- Stay Connected
Socialize
Day Of National Prayers & Fasting – To Pray or Not To Pray
By Mbanga Irvine
The call by President Lungu to hold prayers and fasting on the 18th of October has been received with mixed feelings among most Zambians, while most have no objection to holding prayers in hope that there be reconcilliation, others are not for the idea, reasons given have ranged from fear that this would be the beginning of 666 as the date given has a sum of all three sixes (6+6+6), others have argued the neccessity of prayers in solving our problems: ie power outages, the depreciation of our currency the Kwacha, the callous statements by Pf members against the opposition, there is also the silent comparison of such national calls to the famous Nechadnezzar one in Daniel chapter 3:1-30, where those that didnt comply with the leadership call were punished, these and a few more, this piece is meant to tackle some of these issues and draw a conclusion.. The first issue to be tackled is the 666 one, the people that may tend think in these lines are SDAs, my churchmates, most of whom are keen students of Bible prophecy- Clarity or a reminder; in no place does the bible say the number of the beast is 18 but rather six hundred and sixty six ‘666’.
The second issue in this regard is the actual need of Prayer and Fasting, do we really need it both as individuals and as a nation? While i wouldnt be so pressing for the latter, i would affirm for the former, as a Christian nation and believers in the bible the call to prayer can not be over emphasised; here are a few verses that stress that, Mathew 6:5, 26:41 1Thessalonians 5:17, 1Timothy 2:1-5, Ephesian 6:18-19, Colosians 4:1, its all pray and pray and pray continually, as for group prayers, i wont say national ones the bible in Mathew 18:19 has this to say ‘where two or three come in my name am with them, says the Lord.. And on fasting, Mathew 6:16-18 “when you fast…..”, Mathew 17:14-21, This commeth by prayer and fasting” Jesus here says ‘when’ not ‘if’ signifying a prerequisite, and again in the latter verse, “this kind cometh by prayer and fasting” a challenge to all Christians that at times we a dual effect to achieve certain spiritual and physical results, so the need is apparent as pointed out in scripture.
Thirdly, how do we pray and fast rightly? Mathew 5:23-24 “Reconcile first with fellow men before you go to offer sacrifices to the Lord”, Isaiah 58:1-12 True Fasting will entail the following; humbling oneself by those calling for it, loosening the chains of bondage for the oppressed, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, sharing and ceasing to point fingers at each other and talking maliciously- anything less than this will merely be hunger and not fasting which wont produce effectual results.
Fourthly, How far will prayers help in sorting our messes? In 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 ‘if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, pray and seek my face, turn from their wickedness… then i will hear from heaven, forgive them and heal their land, that promise is sure, in Mathew 18:19 “if two of you agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my father in heaven, for where two or three gather in my name am with them, second sure promise, Luke 17:6 ‘if you have faith as small aa a mustard seed you can say to this tree be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it will obey you, Luke 1:37 “for nothing is impossible with God” its clear that faith in God will achieve it all, but do we just pray pray and fast? The answer is a big NO!! its not just faith, in James 2:17 “faith if not accompanied by action is dead – Human beings will have to play a part in getting what is exercised for in faith (Those in government will need human applications in addition to what they pray for).
Merely shouting Lord Lord will be a sheer waste of time, let them consult and incoperate heads that have solutions to some of these challenges we are facing.. Fifth, is this a genuine call or a political gymick to win sympathy from the masses after a horde of challenges that have engulfed our beautifull nation? Its yet to be known and the only thing we can do is hope that its genuine, if not then our leaders will be mocking God, and they wont go scott free “it is a dreadfull thing to fall into the hands of the almight God- Hebrews 10:31..
