DAY 31: DISCIPLING THE YOUTH OF MALAYSIA

DAY 31: DISCIPLING THE YOUTH OF MALAYSIA

SCRIPTURE:

2 Timothy 2:1-2 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

OBSERVATION:

In this passage, we see the pattern of succession planning that Paul envisions for all the churches under His care. Just as he carefully and patiently tutored young Timothy in the truths and doctrines of the gospel, he commissioned Timothy to likewise train and teach faithful men of God these truths, especially focusing on men who would also be able to teach others. It is in this ongoing mentoring and training that enables the church to grow strong from generation to generation, passing down the godly values and character qualities and wisdom through the ages.

There are three main principles here that we can see in Paul’s call to Timothy concerning those he disciples. Firstly, they must be good listeners and learners. Just as Timothy listened carefully to Paul’s teaching among many witnesses, so too, Paul calls Timothy to look for men with likewise aptitude and inclination to learning the things of God. Secondly, they must be faithful. They need to be ready to share and teach the Word of God in season and out of season, looking out for every opportunity to proclaim truth to others and build up others in the body of Christ. Finally, they must have the ability and love to teach others, not just keeping their knowledge to themselves, but earnestly seeking to share what they know so that others will be blessed.

APPLICATION:

The youth in Malaysia especially need to be discipled in this manner and to be trained to disciple their peers and those younger than them in the same way. Individually too, each one of us who know the Lord should endeavor to grow deeper and deeper in Him, learning more about His Word and his truths, and to be faithful in service to Him as the Lord calls us. Likewise, we are to share the truths of God that we learn with each other, especially reaching out to teach and bless those younger in the faith than ourselves. Where possible, we also would do well to mentor and teach young men and women who come across our paths, who have an earnest and pure heart for the Lord.

PRAYER:

We praise You and thank You, Lord, for the example of Paul and Timothy, and how they looked far ahead to plan and pray for the strength of the future generations of the church. Even in this generation, Lord, we pray that You raise up leaders and teachers among us, who are able learn more and more from You, and to teach and encourage others, especially among the young. Give us O Lord, hearts eager to learn, faithfulness and strength in our service, and an openness to teach and bless others with the great truths You reveal to us. Strengthen us and bless us Lord we pray, and help us abide in You always. In Jesus name, Amen.

DAY 30: RAISING UP BUMIPUTERA CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP IN MALAYSIA

DAY 30: RAISING UP BUMIPUTERA CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP IN MALAYSIA

SCRIPTURE:

Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them Joshua 1:6

OBSERVATION:

Indigenous Christians in Sabah and Sarawak make up 64% of the Christian community in Malaysia, making them the backbone of the church in the country. However, due to poverty and lack of education, many there have been subject to victimization and manipulation by evil men who have cheated them out of their rightful land, taken advantage of their women, and even subjected them to harsh labor in their own homes. Now, even their way of worship is threatened by parties using religion for political mileage.

The Church in Peninsular who are strong in resources and knowledge and ability need to lend their strength to their brothers and sisters in East Malaysia, so that they too can become strong and stand up for what is right and true. The consistent call to Joshua before he entered the promised land was to be Strong and Courageous.

All leadership needs to be strong and courageous to be effective. A leader must be strong in standing up for the truth, not being easily swayed by popular opinion or peer pressure. He must stay rooted like a tree with firm roots standing firm even in the face of the greatest winds. Likewise, being courageous often means going against stern opposition. People don’t like being told what they don’t like to hear, but the leader must remain true to speak out the truth without fear or favor.

APPLICATION:

We in Peninsular need to pray for those in East Malaysia with renewed fervency, and also look for ways where we can be of practical help and training. Many from Sabah and Sarawak have also found their way here for employment opportunities, and we would do well to also reach out to their communities here to help and strengthen them where we can. Individually, each one of us is also called to be a Joshua, to be strong and courageous, and to lead others to Christ, by word and deed and example. So let us also pray for God to instill His spirit in us like He did in Joshua, a truly strong and courageous spirit.

PRAYER:

We praise and worship You, Father Lord, for You created all things well. We thank You for Your great love for all of us here in Malaysia, both in the East and the West. You called us to be Your own, in one accord as one family. Forgive us O Lord, for neglecting our fellow brothers and sisters. Bind us together we pray, that we may truly love and care for each other, and support each other in love and unity. Pour out Your Spirit of strength and boldness too we pray, for You did not give us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind. Empower us O Lord, to do Your will. In Jesus name, Amen.

DAY 29: DISCIPLING THE ORANG ASLI OF MALAYSIA

DAY 29: DISCIPLING THE ORANG ASLI OF MALAYSIA

SCRIPTURE:

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:“ Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9-10

OBSERVATION:

In the book of Revelation, John speaks of a vision where he sees a great multitude that no one can count, and they are from every nation, tribe, people and language. This shows us the heart of God who loves every nation, every people and every culture. Every soul is precious to God and every person who turns to Him is greeted by a joyous celebration in Heaven. And this also includes the Orang Asli of Malaysia, who sadly, have been left behind economically, politically and socially, despite the modernization of the country.

What is common among this great multitude? Firstly, they stand before God’s throne and before the Lamb, indicating their close relationship with God, who brings them close to Himself even after the pain and death of the Great Tribulation. Secondly, they wear white robes, which symbolize their righteous deeds in following the Lord. Thirdly, they hold palm branches indicating their praise of God, and finally, their words in a loud voice shows their worship as they declare “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne and to the Lamb”.

