Forty Days of Prayer Day 31

WEEK 5

DAY 31- LEAD US INTO DELIVERANCE

Scripture- Psalm 23:4

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” —Psalm 23:4, KJV

In times of danger, difficulty, and even death, I will fear no evil. Why? “For thou art with me” in every situation of life. The “rod” (a short club) is a weapon of defense or discipline, symbolizing God’s strength, power, and authority. The “staff “(a long slender stick with a hook on one end) is used to draw a sheep close to the shepherd, guide it in the right way, or deliver it from trouble.

God’s rod and staff reassure us of God’s love and guidance in our lives. We often require deliverance from the onslaught of Satan and the world’s system, which is separated from the holiness of God. Satan is a masterful strategist who seeks our downfall by his various schemes. Some schemes of Satan are failures, disappointments, hurts, depression, worry, fear, grief, anger, conflicts, and broken relationships designed to defeat God’s people. Because of the presence and nearness of God, we can walk in victory and above all our circumstances. Our deliverance from evil is assured by our intimate relationship with Christ Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

REFLECTION PRAYER

Almighty God,

You sent Jesus to suffer and die for my sins. Lead me through all things that hinders my walk with You. I call on Your name to deliver me from the entanglements of Satan and everything that impedes me from receiving Your blessings and a victorious lifestyle. By Your grace and mercy, I stand on the promises of Your Word that “thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” In the name of Christ, amen.

By Rufus McDowell

Forty Days of Prayer Day 30

WEEK 5

DAY 30- LEAD US INTO LIBERATION FROM THE GRIP OF THE EVIL ONE

Scripture- Luke 5:1-11

Liberation is the act of setting someone free. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free! He made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Likewise, many on the battlefield have given their lives for our freedom. Lt. Murphy is credited with risking his own life to save the lives of his men when he knowingly exposed himself to enemy fire to gain a better position to transmit a call to get help. In his memory, “Murph” is a workout completed by CrossFitters and Navy Seals on Memorial Day every year. In the midst of running one mile, completing 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats, and finishing with another mile, it is tempting to give into the pain and give up, but many persevere to honor the fallen who have died for our freedom.

Similarly, in life, we find ourselves tempted to give up or give into the enemy’s schemes, but we must keep fighting to honor Christ’s sacrifice and remember that He gives us victory over sin in our lives. He died so that we may be free from Satan’s grip. Not only that, the weapons we fight with have divine power to demolish the strong grip of the enemy. We fight with worship, the Word, and with prayer. In 2 Chronicles 20, worshipers led the march into battle. In response, the Lord sent an ambush against their enemies! The Israelites kept their eyes on the Lord and followed orders to stand firm and watch the deliverance God would bring!

REFLECTION PRAYER

1. Our freedom isn’t free. Spend a moment in silence to honor those who’ve died for your freedom. If you’ve ever been to a war memorial, remember the deep reverence and gratitude you felt.

2. Take some time to remember Christ’s sacrifice. Thank Him for your freedom. Praise Him for the victory He gives over the grip of the enemy! Satan has no hold on you!

3. Take time to worship Him, focus your eyes on Christ, follow His orders to stand firm on the ground that’s already been won by His sacrifice, and be watchful as He brings deliverance!

By Krista Lain

Forty Days of Prayer Day 29

WEEK 5

DAY 29- PRAYER AS SPIRITUAL WARFARE

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

2 Chronicles 20:12 is interesting: “Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” Three armies had surrounded the Israelites. Understandably, they were tempted to be afraid, discouraged, overwhelmed, and worried. You can feel it in their words, their pleas. Often, we do not know what to do. Other temptations in the form of the devil’s spiritual attacks can seek to neutralize us and drain our spiritual life. When we are faced with personal troubles or attacks from the evil one, when the devil tries to dump all kinds of evil temptations on us, we can stand strong. Christ will lead us on into victory.

