Global: Hindus need our prayers
07 Mar 2019
Hinduism is slowly growing as people search for life’s answers in religion. Of the 140,000 Protestant missionaries across the nations, only 2% serve Hindu people. However, Hindus from all castes are slowly coming to Jesus after hearing Bible stories; in fact an entire village turned to Christ after hearing His Word preached in their language! Ministry to Hindus is challenging due to the variety of beliefs, practices, and subcultures. Pray for people of all castes to follow Christ. Pray for Hindus to abandon their thousands of gods to follow the one true God, and for God’s real and present power to expose the myth of karma. Pray also for those who have left Hinduism for Christ, because that choice often means persecution, even death. New believers are considered threats to Hindu society and are relentlessly pursued or shunned by their community. Fortunately new house churches welcome these new believers into their midst.
Israel: could Netanyahu form a government?
07 Mar 2019
Elections are on 9 April and a new poll, taken after the attorney general said he would indict prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges, shows that he could not form a right-wing government if elections were held today. 68% of the public want him to resign now or after he is formally indicted. Following the announcement of pending indictments for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust through receiving gifts from supporters, and alleged media collusion to give him favourable coverage in return for political and regulatory favours, Netanyahu’s response was a combative speech declaring the investigation a left-wing witch hunt to aid the election of his primary rivals - the Blue and White party The poll currently gives Blue and White 37 seats and Likud 29. Netanyahu holds the record for the longest sitting single term of any Israeli prime minister.
India and Pakistan: violent peace
07 Mar 2019
War would be terrible for India and Pakistan, but for the people of Kashmir peace sounds like the same thing. Shelling has increased along the official Line of Control that divides Kashmir between the two nuclear-armed rivals. Indian and Pakistani warplanes occasionally roar overhead, and troops from both sides shoot at each other across the de facto border. Frightened people are praying that it doesn’t escalate into war. Mohammed Shafiq lives on the Pakistani side and built bunkers near his home years ago for just such an occasion. ‘We will use them if there is any attack from India in our area.’ Meanwhile JeM, a Pakistan terrorist group whose primary motive is to separate Kashmir from India and merge it with Pakistan, is accused of aggravating the situation with violent attacks in Kashmir. Although banned, JeM continue to operate there. See
Colombia / Venezuela: crisis
07 Mar 2019
Colombian charities and churches are delivering food and basic supplies to families in Cucuta, a border town in crisis. Poverty, lack of services, and lack of medical attention is driving families to knock on church doors. Church members are hosting displaced families. The strain is noticeable. As this situation continues to unfold they are asking people to pray for the injured and homeless. Meanwhile Venezuela expelled the German ambassador for helping opposition leader Juan Guaidó’s safe return to the country. Many other diplomats were at the airport to receive him, but so far only the German ambassador has been targeted. Germany, which recognises Mr Guaidó as interim president, said the expulsion will escalate tensions. The US is revoking visas of people linked to President Maduro to put more pressure on him to resign. More rallies on the streets against Maduro are due on Saturday. The next few days are critical. See
Iraq: Yazidi captives come home
07 Mar 2019
21 Yazidis who were held by IS have returned home to Iraq from Syria. Most are children, young boys who were held by IS for five years and whom experts believe were likely to have been forcibly trained in IS military camps. The parents of many of these children remain missing. Yazidis are an ethnic religious group. IS targeted both Christians and Yazidis for genocide, although Yazidis were far more heavily targeted for enslavement and captivity. The effect of IS on the children of both groups is profound. Many suffer deep psychological trauma, and were denied the opportunity of childhood. With an entire generation impacted by genocide, many Christian and Yazidi leaders are concerned about the future. The brutality of IS across both Iraq and Syria has left behind deep scars, and has decimated the religious minorities who once lived in these countries.
Algeria: taking down a picture frame
07 Mar 2019
82-year-old President Bouteflika has not spoken in public in years. At public ceremonies or meetings his handlers place a framed picture of him on an easel. The government has announced that Bouteflika, who suffered a debilitating stroke in 2013, will seek a fifth term of office. Protests erupted, and continue. 70% of Algeria's population is under 30. Millions are fed up with a state-run economy that is flagging. Despite demonstrations, Mr. Bouteflika’s circle still plan to wheel him out for April’s elections. Meanwhile influential legislators from the opposition resigned from parliament to support the grassroots demands for change. The stakes are high. Europe counts the country as a major energy exporter, a counter-terrorism ally, and a partner in controlling migration flows from Africa. A young population with high expectations no longer accepts an authoritarian system. Repercussions could spread far beyond Algeria. See
North Korea: activity at missile site
07 Mar 2019
The satellite launch facility at Tongchang-ri became dormant last August. Now satellite images show that rebuilding efforts began between 16 February and 2 March - either just before, during or immediately after Kim Jong-Un and Donald Trump abruptly ended their second summit on 28 February without signing a deal. Though the satellite images provide useful information, analysts and experts express caution against reading too much into them without sufficient intelligence to complement. Amid much media and ‘professional’ speculation, a senior research associate at the Centre for Nonproliferation Studies said, ‘It's possible that the activity at the facility is a chess move in North Korea's negotiating strategy to ratchet up pressure on Washington. The site, in the macro-sense, is very transparent and the North Koreans know we are always watching.’