And lastly, while this is the first time i have seen such a call from a Head of state in this country, it will be good to clarify that its not the first time ever in history, the Bible has records to show that this has been there, in the Book of Ezra Chapter 10, The Isrealites gathered in communal prayer and fasting against their own sins, In Esther Chapter 4:15 Esther called for Mordecai and the Isrealites to fast for her, and finally in Jonah Chapter 3, after the warning of lord through prophet Jonah to the people, the king of Nineveh decreed a fast of submission “let no one eat or drink, … Let them urgently call on the Lord” God saw it and had compassion on them, Luckily in our case we havent been decreed to but merely asked to join in… This call is not by force as in Daniel chapter 3, nor is it a call to worship a foreign God as Nebuchadnezzar did, its Jehovah God and Jesus His son we are called to call upon… In Conclusion, you neither sin in joining nor in not joining.. But it will be better to join in praying for our beloved nation 1Timothy 2:1-2. “I urge you all, that requests, prayers and intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone, for Kings and all those in authority, that we may live peacefull and quiet lives in all goodliness and holiness.. #Without Fear or Favour#
Posted by Editor
on October 13, 2015. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
hollines
October 13, 2015 at 4:13 am
The idea is good ,let those who doesn’t want stay away.
Paul Phiri
October 13, 2015 at 12:36 pm
Prayers are welcome especially a difficult time like this. But God can not be fooled in this way, The issue of loadshedding is a self made challenge by those in government. You run to God to ask wisdom on how to solve problems not to command him solve your problems. Ba Edgar lets be serious and realistic for a moment on this one. Are telling trying to tell the nation that after 18-10-15 there will be no load shedding and the Kwacha will appreciate?
kayula
October 13, 2015 at 6:02 am
If we cant reconcile now God will do it for us. lets go to churches and pray. How can someone use the word if God to mislead pipo? you will be soon exposed. LESA TABEPWA look at how Tanzanial has handled the issue of loadsheding yet they are more hit than us
Judge Joe Bidden
October 13, 2015 at 11:50 am
After you say this then you go and insult people online, people you havent even seen in your life?
Hello Haters
October 13, 2015 at 6:31 am
Tanzania is more hit because they import power from Zambia, there is nothing they can do about that, the tuntemba hydro power plants they closed can even be closed for ever they mean less to them, 80MW capacity that’s nothing, am sure it’s even cheaper to import power for them than maintain these tuntembaz, yes on 18th you do it the Babylon Babylonian style and will do it the Daniel style,wanvela kayula.
jack
October 13, 2015 at 7:36 am
if people talk about praying to God and you discourage them to do so ,to me that is sin. in matters that are of God,please lets keep every thing out and let God be first.
God is aware of all the problems we have in our country and it is only when we as a nation, regardless of political affiliation,race,religion or nationality,we come together and seek his face them He will answer our prayer.we should be mindful that satan is also at work.
0bserver
October 13, 2015 at 7:38 am
we have only one zambia bane be party to those who would be praying and fasting. humbling our selves before GOD is important for without HIM we can not solve
muntu
October 13, 2015 at 7:41 am
6+6+6=18, 9*2=18, 21-3=18. Satan is clever bcoz he doesn’t want prayers that’s y u can see formulas to stop us from word of god. What’s important is to pray to god days doesn’t matter and remember to carry ur bibles
martin
October 13, 2015 at 8:07 am
well put. I have had issues with most SDAs intepretation of this day but you have hit the nail on the head
Shaka Zulu
October 13, 2015 at 8:16 am
All the fuss about nothing.We pray everyday.
ImBeautifulAndILikeIt
October 13, 2015 at 8:19 am
Mr. Mbanga I have been an SDA for 9 years at no point did any one mention the number 18 as being associated with the mark of the beast. The people saying 18 is the number of the beast are not SDA’S these are people who have no idea what the number stand for they have never studied it.
martin
October 13, 2015 at 2:09 pm
Sis, I hope you join us in the prayers
kim
October 13, 2015 at 8:36 am
Pray for more Dollars and miracles . Not far from Voodoo or witchcraft. A lot of Tithe gonna be collected sure!
