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SHORT NOTES-mailing # 535
August 03, 2007
 

Items and issues to watch carefully in prayer and to ponder as to
their implications in relation to the fellowship and increase in Christ.
 

?If revival is the expression of God?s nature, it is also the fulfilment of His holy purpose. Revival must be considered as a necessity for the life of the Church. Pentecost is not a luxury.?
A. Skevington Wood
 

REVIVAL ? A MASTER PASSION FOR THE TESTIMONY
 
SLINGSHOTS
 
FROM THE WILKERSON FILE
The Presence of God  -  Five items
Boldness to Enter God?s Presence  -  latest addition
 
PRAYING FOR NATIONS AND NATIONAL LEADERSHIP
ADD YOUR SHORT NOTES
NATIONAL DAYS
 
A SHORT NOTE ON THE MATTER OF DONATIONS
MS WORD files
ON THE WALLS
ARTICLES BY LARS WIDERBERG
LATEST MAILINGS TO THE NETWORK AND THE COLLEGE
================
 

A HALT IN THE FLOW OF MAILINGS
 
The steady outflow of mailings from the Network HQ will be brought to a halt from Monday the 6th to about the 24th of August because of a trip to Ohio, to prepare for a revival event to take place in October.
Please, pray for us as we sit down to inquire before the Lord.
 
Every blessing,
Lars W.
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SWAHILI BIBLE TRANSLATION UNDERWAY
?We expect to have the entire Bible in print within five years.?
 
That?s World Bible Translation Center?s David Stringham speaking about the work beginning today on a Swahili Easy-To-Read Bible. In April, they were scrambling to form a team. The urgency? Several governments in East Africa are looking at adopting Swahili as the official country language.
?One of the things that we?re looking at accomplishing with this is not only as an outreach tool for people who may not have a strong background in Christianity, but we?re looking at this as linguists?the effect Swahili will have in coming years on the development of Africa itself.?
Though WBTC is already distributing the Easy-to-Read English Bible, the Swahili version will reach more people. Stringham says they need support. ?Pray for consistency in order to best communicate God?s Word to the people we?re doing this for: primarily those who have not had a strong religious background.?
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ERITREA DENIES PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS
 
The Eritrean government calls the reports of mass Christian detentions ?hyperbole.? A senior government official categorically denies religious repression and suggests the reports are exaggerated.
Voice of the Martyrs Canada?s Glenn Penner disagrees. ?The Eritrean government is still very much living in the past. They haven?t come to grips with the reality of the technological age in which news of arrests does get out of countries very rapidly. I think they really do believe that if they simply say it long enough, people will actually believe them.?
Penner says while they can?t engage in open evangelistic work in Eritrea, they can send a shortwave radio Bible study broadcast into some of the military camps where Christians reside. Penner notes that the government seems to be playing semantics games over the persecution.
?They don?t deny that there are Christians detained, but they call them ?members of new sects? who are assembling illegally. So they?re saying, ?We?re not persecuting people because they?re Christians; we?re detaining people because they?re criminals.??
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MEXICO: ?TRADITIONALIST CATHOLICS? DEMOLISH ANOTHER CHURCH
State battling town bosses in San Juan Chamula; other Christians still without water lines.
 
Chiapas state officials arrested 14 ?traditionalist Catholics? following the destruction on Sunday (July 22) of an evangelical church in a community of San Juan Chamula, near San Cristobal de las Casas, in Mexico?s Chiapas state. State Public Security officers arrested several of the traditionalist Catholics, who practice a blend of traditional Mayan religion and Roman Catholicism, for tearing down Prince of Peace Pentecostal Church in Nishnamtic, evangelical attorney Esdras Alonso Gonzalez SAID.
 
In retaliation for the arrests, Nishnamtic village bosses or caciques on Sunday jailed five evangelicals; those officials in turn were arrested early Monday morning and the Christians freed. In response to the rescue, Nishnamtic traditionalist Catholics on Monday (July 23) then illegally locked up seven evangelical women, including one carrying her 9-month-old baby, in the municipal jail of San Juan Chamula. Authorities then rescued the women and infant.
At the same time, in Los Pozos village also near San Cristobal, evangelicals continue to go without water and federal food aid that town bosses had agreed to restore more than three months ago.
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BRAZIL: TRIBAL PEOPLE READ GOD?S WORD FOR THE FIRST TIME
 
