Prayer and Fasting for GAFCON - Day 34

Please Pray for Today's Programme

• Morning Pilgrimage to the Mount of Olives and Garden of Gethsemane
• Afternoon Holy Communion
• Focus Topic: The Gospel and Secularism

Opening Verse

Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Isaiah Ivii. 15.

A Psalm of Ascent - The One Hundred Twenty Ninth Psalm

MANY a time have they fought against me from my youth up, * may Israel now say;

Yea, many a time have they vexed me from my youth up; * but they have not prevailed against me.

The plowers plowed upon my back, * and made long furrows.

But the righteous LORD * hath hewn the snares of the ungodly in pieces.

Let them be confounded and turned backward, * as many as have evil will at Sion.

Let them be even as the grass upon the housetops, * which withereth afore it be grown up;

Whereof the mower filleth not his hand, * neither he that bindeth up the sheaves his bosom.

So that they who go by say not so much as, The LORD prosper you; * we wish you good luck in the Name of the LORD.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Praying The First Lesson, Ruth 2, NLT

1 Now there was a wealthy and influential man in Bethlehem named Boaz, who was a relative of Naomi’s husband, Elimelech.
2 One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go out into the harvest fields to pick up the stalks of grain left behind by anyone who is kind enough to let me do it.”
Naomi replied, “All right, my daughter, go ahead.” 3 So Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech.

Thank you, Father, that GAFCON gathers many brothers and sisters in common labor for your Kingdom.

4 While she was there, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters. “The Lord be with you!” he said.
“The Lord bless you!” the harvesters replied.
5 Then Boaz asked his foreman, “Who is that young woman over there? Who does she belong to?”
6 And the foreman replied, “She is the young woman from Moab who came back with Naomi. 7 She asked me this morning if she could gather grain behind the harvesters. She has been hard at work ever since, except for a few minutes’ rest in the shelter.”
8 Boaz went over and said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Stay right here with us when you gather grain; don’t go to any other fields. Stay right behind the young women working in my field. 9 See which part of the field they are harvesting, and then follow them. I have warned the young men not to treat you roughly. And when you are thirsty, help yourself to the water they have drawn from the well.”

Father, bless the GAFCON pilgrims with many new friendships. Build relationships of respect, kindness and support among your people from many lands.

10 Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. “What have I done to deserve such kindness?” she asked. “I am only a foreigner.”
11 “Yes, I know,” Boaz replied. “But I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers. 12 May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.”
13 “I hope I continue to please you, sir,” she replied. “You have comforted me by speaking so kindly to me, even though I am not one of your workers.”

Father, let the GAFCON pilgrims be inspired and refreshed by one anothers' testimonies.

We pray in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Praying The Second Lesson, Luke 9, NLT

46 Then his disciples began arguing about which of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he brought a little child to his side. 48 Then he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.”

Lord, teach your GAFCON pilgrims fresh lessons in discipleship this day. Thank you for GAFCON's publication, "The Way, The Truth and The Life." Thank you for reminding us that your message is not for an elite few, but for those who run to you with childlike faith.

49 John said to Jesus, “Master, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn’t in our group.”
50 But Jesus said, “Don’t stop him! Anyone who is not against you is for you.”

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for inspiring Anglicans to respect local forms of worship and service in Jesus' Name. Bless this afternoon's Holy Communion service with true unity in Christ.

51 As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. 53 But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. 54 When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 So they went on to another village.

Lord, there is much tension and estrangement between Anglicans today. We give thanks for the prayers and respectful letters between Archbishops Jensen and Williams. Teach and guide the GAFCON pilgrims in all circumstances, Lord.

57 As they were walking along, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
58 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”
59 He said to another person, “Come, follow me.”
The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”
60 But Jesus told him, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”
61 Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”
62 But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”

Father, there is always the danger that the inspiration of a pilgrimage will cool off in the struggles and labors of daily life. Pour out the Holy Spirit on these GAFCON pilgrims, that they may be like the Apostles at the first Pentecost. Change them and send them to change the world for you. We ask this for Jesus' sake. Amen.

A GAFCON PILGRIM'S TESTIMONY

There have been many seemingly insurmountable obstacles, but as a testimony that the Lord our God is firmly in control of GAFCON, he has graciously removed them. A conference of this magnitude would normally require several years of extensive planning, consultations and fund raising. We had barely five months to put this conference together. The Lord raised men and women who gladly and willingly offered their time, skill and money to make it happen.

Archbishop Peter Akinola (Nigeria), address to GAFCON, 21 June 2008