By David and Ty King

Forty Days of Prayer Day 28

WEEK 4

DAY 28- WE CONFESS CORPORATELY

Scripture- 2 Chronicles 7:14; James 5:16

The Bible consistently positions repentance before revival—whether it’s spiritual awakening, national healing, or cultural renewal. Throughout the Scriptures, we see God’s kings and prophets alike who are led to confess and repent of their peoples’ sin. Each time the Lord answered with healing and renewal—just like He promised (2 Chron. 7:11-14). When Jesus teaches us to seek forgiveness for sin, His prayer assumes a corporate nature: “. . . forgive us our debts . . .” (Matt. 6:12). Of “the prayers” to which the Early Church was devoted, corporate confession would have been vital. A culture of repentance was at the heart of the New Testament Church.

My friend Jim planted a church where another church had closed several years before. In his first months, while reading through old church files, he discovered that the church had made the decision to forbid performing interracial marriages in the 1970s. While it was a decision Jim had nothing to do with, his response was to lead his church in corporate repentance for the sinful, systemic patterns practiced by the previous congregation. The Lord answered. Today, Jim pastors one of the most diverse congregations in The Alliance.

Our churches ought to be marked by the perpetual practice of confession and repentance. It’s how the people of God reorient themselves from the powers and patterns of the world to the presence and purposes of God. The Lord responds by breaking the chains of cultural and institutional patterns of sin. If we want revival, let us begin with repentance.

REFLECTION PRAYER

Seek the Spirit’s leading to bring attention and awareness to areas of sin that may have taken root in your church. Allow these questions to shape prayers of confession and repentance:

1. What practices or patterns in our church are lacking in love (thoughts, words, deeds)?

2. Where might we be allowing sin to compel us in what we’re doing or what we’re not doing (pay attention to inherited behaviors)?

3. If anyone has been wounded by our sin, how might we seek forgiveness?

By Spencer Sweeting

Forty Days of Prayer Day 27

WEEK 4

DAY 27- WE CONFESS INDIVIDUALLY

Scripture- Psalm 32:5; Proverbs 28:13; Acts 3:19

I don’t know how many times I’ve seen “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” calligraphied on some farmhouse style home decor or on some lady’s prayer journal. And justly so—it’s a beautiful reminder that we are utterly and completely known. Could anyone claim to know me better than the One who created me?

If you haven’t yet—pause and meditate on the whole of Psalm 139. This Psalm starts by declaring that the Lord God has searched and known our every thought, action, and circumstance—our very soul. When we’re at our best or our worst, when we’re feeling distant or close, there’s nowhere to flee from His presence. Does that warm you up or make you shudder? I reckon, both?

This leads us to the second half of the passage—a plea. It’s a heartfelt longing to know Him as He has known us; a profound yearning to be as righteous as He is just. But no matter how well we think we’ve managed our own thoughts and ways, we don’t know what we don’t know.

“Search me, God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.”

You believe God answers prayers, right? Are you willing to be obedient when He reveals His response? Do you understand the gravity and power of this confession? Are you willing to go there?

REFLECTION PRAYER

God,

You know me so well! As my Creator, You know how I was meant to be. As my Savior, You’ve experienced the extent of my fallen state. You demonstrate Your love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8).

Like the psalmist, I acknowledge what I do know—about You, about me, about others—but I confess that I don’t know what I don’t know. Examine me, O Sanctifier, and lead me as You will. And by my will—my heart, mind, soul, and strength—I will follow you daily into everlasting. Amen.

By Grace Cheon

Forty Days of Prayer Day 26

WEEK 4

DAY 26- HELP US BE FREE FROM GUILT AND SHAME

Scripture- Psalm 103:8-14; Romans 8:1-2

If there is a struggle with living free from guilt and shame, it’s not uncommon for there also to be a struggle with believing in the goodness of God. Who you believe God to be will reflect what you believe about yourself. In His goodness, Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead—according to the Scripture—to set you free not only from sin and death but also from guilt and shame. However, the enemy will ride guilt and shame on the back of conviction in the form of false claims:

You are so ______. I can’t believe you would _______. You’ll never _______.

Then, with a subtle shift, “you” turns to “they”: They think you’re so _______. They can’t believe you would _________. They think you’ll never ________.

And gradually “they” becomes “I”: I am so _______. I can’t believe I would ______. I’ll never _______. And when you tell yourself a lie long enough, you’ll eventually believe it.

Conviction does not equal condemnation. Conviction is the feeling of having done something wrong; condemnation is the impending punishment for what you did wrong. In His goodness, Jesus received your punishment; therefore, you are no longer condemned.

