Think of one way you can share at church tomorrow and prepare yourself to serve.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:21-31
The flip side of what we learnt yesterday occurs, not when one person opts out of the body, but when one person tries to push another person out of the body.
Now of course no respectable church or church goer would do that openly and blatantly. But when we put human standards on our services and works we are pushing people out. I’ve actually heard of churches saying that you have to dress a certain way to serve in this ministry, or you have to have a certain level of income to be involved in this ministry, or your education levels have to be so high before you can come on board here. Is not the eye saying to the hand, ’I don’t need you’? When individuals grizzle behind the scenes or make fun of someone’s ministry and service we are again, being like that eye!
God has designed the church to work in perfect harmony like the body does. He wants us to have equal concern for all the parts and to care for each other equally. We are to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep and so on. We are to love each other as Christ has loved us.
Also, we are not to strive to be like someone else. That is tacitly saying that other people are more important. We are also devaluing others by putting someone on a pedestal. Rather let us strive to be all that Christ created us to be and let us serve Him with passion and vigour.
Tomorrow you will be at church and you will be with the body that Christ created you to be with. That alone is awesome. But what is more awesome is that Christ created you to have a role in that body. He created you to be a vital link in that chain. To God and to others you are important. You can and will make a difference to others and to the entire body as you worship God and serve wholeheartedly tomorrow in the Body of Christ.
Prayer:
As you think about the church in general and your own local church spend time in adoration, confession and thanksgiving.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Pray that God would honoured tomorrow at your local church service in word, in song, in prayer and in deed. Pray that each believer would come ready to serve and to give wholeheartedly to God. Pray that you would see God powerfully at work during and through the service.
¨ Pray that church would grow tomorrow and that more and more people would be joyously bending the knee to confess Jesus as Lord.
Saturday, 8 September 2012
Friday, 7 September 2012
Friday September 7, 2012
Send a thank you card to at least one person today for their work in God’s Church.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-20
How many times have you seen children throw a hissy fit during a game and stomp off and refuse to be involved? Maybe they couldn’t bat or have the main role. Maybe they didn’t score or maybe things went against them and they just couldn’t cope. The result? They stomp off in a huff and puff!
While we may laugh at such silly examples the Lord tells us that such hissy fits can and do happen in the church. There are many people that have opted out of the body of Christ because something didn’t go their way. Many have left their local congregation because they weren’t picked for this or that role. Many have opted out because they weren’t the best at something or because some decision was made contrary to their liking.
The Lord has made the church like a body. No one should opt out because they aren’t something else. No one should be leaving in a hissy fit because they are not like someone else or because they don’t have a ministry like someone else. There is only one body and God has arranged the body just as He saw fit. Whatever your role in the church be assured that God has put you there for a reason. Be assured that He wants you there to serve and to give and to bless others. You are a vital part of the body, just as a foot or hand or eye lid. Just as every part of the body has a role, so do you.
God reminds us over and over and over again that the body has many parts and that each part is vital for the effective functioning of the body. Without the various parts of the body, it would simply cease to be a body! You are vital to the effective functioning of the body. There are two ways that this impacts our life. Firstly, we can no longer think of ourselves as insignificant and unnecessary within the church. We must change the way we think and consciously see ourselves as important within the body of Christ. Secondly, we must affirm the value of others and encourage them in their role in the body. You can be a great encouragement to others simply by telling them what a great job they are doing and by thanking them for their service. Imagine if everyone in the church thanked just one other person each week for their love and service! What a church!
Prayer:
Spend time in adoration, confession and thanks. Write down your points for future reference. Focus your prayers here on others in your church and the roles that God has given them.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Pray that God will raise up continued support for Shiloh Church ministries in India. Pray that the orphans would have enough food, clothes etc to live off and that they would be amply cared for by the Lord and His chosen people.
¨ Pray for the work of Student Life as they seek to evangelise university students across the nation. Pray for a revival among students. Pray that God would provide the leadership and resources needed for this great task.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-20
How many times have you seen children throw a hissy fit during a game and stomp off and refuse to be involved? Maybe they couldn’t bat or have the main role. Maybe they didn’t score or maybe things went against them and they just couldn’t cope. The result? They stomp off in a huff and puff!
While we may laugh at such silly examples the Lord tells us that such hissy fits can and do happen in the church. There are many people that have opted out of the body of Christ because something didn’t go their way. Many have left their local congregation because they weren’t picked for this or that role. Many have opted out because they weren’t the best at something or because some decision was made contrary to their liking.
