Jan 29 – Please pray for spiritual renewal in the Serve Team led by Sue North and Pastor Leslie, including in the hospitality and mission elements of the ministry.
Jan 30 – Please pray for spiritual renewal in the Church Cleaning Team led by Rose Ayikpah.
The Church Safeguarding led by Sue North.
The Church finances led by our Treasurer, Michelle Johnson.
The Ministry and Prayer team led by Bernard Langford.
The Office ministries led by Liz Manley.
The Prism bereavement support ministry led by Seb Crous.
TAARC led by Natalie Headley.
The Tech team led by Pastor Leslie.
Revd John Mbayo and his Chaplaincy work at RAF Cosford and other RAF bases.
Revd Malcolm Ward as he steps up in the Lord’s service in and through our church.
Revd Sandie Ward and her Chaplaincy work at the SaTH hospitals, especially the PRH, and as she steps up in the Lord’s service in and through our church. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Jan 31 – Please pray for the Church Eldership: Adeola Allinson, Pastor Alisha, Pastor Leslie, Pastor Samuel and Steve Higgins.
Also for the Church Leadership Team: The Eldership plus Himat Khetia and Natalie Headley.
Father, as we conclude this month of prayer, fasting and abstinence – we ask for a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit in each of us, in our church in person and online. An overflowing anointing that touches many lives, and reaches way beyond the walls of our building. In Jesus’ name and for His glory. Amen.
Feb 1 – The following four days of prayer are taken from last Sunday morning’s sermon on the Battle Within. The hardest battle we have is within our own selves. It is inside us that the outworking of our Christian faith is largely determined.
I am not dismissing outside factors, nor relegating their importance. Other people, upbringing, relationships, legacy issues, society, environmental factors, and many more all have a profound impact. I would never underestimate their impact.
Father, as we think about spiritual renewal, which is about the enthronement of Christ in our hearts and lives, and the renewal the Holy Spirit works in us as this takes place – we ask for Your guidance.
We pray that as spiritual renewal takes place in our lives, all these outside agencies can be worked through and put into their proper place when Jesus is Lord within. We proclaim Jesus as Lord over our lives and church. Amen.
Feb 2 – The victory of Jesus over the power of the human ‘self’ or ego is at the heart of the story of the Cross.
Father, thank You that Jesus not only defeated the power of ‘self’ (and sin, Satan and the world), but He opened a pathway of redemption which means that the believer can defeat ‘self’s power’, as we daily take up our cross, follow Him and live in His freedom.
We pray for Your Spirit’s help and power to aid us in the denial of the power and needs of ‘self.’ Thank You this truth is at the heart of Jesus’ teaching, and an important first step in daily taking up our cross and stepping into the life of faith and freedom He desires for us to live in.
We ask for the life and authority of Your word, which points to the well-known verse on Christian discipleship, ‘deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Me’ (Luke 9:23), to take root in all of our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Feb 3 – Self-denial is about thinking, reflecting Scripturally on, and seeking the Spirit’s help and guidance in how to give up our way.
Father, in these days of short cuts to success – self-denial is a slow-hard-fought process. It is sanctification in action. We ask for Your Kingdom to come and Your will to be done in as we deny the power and demands of ‘self’ within.
By applying this Kingdom process, we are choosing to live in favour of Christ and His ways; and so we know what we need to forgo for the good of our souls and so we can be good disciples. Train us in this great work for Jesus sake and glory. Amen.
Feb 4 – The forces of this present world are largely arrayed against us to keep us struggling fighting for true life.
Father, discipleship teaches us to learn to cling to the Master, and then to rest in His salvation. This movement from clinging to resting in – it is the outcome of mature discipleship. Thank You that we have Christ, He has us, and then we serve Him as our Master.
Arnēsasthō ‘deny oneself’ is an aorist imperative verb, but it is moderated by a present imperative ‘continually following’ Jesus every day. These are command injunctions. The Imperative is a command verb. We are commanded to deny self, and to follow the Lord Jesus.
Holy Spirit, help us to step into the new abundant life Jesus offers – we must give up the old life we once had – deny oneself.
It is also about taking up our cross daily, about deliberately choosing to live the kind of life He lived. It is surrendering our life so that His life lives through us by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for Your provision in Christ. Amen.
