free from the
devil’s grip.

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that God will heal any wounds in your heart, in your family relationships
and in all races among Malaysians so all of us will be able to live with one
another in the spirit of love and forgiveness.

• Pray that we will have good and fair judges in our courts so that we will
have a peaceful and successful nation.

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


47
Bible Reading
Ephesians 3-6

Day 33 8 September 2020, Tue Philippians 1-4

God’s Power in Us
What comes to your mind when you in nature?
hear the word “power”?
The power of the resurrection! The
We may think about certain power of evangelism! The power of
cartoon or comic figures. He-man, the Holy Spirit! The power of the Son
Superman, Bat-man, Spider-man, Iron- of God! A power that performs signs
man, Transformer, Agent Ali, Wonder and wonders!
Woman, etc.
Paul said in Ephesians 3: 20 that it is
They are strong characters born with power that can do much, much more
an innate power to conquer evil and than all we ask or imagine, and it is
perform the supernatural. Most of them working within us!
have a mission to save the world!
Are you excited to hear that? The
They are highly admired because power is inside of us when we receive
we all have a strong desire to see the the Holy Spirit!
good win and the bad lose.
The church of Philadelphia was said
However, do you know that Jesus to have “little power” (Rev 3:8). They
Christ, who is not just someone from a were a small group of people with not
storybook, and whose power is more much influence over their city. Yet Jesus
powerful than all, has placed within Christ made their enemies fall down
His followers a “dunanis” (miraculous before them!
power) or a power that is explosive

Think for a moment:


Why don’t we shift our admiration to Jesus? Only He has the true
power, and His power will work through us as a blessing to the world!

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that churches in Malaysia will continue to rely on the power of God,
His Word, His Spirit and His name, but not on our own human strength,
especially when we have resources, abilities and skills to get things
done easily.
• Pray that the Government (the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry)
will make our agricultural fields or farms better and help our farmers and
fishermen earn more money.

48 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Bible Reading
1 Timothy 1-6

Day 34 9 September 2020, Wed Titus 1-3

Train Ourselves to Be Godly


Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus As a pastor, Timothy might have been
and instructed them on how to be so involved in their discussions about
good leaders. all these that Paul had to stop him and
advised him to train himself to be godly
In 1 Timothy 4:7-8 he said, “Have (to learn the things of God).
nothing to do with godless myths and
old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself In Timothy 4:1, Paul warned Timothy
to be godly. For physical training is of and the Ephesian Church that people
some value, but godliness has value for might later start to follow deceiving
all things, holding promise for both the spirits and things taught by demons.
present life and the life to come.”
Do you realize? Sometimes, we
The Ephesian church was from a might show more interest in myths and
pagan background (which means they tales rather than in the Word of God.
worshipped many gods), and believers We like to hear rumors and made-
there were familiar with godless myths up stories, but we don’t really spend
and old wives tales (all kinds of faith in proper time to read the Word to train
magic or luck). They carried with them ourselves to be godly.
all this baggage even after they had
become Christians.

Think for a moment:


Is it worth our time and attention to learn something that is untrue?
Why not discipline ourselves to learn the things of God, which have
value for both the present life (now) and the life to come (eternity)?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that we will not be busy with all kinds of myths and tales that will
not do us any good spiritually. Instead, pray that we will encourage one
another to pursue holiness and godliness in Christ Jesus, so that we can
stand strong even during the challenging times in our lives.

• Pray that the Government (the Ministry of Environment and Waters) will
make Malaysia a place that is clean and free of pollution.

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


49
Day 35-40

Refiner’s Fire.
Prepare to Overcome
(Revelation 3:14-22)

14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen,
the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
15“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either
cold or hot!
16
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of
my mouth.
17For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that
you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich,
and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your
nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens
the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
21 The
one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also
conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

50 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Bible Reading

Day 35 10 September 2020, Thur 1 Peter 1-5


Hebrews 1-3

Jesus is the Greatest


On a cold Christmas day, a man all kinds of noises and hand signs but
was invited by his wife to go to church. nothing changed. The geese just went
He refused, and made fun of the idea flying around and around hopelessly.
of Jesus’ birth on earth; to him, it was
just silly! The man wondered how he could
make the geese understand him.
While staying home alone that snowy He came to realize that, unless he
day, he heard something banging on became a goose and lived among
his window. A flock of geese were flying them and spoke their “language,” he
low in his yard. They were caught in the would never be able to make them
heavy snowfall and were trying to find understand his heart!
a place to keep warm.
Suddenly, he understood that Jesus
The man had a vacant barn. He came into the world as a common man
pitied those geese and wanted to offer so that he could live among sinners,
them his barn. He tried his best to “tell” speak their language and show them
them to go into his barn. He made the way to salvation.

