Feb 26 – Thyatira Revelation 2:18-29, for the sake of economics and wealth, they were engaging with the pagan world around them opening themselves up to its Jezebel, antichrist thirst for wealth, sexual gratification, and the control and manipulation of others.

Father, so many in the world around lust for wealth, power and sexual gratification. They use all sorts of fleshy means to achieve their ends. Yet, you can save and redeem even the hardest sinner.

We pray for breakthrough in our nation so that instead of these antichrist and fleshy principles in the hearts and minds of people – Your grace, truth and love will reign.

Sardis 3:1-6, allowing themselves to become spiritually impotent – compromising with the world drains spiritual power and fruitfulness, they were fruitless.

Father, to compromise with the world leads to a fruitless life. You put great store on those who seek You with all their hearts, deny self and the world, hunger and thirst for righteousness.

We pray that, as a church in person and online, we will raise up many who live wholeheartedly for Christ, and be fruitful in life, ministry and mission for His glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Feb 27 – Philadelphia 3:7-13, they have little power, and are surrounded by those who worship falsely. The compromise – to view themselves as unable to make any impact on their society for Christ and thus not to try. Yet, they are also highly commended for their faithfulness.

Father, You greatly honour those who are faithful to You. Forgive us when we have been faithless. We ask for Your grace to be able to keep standing for Jesus.

In and through Christ, we can have a godly impact upon the world because of the power of the Holy Spirit at work in and through us. He that is in us is greater than He that is in the world.

Your Holy Spirit is able to partner with us in wonderful ways when hearts and minds are devoted to following Jesus.

Laodicea 3:14-22, their compromise was self-satisfaction with their lot, a sense of being blessed by their wealth, and a failure to truly understand their real standing before God. This could also lead to them losing their identity as a Christian church.

Father, the church in Laodicea is a sobering warning to us all. When things go well, when we are prospering, when we believe that we are doing well – pride can enter, and smug self-satisfaction get a grip of our hearts and minds.

As a church, we sought to buy a larger property to expand Your Kingdom work in and through Telford Elim. This has not as yet materialised. We confess our disappointment, but we are not discouraged. We continue to seek Your face and will about our future.

Guide us O Thou great Jehovah. We would to get up and continue to partner and submit to Your Holy Spirit in this Kingdom building focus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Feb 28 – In order to not compromise, these churches in Revelation needed to…

First, ‘hear’ what Jesus was saying to them – really hear His words to all the churches; the letters were sent to the churches, plural, and therefore to be read by all. Teach us how to really hear what You are saying to us.

Secondly, they were all called to overcome the world and the particular temptations they faced – to not compromise with the world, and resist the temptation to submit to antichrist control.

You call us to be overcomers. We cannot do this in our own strength. Walking in partnership with Your Holy Spirit, daily seeking to honour Jesus, and devoting ourselves to your word, fellowship with each other, breaking bread and prayers are key.

Equip us and empower us to walk this pathway.

Thirdly, there was hope for those who overcame. The challenge is that we can reflect the values and culture of the society we live among. Compromise and submitting to antichrist control are real dangers for the church today.

In Jesus, there is always hope. His hope transcends this world and this life. Instead of compromising, we commit to keep following Jesus.

We pray that we will be established in and practice Your values, and walk in Your culture of faith, hope and love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Feb 29 – Father, how we engage in the spiritual battle with the temptations to compromise and submit to the world, its values, and antichrist culture determines our spiritual life and power.

It is about denying self, taking up our cross daily and following Jesus – this enables us to step into the higher spiritual life rather submitting to the lower ‘self’ life.

Lord Jesus, when we step into a situation that we know is a confrontation with the powers of darkness – we plead the merits and covering of Your blood.

Ephesians 1:7-8, CSB, ‘7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.’

The spiritual battle impacts believer and non-believer. It is a battle between evil and Your righteousness in Christ, between Christ, the light of the world and Satan, the source of evil.

We choose to stand with Jesus. Amen.

Mar 1 – Father, In Revelation 12, it is the devil himself who is revealed to be ‘the deeper source of evil’ (Beale, 622). An example of this is verse 15, ‘15From his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river flowing after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood.’

Holy Spirit, Your life flows like a river in John 7; in revelation 12, Satan’s evil flows like a river to destroy Your Church. Satan’s river of evil also destroys non-believers. May a river of the life from the Spirit flow out from us for the spiritual enriching of many.

Although the non-believer is under the sway, whether knowingly or not, of the forces of darkness, Satan still seeks to destroy them by his evil. Save many who are lost through the people and ministries of Telford Elim.

Those rooted in Adam, separate from You, and outside of Christ and His covenants of hope, and thus more vulnerable to Satan’s evil, we pray for their salvation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mar 2 – Father, ‘Hardened humanity’ (Beale, 622), doesn’t get away with it. Satan is a terrible master. His forces rob, kill and destroy non-believers as much as believers.

Whereas, the believer is in Christ and under His protection while walking in faith and obedience. We are still subject to the impact of the ‘lower self-life’ within, and the force of Satan and the world to seek to make us submit to his evil control and compromise with the world – in Christ is the best place to be.

We still have the promise of Your protection through all of this. We ask for spiritual maturity in each of us so we can grow in our appreciation of, and strength and grace from…

• the Holy Spirit’s presence with us
• His spiritual armour
• the right use of His weapons of light
• being part of the body of Christ, His Church
• our fellowship with other believers
• His angelic forces acting on our behalf
• And our proper application of the blood of Jesus. Amen.

Mar 3 – Father, wonderfully, 12:5, it is Christ who has ensured Satan’s ultimate defeat and destruction, CSB, ‘She gave birth to a Son, a male who is going to rule all nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God and to his throne.’

Verse 10, CSB, ‘Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have now come, because the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been thrown down.’

Satan is thrown down, and one day will be cast into Hell forever. Lord Jesus, You are the victor and great Judge. We ask to live our lives reflecting Your victory each and every day. Amen.