ePRAY! Global Youth Edition

Daniel?s Challenge

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and

cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. Psalm 55:17

10.22.08

For translation of this message, go to www.freetranslation.com

This Week's Challenge: A LITMUS TEST on Loving God, Loving Others

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [agape love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. ? 1 Corinthians 13:1

It seems that the apostle Paul encountered a group of people who were extremely "superspiritual" in the city of Corinth. However, Paul was unimpressed with these people and their level of spirituality because they had an obvious lack of love. Their deficit of love bothered him so deeply that he alluded to it when he wrote First Corinthians 13:1: "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."

The words "sounding brass" are very important in this verse. Let's begin our study today with the word "brass." It comes from the Greek word chalkos, an old word that referred to metal. However, it wasn't just any metal; it was bronze or copper to which a small amount of tin had been added. This tin caused the metal to have a hollow, empty sound when it was beaten. That is why Paul also used the word "sounding" ? the Greek word echo, which described a noise that reverberates or echoes. When these two words were used together, they portrayed the endless beating of metal that produces a hollow, annoying, irritating echo that seems to eternally reverberate.

So when Paul wrote about a "sounding brass," he borrowed an illustration from the pagan world of Corinth to make his point about super- spiritual people who demonstrate no love. The illustration he chose to use was the endless, nonstop, annoying, aggravating, irritating, frenzied beating and clanging of brass that was performed in pagan worship and that echoed ceaselessly throughout the city of Corinth. The citizens of Corinth could never escape the endless banging of this metal, so this was an illustration everyone in the Corinthian church could readily comprehend. (Excerpt from Sparkling Gems by Rick Renner)

When I put the words "never fails" in the Biblegateway keyword search, the only thing God says never fails is LOVE.

"Put it to prayer--"John 13:34" for the young leaders listed in the PRAY! Hard section below. Pray that they love intentionally.

I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. John 13:34

Praying You Forward to Love,

Linda

Pray for His Young Orphans

Krakor Orphan Home was constructed in February of 2006. The Krakor home is located in the Pursat Province in the Western region of Cambodia. Most of the kids in the Krakor home are orphans because their parents died of Malaria or HIV/AIDS. Many of children have lost one or both parents due to these diseases. The pastor in residence, Pastor Nov Den, came to know the Lord 3 years ago. He has a beautiful voice when he sings praises to God. He and his new wife love the children very much. There are two caregivers, a cook and security person on site.

PRAY! for Seab Poy and Seng Et.

Lord, I pray that Seab and Seng's heart will be open to the truth. That Seab and Seng will come to know salvation and freedom through a personal relationship with You.

Father, please comfort Seab and Seng. Provide healing from the trauma of losing his/her parents, and help him/her to gain strength out of these hardships to begin a new life.

Lord, pour out your love and grace on the caregivers, that they will be a source of strength and a model for Seab and Seng as they begin to put fear aside. Help them to comfort Seab and Seng as they themselves have been comforted by you.

Father, I pray that Seab and Seng's relationship with You grows daily. Give them a burden to be reading your Word and a yearning for worship and prayer. Draw them close to you that their prayer life will be abundant.

PRAY! Hard

. . . prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. -Ephesians 6:19 (The Message)

Praying Young Leaders Forward

Find listed below this week's young leaders who need your prayers. NOTE: There are times that I am unable to use the complete name of a person or their locale.

Cote d'Ivoire

Ake Ange

Cesar Lebai

Heinde Wonder

Konan Kan Maxime Alla

N'Dri Roland

Nguessan Wilfried

D. R. Congo

Cedrick Mabanga

Filston Kani

Jean Gabriel Muanda Muanda

Jules Mabiala

Rosette Diasonama

Ethiopia

Benyam Megebo

Biruck Demere

Ephrem Weldesellasse

Esayas Tenagne

Hanna Abebe

Hasset Habte

Mellese Tessema

Merdecios Abdi

Sisay Kumsa

Zelalem Gebreyohannis

Prayer Suggestions

Pray for a spirit of Mutual Upbuilding.

"Edification of another" (Romans 14:19).

Pray for a spirit of Comfort.

"Offer mercy to one another" (2 Corinthians 2:7).

Pray for a spirit of Community.

"Joined together with peace through the Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 4:3).

Pray for a spirit of Candor.

"Speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15).

Pray for a spirit of Frankness.

"Tell the truth rather than flatter" (Proverbs 28:23).

Pray for a spirit of Bigheartedness.

"Being considerate of one another" (Titus 3:2).

Linda Stershic

YFC International Director of Prayer