Two Bible translation projects are already having an impact on tribal people in Brazil. President of WordWinds International Jarrette Allen says their Tembe translation project just completed the New Testament. And that?s not all. They?re celebrating another work: ?We finished the Gospel of Luke in the Kuikuro language. And because of that and translating the Gospel of Luke this past year, the Kuikuro heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the first time in human history.?
Allen says a few are already participating in Bible studies. He?s not sure how long they?ll be able to work there because missionaries are restricted from the region. ?Although the missionaries can?t go in, they invite [tribal people]to their house, and they try to spend time with them that way. Then, in doing so, they?re able to gain invitations to go in.? Allen says it?s only a matter of time before they start having difficulty in this area. Funding is needed to complete the projects before that happens.
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IRAQ: VIOLENCE STEADILY INCREASING
 
In a report from the Christian Post, Iraqi Christians are experiencing more persecution than is being reported. According to a pastor in Iraq, 36 members of his congregation were kidnapped and only one released. He says Christians in Dora, Iraq have been threatened and forced out of their homes ? all simply because they are not Muslims. The pastor presented this desperate situation to the U.S. religious freedom commission last Wednesday.
Pray that Iraqi Christians will be heard and protected.
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INDIA: CHRISTIAN MARTYRED IN ASSAM STATE
 
On June 28, Hemanta Das, a Christian convert from Hinduism to Christianity, was brutally beaten by suspected members of a religious fanatic group. Das, a former member of the Hindutva fanatic group known as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, died four days later in a local hospital.
The Council of Baptist Churches in Northeast India has declared Brother Das the first Assamese martyr. Das was a member of the Guwahati Baptist Church. The Voice of the Martyrs? contacts in India report, ?On several occasions, Brother Das was cautioned by radical groups of the dire consequences that would follow if he tried to convert people to Christianity.?
Christian leaders in Assam state say that this murder case has been reported to local police, but police have not yet found those responsible.
Pray for the family of Brother Das and for the Holy Spirit to convict those responsible for this attack.
Ask God to protect and encourage Christians in India. John 14:27, Colossians 3:15
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CHINA: CHRISTIANS POTENTIAL TROUBLEMAKERS
 
A list of potential ?troublemakers? is being compiled in preparation for next year?s Olympic Games in Beijing, China. According to the Christian Post, China?s intelligence has a list of human rights activists, non-governmental organizations, and evangelical Christians. Government spy agencies and think tanks say that Christians threaten to mount demonstrations against China?s religious freedom violations.
 
Many ministries have plans to reach out during the Olympic Games, but due to security concerns, some Christian organizers can?t reveal details of their plans. Some plan to put on cultural and sports events and use them to share about their faith.
Youth With A Mission (YWAM) ? an international Christian ministry well-known for its Olympic outreaches ? is planning a ?2008 Olympics Discipleship Training School? in Brazil next year, after which it will send volunteers to the games.
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CHINA: NUMBER OF BELIEVERS ESTIMATED TO 39 MILLION
 
For years many have been trying to estimate the number of Christians living in China. Some thought there were up to 120 million. Others thought it was closer to 20 million. However, no one could back up their claim with research. Well, now they can. China Partner asked a select group of people to travel into China?s 31 municipalities, provinces and autonomous regions.
?We did research in all provinces, except Tibet,? explained Werner Burklin, founder of China Partners. ?We polled 5,340 people, and we came up with a number ? 39 million.?
 
In a country where Christians have been treated badly, one would expect believer to keep their faith quiet.
?But we found out that it?s very, very easy to talk about religion,? Burklin said. ?The minute we found someone who was a Christian, a smile came across their face, and they rejoiced in the fact that they could tell us they were Christians.?
While 39 million isn?t 120 million, it?s still a lot of people. ?There are so many that have come to know Christ, mostly in the last 20 or 25 years,? he said. ?In 1950 there were just 750,000. . . There are now thousands of churches that have reopened in China. There are now close to 50,000 churches that we know of that actually have been opened in China.?
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LAOS: PROVINCE RECOGNIZES CHRISTIANITY, EASES PERSECUTION
 
Native Christians living in Attapeu province of southern Laos are rejoicing. Following years of persecution, the local government now recognizes Christianity as a legitimate religion. Only five years ago local authorities ordered believers in Attapeu to renounce their faith or be exiled from their villages. Christians were prohibited from using common wells, rice mills and other public facilities.
 
At the beginning of 2002, 73 people professed faith in Christ. But by the end of the year, after heavy persecution, only 30 believers remained steadfast. Persecution continued in subsequent years as Christians were denied basic resources and forced to walk two hours to buy food. Local officials marked the homes of Christians by attaching posters to their front doors. Persecutors poisoned the believers? animals and threw rocks at their homes. In 2004 several missionaries were arrested and imprisoned for one year, their livestock was confiscated and they were forced to pay fines.
 
