What is a gospel movement?
A church planting movement (CPM) or disciple making movement (DMM) can be defined as “the multiplication of disciples making disciples and leaders developing leaders, resulting in indigenous churches planting churches which begin to spread rapidly through a people group or population segment.” Click here to read more about gospel movements.
Declare a Promise
Psalm 77:14 “You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the Lebanese.”
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O Lord, Sovereign over Lebanon! We come to you today, again, to sing your praise and declare your worth. You are worthy! You alone work wonders! You are the miracle maker, the Creator God, the One by whom all things came into being and through whom all life is sustained. Lord, demonstrate your might and power in Lebanon. Truly, You alone are God.
Today’s Movement Themes: TARGETED PRAYER
Today, we will again pray for Lebanon during this inflection point in its modern history. Yesterday, we prayed for the government, its leaders, and for economic mercy.
To review, Lebanon has faced a series of compound traumas that has left it reeling: the civil war from 1975-1990; the sectarian violence which has plagued post-war Lebanon, culminating in clashes and assassinations; the 2006 war between Hezbollah and Israel; and more recently, the absolute collapse of Lebanon’s economy, a socio-political revolution against the ruling elite, a massive port explosion that left 300,000 homeless, and the social stresses of dealing with the Covid pandemic.
To say that Lebanon is ‘on the brink’ is something of an understatement; it already fell off the proverbial cliff.
Therefore, we will pray.
Sectarianism and Violence
Lebanon is one of the more diverse ethno-religious swathes of land on the earth, and a dizzyingly complex form of ‘democratic’ government has been instilled to try to negotiate between (and maintain) these differences. Eighteen official sects are represented.
Sectarianism in Lebanon is not new, dating back some 15 centuries. Ethnic cleansing and violent clashes are somewhat the norm. Recent history is no exception.
Today, we will pray for a spirit of unity and love to replace a spirit of sectarianism and violent exclusion.
Scriptures to Pray
Gal 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
- Ask that in Christ there would be no division between the sects of Lebanon
- Pray for a release of the spirit of unity over against the spirit of violence and division
- Pray for a release of the spirit of love over against the spirit of death and destruction
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1 Cor 1:10 “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
- Intercede especially for the church to be a light in Lebanon and show the nation what unity looks like
- Intercede for the leaders of the sects, that they would work together without division for the common good of the nation
- Intercede for the brothers and sisters, that in Lebanon women would be seen, women would be heard, women would be leaders, and women would help restore this country to sanity
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Isaiah 11:6-9
In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together;
the leopard will lie down with the baby goat.
The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion,
and a little child will lead them all.
The cow will graze near the bear.
The cub and the calf will lie down together.
The lion will eat hay like a cow.
The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra.
Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.
Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,
for as the waters fill the sea,
so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.
- Pray for the miracle of reconciliation between sects, that ‘lion’ would lie down with ‘lamb’ and a spirit of peace would unite all in Christ
- Pray that in Lebanon, nothing would hurt or destroy any longer
- Pray that as waters fill the sea, so Lebanon would be filled with people who know the Lord
No Place Left
Each day, we pray for various regions of Lebanon, believing in faith that a disciple making movement will touch each and every community throughout the nation.
Today, pray by name for the following election zones: Beirut I (a Christian dominated block) and Beirut II (a Sunni dominated block).
Beirut I: Achrafieh, Rmeil, Saifi, and Medawar
Beirut II: Mazraa, Moseitbeh, Bashoura, Marfa’, Zoqaq al-Blat, Mina al-Hosn, Ain al-Mreisseh and Ras Beirut.
Prayer
Father, hear our cries. We intercede on behalf of this battered nation, that you would move and change its trajectory. We see, Lord, how violence and exclusion have wreaked havoc; we acknowledge that the sins of generations have destroyed the land and undermined the peace. But we also declare your steadfast love, your faithfulness and kindness. And we call out to you now and ask for your intervening love.
Step in, O God, and do miracles. Change what cannot be changed; break what cannot be broken; shut what cannot be shut.
And open what is locked; unbind what is bound; loose what is contained. Release peace. Spread love. And may a might river of reconciliation flood this land, bringing men and women and youth together in unity–baptized into the unity of Messiah–under whom all can be healed, all can be saved, all can be delivered, and by whom every wound can be mended.
Amen