Hammer
October 13, 2015 at 8:38 am
SDAs have no problem with 18th October as a day. Nobody associates it to 666. It is the non SDAs that are ill read on the interpretation of 666
ImBeautifulAndILikeIt
October 13, 2015 at 8:57 am
Well said.
Vigilant
October 13, 2015 at 8:49 am
Some Politicians Will Be Testing Religion Like They Text Wines, But Then Why Should We Fail To Pray, Lookn Unto Jesus The Author And Finisher Of Our Faith, Will Not Look To Politicians As That Wil Lead To Idol Worship While Demonizing Others
The redeemed
October 13, 2015 at 9:22 am
Prayers are not meant for pagans ,if you are a pagan or a satanist do not even comment on this issue it may seem debatable but its very hot for you let Christians pray for you .
chanda
October 13, 2015 at 9:28 am
no matter wat u ll say, come 18th oct will pray wheather its the satanist day or 666 its ok thats the best day infact to pray and inform us the other days whch satanist hav declared so tt we destroy every plan in jesus name
nevamind
October 13, 2015 at 10:28 am
FIRE FOR FIRE
kasantana
October 13, 2015 at 10:29 am
ifyabupuba ,you waste time writing.. ba koswe,you are so disgusting!!
Suzi
October 13, 2015 at 10:51 am
It is a political gymick from RB….As usual later, not now, when all this is discovered and exposed, someone else will come forward saying ‘he is also human and can make mistakes’…
Conspiracy Theorist
October 13, 2015 at 11:00 am
Am not SDA but have made the following observations. 18 = 6+6+6, the date for the prayers 18/10/2015’s digits sum up to 1+8+1+0+2+0+1+5 = 18 = 6+6+6. This is the only such date in 2015 having 18. The parties they plan to deregistter (sacrifice) are 18 = 6+6+6. Maybe am just observant. I too will pray but alone. May the Love of God, the grace of the Lord Jesus and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Suzi
October 13, 2015 at 11:10 am
Eish..this country also. Making wrong decisions all the time. Parliament should have started fasting on previous day, then the nation joins in on the following final day.
Suzi
October 13, 2015 at 11:14 am
Another wrong advice from RB…using prayer to win public sympathy towards 2016 elections.
MGlo
October 15, 2015 at 11:59 am
True Suzie. Also note that this system stems far back in historical times with Chief Undi of the Chewa people, who used religion to unite people. Humanism controlled the animal in man within us. ‘Zambia as a Christian Nation’ has kept us peaceful so far. Now public prayers to make us be more sympathetic towards the issues prevailing and the 2016 elections. Are all the church groups in agreement with this?
Suzi
October 13, 2015 at 11:19 am
RB…The letter “R” is 18th in the alphabet.
mwila
October 13, 2015 at 11:39 am
Hahahahahahahah
Judge Joe Bidden
October 13, 2015 at 11:54 am
kikikiki yeah neh!
The Gunners!
October 13, 2015 at 11:40 am
How I wish God could punish these trickstars together with their visionless president on the 18th! Just the other day he said he is the best guy to drive this nation forward & that everything is ok! If everything is ok, then why call for useless prayers that are nothing but mockery of God? Respect God & leave His holly name out of your petty political gimmicks to win sympathy from cadres & the dull!!! Shame on you Edger Lungu, no wonder your other name is Chagwa!!!
illuminatti
October 13, 2015 at 12:28 pm
the people calling for fasting and prayers must first reconcile with their perceived enemies and stop intoxicating or lying to every zambian that all is well.
hoodwinking the poor souls to believe that somebody is sympathizing with their suffering while lavishly spending the meager resources is more sinful.
only short sighted people will believe and abide by this call for prayers.
i will be busy looking for cheap food!
how come, somebody has even commercialized the event by charging those who wish to attend the concert on the very day organized by state house?
why is nobody talking about the hidden agenda?
illuminatti
October 13, 2015 at 12:35 pm
Titus Zarare Nkonde Chiluba hood winked zambians with his declaration of the nation as being a christian one, meanwhile he was busy pocketing the money and bought mansions around the world. he even called zambians to be docile people. to be docile is an insult to human intelligence. it is like switching off from thinking and responding to stimuli which affect or impact on the livelihood of a human being.
it will be an insult to my intelligence to accept the call to pray by pagans when in fact they are just trying to cool the masses’ anger on their poor economic performance and vision less leadership.