Living free from guilt and shame doesn’t come without practice. Being able to recognize the enemy’s false claims only comes after having realized you’ve believed a lie. Once you’ve learned how to identify the voice of the enemy, you can extinguish false claims with the truth of God’s goodness: You’ve been acquitted, and the Lord has honored you.

REFLECTION PRAYER

(Pray aloud) Jesus, help me. I am struggling with living free from guilt and shame.

I confess that sometimes it’s hard for me to trust in Your goodness. When I’m convicted for repeatedly doing the wrong thing, I feel like such a failure.

I renounce the lies that “I’ll never be able to quit,” and that “You’re disappointed in me.” I choose to believe that You will help me and that You take joy in me because Your Word says I am no longer a slave to sin but to righteousness—and You smile on me. Amen.

By Caesar (Chavo) Chavez

Forty Days of Prayer Day 23

WEEK 4

DAY 23- HELP US FORGIVE

Scripture- Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” —Ephesians 4:32–5:2

My four-year old doesn’t like help. But . . . he can’t button his shirt yet either. So, in the morning, I watch him struggle. He gets so mad trying to cover himself with that little shirt, and I often offer to be an example. One of two things is likely to happen: (1) On a good day, he watches me button it while I explain how much better it will cover him this way; and (2) On a not-so-good day, he tells me I’m not his friend anymore and walks around with a shirt that will open wide to leave him exposed any moment.

When it comes to forgiveness, I differ little from him. Have I been dressed in Christ’s forgiveness through His sacrifice? YES! And do I try it myself with great frustration sometimes? YES! It’s like telling Jesus He isn’t my friend and trying to “button myself up” when I’m a moment away from being exposed. He asks if I will allow Him to show me the immense forgiveness He has offered me so that I can begin to rely on how it changes me. This allows Him to help me forgive others in return.

It’s when I don’t allow His amazing grace in forgiveness to be shown to me that I end up holding onto grudges I have against those who have wronged me—at the risk of being uncovered completely! Can we agree together today that we desire the graceful covering of Jesus’ forgiveness offers? We must allow His example to change the way we offer it to others.

REFLECTION PRAYER

Jesus,

It is hard to admit that we need You for so much, and it is our pride that tempts us to feel that way. We repent of the pride we still carry. We acknowledge that forgiveness is not only something You have audaciously offered us but also something you have commanded of us. We repeatedly fail at this, Lord, but you have promised us that we can follow You as our example. Please come into our lives. Humble us to see Your forgiveness towards us so that we may graciously extend it to others. We need Your help. Amen.

By Meica Campbell

Forty Days of Prayer Day 22

WEEK 4

DAY 22- PRAYER AS CONFESSION

Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Confession is crucial to the Christian life—both as repentance before God and as forgiveness between one another. Scripture is clear: God desires mercy. His loving kindness and mercy toward us abound; therefore, we must extend mercy toward others. This week, the devotionals will guide us through the confessional aspect of prayer, discussing the love that leads us to forgive as we have been forgiven.

By David and Ty King

Forty Days of Prayer Day 21

WEEK 3

DAY 21- FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST

Scripture- Psalm 23:1; Matthew 6:33; John 15:5

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall [lack nothing].”—Psalm 23:1

God provides for all humans and creatures, but He is a shepherd only to His people. As shepherd, He’s always there to take care of His sheep, and they will lack nothing. Jesus is our Good Shepherd (John 10:11). He looks after our whole being—spirit, soul, and body.

Jesus wanted His disciples’ hearts to be occupied by Him and His Kingdom. He did not want them to worry about the things of this world. He said, “But seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt. 6:33). For those who set King Jesus before them, God makes sure that they have all they need.

As believers in Christ, we depend on Him for all things. He said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man abides in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The assurance for the branch to always bear fruit is in abiding in the vine. The Father, the farmer, is looking for fruit on the branches—fruit that comes only from the farmer’s vine. Only these fruits bring glory to Him.

We are to produce Christ’s fruits—His character. Let us look to our source, our enabler, our sustainer, our true vine. He will never disappoint us.

REFLECTION PRAYER

Father,

We thank You, for You are our Shepherd, our Provider. Help us not to worry about little things. Help us to trust You and Your Son.

