This week’s prayer letter focuses on partnering with Christ in His ministry. 12–15 July are written by Adeola Allinson, 16–18 July by Pastor Leslie.
Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV, ‘For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so that no one may boast.’
July 12 – We thank You, Father, that Your grace in Christ has saved us. Jesus is the builder and designer of our faith, and not by the works of our hands are we saved; grant us the grace to serve You with our whole heart.
Empower us by Your Spirit and word as your instruments pointing others to Your salvation. We are saved to partner with Jesus in His ministry, for the purpose of doing good works for the Kingdom. Help us walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called (Eph 4:1b, ‘Therefore I…urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received’), and not be spiritually tired nor lethargic; instead, refreshed and renewed by Your Spirit and word. In Jesus’ name. Amen
July 13 – Father, we pray that we will be good stewards – worthy of the calling You have committed into our hands, and of the spiritual giftings You have blessed us with. We are stewards of a great treasure. Grant us the godly wisdom, spiritual understanding and skillful teachers we need in order to make wise use of the treasures of Your word, grace, love and sound judgement with which You endow us.
In order to go out to make disciples, in person and online as a church – grant us the grace to be obedient to Your commandment – the Great Commission (Matt 28:19-20; Act 1:8, ‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth’).
Empower us by Your Holy Spirit to be intentional in this great ministry. Lead us by Your Spirit and word as we trust in and follow the Lord Jesus in His mission and share in His ministry to the world. Amen
July 14 – Our Emmanuel, God with us, our hope and trust is in You, Lord Jesus. Our confidence is certain because our hope rests on You, the resurrected Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead – You are the reigning king.
Our hope is secure in the reigning Christ, seated at the right hand of God, far above all rule and authority (Eph. 1:20-23). Lord Jesus, grant us the grace we need to give true service in Your Kingdom.
Hallelujah! We have such a Savior who is our hope, and we can be sure that when we serve and minister with You, we believe and know that our labor will not be in vain (1 Cor. 15:58, ‘Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain’).
Lord Jesus, You are the living God who is always true to Your word, and constant in Your heavenly ministry. We commit ourselves to serve alongside You in Your continuing ministry of the Gospel to the world through Your Spirit and Your Church. Amen
July 15 – Father of light draw us closer to Christ. We pray that our eyes will always be set upon our Saviour, the Lord Jesus. Lord Jesus, let Your peace reign in our hearts and minds, and in everything we do.
Lord, help us to continue to serve until You come back again (Luke 13:18-19, ‘He said, therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like, and what can I compare it to? 19It’s like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the sky nested in its branches.”).
May we be faithful and good sowers of the Gospel. We proclaim that the Gospel still works – men, women, young people and children still get saved when they hear it mingled with faith. May many get saved because of the service and ministry of Telford Elim, online and in person, and many disciple and go on to maturity in faith and service. In Jesus’ name. Amen
July 16 – The following three days are about the Ministry of all believers, and based on Peterson’s beautiful rendering, in The Message, of Ephesians 2:10, ‘He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join Him in the work He does, the good work He has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.’ The following prayers are taken from last Sunday morning’s sermon.
Father, we declare that we have a specific place in Your Kingdom, and its work. You have saved us, in Jesus, and are working in us by Your Spirit and word; You desire for us to partner with Christ in His ministry. Lord Jesus, You love to minister through us; this is daunting, but also inspiring.
Thank You Lord that You do minister in our lives – and You certainly do so. However, Your greater purpose is that You will minister through us to others. Joining You in Your work in and through our lives – is sharing in Your ministry to the world. This is a work You already have gotten ready for us. This work/service/ministry is a lifelong calling, and it is work that we had better be doing for Your glory. Amen
July 17 – Father, in the Ministry of all Believers – we need Your spiritual gifts to minister effectively. There is a big difference between a spiritual gift and a natural gift or talent. The thing that separates a spiritual gift from a natural talent or gift is that the spiritual gifts are given directly from Father, Son and Spirit; therefore, their source is directly from You. Thus the spiritual gift is divinely enabled and is effective in the spiritual realm and in the battle of faith which we fight.
It flows from You, through us, and is effective in the spiritual realm, as well as through this then transforming the material, physical realms. The spiritual first – then the overflow from the spiritual transforms the natural and material orders/realms.
The natural gift or talent, no matter how wonderful, was received as part of Your common grace distributed throughout humanity and for the benefit of that humanity. However, natural talents and gifts are not effective in the spiritual realm – often linked to the carnal and soulish. Remember, the spiritual first, then the overflow impacts the natural. Lord, fill us with Your Spirit, and endow us with the spiritual gifts we need to fulfil Your ministry through Telford Elim, in person and online. In Jesus’ name. Amen
July 18 – Father, thank You that You have endowed Your Church with the Fivefold in order to equip us for ministry; the APEST: Apostolic, Prophetic, Evangelistic, Shepherding/Pastoral and Teachers needed.
All believers are to be equipped by the Fivefold, APEST, for the work of the ministry – the ministry of all believers. Thank You for this equipping. Raise up many good equippers in and through our church. Thank You – You have a purpose/ministry/service/work which You want me to partner with You in.
Lord, we are never alone in Your service – we never have to fully carry the can for any ministry that we do. We are joining You in Your ministry. That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t give our all, and dedicate our lives to growing in Your grace, in our understanding of the spiritual gifts, and in seeking for Fivefold equipping.
However, if we overstep the mark and start to believe that the ministry sits on us and our abilities – forgive us, Lord! It is Your ministry and You call us to partner with You. I offer myself afresh today to Your service and to partner with You in Your ministry. In Your mighty name, Lord Jesus. Amen