Now, however, for the first time in Attapeu, Christians are able to legally worship in churches. An indigenous ministry assisted by Christian Aid Mission plans to construct one church in five different villages. Today 336 believers gather for worship in the province with a sharp increase expected because of the new freedoms.
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AFGHANISTAN: KOREAN HOSTAGE DEDICATED LIFE TO SERVING OTHERS
 
Afghan convert to Christianity thanks South Korean church for its sacrifice.
 
A Korean Christian aid worker murdered by his Taliban captors on Monday (July 30) had sacrificed his time and job to help those less fortunate than himself, eventually losing his life while serving the needy in Afghanistan.
For Shim Sung Min, 29, traveling to Afghanistan with an aid group of 23 members of his home congregation in Korea reflected an active desire to live out his faith. Prompted by the needs of poor Korean farmers, Shim had decided to quit his job and pursue a graduate degree in agriculture, a member of Sammul Presbyterian church told this correspondent.
 
?He always wanted to help,? the church member said. ?He was moved to go to Afghanistan in order to help people.?
Taliban spokesmen threatened to kill more hostages yesterday if the Afghan government continued to refuse to release Taliban prisoners, but Taliban leaders later confirmed that no one had been hurt. Responding to criticisms of the Korean aid workers? mission, an Afghan convert to Christianity told this correspondent he was thankful for their willingness to serve.
?Thank you for letting the world know, ?Don?t forget Afghanistan,?? he said.
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REVIVAL ? A MASTER PASSION FOR THE TESTIMONY
 
To begin with:
Revival is to be defined as a Master Passion for the Testimony.
Revival begins in a priestly waiting before the Lord for spiritual authenticity to be established.
Revival centers in the function of the altar, in the presence of the cross for the sake of recovering life, newness of life.
Revival ? an apprehending, a recognition and an appreciation of heavenly perspectives.
 
We have found ourselves to have become engaged in a serious effort to bring forth, even to give birth to an initiative in the realm of revivals, in the realm of a recovering of the purposes of the Lord.
The practical setting is defined as a conference on the subject of revivals and the way of the Lord with his people in regards to producing a spiritual climate in which events of this heavenly category will take place.
We will gather together near Cleveland, Ohio, in October. My role is to stand as a watchman/leader in a prayer effort during the conference, and also during a 24/7 prayer undertaking the week before the conference.
 
We will also engage intercessors via our e-mail service through Intercessors Network.
Please, pray regarding your involvement.
Pray for a genuine touching of minds and hearts.
No individual is to regard himself or herself as too small, too insignificant in this operation. The smaller, the better. Matt 5:3
 
To find out more, ask for a fact-sheet from the Network HQ. Intercessors.Network@Comhem.se
 
Or go to: www.revivalconference.com
 
Lars Widerberg
 
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SLINGSHOTS
 
The road to blessing, whether personal or communal, runs through the needle?s eye gate of lowliness. What Charles Wesley calls ?genuine meek humility, is the first condition of revival.
A, Skevington Wood
 

Men are God?s method. The church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men. . . What the church needs is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more novel methods, but men whom God can use ? men of prayer, men mighty in prayer. The holy Ghost does not come on machinery, but no men. He does not anoint plans, but men ? men of prayer. . .
E.M. Bounds
 

The Church today needs a revival. . . There is plenty of missionary sentiment; but little of that practical self-denial and burning zeal which impelled the Moravians to go forth without script or purse, to carry the banner of the Cross to the dark places of the earth.
Edwin Hodder
 

History testifies to the power of prayer as the prelude to spiritual awakening and missions advance.
John Piper
 

In Shansi I found Chinese Christians who were accustomed to spend time in fasting and prayer. They recognized that this fasting, which so many dislike, which requires faith in God, since it makes one feel weak and poorly, is really a Divinely appointed means of grace. Perhaps the greatest hindrance to our work is our own imagined strength; and in fasting we learn what poor, weak creatures we are-dependent on a meal of meat for the little strength which we are so apt to lean upon.
J. Hudson Taylor
 

Lord grant that the FIRE of my heart may melt the lead in my feet.
Unknown
 
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FROM THE WILKERSON FILE
Teaching and Preaching by David Wilkerson
 
Items directing us to the core theme to be considered in relation to every attempt to praying for revival.
 