As Your Word says in John 14:1, “Trust in God; trust also in Me”; we want to continually believe in and depend upon You. We want to be fruitful. We want to produce Your character. Help us. Help us to get the order right: You before us and the things we need behind us. Occupy our hearts with You and Your Kingdom. Let our prayer always be “May Your Kingdom come.” In Jesus’ name, amen.

By Daniel Zewdu

Forty Days of Prayer Day 20

WEEK 3

DAY 20- MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR EMPTY SOULS

Scripture- Psalm 23:2, 119:11; Matthew 4:4; Romans 10:17

Where do you run when your soul is empty? When you are worn and weary, do you seek fulfillment from your own power, effort, and plans, or do you run to Jesus and seek the comfort that comes from knowing Him and His Word? Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary. . . and I will give you rest.” It’s natural for us to try to find satisfaction in other things (it’s been the case since Adam and Eve), but the only thing that can truly make us whole is Jesus.

The closer we run to Jesus, the more we will know Him and His Word, and this will keep us from sin. Jesus Himself turned to Scripture to rebuke Satan’s temptations in Matthew 4, and as the psalmist writes in Psalm 119:11, hiding His Word in our hearts keeps us from sinning against God.

Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd and says that like sheep, His followers will know His voice (John 10:27). As David writes, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul” (Ps. 23:2–3a).

Do you know the Word of the Lord? Can you discern the voice of the Good Shepherd? The more time we spend with Jesus (the incarnate Word) and in our Bibles (the written Word), the clearer His voice becomes, and He will restore our empty souls.

REFLECTION PRAYER

Father in heaven,

We confess and repent of all the times we have tried to treat our emptiness under our own power and through worldly means. We acknowledge that You, and You alone, are the key to a fulfilling, whole, and satisfying life.

Lead us to a greater appreciation of Your written Word and a greater desire to study it and know it because knowing the Word allows us to know You better; and in knowing You, we can find rest. Amen.

Please reflect on Psalm 23 again as you end your prayer time.

By Aaron Pfahler

Forty Days of Prayer Day 19

WEEK 3

DAY 19- MEET THE NEEDS THROUGH OUR CREATIVE OUTREACH

Scripture- Jeremiah 1:7; Matthew 25:35-40; Mark 16:15

“Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, ‘Now, I have put my words in your mouth.’” —Jeremiah 1:9

God’s Word encourages us with stories of people who, on the exterior, may not appear to be likely candidates to spread the good news of the Kingdom; but their interior life tells a different story. People God uses in Kingdom advance are not favorites; they are intimates who take the hand of the Father in prayer.

One of my fondest memories of my “steelworker” Dad was of him walking me to school during kin- dergarten. Each day, he would take my hand and walk me to the Juniata Terrace Elementary School. At the end of the day, he would be there again to take my hand, hear what I had learned, and walk me home. It’s the same when we take the hand of the Father in prayer. When we are intimate with God, we sense His presence and hear His promptings, which come to us in prayer. When we move into prayer that is intimate conversation with our Father, we take His hand just as Jesus told us to do, praying, “Our Father in heaven. . .” In the presence of the Father, we bring our petitions to Him and then respond to His promptings to take His Word to a lost world around us. What is your petition today? Will you take the Father’s hand and ask?

REFLECTION PRAYER

Use this simple prayer pattern to take the Father’s hand today, sensing His presence and hearing and responding to His promptings.

Father,

You are great, and You are good. I need Your help.

They need Your help.

Heal me and forgive me.

Thank You.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

(Taken from Before Amen by Max Lucado)

By Joel Smith

Forty Days of Prayer Day 18

WEEK 3

DAY 18- MEET THE NEEDS OF THE MARGINALIZED & IMPOVERISHED

Scripture- Exodus 22:22, 23:6; Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 10:18; Luke 10:25-37

Read Luke 10:25–37. Do you want to feel good, or do you want to be an answer to prayer?

We’ve heard the Good Samaritan parable many times. It was in response to a ruler who felt good because he had the religious answers about how to obtain eternal life—love God and love your neigh- bor—but was the ruler willing to really answer the question, “Who is my neighbor?”

