Senegal 2023

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the garden, guilt for their disobedience wasn’t the only thing that entered the world at that moment. They immediately knew they were naked and attempted to cover their shame. In many cultures, shame and honor have more to do with what other people think of you than whether you are guilty of an offense. The shame before others of being caught in sin is of much more concern than one’s personal guilt of breaking a law. Getting caught in a lie is much worse than telling a lie. Being exposed in adultery is more terrifying that the guilt of sexual sin.

Wolof and Peul cultures are based more on shame-honor values than the guilt-innocence culture of the West. They will strenuously avoid bringing shame upon themselves, their family, or their people group. The cultural expectations of their family and neighbors keep them from straying far from cultural norms. Avoiding shame and saving face before others are paramount.

PRAISE

Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.” (Psalm 96:10)

KINGDOM COME

(The Mustard Seed and the Leaven ) “He put another parable before them, saying, ’The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.’” (Matthew 13:31)

Lord, may mustard seed-sized faith produce a great harvest in Senegal for Your glory and for the powerful advancement of your Kingdom. Father, may your kingdom come and your will be done in Senegal and among each of the ethnic groups living there.

PRAY THE BOOK OF ACTS

“And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us…” (Acts 15:8)

Thank You for the precious gift of the Holy Spirit! May every believer in Senegal grow in discerning His leading and quickly obey all He tells them to do. May the Spirit of the living God give all believers in Senegal grace toward one another resulting in the strengthening and multiplying of your Church in this land. May there be unity and oneness of purpose in the Church of Senegal. Amen.

PRAY THE HALL OF FAITH

“By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.” (Hebrews 11:20)

Despite brokenness in their family, Isaac agreed with God’s covenant and knew it would mean blessing for his sons. May firm conviction of Your desire that none would perish but all come to repentance compel Senegalese believers to bless their families by regularly speaking the Good News of Jesus to them.

PRAYER

Jesus, we pray for believers in Senegal to enjoy an intimate and deep connection with you in the Lord’s supper, and know how to lead others in celebrating this holy sacrament too.

Thank you, Jesus, that your shameful death, naked and alone, on a public Roman cross, covered and erased our shame and paid our sin debt. You are still the sin-bearer and shame-coverer for those who bow before Yahweh and honor him as King of their lives. May those of us “in Christ” be honest and humble about our weaknesses and sin, since God knows about it, and rejoice that Jesus cancelled it all through his life, death and resurrection.

To learn more about disciple making movements, go to https://zume.training/the-lords-supper-and-how-to-lead-it/