Think for a moment:


Do you ever wonder why Jesus had to come as a baby?
Do you see that He lived to tell who God is and what God’s love is all
about? Additionally, do you know that His is the greatest revelation
throughout history?!

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that we can understand the heart and intention of the Father and the
Son, that the Son has come so that we all can have life, and that we can
see His love and the love of our Father through the life Jesus went through
on earth.

• Pray that the Ministry of Economic Affairs will work well looking after the
other agencies, and that it will make Malaysia a place other countries
will put in their money and businesses so that our skilful workers will have
good jobs.

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


51
Bible Reading

Day 36 11 September 2020, Fri Hebrews 4-13

Be “True”
In Malaysia, where the weather is cold spring located 16 kilometres away
hot, we often crave and thirst after a in the city of Colossae.
glass of ice-cold drink, especially after
a walk under the hot sun! When the water piped in from
these two springs reached Laodicea
In the same way, we love to hold a through the aqueduct they had built,
cup of hot drink when it is cold, right? both became lukewarm, neither hot
For example, in Cameron Highlands, nor cold! They lost their original flavour!
where the cool wind blows, we can Not only that, they couldn’t be used
become chilled! for drinking, washing and gardening
or anything else that the citizens
We don’t like consuming “lukewarm” there needed!
drinks as it does not help to cool us
down on hot days nor warm us up on The Lord Jesus was saying that the
cold nights! water is like those “Christians” who
have lost their original flavor, and hence
The city of Laodicea had a have lost their usefulness. Like the
lukewarm water problem. The water useless lukewarm water which would
they consumed daily came from two be spit out from His mouth, lukewarm
springs. One was a hot spring which faith greatly displeases our Lord and if
was located 8 kilometres away in the they did not turn away from their sin,
city of Hierapolis and the other was a they would be rejected by Him!

Think for a moment:


What causes you to spit something out of your mouth? It must be
something terrible, inedible, tasteless, smelly, etc., right?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that God will forgive us for not caring about His business, His heartbeat
and purpose for this generation and nation, and about the voice of His
correction and encouragement. Pray that we won’t be lukewarm, but will
be “hot” for Jesus and keep our spiritual passion.

• Pray that the Government (the Ministry of Health) will keep us safe from
public health threats and that they will take the advice of the World Health
Organization on all important health matters.

52 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Bible Reading
2 Timothy 1-4

Day 37 12 September 2020, Sat 2 Peter 1-3


Jude 1

Beware of Lukewarmness
How do we know whether we have system is sensitive to all these changes.
become “lukewarm”, i.e., neither hot
nor cold, in our walk with Jesus? However, if we can’t feel the heat or
cold, we will stay put. We won’t make
When we are hot, we sweat. If we any changes or adjustments. We just
have two layers of clothing on, we take go on with life as usual.
one off. If we see an air-con room, we
walk into it. We turn on fans, we It is our numbness that causes us
take big gulps of water to cool not to feel anything or react to any
down our body. changes. When our spiritual life goes
numb, we will not respond to Jesus
When we are cold, we shiver. If either. We do not feel how He feels. We
we have an extra piece of clothing, do not see what He sees. We do not
we put it on. We turn on a heater, we care about what He cares about.
make a hot drink. We tuck ourselves
into bed and cover ourselves with That was the life of the Laodicean
extra blankets. church. They became lukewarm.
They weren’t aware of their spiritual
We feel varying temperatures. We condition. They thought they were rich,
respond to them. We adjust to them. but indeed they were poor, spiritually
We make an effort to make our situation naked and blind.
or condition better, because our body

Think for a moment:


Do we often have something to do or to change when we hear the
Word of God? Or do we feel numb all the way?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that we will come to realize those wrong priorities in our lives that have
caused damage to our passion and love for God. Pray also that we will
do our best to adjust and change wherever they are needed, according
to what God tells us to do in His living Word.

• Pray that the Government (the National Unity and Social Well-being
Division in the Prime Minister’s Department) will build harmony among all
communities, and that it will help the B40 who are the poorest group in
our country.

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


53
Bible Reading
1 John 1-5

Day 38 13 September 2020, Sun 2 John 1


Revelation 1-3
3 John 1

True Blindness
Laodicea was famous for producing blindness had nothing to do with their
and selling balm, an ointment which physical eyes, but everything to do with
helps treat eye problems. their spiritual eyes!

