Apr 25 – The following prayers are written by Pastor Leslie, and are again developed from his previous blog series on The Essence of the Church of Christ [January 2021].
Father, thank You that You call Your Church to give praise. Isaiah 43:21, CSB, ‘The people I formed for Myself will declare My praise.’ Our praise says something about whose we are, and is a witness to the world. Bless, encourage and lead our church praise team deeper into the life of Spirit which is at the heart of worship that pleases You.
1 Peter 2:9-10, NKJV, ‘But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; 10who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.’
Lord, we pray for each person in church to have a revelation of Your call to live a life of thanksgiving and praise. Our praise declares our freedom from darkness, our present standing in the light of Christ, and that we are recipients of Your mercy.
We pray that through the ministries of Telford Elim, in person and online, that people will be led into a life of thanksgiving and praise, a way of life that connects them to Your throne in worship. Breakthrough, deliverance, victory and spiritual power all flow from a life of thanksgiving, praise and worship – may that be the testimony of many. In Jesus’ name and for His glory. Amen
Apr 26 –Father, You call us to follow in the steps of Jesus. Lord Jesus, You said, Mark 10:45, CSB, that You did not come ‘to be served, but to serve, and to give Your life as a ransom for many.’ You have set a pattern of service before us. Our aim is not to exalt self, but through Your service and the service of others to follow You.
Teach us how to follow You as Your servants. Equip us to be those who have a great, servant-hearted attitude to life, mission, ministry, work and giving. We pray for each ministry in church to follow this pattern. Empower us to be able to live in such a manner. Renew us by Your Spirit and word. Amen
Apr 27 – Father, You call Your Church to be separated from the world and dedicated to Christ. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, NLT, ‘Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? 15What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? 16And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 17Therefore, come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. 18And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”’
Lord, as we reflect on what it means to live a separate life – You did not mean that we withdraw from the world; rather, that we live for Christ in the world. The world is subtle and deceptive in that it presents its life in sport, religion, commerce, education, entertainment and media, politics, consumerism and many other areas – this life is temporary and ultimately will pass away.
Lord Jesus, walking with You is life in all its fullness – You are the source of true life. We pray that we will live a separate life which reflects well on You, Your work in us, and Your call on us to join You in Your mission to the world. We pray that the Good News of Your salvation will be proclaimed by Telford Elim under the anointing of Your Spirit and in His power so that many will repent and believe in You. Amen
Apr 28 – Father, You call us to a life of obedience to Christ. Romans 1:5, NLT, ‘Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to His name.’ Holy Spirit, empower us to live in obedience to the Lord Jesus.
[A hymn by John H Sammis, 1887, Public Domain] ‘When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word what a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies, but His smile quickly drives it away; not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh nor a tear, can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, but our toil He doth richly repay; not a grief nor a loss, not a frown or a cross, but is blest if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love until all on the altar we lay; for the favour He shows, and the joy He bestows, are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet, or we will walk by His side in the way; what He says we will do, where He sends we will go, never fear, only trust and obey.’ We make this our prayer, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Apr 29 – Father, You call us to bear witness to Jesus, to all that He is. He is our Saviour, Master, Redeemer, Friend, Brother and Judge; He is glorious – the full revelation of Your nature and glory. Hebrews 1:3, CSB, ‘The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.’
Lord Jesus, as we pray today – we know the One we are coming to because You first knew us. You reached out to us when we were bound in sin and nature’s dark night. You are glorious – perfect and holy, upholding Creation by Your powerful word. You are enthroned in heaven waiting until You return to this earth as its Judge and God. We give You thanks and praise – we bow down in worship before You.
Our prayer is that we might be anointed by Your Spirit to truly bear witness to You in all Your glory, majesty, saving grace and love. 2 Thessalonians 1 :12, “that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you.” Be glorified in and through all of us in Telford Elim.
John 17:22, ‘And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one.’ May our fellowship, our assembling together point to the unity that You have with the Father and Spirit. May we declare by our relationships that we truly are Your sons and daughters – being re-made in Your image. Amen
Apr 30 – Father, the Church is the Body of Christ, He is the head of His Church. Ephesians 1:22-23, ‘And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.’
The Church is to reflect Jesus, to reveal in its gatherings and witness to the fullness of Christ. He is bigger, stronger, more able than we can even imagine or think. We pray for revelation and understanding to know Jesus as our Head, and to be able to submit more fully to His life, will, purposes and ways.
Thank You for the variety of ministries and gifts Your Spirit is imparting among us. Teach us how to step into all that You have for us, and to cast off that which would hinder our walk with Jesus. Empower us by Your Spirit to be the well-functioning body of Christ in Telford Elim, in person and online. In Jesus’ name. Amen
May 1 – Father, thank You for the rich variety and diversity in the body of Christ. You call us together to be one church from so many different cultures, backgrounds and upbringings. We are Yours in Christ, because of Christ, and through Christ. Lord Jesus, we bow before You and pray that we may be more like You in every way, and in every setting.
Romans12:3-8, CSB, ‘’For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one. Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts [let us use them (NKJV)]: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness. ‘
You call us to use that which You have given to us. 1 Timothy 4:14, NIVUK, ‘Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.’ 2 Timothy 1:6, NLT, ‘This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.’
Thank You for the impartation of gifts through prophecy, laying on of hands by the eldership, and by ministry – all flowing from Your precious Spirit. We pray to be a church rich in imparting gifts, good at encouraging each other to not neglect these gifts, and to hold each accountable to use that which we have received to the glory of Jesus’ name. Amen