There are many in our communities, in our world—and, yes, right next to us—who are hurting, traf- ficked, forgotten, starving, abused, and living in poverty for whom Jesus is the answer. Take a moment today and pray for them specifically. Pray that they will find healing, stability, purpose, food, comfort, shelter, sustenance, and employment. Maybe even go a step further and become the answer to the prayer.

Theologian Miroslav Volf states, “There is something deeply hypocritical about praying for a problem you are unwilling to resolve.” Part of a good prayer life is aligning our thoughts and desires with the heart of God. While you and I may not have a Jericho-road experience as in the parable, we can begin to see others as God does as we intercede spiritually, materially, and physically on their behalf.

REFLECTION PRAYER

The chorus in Brandon Heath’s song “Give Me Your Eyes” will serve as the reflection prayer today:

“All those people going somewhere, why have I never cared? Give me Your eyes for just one second.

Give me Your eyes so I can see everything that I keep missing; give Your love for humanity.

Give me Your arms for the brokenhearted, the ones that are far beyond my reach. Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten. Give me Your eyes so I can see.”

By Les McMahan

Forty Days of Prayer Day 17

WEEK 3

DAY 17- MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE IN CIVIL UNREST

Scripture- Psalm 32:7, 34:4, 107:6; Isaiah 43:18-19; 1 John 4:4

The world around us is filled with constant pain—from overseas conflicts where the mighty attack the weak to our own backyard filled with violence against the innocent and children. How do we approach God amid this injustice and unrest?

It is good and right to weep with those who weep and to mourn with those who mourn. It is being like Christ who had compassion and wept with Mary and Martha over Lazarus though He knew Lazarus would rise by His hand. It is good to cry out to God and grieve the pain and destruction in our world.

God has also called us to be a people of prayerful petition, asking Him to protect children, those who are being wronged, and our Christian brothers and sisters who are suffering. We claim the promise of Psalm 32:7: “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”

Further, we should give thanks that even while evil is at work, God is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4) and is doing a new thing. He is making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland (Isa. 43:18-19). We claim these truths and pray that God will overcome evil with good. We pray that He will send His people to bring peace, restoration, and justice to the places in our world thirsty for the hope only Christ can bring.

REFLECTION PRAYER

Take a current event in our world and pray over the situation with God; grieve with Him over the injustice of it. Pray for God’s protection of those facing trials by name or group.

Ask Him to make a way in the wilderness, to make streams in the wasteland.

Ask Him to bring the love, hope, and peace of Jesus Christ to the people walking through this hard reality of life, that the name of Jesus would be lifted up for all to see. Thank you for walking beside them in prayer today.

By Ben Douglas

Forty Days of Prayer Day 16

WEEK 3

DAY 16- GOD IS FAITHFUL

Scripture- Exodus 34:6; Deuteronomy 7:9-11; 1 Corinthians 1:4-9

Have you ever had an extended conversation with someone you met for the first time? For most of us, it tends to be an awkward encounter. The subject matter usually remains at the surface level. There’s no trust developed to go any deeper than what we do for a living.

Unfortunately, that is a posture that many take with knowing God. People guard their hearts and avoid vulnerability. They may feel free to trust Him with provision of their needs, but is He trustworthy with those painful areas of our lives?

God is always faithful to supply our every need, and He gives us the choice to remain at that level of relationship. However, His desire is to go much deeper. God was faithful to meet the physical needs of the Israelites as they wandered the desert. As for Moses, that wasn’t enough. He longed to experience the fullness of God at the deepest level; he ultimately wanted what Adam and Eve experienced before the Fall.

Because of His death and Resurrection, Jesus has taken out the prohibitions to knowing who He truly is. Within the Trinity, there is love, delight, security, and acceptance. The invitation is not just to be a bystander craving that kind of relationship; it is to fully take part in that relationship.

Action: Meditate on John 15:9. Ask God to reveal the places in your heart where you haven’t opened up to Him. What is He asking of you in response?

REFLECTION PRAYER

Father,

You see the deepest part of my soul. You understand me better than I understand myself. You consistently prove Yourself to be faithful, and the love that You have expressed to me can be found nowhere else. Yet, how often do

I find myself holding back? I don’t want to keep anything from You. I long to experience the fullness of Your love for me. I want to know what it means to be united with You. Jesus, thank You for making the way for this to be available to me. And it’s in Your name I pray, amen.