Sadly, though they were experts in Have you ever seen blind men
eye treatment, they themselves were walking quickly and steadily? It seems
spiritually blind. It sounds familiar right? like they have another pair of invisible
When Jesus healed a man who was eyes that helps them look clearly
born blind, as we read in John 9, He ahead as they travel along the path.
told the Jews that though they could
see the miracle with their eyes, they How do they do that? They train their
were indeed blind (as they couldn’t senses. They hear, they feel, they touch.
see the Son, Jesus)! They exercise their inner discernment
which we seeing-people don’t
Imagine, men with wide-open eyes bother about!
but not able to see anything! Why
was that? Similarly, when we depend on what
we have physically, we lose touch
Their blindness had to do with the with what we should have spiritually.
problem of failing to see God and Jesus asked the Laodiceans to buy the
seeing with His point of view! Their spiritual ointment from Him so that they
could put some on their eyes.

Think for a moment:


Do you see that spiritual blindness is something that God is very
concerned about? For Jesus said in Matthew 6:23, “but if your eye is
bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is
darkness, how great is the darkness!”

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that God will heal our spiritual blindness, and that we will be sensitive
to the things and mind of God, to be able to understand His will learnt from
His living Word, and see things with His heavenly perspective.

• Pray that the Government (the Ministry of Housing and Local Government)
will make sure that people will be able to buy houses, especially first-time
homeowners, the younger groups of people, and the poor.

54 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Bible Reading

Day 39 14 September 2020, Mon


Revelation 4-13

Giver and His Gift


Maybe you have heard “The Apple chopped them off and built a shelter
Tree and the Boy” story. for his family.

A little boy loved to play under and Coming back years later as a
around an apple tree. He would climb middle-aged man, he pondered how
up the tree, pluck its apples and eat he could afford a holiday. The apple
them. Then he would take a nap under tree allowed him to cut its trunk to
its shadow. make a boat to go sailing.

He enjoyed a close fellowship with So, he got all his wishes granted.
the tree until he grew up and became He kept coming to the apple tree to
occupied with lots of other stuff. get something, but never intended to
fellowship with it.
One day, he came back as a
grown-up boy. He needed some One day, he came as an old man,
money to buy toys he liked. The apple weak and dying. The apple tree had
tree suggested he pick all its apples nothing to offer to him. All he could do
and sell them to get what he wanted. was sit quietly, leaning against it and
gaining some support from the stump.
The next time he returned, he was
already a full-grown adult. He had no We may forget our Giver but He
money to build a house. The apple is always there, ready to support us
tree offered its branches. Happily, he should we ask.

Think for a moment:


What causes us to forget about the Giver and be concerned only
about the gifts? Could it be due to our endless wants and needs?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that, even though we are children, we will start pursuing God, His
Kingdom and His Righteousness more than anything that we desire to
have, and that we will put our trust in the Giver of all gifts rather than the
gifts themselves.

• Pray that the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) will help Malaysians be
more aware of our basic human rights and basic liberties , and that it will
help the Malaysian government handle human rights more effectively.

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


55
Bible Reading

Day 40 15 September 2020, Tue


Revelation 15-22

God and Master of Our Home


The Lord pleaded with the When Jesus is invited into our hearts,
Laodiceans to open their doors and He will be the centre of everything.
invite Him in (Rev 3:20.) Yet, do you realize that we keep Him
outside most of the time?
First, Jesus stands at the door
knocking. Anyone who hears His voice Imagine you are living in a gated
and is willing to open the door to invite community. There is a guard who helps
Him in, Jesus will eat with him. Second, keep watch for us. Like the residents,
the one who is victorious will be able to you might treat Jesus like your
sit with Jesus on His throne (Rev 3:21). security guard. He is there to keep
you safe from break-ins by thieves or
So, there is a time of feasting and a robbers, but He is never allowed to
time of ruling with the Lord. A time of enter your house.
fellowship with Jesus will be followed
by a time of having authority in His Some may invite Jesus in, but only as
Kingdom. It all starts with a willingness a guest, and a short stay is welcomed
to open our hearts to invite Jesus in! with some meals offered.

Think for a moment:


Do you know that Jesus comes not as a Guard or a Guest? He comes
as our God. And He comes to be our Master. Will you let Him in as
your God and Master?

Today’s Prayers:
• Pray that Jesus will be the Head, the King, and the Lord of the Church when
we worship as the Body of Christ. Repent if we have not been making
Him the Master but, instead, a waiting servant to satisfy our worldly desires.
Declare His Kingship over our lives and our churches that His glory may fill
the earth as the waters cover the sea!

• Pray that the National Audit Department will submit good accounts and
reports on all government agencies to Parliament in a timely and fair
manner.

56 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


Acknowledgement

Writer Tan Poh Kian

Editors Flora Tan


Eunice R. Chin

Advisors Dr Khoo Kay Hup


Rev Andy Chi
Rev Looi Kok Kim

Cover Designer Khai Handmade & Design



Layout Designer Khai Handmade & Design

(All Bible verses are excerpts from English Standard Version except otherwise stated)

40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020


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58 40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020
40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020
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40-DAY FAST & PRAYER 2020
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