How do you pray effectively for Japan and for us?
The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
1. John 3:8
Serving in a foreign culture and facing various adverse spiritual influences can be challenging and exhausting. Therefore, it is very important for us to know that we have partners in prayer who not only bring our concerns before God and cover us in the face of adverse spiritual influences, but also actively promote the kingdom of God in Japan and bless the country through prayer.
The fight is real
Japan is a country that has suffers from severe spiritual oppression in many places due to thousands of years of spirit worship. Many people in Japan are affected by fears and loneliness, or are not receptive to God’s voice or His love. We, too, regularly encounter spiritual resistance of various kinds, and have experienced that in some places spiritual darkness and desolation are clearly noticeable, much more so than in the West.
We sympathize with the Japanese people, who, like any other people, want to live in peace and well-being, free from the spiritual bondage into which the ways of their ancestors have brought them. We love the people of Japan and desire that they may live out their God-given freedom and use their talents for good. Our indignation is directed at those spiritual powers that unjustly hold this people in spiritual captivity, and we work together with Jesus, our Lord, who came to be a light in the darkness, to open the eyes of the blind, to lead the captives to freedom, and to destroy the works of Satan.
Light in the darkness
Facing these massive spiritual strongholds, some say that Japan is a difficult place for the gospel to take root. But we believe that God is at work here, just as He is everywhere else on this earth, building His kingdom by touching people’s hearts and shining His light into the darkness. No matter how dark the darkness seems, even the smallest ray of light can dispel it.
No prayer and no act of love is in vain—everything promotes God’s kingdom and strengthens His witness. And we have God’s promise that the strongholds of darkness cannot overcome the church of Jesus’ followers (Mat 16:18). In Christ, we are more than conquerors in all things (Rom 8:37), and no weapon forged against us will prevail (Isa 54:17).
Prayer is the offense
Serious and persistent prayer is a weapon against which no spiritual stronghold and no spiritual darkness can stand for long. Worshiping and praising God and calling on Him for help is how we fight our battles—both big and small. For it expresses that we place our trust solely in Him and His promises, and in no other means of help.
So, if you would like to support our ministry through your prayers and participate in God’s work in Japan, we would be glad if you would confidently and boldly stand on God’s promises and courageously join us in prayer. We pray big because we have a big God. We hope everything because Love hopes everything. And we bless everyone because God blesses even those who curse Him. So pray with us:
Pray that the church in Japan will become vibrant families of Jesus’ followers. Pray that not just a few, but all members of the body of Christ will take responsibility for their own spiritual growth, support one another with their gifts, and strive to grow to full maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.
Praise God, who even in the desert makes a way and brings dead bones to life, for whom no ground is too hard and no task too difficult. Praise the God of hosts, who fights our battles and is stronger than any enemy assault, and the Lord, who is our banner, who has led entire nations out of slavery and bondage.
Pray for spiritual clarity in Japan and the knowledge of God, that hearts will be opened to God’s call and God’s light, that God’s kingdom will spread mightily, and that the works and lies of the enemy will be destroyed. Pray for blessing, peace, and divine protection for the country and cities, and for healing for marriages, families, and the whole society.