By Brian Scott

Forty Days of Prayer Day 15

WEEK 3

DAY 15- PRAYER AS PETITION

Give us today our daily bread.

This week, we will be focusing on prayer as petition. The Scripture says that our Lord is our Heavenly Father who knows all our needs even before we ask Him. Yes, that is one of the reasons Paul says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present

your requests to God” (Phil.4:6). 1 John 5:14 says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” As we ponder over prayer

as a petition, our focus is to meditate on God’s faithful nature to hear our petitions, His justful nature to validate our petitions, and His sovereignty to fulfill our petitions. What is our role and action as we bring our petitions to Him?

By David and Ty King

Forty Days of Prayer Day 14

WEEK 2

DAY 14- KINGDOM THROUGH CARE OF THE EARTH

Scripture- Romans 8:19-23

“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

This is what I think of when I read Romans 8:19-23. Anticipation and longing form a palpable tension between what is and what we hope will come to be: the coming of the God’s Kingdom.

Strikingly, Paul intertwines creation’s anticipation with the fate of humanity. Creation awaits libera- tion “from its bondage to decay” while humanity awaits adoption and redemption. In fact, creation’s liberation is dependent on humanity’s redemption; it waits in expectation “for the children of God to be revealed” in order that it might be “brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.” Kingdom-living brings life to the whole word.

Paul reminds us that when people sin, creation suffers. In Genesis 1, creation was subjected to hu- manity, who was tasked to rule over and care for it. When humanity promptly rebelled against God and this task, creation began its suffering, waiting for the redemption of those who would reflect God and His rule.

In our redemption, we become what we were created to be: participants in the Kingdom of God who rule over and care for creation. To participate through care of the earth, we must commit to orienting our lives toward God’s creation in the ways that He designed us to do—to rule as He rules and to care as He cares so that we help bring about the flourishing of all life.

REFLECTION PRAYER

Lord of Creation,

We thank You first and foremost for the gift of life that comes through Jesus Christ. As we reflect on this passage, we repent of the ways that we fail to be Your image bearers, not least in how we choose to live in the world. Forgive us for failing to love our neighbor and Your creation. May Your Holy Spirit convict and guide us into new habits of living. Give us the strength to be obedient to Your Kingdom rule. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit we pray, amen.

By Chris Vena

Forty Days of Prayer Day 13

WEEK 2

DAY 13- KINGDOM THROUGH HEALTHY CHURCHES

Scripture- Matthew 5:13-16

God’s Kingdom is being built upon the Living Cornerstone, Jesus (1 Pet. 2:4), and on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets (Eph. 2:20). God is using the believers, the living stone to build His Kingdom from the past, to the present, and into eternity (1 Pet. 2:5), and this living Kingdom is ever-growing and expanding (Acts 13:49).

The Kingdom is dependent on the new hearts, natures, and spiritual value system that God gives (John 1:12). Our identity has become His (Gal. 4:19). The Kingdom is being built by God Himself, using His holy living materials to build it, which are His chosen living stones. The distinctive lifestyle of the lives of Christians comes from a transformational disposition of the heart by the powerful work of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 5:3-10). This is a transformation as the result of the living present of the Lord Jesus Christ in us (Gal. 2:20). It is His attitudes, thinking, and actions, for the living God who lives inside a person is in itself a miracle (Luke 1:35).

In Matthew 5:13-16 we are “salt” and “light” of this world! How could it be? Without the life and influence of Jesus Christ in me, my life would bear no result nor influence! God is establishing His Kingdom from eternal past, to present, into eternity; and He is doing it with the Body of Christ where Christ is the head of this Body (Eph. 5:23).

REFLECTION PRAYER

Pray according to Romans 11:33-36: “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor? Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him? For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”

By Chinh Nguyen

Forty Days of Prayer Day 12

WEEK 2

DAY 12- KINGDOM THROUGH DIVERSITY

Scripture- John 13:31-38

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” —John 13:34-35

In the beginning of this dark setting, Jesus washed His disciples’ feet then predicted His betrayal by Judas in the Upper Room. Jesus then tells of His leaving for the cross and predicts the denial of Peter. In the middle of this conversation, Jesus tells them “to love one another as I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

At first glance, I suppose Jesus knew that His disciples would need each other when He left them—no fighting or blaming, but love one another. However, tucked in between loving one another is “as I have loved you.” This isn’t just Jesus’ example of sacrificial love for the world; we also need to receive His love and be filled with His love. Only then can we love one another.