The Lord has made the church like a body. No one should opt out because they aren’t something else. No one should be leaving in a hissy fit because they are not like someone else or because they don’t have a ministry like someone else. There is only one body and God has arranged the body just as He saw fit. Whatever your role in the church be assured that God has put you there for a reason. Be assured that He wants you there to serve and to give and to bless others. You are a vital part of the body, just as a foot or hand or eye lid. Just as every part of the body has a role, so do you.
God reminds us over and over and over again that the body has many parts and that each part is vital for the effective functioning of the body. Without the various parts of the body, it would simply cease to be a body! You are vital to the effective functioning of the body. There are two ways that this impacts our life. Firstly, we can no longer think of ourselves as insignificant and unnecessary within the church. We must change the way we think and consciously see ourselves as important within the body of Christ. Secondly, we must affirm the value of others and encourage them in their role in the body. You can be a great encouragement to others simply by telling them what a great job they are doing and by thanking them for their service. Imagine if everyone in the church thanked just one other person each week for their love and service! What a church!
Prayer:
Spend time in adoration, confession and thanks. Write down your points for future reference. Focus your prayers here on others in your church and the roles that God has given them.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Pray that God will raise up continued support for Shiloh Church ministries in India. Pray that the orphans would have enough food, clothes etc to live off and that they would be amply cared for by the Lord and His chosen people.
¨ Pray for the work of Student Life as they seek to evangelise university students across the nation. Pray for a revival among students. Pray that God would provide the leadership and resources needed for this great task.
Thursday, 6 September 2012
Thursday September 6, 2012
Read today’s passage and get together with a mature believer and ask which of these gifts relate to you personally.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:8-11
What’s your role in the church? Can you summarise your purpose in God’s church in one clear definitive sentence? I bet most believers can’t! We live in a world where church is about coming and sitting and consuming and leaving. God’s church is about serving and giving and edifying others and blessing others. You are either a contributor or a consumer. If you don’t know your role in the church then you are probably the latter. But that can change very quickly and very easily.
But how can we find out our role in the church? It boils down to knowing how verse 7 (see yesterday’s study) is true for my own life. I need to know what spiritual gift God has given me. I need to start using that gift and blessing others with it. But that doesn’t answer the question does it? You’ll learn how to find your gift this weekend at church. You’d better be there!
Finding our spiritual gift and using it is vitally important because God Himself has given us certain roles to play. Imagine our friend in today’s photo being the welcomer for new comers in your church! Not many people would get out of their car would they? God outlines various roles in today’s passage but this list is by no means exhaustive. Look through the list and prayerfully consider each one. Which one raises passion in you? Which ones excite you or cause you to see great potential? As you start answering these kinds of questions you are well on the way to using you gift for the blessing and benefit of others. But more on Sonday. Don’t miss this one!!!
Prayer:
Spend time in adoration, confession and thanks. Write down your points for future reference.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Pray that God’s Holy Spirit would be powerfully at work in you and in your congregation showing people their spiritual gifts and encouraging and leading them to use those gifts for the edification of others.
¨ Pray that people in your congregation would be walking in obedience to the Lord and doing His will and His work rather than their own will and their own work.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:8-11
What’s your role in the church? Can you summarise your purpose in God’s church in one clear definitive sentence? I bet most believers can’t! We live in a world where church is about coming and sitting and consuming and leaving. God’s church is about serving and giving and edifying others and blessing others. You are either a contributor or a consumer. If you don’t know your role in the church then you are probably the latter. But that can change very quickly and very easily.
But how can we find out our role in the church? It boils down to knowing how verse 7 (see yesterday’s study) is true for my own life. I need to know what spiritual gift God has given me. I need to start using that gift and blessing others with it. But that doesn’t answer the question does it? You’ll learn how to find your gift this weekend at church. You’d better be there!
Finding our spiritual gift and using it is vitally important because God Himself has given us certain roles to play. Imagine our friend in today’s photo being the welcomer for new comers in your church! Not many people would get out of their car would they? God outlines various roles in today’s passage but this list is by no means exhaustive. Look through the list and prayerfully consider each one. Which one raises passion in you? Which ones excite you or cause you to see great potential? As you start answering these kinds of questions you are well on the way to using you gift for the blessing and benefit of others. But more on Sonday. Don’t miss this one!!!