One of the leaders in our prayer ministry begins his prayers, “Father, we come before you in Jesus’ name . . .” Three words that people traditionally use to conclude their prayers are used at the beginning by this brother. Rightly so. “In Jesus’ name” was never designed to be a tack-on at the end of our superficial requests. Rather, “in Jesus’ name” is a reality that changes why, how, and what we pray, from the very opening moment of our communion with God! According to Jesus one of the keys to answered prayer is praying ‘in his name.’
John 14:13-14, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
John 15:16 (ESV), “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
John 16:23-24 He states, “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now, you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
So what does Jesus mean when he says, “ask in his name?”
I see three primary things. First it is worship-based prayer focused on the character and renown of Christ. Second, we come on the basis of Christ’s merit. Third, we are authorized to be Christ’s representatives praying with his delegated authority!
Worship-based prayer
Ultimately God will answer prayer when it will magnify his name and his character! As Dr. Randal Roberts writes,
“Praying in Jesus name means to pray in a manner consistent with His values and purposes . . . It is to pray with the glorification of God as the supreme motive; It is to pray as Jesus would pray if He was in our circumstances; It is to pray as His followers who have been appointed as instruments of fruit-bearing in the outworking of His mission . . . It is learning to ask for the good things that He delights to give from the devoted heart that He delights to bless.”
Praying ‘in Jesus name’ means we pray that the reputation of Jesus would be enhanced. Jesus Christ would be more clearly seen and savored, revealed and revered. We pray that the name of Jesus would be treated as infinitely valuable here on the earth as it is in heaven!
One major assumption when we pray is this:
There’s always MORE --OF Christ, FROM Christ, and FOR Christ! As David Bryant shares, the one major GUARANTEE our prayers will be heard and answered is this: Will the answers to our prayers help...
EXALT Jesus’ NAME?
SPREAD Jesus’ FAME?
EXTEND Jesus’ REIGN?
INCREASE Jesus’ GAIN?
RATIFY Jesus’ CLAIM?
Christ’s Merit
Praying in the name of Jesus is no formality. We approach God in prayer through Jesus because Jesus is the grounds upon which God chooses to hear us. God chooses to hear us because we have loved Jesus and believed that God sent him. God answers those who ask of him on the basis of Jesus and his gospel work. You and I have no claim on God, but Christ does.
He merited the blessing of the Father’s favor by his perfect life of obedience and sacrifice of the cross. Our access depends solely on what Jesus has done! When we pray in Jesus’ name we are asking the Father, ‘grant this request, because your Son the Lord Jesus has earned it!’ May Jesus see the travail of his soul and be satisfied! May the Lamb who was slain receive his due reward. He is All-Deserving! Rev. 5:12
In our praying, it is God’s name that is at stake! Jesus is telling us that His Father always acts in ways that honor his Name! He would never want the rumor to go out that when someone came asking in the name of his Son, that he was turned away.
Can you imagine going to God the Father in the name of God the Son and asking for more of the power or joy of the Holy Spirit, and be told to go away? Jesus says, ‘it is impossible!’ The Father will get up and give you as much of himself as you need and as you desire! So we pray, God vindicate your name in the nations of the earth!
Authorized as ‘Christ’s representatives’
Third, when we are praying in ‘Jesus name’ we are coming as those who are authorized to act in his place. Since we ‘represent’ him, Jesus authorized us to use his name in prayer. He gave us authority over his accounts. He asked us to exercise control over his estate-the kingdom of God!
We exercise our authority through prayer. By prayer we ask the Father for all we need to get the job done. By prayer we ask God to bind and destroy all demonic strongholds that are contrary to his will! By prayer we ask for justice, making wrong things right! By prayer we ask God to shatter evil regimes and expose corruption! By prayer we ask him to direct his grace and power for the advance of the gospel in the nations of the earth! To pray in Jesus name and with his authority ultimately means praying according to his will not our own.
Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords! He has been given the name that is above every other name! He is the SovereignSonoftheFather,reigningat His righthandforeverandever. All authority in heaven and earth has been given to him and he has asked us to exercise his delegated authority in the place of prayer! He is the triumphant victorovereveryfoe-sin,death, Hades.
He is the Glorious Conqueror! Therefore, we are praying from the victory that he has secured through the cross. He is the Righteous Judgeofpeoples andnations,towhomallmustgiveanaccount. He is the Undeniable and Gracious Rulerofhistory,overseeingits pathandits outcome frombeginningto end! He is the IncomparableKingofa Kingdom thatwillultimately cover the earth as the waters cover the sea! Hab. 2:14
Expect Results!
What happens when we pray in Jesus’ name? What is the ultimate purpose and result? According to Jesus’ multiple commands in this Upper Room Discourse, the outcomes of praying in His name are:
The Father will be glorified in the Son!
We bear fruit that remains!
Our joy is full!
God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven!
He promised if we prayed in his name, he would do it! Let’s believe it and pray until we see the results!
What a glorious privilege to pray “In Jesus Name!”
Dr. Jason Hubbard
Executive Co-ordinator
IPC