Note: This Bible study is formatted for small group open discussion. If you use this study by yourself, we suggest that you journal your answers to the discussion questions. Also, please use suggested translations where indicated. Biblegateway.com is an excellent source for looking up translations you may not have on hand.
For centuries, Uganda has been at the mercy of witchcraft, satanic allegiances, and bloodshed through the likes of Idi Amin and Joseph Kony. In desperation, the Church in Uganda has prayed fervently for the spiritual transformation of their nation.
In 2000, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni dedicated the nation to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Then in October 2012, the president led his nation in a nationally televised service of repentance for the sins of Uganda and again dedicated it to the one, true God. This response by the president is the culmination of years of intercession by nationals who have been led by God to tear down Ugandan spiritual strongholds.
The ultimate destiny of every nation is to declare that the returning Christ Jesus is Lord! What an amazing privilege for the pray-ers involved in Uganda to see with their own eyes the fruit of their focused intercession before Jesus’ return. No matter what your thoughts are about where we stand on the eternal timeline, we will eventually greet Jesus as nations who have either rebelled or bowed our knees to Christ. To the latter end we pray.
Discussion Questions
Bob Bakke reminds us that God expects us to watch carefully for the signs of Jesus’ return and says that “dynamics at play today align particularly well with the prophecies of Jesus’ coming.” Read the following passages and compare them with the stories in today’s news. What evidences do you see that the Lord’s return may be soon? (Isa. 2:2; Matt. 24; Luke 17:26–27; 1 Thess. 5:1–4; 2 Thess. 2:1–12; 2 Tim. 3:1–9; 2 Peter 3:1–9)__________________________________________________
Read Daniel 9:2–3. As we watch, we need to position ourselves to understand what is going on around us. In looking at Daniel, who “understood from Scripture” the signs of the times, David Kubal points to Daniel’s example: turning to God in prayer, petition, fasting, and identificational confession. Read and discuss each of these elements as you look at the following Scriptures.
- Prayer (tefillah—personal transformation): Psalm 27:4,8; Isaiah 45:3; Jeremiah 29:13, 33:3; 2 Corinthians 3:16–18; James 4:8
- Petition (tachanuwn—pleading for others): Exodus 32:7–14; 1 Samuel 12:23; Job 42:7–9; Ezekiel 22:30; Acts 12:1–19; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Timothy 2:1–4; James 5:13–18
- Fasting (tsuwm—elevating our spirit above our flesh): 1 Samuel 7:5–6; 2 Samuel 12:16; Ezra 8:21–23; Esther 4:15–16; Isaiah 58:2–11; Daniel 10:1–3; Matthew 6:16–18; Mark 9:29 (kjv); Acts 14:23
- Identificational confession (humbly identifying yourself with those who have sinned) Leviticus 26:14–17, 40–42; Ezra 9:1–15; Nehemiah 1:1–11; Isaiah 53:12; Daniel 9:2–23
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Jacquie Tyre also asks us to take up the call to “watch and pray,” looking to see what the Lord will say, what the enemy is up to, and what is going on in the world around us. As we do this, we can be assured of the results. Read the following Scriptures and finish the sentences to show the sequence of events we can expect as we “watch to see the redemption of the Lord”:
Amos 3:7—God never does anything until _______________________________________________________________
Deuteronomy 29:29—Once God reveals something to us __________________________________________________
Romans 10:17—When God’s message to us has been revealed, it produces ___________________________________________________________________
Matthew 17:20—Faith produces the power to __________________________________________
Isaiah 55:11—When all this is released by God, it __________________________________________________
“When it [comes] to the end of all things and the return of Christ, heaven [waits] for ‘the prayers of all the saints,’” Bakke reminds us (Rev. 8:1–5). Think of it—heaven is waiting on you! This is your destiny—how will you fulfill it _______________________________
Action Steps
Prayerful preparation for the Lord’s return demands a personal response. Read the following passages about preparing the way for the coming of the Lord and identify specific things you can do in the spiritual realm to follow suit (Ps. 50:23; Isa. 40:2–4, 62:10–12; Mal. 3:1–5; Matt. 3:1–11, 21:1-9; Luke 10:1–16)._______________________________
Now pick out one thing you’ve listed and put it at the top of your prayer “to do” list this week. One at a time, add additional items each week.
Even so, come Lord Jesus, come!
