Dec 4 – This week’s prayers are on God’s presence and power.

Luke 7:16, ‘Then fear came over everyone, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited his people.”’

Father, in this verse we have a record of the people’s response to Jesus’ ministry to the grieving widow at Nain. They saw in the raising of the dead man a revelation of His power and authority as Your representative. Your presence was active once again among Your people. 

As we consider our day – we acknowledge the many places that You are active in. We give You thanks that Your Son is still moving and ministering with that same compassion.

We ask that we may be in on some of what You are doing in these days, and ministering with the same compassion as Jesus demonstrated. In His name. Amen

Dec 5 – Galatians 3:5, ‘So then, does God give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law? Or is it by believing what you heard.’

Father, thank You for the exuberant gift of Your Spirit. He has come not in response to religious fervour nor devotion, but because of Your covenant promise that He would come through the Messiah’s ministry.

We recognise the imperative of faith in moving in Your power and carrying Your presence.

As we confront sin, sickness and Satan, we ask for that power and presence to enable us to be victorious. In Jesus’ name and for His glory. Amen

Dec 6 – Hebrews 2:4, ‘At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to his will.’

Father, as we consider Your willingness to authenticate the Gospel message by working through Your people with signs, wonders, miracles, and spiritual gifts, it produces the challenge, ‘do we yearn for You to do so among us?’

Forgive us when we have sought to confine You to our will, and sought to get You to act on our behalf. We acknowledge the supremacy of Your will. Guide our feet and service into the heart of Your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen

Dec 7 – John 14:12, “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.”

Lord Jesus, You are not precious about which of Your children should follow in Your footsteps doing Your works; in fact, You said, ‘he or she who believes in Me…will do also.’

This verse gives us such reason to hope, and emboldens our faith.

You are with the Father and delight to do many more works through us. We ask that You may move powerfully in us as a church, in person and online, and guide and enable us to do those ‘many more/greater’ works. Amen

Dec 8 – 2 Kings 6:1-2, ‘The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Please notice that the place where we live under your supervision is too small for us. 2Please let us go to the Jordan where we can each get a log and can build ourselves a place to live there.”

“Go,” he said.’

Father, what an amazing picture of growth – the place which was big enough yesterday is no longer large enough. They needed more room, an enlarged space, a house big enough to allow them to function and minister now because of the evidence of Your blessing on the ministry.

Thank You for the blessings of yesterday, 2012 and 2020 when we built our present house and Hub.

Today we are seeking to enlarge our house, to expand it so we can create the space needed for the next season in the church’s history. We would to hear Your, ‘Go,’ to move out under Your guidance and anointing.

Lead us forward; and we ask that as our place is too small because of Your blessing on the ministry here; lead us into the building/venue for the next season. In Jesus’ name and for His glory. Amen

Dec 9 – Isaiah 28:20, ‘Indeed, the bed is too short to stretch out on, and its cover too small to wrap up in.’

Father, the present predicament of Your people was that they were confined, hemmed in and limited. They were also cold spiritually – feeling vulnerable and exposed to the cold winds blowing through their land and cities. They could not enter properly into a place of rest because of this.

As we think of our church in a Borough which is largely cold towards You and Your cause – so wrap us in Your presence, and make a space for us to dwell in Beulah land.

‘You will no longer be called Deserted, and your land will not be called Desolate; instead, you will be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land will be married.’ (Isaiah 62:4). Amen

Dec 10 –  Isaiah 28:22, ‘So now, do not scoff, or your shackles will become stronger. Indeed, I have heard from the Lord God of Armies a decree of destruction for the whole land.’

Father, thank You that in the previous verse You are revealed as appearing at the place of breakthrough and breakout.

This verse contains Your warning against being a mocker of what You are doing, of Your people. Mockery reinforces spiritual bondage, strengthens the enemies power, and gives him authority to imprison and enslave.

On the one hand You are the Lord of breakout and deliverance – on the other Satan stands as the imprisoner of lives and enslaver of souls.

I pray that You will help our church to guard against mockery in all its forms. Instead, may it be a house of breakthrough and deliverance. In Jesus’ name. Amen