THURSDAY, 1st OCTOBER 2020: POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS
PRAYER GUIDE
ISAIAH 51:15-16 (NKJV)
15But I am the Lord your God,
Who divided the sea whose waves roared—
The Lord of hosts is His name.
16And I have put My words in your mouth; [Emphasis Added]
I have covered you with the shadow of My hand,
That I may plant the heavens,
Lay the foundations of the earth, [Emphasis Added]
And say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’”
JEREMIAH 1:9,10 (ESV)
Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me,
“Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to break down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.”
EZEKIEL 37: 3-5, 7, 9, 10
And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, [Emphasis Added] O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live….
So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, [Emphasis Added] and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone…
Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, [Emphasis Added] Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on
these slain, that they may live.” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, [Emphasis Added] and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
MARK 11:13-14
And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he
came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, [Emphasis Added] “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard it. [Emphasis Added]
MARK 11:22-24
And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, [Emphasis Added] whoever says to this mountain, [Emphasis Added] Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says [Emphasis Added] will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, [Emphasis Added] believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
GUIDING TEXT FOR THE FASTING SEASON
ISAIAH 32:1-8
1Behold, a king will reign in righteousness,
And princes will rule with justice.
2A man will be as a hiding place from the wind,
And a cover from the tempest,
As rivers of water in a dry place,
As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
3The eyes of those who see will not be dim,
And the ears of those who hear will listen.
4Also the heart of the rash will understand knowledge,
And the tongue of the stammerers will be ready to speak plainly.
5The foolish person will no longer be called generous,
Nor the miser said to be bountiful;
6For the foolish person will speak foolishness,
And his heart will work iniquity:
To practice ungodliness,
To utter error against the Lord,
To keep the hungry unsatisfied,
And he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
7Also the schemes of the schemer are evil;
He devises wicked plans
To destroy the poor with lying words,
Even when the needy speaks justice.
8But a generous man devises generous things,
And by generosity he shall stand.
Day |
Day of the Week |
Date |
Area of Focus |
WEEK SEVEN |
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44 | Thursday | 1st October 2020 | Political Organizations |
45 | Friday | 2nd October 2020 | The Electoral Commission |
46 | Saturday | 3rd October 2020 | The Electorate |
47 | Sunday | 4th October 2020 | The 2021 Elections |
48 | Monday | 5th October 2020 | Post- Election to Swearing-in |
49 | Tuesday | 6th October 2020 | Marketplace Restoration |
CONCLUSION |
|||
50 | Wednesday | 7th October 2020 | Dedicating the Decade 2020 -2029 |
Thursday | 8th October 2020 | Dedicating 2020/2021 | |
Friday | 9th October 2020 | THANKSGIVING |
DATES TO NOTE
CONCLUDING VIRTUAL CONFERENCE
Monday, 5th October to Wednesday, 7th October 2020 (7 pm to 9 pm)
CONCLUDING NIGHT VIGIL & DEDICATION OF 2020/2021
Thursday, 8th October 2020
POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS
Politics is the way people arrange themselves for governance. Political organizations are formed by people with shared values, core beliefs, and a shared understanding about government that citizens can identify with. They organize themselves and seek power through elections to political offices so that they can lead the nation at various levels. They support their candidates by fundraising, publicizing the party’s beliefs and policy positions on important issues, distributing campaign materials, and mobilizing voters for elections. Political parties help to watch each other and the government in power. Opposition parties are supposed to help the development of the political process by presenting an opposing view to that of the ruling party and keep citizens informed on both sides of a particular issue.
In a mature democracy, it is the values of the political parties and their public declaration of policy and aims (manifesto) that determine whether or not they get elected into office. In this scenario, voters can investigate and know the policies and beliefs of a political party or candidate. Political parties usually have more supporters than actual members. Most citizens usually don’t subscribe to any political party but rather choose to vote for any party or candidate that carries their beliefs and aspirations. They may vote for candidates from different parties for President, Member of Parliament and Local Councils. In order to attract moderate voters, parties and candidates are forced to avoid taking extreme viewpoints. Politicians are expected to be representative and accountable; when they fail to do so, citizens can vote them out of office.
In an immature democracy, tribe, religion, bribery and election malpractice take centre stage. It is not unusual in such situations to have politicians elected into office with absolutely no plan of action, or understanding of what it takes to properly govern. Unless a few parties emerge that have a following across sectarian divides, countries can fragment into multiple parts, each with its narrow interest. In an immature democracy opposition political parties spend most of their time opposing everything that comes from the government in power even when it has merit.
Maintaining a godly society requires that Christians become involved to some degree in politics. First by praying for leaders, then by exercising the privilege to vote, and ultimately by holding political office. The stewardship mandate requires Christians to be concerned about how their government is run and their society ruled. Being in political office offers a great opportunity to positively impact many lives through true service, stemming corruption, and positively influencing culture.