Prayer:
Spend time in adoration, confession and thanks. Write down your points for future reference.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Pray that God’s Holy Spirit would be powerfully at work in you and in your congregation showing people their spiritual gifts and encouraging and leading them to use those gifts for the edification of others.
¨ Pray that people in your congregation would be walking in obedience to the Lord and doing His will and His work rather than their own will and their own work.
Wednesday, 5 September 2012
Wednesday September 5, 2012
How will you bless people this week at church. Plan to do just one thing.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:7
Now to each one
the manifestation of the Spirit
is given
for the common good.
It may seem a little strange to have today’s one and only verse looming at you larger than life. But I want you to be shocked by it. Hear me clearly. I want you to be shocked by it. Why? because it is a shocking verse! It is a radical, life altering verse as soon as we begin to take it seriously.
What’s so shocking about this verse? Let’s go through it line by line. We read firstly that something is given to each one. Each and every single person in God’s church has this “something” from God to share. No one can sit back and say ‘there is nothing for me to do.’ No one can be idle in God’s church. You have a role to play. Why is that shocking? Throughout most churches we see only 30% of the people actively involved in serving and ministry. The same people volunteer time and time again. 70% are sitting back doing nothing! God’s plan is totally opposed to this. God wants every single person to be actively involved. You simply cannot maintain a laid back, stay out of it attitude in God’s church.
In the second line we read that each person in the church is given a manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Put simply, God’s Holy Spirit has equipped you in some way, shape or form. You have everything you need to get involved. Why is that shocking? Most churches are very particular about who they let serve and often choose people with regard to worldly characteristics. God’s plan is that those who are gifted and equipped by His Spirit serve in that area.
In the 3rd line we read that this gift is given to you. You cannot earn it or buy it. You cannot work for or it pretend to have it. It is a gracious gift of God’s Holy Spirit given freely to you.
Finally, we read that it’s for the common good. You are to use your gifts for the enrichment, the betterment and increase of others. You are to serve selflessly. You are to take up your cross and follow Jesus using whatever gift you have to bless others with. Why is that shocking? I would estimate that over 90% of believers in this land put themselves and their needs first. If sports is on, church gets left behind. If I’m too busy at work, church gets knocked back. If I’ve had a busy week with the kids at school, sport and homework and stressful relationships, I just won’t go to church on Sonday. When ever one single believer misses church and refuses to bless others the entire church misses out. God is telling us to use our gifts and abilities for the welfare and blessing of others.
Read the verse for today again. Read it four or five times and ask God to show you what it really means and how it is going to apply to you from today onwards.
Prayer:
Spend time in adoration, confession and thanks. Write down your points for future reference.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Pray that God’s Holy Spirit would be showing believers what manifestation they have been given so that they can serve and give for the blessing of others.
¨ Pray that your church would be leading the way in sacrificial love and service and that you would be instrumental in changing people’s attitude and mindset on serving by your life style and actions.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:7
Now to each one
the manifestation of the Spirit
is given
for the common good.
It may seem a little strange to have today’s one and only verse looming at you larger than life. But I want you to be shocked by it. Hear me clearly. I want you to be shocked by it. Why? because it is a shocking verse! It is a radical, life altering verse as soon as we begin to take it seriously.
What’s so shocking about this verse? Let’s go through it line by line. We read firstly that something is given to each one. Each and every single person in God’s church has this “something” from God to share. No one can sit back and say ‘there is nothing for me to do.’ No one can be idle in God’s church. You have a role to play. Why is that shocking? Throughout most churches we see only 30% of the people actively involved in serving and ministry. The same people volunteer time and time again. 70% are sitting back doing nothing! God’s plan is totally opposed to this. God wants every single person to be actively involved. You simply cannot maintain a laid back, stay out of it attitude in God’s church.
In the second line we read that each person in the church is given a manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Put simply, God’s Holy Spirit has equipped you in some way, shape or form. You have everything you need to get involved. Why is that shocking? Most churches are very particular about who they let serve and often choose people with regard to worldly characteristics. God’s plan is that those who are gifted and equipped by His Spirit serve in that area.
In the 3rd line we read that this gift is given to you. You cannot earn it or buy it. You cannot work for or it pretend to have it. It is a gracious gift of God’s Holy Spirit given freely to you.