What’s the purpose of this command? The purpose is so that the world will know that we are follow- ers of Jesus. As we call upon God’s coming Kingdom, we also submit to His rule and reign here today by loving one another. Jesus came to us as a bridge between His Father and sinful humankind, not just for one group of people, but for all.

REFLECTION PRAYER

“Teach me to treat all that comes to me with peace of soul and with a firm conviction that Your will governs all.” —Elisabeth Elliot

Lord Jesus,

Thank You for loving me. Continue to fill me with Your love so that I can love others. Show me how I can build bridges in our community as an example of Your Kingdom. Help me reflect on how people will see that I am a follower of You, especially if I don’t break down my own walls of hostility and separation. Encourage me to have a meal with someone outside of my own beliefs and ethnicity. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

By Hang Wong

Forty Days of Prayer Day 11

WEEK 2

DAY 11- KINGDOM THROUGH CHURCH PLANTING

Scripture- Luke 17:20-21

My wife always says, “You notice everything.” Sometimes it is said with a sprinkle of admiration, and other times it is said with splash of annoyance. I am observant, and if I wasn’t called to vocational ministry, I like to think I would be a gritty detective who brings justice to the streets. I like to charac- terize and categorize my surroundings. This personality has benefits, but most of the time, it has to do with control. I observe and categorize so I can have control over my environment.

The Pharisees approach Jesus with predictable interference when they ask Him in Luke 17 when the Kingdom of God would come. What they were asking for was control. Jesus has a magnifying glass on the meditations of their heart, as He often does in these exchanges, and answers, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (Luke 17:20-21).

In other words, The Kingdom of God will not be observable through culture, creed, or power structure. It won’t be formulaic or able to be controlled. The Kingdom of God will be observable through the presence of the King.

I believe cities can be changed through church planting. However, church planting that seeks to garner their own kingdom or control a city will fail. Church planting that seeks for and chases the presence of the King will prevail.

REFLECTION PRAYER

Dear King,

We long for You to be the center and in our midst. We repent for where we are off-center.

We ask for Your presence to be the tip of the spear. We repent for where we have led with our own name. We ask for You to control and have Your way.

We repent for our need to control and have our own way. We call on Your presence.

We call for Your leadership.

We call for You, our Shepherd.

Be in our midst; be in our midst. Amen.

By Justin Thorton

Forty Days of Prayer Day 10

WEEK 2

DAY 10- KINGDOM THROUGH ALLIANCE MISSIONS

Scripture- Luke 10:17-21

As I read Luke and Acts, tracing their major themes, one of the threads that caught my attention was the thread of joy. We had a friend in Uruguay who was of the opinion, influenced by his favorite book, that Christ did not laugh. My husband conversed with him more about that view, but I was struck by that man’s picture of a joyless Jesus.

The picture we see in the gospels is quite the opposite. We see a person full of joy, a person who rejoiced and celebrated well. In the passage for today, Luke 10:17-21, Jesus sent out the disciples for ministry, and they came back rejoicing about what happened as they ministered in His name. There is a lot we could parse out here, but what captured my attention was Jesus’ response in Luke 10:21: “Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit.”

As I read this passage, I felt Jesus’ joy in partnering with His people, in empowering His people to do the work He created them for. Revealing the things of the Kingdom to “little children” is thrilling to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus was filled with joy to see the Kingdom lived out in front of His eyes through His friends.

It brings Jesus great joy to partner with you.

Also, I am pretty sure Christ had the best laugh ever.

REFLECTION PRAYER

May we experience again the wonder of God in action. May we feel the joy of Jesus over us as we live out the Kingdom wherever we are located. May we be filled with an “inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Pet. 1:8) because of our salvation. May we be filled with joy in Your presence (Ps. 16:11). May we have the full measure of Your joy within us (John 17:13). May we go out in joy (Isa. 55:12). Thank You that You delight over us. Amen.

By Kora Taube