Prayer Fuel

Pray as the Lord leads you as you read today’s verse

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15-20) ESV

Praying with insight

Like most people, Muslims care deeply about their outward appearance or reputation in the community. In contrast, Jesus cares about the person’s heart. Religion can change outward behavior but can’t change inward attitudes—only the Spirit of God can do that. Pray for the people of this area to be convicted about their need for a clean heart and to seek out Jesus’ teachings on the topic.

For believers

These were the very verses that brought Salima to walk the Way of Light. The beauty of Spirit fruit is borne only when the branch draws the sap from the trunk and roots. A thornbush cannot bear grapes. Only a redeemed, forgiven, Spirit-filled heart can bear love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22,23). Lord, we pray that your children will abide in the vine and will stay in Jesus, planted, unwavering. We know that unless they abide, they will bear no fruit. We ask for fruit that remains. (John 15)

For the lost

Soumia longed to bear good fruit. She wanted to be a mom who was patient and joyful, loving and self-controlled. She kept asking how it was possible, with so much work and responsibility, to still be a good mom filled with peace. She wanted the fruit of the Spirit without receiving the Spirit. Lord, we pray for Muslims in this region to hear and believe the gospel, be filled with your Spirit, and bear good fruit. We solemnly recognize that trees that do not bear good fruit are cut down and thrown into the fire. May Soumia and those like her receive the grace of the Gospel.

For the church

One of the biggest arguments against disciple-making movements (DMM) is that if new believers lead simple churches, heresy will emerge. Opponents of DMM fail to recognize how most of the major heresies in church history came from theologically trained, charismatic leaders — often ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing. We pray for simple churches in this region to continually grow deeper in the Word, that their theology and practice will match the Bible, and that they would have the discernment to differentiate between good fruit and bad fruit.

For areas of influence

Places of Business

Pray for Kingdom businesses to open in this area that are led by Kingdom principles. May these places of business bear good fruit that is observable to their employees, clients, and competitors.

Pray for employees to bear good fruit that would cause their co-workers and employers to ask questions about the hope that they have in Christ. Pray that the potentially costly decisions they make in pursuit of integrity and honesty will bear good fruit for God’s glory.

Declaration of the scripture

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3:17-18) ESV

Pray for believers in this area to model wisdom that is:

• pure — guard them against impure actions
• peaceable — protect them from argumentative spirits
• gentle, open to reason — free them from jumping to conclusions and thinking the worst of others
• full of mercy and good fruits — may they bear much fruit for God’s glory
• impartial and sincere — may they be countercultural in showing impartiality in their judgments