The Presence:
The Manifestation of the Presence Of Jesus
The Power of the Lord?s Presence
The Power of His Presence
The Presence of God
The Awful Presence of God
 
These five pieces ? 30 pages in all ? will be sent on request;
Intercessors.Network@Comhem.se
 
PLEASE, tell us if you want the messages as regular e-mails,
or as an attached MS Word-file attached in an e-mail.
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Latest addition to the subject of God?s Presence:
 
Boldness to Enter God?s Presence
David Wilkerson
 
God?s delight comes in his enjoyment of our company.
The Lord has great joy that the cross has provided us with open access to himself. Indeed, the most glorious moment in history was when the temple veil was rent in two, on the day that Christ died. At that moment, the earth trembled, the rocks rent and the graves were opened.
 
It was at this very moment that the benefit to God burst forth. In the instant that the temple veil ? separating man from God?s holy presence ? was torn asunder, something incredible happened. From that point on, not only was man able to enter into the Lord?s presence, but God could come out to man.
 
He who once dwelt in ?thick darkness? didn?t wait for us to come to him, but he came out to us. God himself took the initiative, and Christ?s blood cleared away all hindrances. It was a unilateral move on the Lord?s part, the kind when one party declares, ?Enough ? I?m going to make peace. I?m going to tear down this wall of partition. And I?ll do it out of my own initiative.?
 

Five pages of preaching which brings focus and prepares a listening heart for revival.
Sent to you on request.
 
Tell us if you want to receive this item as text in an ordinary e-mail or as a MS WORD file via e-mail.
Intercessors.Network@Comhem.se
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PRAYING FOR NATIONS AND NATIONAL LEADERSHIP
 
We produce overviews of nations and national leadership on request, to help you to get to grips with the earthly framework and setting related to your prayer burden.
 
Tell us what nation you want to target in prayer and we will send you a report. . .
Also, tell us if you want to receive the report as text in an ordinary e-mail or as a MS WORD file via e-mail.
Intercessors.Network@Comhem.se
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ADD YOUR SHORT NOTES
 
By producing a small written item to present the leadership of your nation, picture the current situation as to persecution and/or missions, add information on spiritual combat, report on the situation of the poor and needy in your society we will be able to come alongside in prayer.
By writing on these subjects or by sending articles written by others you will draw the attention of many intercessors, who are eager engage in the most rewarding pursuits available to man ? PRAYER.
Please, do not hesitate to try to describe urgent prayer targets.
Blessings on every effort in this realm.
Lars W.
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NATIONAL DAYS
 
AUGUST
04 Cook Islands, National Day
05 Jamaica, National Day
06 Bolivia, Independence Day
07 Cote D?Ivoire, National Day
09 Singapore, National Day
10 Ecuador, National Day
11 Chad, National Day
15 Congo, Independence Day
15 India, National Day
15 Liechtenstein, National Day
17 Gabon, National Day
17 Indonesia, Proclamation of Independence
19 Afghanistan, Independence Day
20 Hungary, National Day of the Constitution and St Stephen?s Day
24 Ukraine, National Day
25 Uruguay, Independence Day
27 Moldova Republic Of, National Day
31 Kyrgyzstan, National Day
31 Malaysia, National Day
31 Trinidad and Tobago, National Day
 

This list is incomplete. You may help expanding it.
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A SHORT NOTE ON THE MATTER OF DONATIONS
 
Dear Friends and Intercessors,
As a response to requests for information on the matter of donations, the following options may be taken into consideration.
Intercessors Network is not a registered organisation. We keep it this way for the sake of the liberty such a position provides, first of all spiritually. The position taken generates certain minor disadvantages, mainly in the realm of interaction with institutions of various categories.
Intercessors Network cannot be used as a name in relation to a bank or on a cheque simply because it is not an organisation.
 
A smaller donation travels safe in an ordinary letter covered with prayer.
You will find our address at the end of this letter.
 
If you want to write a cheque, use my name - Lars Widerberg - but do take note that the fee for cashing it here in Sweden is about 20 USD or, occasionally, very much more.
Our International Bank Account Number - IBAN - may perhaps simplify the operation if you want your bank to handle a transaction: SE 08 6000 0000 0002 3654 7798
BIC/Swiftaddress: HANDSESS
Name of our bank: HANDELSBANKEN
Address of our bank: Linköping City, Box 334, 58103 Linköping SWEDEN
Using this path will reduce fees to a minimum on both sides.
 
