Breakthrough is a monthly call to pray for the Arab world. In each edition we focus on a different country of the region, praying for breakthrough over a particular stronghold.
He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. (Isaiah 25:8 ESV)
Welcome to Breakthrough and happy Easter! This is truly the most beautiful day – the day when Jesus completed his earthly mission and death was swallowed up forever.
Before we begin focusing on Lebanon, let’s take some time to praise God for all he has done in our lives. He has given us freedom and new life. We have so much to be thankful for!
Many people across the world have heard and rejected the gospel, but many are yet to hear the good news. Pray that today would provide new opportunities for all of God’s people to share this wonderful news!
Thank you for your faithful prayers. Let’s now take a look at Lebanon…
Country focus: Lebanon
Key verse
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. (Colossians 3:14 ESV)
About
The Lebanese Republic – or Lebanon – is a small Middle Eastern nation on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, bordering Syria and Israel. Its current boundaries were set in 1920 when the Treaty of Sevres was signed by a number of nations, including the UK, France and Italy.
Lebanon has a population of about 6 million, which includes more than 1 million refugees from Syria, Palestine and Iraq. Unlike other Arab world nations, only 54 per cent of the population follows Islam. Of these, 27 per cent are Sunni and 27 per cent Shia. Just over 40 per cent of the population follows the Christian faith, and the remaining number are mainly Druze.
Lebanon’s religious diversity has been at the root of a lot of unrest, most notably a fifteen-year-long civil war that ended in 1990. Tensions remain, even today, and the different people groups live quite separate lives.
Stronghold
Lebanon’s weakness is its division: Sunni, Shia, Christian, Druze. People groups do interact but they do not tend to live alongside each other. This gives rise to tensions, and it also makes it hard to share the good news.
Prayer points
- Pray that the different people groups of Lebanon would have greater respect and love for one another, recognising that diversity makes their nation an exceptional place.
- Praise God that there has been minimal violence in recent years.
- Ask that the Holy Spirit would work in the lives of all who don’t yet know him, including nominal Christians.
- Lift up the church in Lebanon, which is active and vibrant. May God give our brothers and sisters more opportunities to reach out to the Sunni, Shia and Druze. May the light of Christ be evident in all who follow him.
- Pray for those who have come to faith from a Muslim or Druze background. May they be filled with the Spirit and may the struggles they face produce endurance (Romans 5:3).
- Give thanks for the work that’s being done among Syrian and Iraqi refugees. Churches have been supporting families in a number of practical ways, and people have also been coming to faith. God has been transforming people’s lives through the Lebanese church. Praise God!
If you want to continue praying for the people of Lebanon, we recommend this Prayercast video, which will help you further understand the issues that affect this nation and people.
Thank you for your prayers!
The Arab World Media Team