The Old Testament has several examples of believers in God who influenced secular governments. Daniel had strong influence over successive governments in Babylon, extending his influence to the time of the Medo-Persian Empire (Daniel 1:21). Joseph had great sway over Pharaoh; God made him a ‘father to Pharaoh’ (Genesis 45:8). Similarly, many of the Old Testament prophets had influence over kings. In the New Testament, John the Baptist challenged Herod (Luke 3:18-20) and Paul’s sermon brought Felix to conviction (Acts 24:24-25).
Uganda is a presidential republic, in which the President of Uganda exercises executive power as both the head of state and head of government. The system is based on a multi-party, democratic parliamentary system with equal rights for all citizens over 18 years of age. Political parties were restricted in their activities from 1986, when the National Resistance Movement took power till July 2005, when a constitutional referendum lifted the 19-year ban. Political parties continued to exist during this period of the “Non-party Movement System” and even fielded candidates indirectly, but they could not campaign under their banners or field candidates directly.
The Electoral Commission website indicates that there 26 registered political parties in Uganda. The monetization of our politics at the election stage and the disproportionately high salaries that parliamentarians receive above the rest of the population are a risk to our democracy, bearing in mind that some of the players do not have anything else they can do outside political office. The focus has increasingly become monetary rather than service, with individuals doing whatever it takes to get into and stay in office.
SCRIPTURES FOR PRAYER AND PROCLAMATION
EXODUS 18:21-23
Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.” So Moses listened to the voice of his father-in-law and did all that he had said.
DEUTERONOMY 1:13-18
Choose for your tribes wise, understanding, and experienced men, and I will appoint them as your heads.’ And you answered me, ‘The thing that you have spoken is good for us to do.’ So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and set them as heads over you, commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, commanders of fifties, commanders of tens, and officers, throughout your tribes. And I charged your judges at that time, ‘Hear the cases between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the alien who is with him. You shall not be partial in judgment. You shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not be intimidated by anyone, for the judgment is God’s. And the case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.’ And I commanded you at that time all the things that you should do.
PROVERBS 18:18 (NLT)
Casting lots can end arguments; it settles disputes between powerful opponents.
PROVERBS 16:33 (MSG)
Make your motions and cast your votes, but GOD has the final say.
PROVERBS 11:1 (CEV)
The LORD hates anyone who cheats, but he likes everyone who is honest.
PROVERBS 29:2
When the righteous are [increased] in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the
people mourn.
WORSHIP JEHOVAH ELOHIM – THE SUPREME ONE
He is lifted high above politics and political parties
ISAIAH 57:15
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy place…
ISAIAH 66:1
Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne,and the earth is my footstool…
THANK GOD FOR:
- Opportunity Ugandans have to organize themselves into political organizations.
- The positive contribution that political organizations have made to Uganda’s democracy
PROCLAMATION OVER POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS
A Declaration Of What We Are Praying For And What We See As God Answers Prayer
God is raising leaders in the political organizations of Uganda now and in the unfolding years
that are righteous and just.
Righteousness, justice, mercy, and truth will be established as pillars of the Uganda’s politics.
These leaders will be as a hiding place from the wind and a cover from political storms.
They will be a source of refreshment and renewal for Uganda’s political system
as rivers of water in a dry place.
They will be a covering from the heat of politics just like
the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
There will be servant leaders that will primarily exercise their leadership as servants of the
populace.
The righteous will flourish in places of political authority and Ugandans will rejoice and not mourn
or groan.
At all levels of the political process there will be a hatred for wrongdoing.
Those tearing down our nation every day by giving and receiving bribes will be scattered. The judgment of God will come upon the wicked in politics and they will be removed – the idolaters, corrupt, immoral, murderers, opportunists, liars, evil counselors, thieves and all those who do not have the interests of the nation at heart.
God will deliver Uganda from wickedness and injustice in the political system.
The corridors of power to political office will be locked up spiritually for idolaters; the corrupt; those who practice iniquity and ungodliness; those who utter error against the Lord; those who scheme evil and devise wicked plans to destroy the poor with lying words; those who keep the hungry unsatisfied; and those who cause the drink of the thirsty to fail. Politicians who worship and abuse money will be judged, instead the generous and upright will stand and the righteous will flourish in the political spaces. Through the leadership of political organizations the eyes and ears of Ugandans will open up so that our eyes will not be dim, neither will our ears be dull. Those who are rash, careless and ignorant will gain understanding of knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers will be trained to speak plainly. Wisdom and honor will have true meaning in politics.
Foolishness and wickedness will be despised and overthrown.
Politicians will be mindful of their accountability to God the King, who they called to represent. Players in the political space will have mutual respect for each other. Uganda will have an efficient and effective political system with peaceful elections and peaceful transfers of power from one administration to the next.
AMEN
Day 44 Prayer Guide: Political Organizations