Another route to use:
PayPal account - Intercessors.Network@Comhem.se
 
Thank you, all dear friends, for praying into this matter.
Thank you, all dear friends, who are considering the matter of assistance.
Rich blessings,
Lars Widerberg
 
================
 

MS WORD files
We offer an alternative as to the format of our articles.
If you want to receive the material as handy MS WORD files ? please let us know.
We will keep a solid profile as to virus protection.
Intercessors.Network@COMHEM.SE
---------
 

On the Walls of Jerusalem
If you want to be linked to our special coverage of Israel, Jewish issues and Jews in the diaspora under the heading ?On the Walls of Jerusalem? - send us a note;
Intercessors.Network@COMHEM.SE
---------
 

A Low Key Option
You can change your subscription to a low key option, that is receiving only the Short notes.
Please, let us know.
----------
 

Latest mailings to Readers and Intercessors
from the European Prophetic College:
 
June 20  THE NEW TESTAMENT ORDER FOR CHURCH, 10  -  A.R. HAY
June 23  The Meaning of Christ, 04  -  T. Austin-Sparks
June 26  THE DAWN OF WORLD REDEMPTION, 16  -  Erich Sauer
June 29  FACE TO FACE, 05  -  Jessie Penn-Lewis
July 02  THE HOLIEST OF ALL, 33-34  -  Andrew Murray
July 09  THE SET OF THE SAIL, 40  -  A.W. TOZER
July 11  THE SECRET OF THE CROSS, 03  -  Andrew Murray
July 14  The Parables and Metaphors of our Lord, 44  -  G. Campbell-Morgan
July 17  The Spirit of Prophecy, 10  -  Art Katz
July 20  The Life of Elijah, 17  -  A.W. Pink
July 23  Christ and the Powers, 05  -  Hendrik Berkhof
July 27  The Cross, the Church, and the Kingdom 07  -  T. Austin-Sparks
July 31  THE LAW OF THE HOUSE  -  T. Austin-Sparks
 
Sent to you on request. . .
 
To become partaker of the regular flow of mailings from the College, mail a request - EPC@COMHEM.SE
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Articles by Lars Widerberg:
 
THE DAVIDIC APPROACH IN THE DAYS OF THE MESSIAH
RELEVANT SEEING AND SPEAKING
FORMULATING VITAL QUESTIONS
A TESTIMONY ROLLED IN DUST
 
YET FOR THIS I WILL BE SOUGHT ? Praying for Israel
REVIVAL, A SUBJECT AVOIDED AND REJECTED
A REVIVAL MANIFESTO
NONE TO BE FOUND
 
TEMPERED FOR THE SAKE OF REDEMPTION
REVELATION OR RELIEF
MAN, CONTINUALLY DIMINISHING
PRAYING FOR THE HUNGRY PREACHER
 
PRAYING THE REALITIES OF ZION  # 1-5
THE CROSS, THE CONTEXT OF PRAYER
PRAYING ACCORDING TO PATTERN  #01
A PEOPLE GATHERED UNTO PRIESTLINESS  # 01
A DANIEL COMPONENT
 
Sent to you on request.
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Latest mailings on the Urgent Prayer Targets list and the On the Walls-list:
 
July 14  Jewish activists sound alarm on sex trade in ex-Soviet states
July 15  Precarious future of Borneo tribe
July 16  CHINA: CRACK DOWN ON RIGHTS AHEAD OF BEIJING OLYMPICS
July 17  SHORT NOTES-mailing # 533
July 20  SHORT NOTES-mailing # 534
July 21  Wiesenthal Center urges Vatican to quickly remove offensive prayer
July 21  Cambodia bans Christian evangelism
July 21  Taliban Abducts South Korean Missions Team
July 22  Taliban Offers Exhange for South Korean Hostages
Later July, Critical alerts regarding the Taliban and their hostage
 
Sent to you on request.
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Intercessors engaged in this prayer operation in more than 6000 prayer groups and churches in 120 nations.
The networking factor increases and multiplies the number to a degree beyond estimation.
Please, take part as watchmen reporting events in need of prayer cover ? send articles found on the web and elsewhere or your own writings.
The articles sent to the Network may be freely circulated via e-mail; display on web sites not allowed.
Encourage your friends to partake in intercession and tell them about the possibility to link up to Intercessors Network.
---------------
 

Give the king knowledge of Your way of judging, O God
and the spirit of your righteousness to the king?s son to control his actions.
Psalms 72:1 Amplified version.
 
*******************************
 
PRIORITY NUMBER ONE:
PRAY FOR MEN IN AUTHORITY, 1 TIM 2:1-4
 
Lars Widerberg
Intercessors Network
Storskiftesgatan 87
S-58334 Linkoping, Sweden
 
Intercessors.Network@Comhem.se
 
Phone + Fax: +46 13 213630