Mwe bantu
October 13, 2015 at 3:20 pm
Hear Hear!!!
Suzi
October 13, 2015 at 12:55 pm
I agree
Suzi
October 13, 2015 at 12:56 pm
True, I agree
NAILS
October 13, 2015 at 12:57 pm
PRAYERS WITHOUT RECONCILIATION IS A WASTE OF TIME.
pink toe
October 13, 2015 at 1:16 pm
To pray or not, the choice is yours. As for us, it is praying business as usual. At a certain School pupils have been given an assignment to compose each a prayer for that occasion. God bless the teachers of this School.
Shaka Zulu
October 13, 2015 at 1:27 pm
Long ago when I was in Secondary School,we were taught that there are three types of prayer as follows: Private prayer, Community prayer and Prayer of Action. Which of these will be happening on the 18th? Answer: None. Just public relations.
Henrique
October 13, 2015 at 1:52 pm
SHAKA ZULU you are absolutely right. You have a President who is known to be a drunkard trying to mobilise and galvanise the nation into prayer, what a joke!
In fact God will PUNISH US for failing to utilise our natural and HUMAN resources for the good of our people.
We have Cabinet Ministers who school missed, even when it was free under the first government and today they parade themselves as the best managers and intellectuals .
Big mama
October 13, 2015 at 5:11 pm
Community Prayer
saddam
October 13, 2015 at 2:00 pm
i just feel for HH…HE will burn with fire…elo nga ba maureen balikwi…these people they need deliverance….yo demonic altar will be reduce to ashes
Open
October 16, 2015 at 1:41 pm
Saddam you are the one who will burn in fire, leave HH alone out of your topic your Changwa said their presence will contaminate the prayer, Youneed deliverance yourself for those utterances, It’s your demonic alter which will burn into ashes through hypocrisy
kajob
October 13, 2015 at 3:31 pm
I am happy to note that this day is for 666 free masons like hh observed woo we are going to pray so that these Satanists fail to understand each other and so that they fail to achieve what they want this is the battle between Christians and the devils.
Nina
October 16, 2015 at 2:00 pm
Stop calling others names of which have no meaning except hate,PF told him to stay away and so he is doing that you go ahead you hatter God is holy and above do not use him in vain
petenga
October 13, 2015 at 5:35 pm
It’s sad but I laughed when I imagined ecl also causing the Tanzania problem. It’s true, less tabepwa. Ni 2 minutes wasebana
mweee
October 13, 2015 at 6:13 pm
U CAN NOT FORCE THE HORSE TO DRINK WATER, IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN JOIN THEM FASTING AND PRAYING TO SMALL gods me my God is written in capital letters not small letters his name is JEHOVAH. SO THE ONE YOU PEOPLE WILL BE PRAYING TO ON 18TH IS god NOT GOD.
Kangwilimba
October 13, 2015 at 7:56 pm
There no problem with praying but?????? 2 devil is called prayer , gods oso is prayer en 2 God Jahovah is oso called prayer, so know what u r doing bt i promis it b reviled de spirit of truth very soon en same of u ll repent en b baptizd bt 4 now it seems right. Matthew 15:7,8,9.