Finally, we read that it’s for the common good. You are to use your gifts for the enrichment, the betterment and increase of others. You are to serve selflessly. You are to take up your cross and follow Jesus using whatever gift you have to bless others with. Why is that shocking? I would estimate that over 90% of believers in this land put themselves and their needs first. If sports is on, church gets left behind. If I’m too busy at work, church gets knocked back. If I’ve had a busy week with the kids at school, sport and homework and stressful relationships, I just won’t go to church on Sonday. When ever one single believer misses church and refuses to bless others the entire church misses out. God is telling us to use our gifts and abilities for the welfare and blessing of others.
Read the verse for today again. Read it four or five times and ask God to show you what it really means and how it is going to apply to you from today onwards.
Prayer:
Spend time in adoration, confession and thanks. Write down your points for future reference.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Pray that God’s Holy Spirit would be showing believers what manifestation they have been given so that they can serve and give for the blessing of others.
¨ Pray that your church would be leading the way in sacrificial love and service and that you would be instrumental in changing people’s attitude and mindset on serving by your life style and actions.
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
Tuesday September 4, 2012
If there are issues for you that are making unity and love hard, deal with those today by talking to an elder or pastor at your church.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
What goes through a child’s mind when their parents argue? Without any doubt we can say that a child gets his/her security from their parents’ security and unity. When Dad and Mum are getting on well and are secure in their relationship the child is secure and more at peace.
The same truth applies to us as God’s children. Can you imagine how insecure life would be if the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit) had a rift or an argument? Imagine being deep in prayer and having God say to you something like, ‘Come back later we’re arguing up here.’ It’s ludicrous. We get our security and peace from knowing that the Godhead is secure.
But also flowing out of that unity in the Godhead is the unity within the church. The church is unified because there is only one God and all three persons in that Godhead agree and live in constant & perfect unity. The world could not function if it were otherwise.
Notice how in these three verses Paul talks about the Trinity? There are different gifts, services and workings but there is only one God - God the Spirit. God the Son/Lord Jesus and God the Father.
And because there is one God, perfectly united, there can be no division in the Church. The Spirit that gives gifts agrees with the Son who gives us our service
who in turn agrees perfectly with the Father who gives us our works to do. Division in the church can NOT and does NOT come from God. It is from our sinful desires that wage war against us. It is from our pride and arrogance and our desire to be better or more important than others.
Are you unified with your church? Are you on board with your church’s direction and mission? Are you loving others in your church? Are you growing unity in your church? Get to it today!
Prayer:
Spend time in adoration, confession and thanks. Write down your points for future reference.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Pray for unity within your church but also across denomination boundaries. Pray that the churches throughout your region would be working together for the sake of the gospel.
¨ Pray that God would grow love in your church. Ask God to show you 1 thing you can do to grow love in your church.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
What goes through a child’s mind when their parents argue? Without any doubt we can say that a child gets his/her security from their parents’ security and unity. When Dad and Mum are getting on well and are secure in their relationship the child is secure and more at peace.
The same truth applies to us as God’s children. Can you imagine how insecure life would be if the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit) had a rift or an argument? Imagine being deep in prayer and having God say to you something like, ‘Come back later we’re arguing up here.’ It’s ludicrous. We get our security and peace from knowing that the Godhead is secure.
But also flowing out of that unity in the Godhead is the unity within the church. The church is unified because there is only one God and all three persons in that Godhead agree and live in constant & perfect unity. The world could not function if it were otherwise.
Notice how in these three verses Paul talks about the Trinity? There are different gifts, services and workings but there is only one God - God the Spirit. God the Son/Lord Jesus and God the Father.
And because there is one God, perfectly united, there can be no division in the Church. The Spirit that gives gifts agrees with the Son who gives us our service
who in turn agrees perfectly with the Father who gives us our works to do. Division in the church can NOT and does NOT come from God. It is from our sinful desires that wage war against us. It is from our pride and arrogance and our desire to be better or more important than others.
Are you unified with your church? Are you on board with your church’s direction and mission? Are you loving others in your church? Are you growing unity in your church? Get to it today!
Prayer:
Spend time in adoration, confession and thanks. Write down your points for future reference.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Pray for unity within your church but also across denomination boundaries. Pray that the churches throughout your region would be working together for the sake of the gospel.
¨ Pray that God would grow love in your church. Ask God to show you 1 thing you can do to grow love in your church.
Monday, 3 September 2012
Monday September 3, 2012
Write down what your role in the local church is.
Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-3
The Corinthian Church really was in a mess! But praise be to the Lord Paul doesn’t write them off. He teaches them and guides them through the minefield with patience and love. If only we learned to love like that.
