I hope that you find the following prayer useful and helpful in building the body of Christ:
Adoration
Great is your name, Lord God almighty. You have created us, saved us and given us your Spirit to dwell with us. We look forward to our future dwelling place that you are preparing for us. Your power is beyond measure, without limit, beyond our comprehension.
A Time of Confession
Lord, please help us to see our own sin. Please forgive us for the times when we have not loved our brothers and sisters as we should. Please forgive us for the words that should not have been said, the bad attitudes, the pride and feelings of superiority.
Because of our sinful nature, we think that our tradition, our practices, our teaching, our academic traditions are superior. We believe that we know you better than others, forgetting that we are deceived sinners. Lord, we are no different to the disciples who argued over who was the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Lord Jesus, please forgive us for our audacity and arrogance.
We have been happy to accept the inherited deep divisions that our spiritual forefathers have left us. We institutionalise division and accept this as normal and good. Lord Jesus, we have failed many times in being your true representatives. Please forgive us and open our minds.
We ask for the presence of your spirit amongst us to bind us together, as we humbly accept your help. Lord Jesus, please send your Spirit upon us for we can achieve nothing without your help.
Thanksgiving
Lord Jesus, we thank you that the love you have placed in our hearts makes us want to heal, to build, to reconcile, to reach out to the lost. We thank you for your steadfast and patient love that forgives so much. We thank you for your sacrifice on the cross by which we are reconciled with you. We thank you for the gift of your Spirit, whose ministry is vital to our spiritual well being and the progress of your kingdom.
Supplication
Lord Jesus, please help us to understand the greatness of your power at work in us, transforming our hearts and minds. Give us faith in your power to change us. For your Spirit can perform great works. Encourage us even though we may think that this task is too difficult. Show us that what is humanely impossible is possible with you. Show us that the mountains can be moved. Show us your power as we open ourselves to you in obedience. Enlighten our hearts. Give us confidence in your power to join, not in Satan’s power to divide.
Lord Almighty, teach us to acknowledge that those who worship in denominations other than our own are our brothers and sisters in Christ, and should be treated in the same way that we treat those in our own church.
Help us to accept that your word, the bible, nowhere teaches that factions or denominations represent what is ideal, or that your body, the church should be divided in any way. Lord Jesus, help us to obey your word, revealed to us through the Holy Scriptures. Open our minds to your word, so that we may understand what you have set down as the standard for our relationships with each other, so that we may see what your blueprint is for Christian life.
Lord, we are your body, your eyes, your hands, your feet. We pray that your body would function together as one harmonious whole. May your Son, Jesus, Christ our Lord, be our head in our lives and in our church. Please raise us above factions and divisions, may our minds be fixed on obeying you.
Help us to accept that your way is love, forgiveness, reconciliation and patience with others.
Lord, teach us to make our relationship with you the central focus of our Christian lives. Show us how to make our tradition, theology and worship serve our relationship with you. Help us to avoid substituting these things, for your living presence. Lord Jesus, may the eyes of our hearts stay fixed on you, not being distracted by near substitutes.
Lord, help us make the fulfillment of your will our highest goal, to this end, help us to set our sights on being a praying, loving, witnessing, obedient, serving people. Help us to judge our attainments by the extent to which we have allowed you to transform our hearts and minds. Help us to put aside all worldly measures and goals.
We pray that you would bind us together in love, that we would seek to join together in our service of you. We pray that we would present to the community a picture of your love manifested, of your forgiveness working in a practical context. Lord Jesus, may our love for each other be a powerful witness to the community. Teach us that others may be saved through our unity.
We pray for revival in this town, for your Spirit to go out, preparing hearts to receive your gospel. Please help us to support each other as we oppose the forces of darkness. Lord Jesus, please give us the energy and the will to reach out into the community.
Inspire us to rise up in prayer, to seek your will, to ask you to supply the power that is required for us to truly manifest your presence. Please give us the confidence that you will answer prayers of faith that conform to your will.
We pray this in your name, Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
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