New Educated Zambia©❤√
October 13, 2015 at 8:25 pm
using prayer as an excuse for your laziness, lack of vision and capacity to manage national affairs is the biggest sin. The entire pf are sinners
Linda
October 16, 2015 at 2:12 pm
Yes, I totally support you after plundering the economy now plays a political gymick for symphasy from the electrolate deep down he doesn’t mean it,eroded with a heart of a devil, I fell to forgive him for hiring a plane with 256 people to New York with dancing queens when some Zambians can’t even afford to put a meal on their plates!!!!!! PF YOU HAVE FAILED DO NOT CALL UPON GOD IN VAIN
chief noise maker
October 13, 2015 at 9:45 pm
so, someone pluz help me…what are we realy praying for on that particular day
……
Abash sat
October 13, 2015 at 11:14 pm
Chief noise maker we are praying yo demon out
Abash sat
October 13, 2015 at 11:23 pm
NEZ we are fasting and praying so that you are set free of demonic possession which makes yo heart full of hatred .and envy. On this day we are calling the holy spirit to fill this nation and free it from satanism so that those who are practising it will be exposed . Its fire for fire . Careful how u deny Christ coz He will deny you in the presence of the Father .
Kingsley
October 13, 2015 at 11:57 pm
God knows for sure the pot He wants to pour blessings into leaks excessively.So He wants it mended (not with silo-tape), cleaned and certified for refill. Let him who has spiritual eyes understand this but a gentile despise wisdom.
kelly zee
October 14, 2015 at 1:30 am
wat u decide to do on da 18th determines yo future,666 or heaven…beware!!!
Willard Sichilima
October 14, 2015 at 7:24 am
Some people have written to me asking about 666 in connection with the Zambian day of prayer and fasting. Whilest there could be some over zealous SDAs and other members coming from other churches, i want to reveal that it is not the stand of SDA church. Though there is an expectation of 666, it will be clear. I advise that those advancing those views consult with the spokes person of SDAs other than pose to be one. Those who will pray with other Zambian are free and those who do not take part will not be forced.
LOYER
October 14, 2015 at 8:54 am
james 1:5 “if any of you lacks wisdom,he should ask God,who gives generously to all without finding fault,and it will be given to him.
everything is possible for him who believes in God Almighty…….(mark 9:23;10:27)
abaid al nt those who bliv let them bliv.bliv wat u no ( God made each and evry day by himself)
SPEAR NGOZI
October 14, 2015 at 12:47 pm
The Day Of Prayer Is Said To Be For Forgiveness And Reconsiliation.The Question In My Mind Is,who Offended Who? How Did He Offend? As The Offender Humbled Himself To The Offended? I Always Pray Fo Myself But On That Day I Want To Have Those Questions Answered Before I Can Pray For What I Cant Understand.
The Remnant
October 14, 2015 at 1:26 pm
Revelation 18:4,5 thank you friends.
BYUBILO KYABANYA
October 14, 2015 at 2:18 pm
PEOPLE,WHY AR U FEARING 666?,THOSE CHARPTERS U AR COTING,AR TRUE,THEY WIL COME 2 PAS.IF U FAST WITHOUT PRAYER,THEN U WIL FAST 4 DEVIL,BT IF U FAST WITH PRAYER,THEN U HAV FASTED 2 GOD 4 THE COUNTRY.IN PRAYER U CAN EVN TEL GOD 2 CANCIL EVERY SATANIC PLANS.DNT TALK POLITICS
BYUBILO KYABANYA
October 14, 2015 at 2:21 pm
PEOPLE,WHY AR U FEARING 666?,THOSE CHARPTERS U AR COTING,AR TRUE,THEY WIL COME 2 PAS.IF U FAST WITHOUT PRAYER,THEN U WIL FAST 4 DEVIL,BT IF U FAST WITH PRAYER,THEN U HAV FASTED 2 GOD 4 THE COUNTRY.IN PRAYER U CAN EVN TEL GOD 2 CANCIL EVERY SATANIC PLANS.DNT TALK POLITICS NOR INSULT.
Mercy Mufana
October 14, 2015 at 3:19 pm
Why can’nt the gov change the date to avoid confusion ?