The Corinthians were a divided bunch. They came to Christ and received various gifts of the Spirit and were, literally, astounded by the work of the Holy Spirit. This, unfortunately caused pride and arrogance and a fracturing of allegiances. Rather than pulling together to lift up the name of Jesus some were banding behind Apollos, the trained orator. Others were banding behind Peter, the zealous one. Others backed Paul and still some had the audacity to say they followed Jesus.
It was a broken fractured church where individuals and groups lifted up their own gifts and boasted and bragged in themselves and their abilities.
As Paul writes he beings with the phrase, “Now about Spiritual gifts”. The word ‘gifts’ is not in the Greek original. It literally reads, ‘Now about spirituals’. Paul wants to show them what true spirituality is really about. He wants to show them what it means to be filled with the Spirit.
In simple everyday English, it boils down to having Jesus as your Lord and living with Him as Lord. The person filled with the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is Lord” but it is more than just words. It is a declaration of one’s life showing Jesus to be Lord in everything. Jesus is Lord of work, the home, the finances, the sports, the free time, the late night viewing, the computer usage and so on. He is even Lord of my face book page. When we say ‘Jesus is Lord’ through the in-filling of the Holy Spirit we are stating what people can see - that Jesus really is Lord. If your life does not match your words then Jesus is NOT YOUR Lord.
On the other side no one living by the Spirit can say, ’Jesus be cursed.’ Again, it’s a whole-of-life thing. Divisions in the church, pride and arrogance, pushing others away, that “I’m better than you attitude” all speak out ‘Jesus be cursed’. These are all improper for God’s holy people.
Imagine if a football team ran onto the field and before the match started bickering and in-fighting among themselves. How disgraceful for the club! How dishonouring for the coach. How embarrassing for the team. And yet, that’s exactly what the Christians in Corinth were doing. Don’t make the same mistake. Confess “Jesus is Lord” with your mouth and show it with your life.
Prayer:
Spend time in adoration, confession and thanks. Write down your points for future reference.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Pray that your church would be filled with people who confess Jesus as Lord with their mouths and live it out in their lives. Pray that God would grant repentance to those who need it. Pray that the various people in leadership would be leading in this way by their example and their teaching.
¨ Pray that there would be a spirit of holiness sweep throughout the God’s earthly church. Pray that God would grant repentance to all who need it and that believers would be passionately seeking to grow in holiness
Read 1 Corinthians 12:1-3
The Corinthian Church really was in a mess! But praise be to the Lord Paul doesn’t write them off. He teaches them and guides them through the minefield with patience and love. If only we learned to love like that.
The Corinthians were a divided bunch. They came to Christ and received various gifts of the Spirit and were, literally, astounded by the work of the Holy Spirit. This, unfortunately caused pride and arrogance and a fracturing of allegiances. Rather than pulling together to lift up the name of Jesus some were banding behind Apollos, the trained orator. Others were banding behind Peter, the zealous one. Others backed Paul and still some had the audacity to say they followed Jesus.
It was a broken fractured church where individuals and groups lifted up their own gifts and boasted and bragged in themselves and their abilities.
As Paul writes he beings with the phrase, “Now about Spiritual gifts”. The word ‘gifts’ is not in the Greek original. It literally reads, ‘Now about spirituals’. Paul wants to show them what true spirituality is really about. He wants to show them what it means to be filled with the Spirit.
In simple everyday English, it boils down to having Jesus as your Lord and living with Him as Lord. The person filled with the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is Lord” but it is more than just words. It is a declaration of one’s life showing Jesus to be Lord in everything. Jesus is Lord of work, the home, the finances, the sports, the free time, the late night viewing, the computer usage and so on. He is even Lord of my face book page. When we say ‘Jesus is Lord’ through the in-filling of the Holy Spirit we are stating what people can see - that Jesus really is Lord. If your life does not match your words then Jesus is NOT YOUR Lord.
On the other side no one living by the Spirit can say, ’Jesus be cursed.’ Again, it’s a whole-of-life thing. Divisions in the church, pride and arrogance, pushing others away, that “I’m better than you attitude” all speak out ‘Jesus be cursed’. These are all improper for God’s holy people.
Imagine if a football team ran onto the field and before the match started bickering and in-fighting among themselves. How disgraceful for the club! How dishonouring for the coach. How embarrassing for the team. And yet, that’s exactly what the Christians in Corinth were doing. Don’t make the same mistake. Confess “Jesus is Lord” with your mouth and show it with your life.
Prayer:
Spend time in adoration, confession and thanks. Write down your points for future reference.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Pray that your church would be filled with people who confess Jesus as Lord with their mouths and live it out in their lives. Pray that God would grant repentance to those who need it. Pray that the various people in leadership would be leading in this way by their example and their teaching.
¨ Pray that there would be a spirit of holiness sweep throughout the God’s earthly church. Pray that God would grant repentance to all who need it and that believers would be passionately seeking to grow in holiness
Saturday, 1 September 2012
Saturday September 1, 2012
Make a list of 50 things that you enjoy or can praise God for within your church.
Read Ephesians 3:1-12
I’ve really heard it all before. “I don’t do church lunches!”, or “I don’t do church programs!”, or “Church functions aren't for me”, or “I evangelise outside the church”, or “I do my thing for God on my own time. I simply don’t need the church!”
What these people have done, either consciously or unwittingly, is simply formed a type of syncretism with the standards of the world. They have taken the anti-authoritarian, anti-establishmentarian stance of the world and turned it against the church. Many people in society have turned against institutions, governments and centres of authority. Some people in the church are, unfortunately, following suite.
These people have set themselves up as judges over and against the church, which is the body of Christ. To sit in judgment of the church is to sit in judgement of its head, Christ Jesus. That is not a safe place to be.
Our Lord and Saviour has chosen the church to be the vehicle through which the manifest wisdom of God is displayed in the heavenlies and in this world. The church is the vehicle that God has chosen to use to show off His love, His grace, His mercy, His salvation. Rather than stepping back and going the solo train we need to step up and get actively involved. There are no lone ranger Christians in the Bible!
Tomorrow is “Church”. You need to make up your mind that it’s going to be fantastic. You need to commit the whole day to the Lord and be available for Him to use you where and when He wants. I remember a minister said to me in the early days of faith, ‘If you don’t like church then heaven is going to be a boring place.’ How true. Church is God’s vehicle. Get on board and have the ride of your life.
Prayer:
Spend time adoring God for his creation of the ‘church’ and if need be, confess any sinful attitudes and words you’ve had about the church. Give thanks to God for the things you like about your church.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Pray that your church would have a bright light shining in the local community. Pray that there will be more and more opportunities to shine the light of Jesus by helping others, by getting involved in people’s lives and by giving sacrificially. Pray that each and every person in your congregation would be on board.
¨ Pray that your congregation would grow as people reach out and share their faith with family, friends and those around them. Ask God to give each person in your congregation a heart that yearns to see the lost saved and the courage to reach out to them.
Read Ephesians 3:1-12
I’ve really heard it all before. “I don’t do church lunches!”, or “I don’t do church programs!”, or “Church functions aren't for me”, or “I evangelise outside the church”, or “I do my thing for God on my own time. I simply don’t need the church!”
What these people have done, either consciously or unwittingly, is simply formed a type of syncretism with the standards of the world. They have taken the anti-authoritarian, anti-establishmentarian stance of the world and turned it against the church. Many people in society have turned against institutions, governments and centres of authority. Some people in the church are, unfortunately, following suite.
These people have set themselves up as judges over and against the church, which is the body of Christ. To sit in judgment of the church is to sit in judgement of its head, Christ Jesus. That is not a safe place to be.
Our Lord and Saviour has chosen the church to be the vehicle through which the manifest wisdom of God is displayed in the heavenlies and in this world. The church is the vehicle that God has chosen to use to show off His love, His grace, His mercy, His salvation. Rather than stepping back and going the solo train we need to step up and get actively involved. There are no lone ranger Christians in the Bible!
Tomorrow is “Church”. You need to make up your mind that it’s going to be fantastic. You need to commit the whole day to the Lord and be available for Him to use you where and when He wants. I remember a minister said to me in the early days of faith, ‘If you don’t like church then heaven is going to be a boring place.’ How true. Church is God’s vehicle. Get on board and have the ride of your life.
Prayer:
Spend time adoring God for his creation of the ‘church’ and if need be, confess any sinful attitudes and words you’ve had about the church. Give thanks to God for the things you like about your church.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¨ Pray that your church would have a bright light shining in the local community. Pray that there will be more and more opportunities to shine the light of Jesus by helping others, by getting involved in people’s lives and by giving sacrificially. Pray that each and every person in your congregation would be on board.
¨ Pray that your congregation would grow as people reach out and share their faith with family, friends and those around them. Ask God to give each person in your congregation a heart that yearns to see the lost saved and the courage to reach out to them.
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