APPLICATION:

Let us remind ourselves to continue to grow deep in these four facets of our Christian lives- to develop that close, deep relationship with God that will withstand even the harshest persecution, to seek to walk in righteousness by God’s Holy Spirit, to continue to live a life full of praise to God, and to worship Him deeply in spirit and in truth. Even in this, let us endeavor to reach out to Orang Asli where we can, to also join with them in this, growing and praising and worshipping with them, seeking to live righteous lives in our own places according to God’s will.

PRAYER:

Dear Lord, we thank You for Your Word that calls us, that inspires us, that leads us to Yourself. We thank You Father that You love all Your children, and desire men and women from every tongue and tribe and people and language to come and join with You in Your loving family. Individually, O Lord, we pray that You draw us closer in relationship with You, that You inspire us to seek righteousness and to walk according to Your will in Your Word, and to live lives praising You and worshipping You for the great and perfect and awesome God that You are. Raise up our fellow neighbors, the Orang Asli too we pray, and lead us to a deeper connection with them, especially among the beloved brothers and sisters among them. Lead us Lord, to help and strengthen them where we can. May Your name be praised always O Lord. In Jesus name, Amen. 

DAY 28: WITNESSING ACROSS ETHNO-LINGUISTIC CULTURES

DAY 28: WITNESSING ACROSS ETHNO-LINGUISTIC CULTURES

SCRIPTURE:  

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

OBSERVATION:

After his ascension, the Lord did not expect his disciples to go forth and preach the gospel immediately. Instead, they were to wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon them. Only then, would they receive the power they needed to go and witness. This then occurred during Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came and the disciples in the upper room received the gift of tongues, and great boldness to preach the gospel.

And the harvest field so to speak, has three levels. Firstly, they were to witness in their immediate vicinity in Jerusalem. Secondly, they were to go to the immediate surrounding areas in all Judea and Samaria. Finally, they were to go to the ends of the earth.

Praise God that the early missionaries in Europe and later America obeyed this call, going forth as far away and remote as China, India, Southeast Asia and Africa, bringing the gospel to every continent around the world. God wants every tribe and tongue and nation to hear the gospel, and in Malaysia, and in East Malaysia especially, we are blessed to have such a rich variety of different tribes and people groups.

In Malaysia, the majority of Christians are in Sabah and Sarawak and speak Bahasa Malaysia. Economically, they are largely worse off but spiritually, they are rich. As one church in Malaysia, Christians in both Peninsular and East Malaysia need to come together in unity and lend each other their respective strengths, and support each other in their respective weaknesses. An exemplary church in this regard is SIBKL, who place great emphasis in plowing resources back to East Malaysia where the harvest is truly plentiful, and the people responsive to God.

APPLICATION:-

Pray that God will give us a cross-cultural mindset to really appreciate the fact that we are one church across language and culture and ethnic groups. Seek to become involved in helping another race or people group in the Lord, praying for them, and finding practical ways to help and reach out. Never forget that our dependence is on the Holy Spirit who empowers us. Lean on the Spirit for help.

PRAYER:-

We praise You and thank You, Heavenly Father, that you created all of us in our diverse races and cultures. You draw all men to yourself, and seek true worshippers from every time and place. Teach us to view Your church cross-culturally, learning to love our fellow brothers and sisters despite our differences in language and culture. Empower us with more of Your Holy Spirit, that we may have the wisdom and ability to reach out and bless those of different languages and cultures than ourselves. In Jesus name, Amen.

DAY 27: DISCIPLING THE NATIONS

DAY 27: DISCIPLING THE NATIONS

SCRIPTURE:

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

OBSERVATION:

In Matthew’s account of the great commission issued by Jesus, we see another important facet of the Lord’s call. It begins with the statement that all authority in heaven on earth has been given to Him. This is the first and foremost basis of our whole ministry. We go forth as ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, authorized by Him, and in His name and power. In Mark’s gospel, this power and authority is described as signs which accompany those who go in Jesus name – they will drive out demons, they will lay their hands on the sick and they will get well, they will speak in new tongues and they will drink deadly poison and not be hurt.

Secondly, the Lord’s call is not just for conversion but for discipleship. It is no use to have new converts who quickly fall back into old ways and old patterns. New converts need to be trained and established in the faith so that they will grow strong and persevere and overcome. The role of the church in this training is absolutely paramount. A crucial part of this discipleship is to teach the disciples everything Jesus has commanded. This involves a careful study of the four gospels, and especially all the Words of Jesus, which should be known well and true by all Christians.

Thirdly, the Lord’s call involves baptism of water. The word “baptizo” in Greek literally means “to dip”. Wherever possible, this must mean full immersion, symbolizing a watery death to one’s old self when entering the water, and resurrection to new life, when re-emerging out of the water. Baptism is the natural and subsequent act to conversion that every believer is required to perform as a testimony before men of his or her faith in Christ.

Finally, the Lord gives us the promise of His presence with us, which is through the Holy Spirit, and this presence will be always with us to the very end of the age. How beautiful and marvelous is this truth!

APPLICATION:

Know that we go forth not in our own strength but with the Lord’s authority and power. We need to depend on that! We also should make baptism a priority in the church for all believers. Likewise, we must also prioritize training and discipleship, growing strong in the Lord ourselves and also teaching and imparting knowledge to those less mature in the Lord than ourselves. In all things, always believe and thank God that His presence is always with us. 

PRAYER:  

We praise You and thank You, Lord, for Your great love for us. We thank You that You gave us Your authority to do Your will on earth. Give us Your heart of passion and courage, that we may learn to go forth and make disciples even as You lead us. Quicken the learning of our hearts and minds in Your ways so that we may grow strong and be able to teach and lead others to deeper levels with You. We thank You and praise You especially Lord that You are always with us, our Savior and Redeemer. In Jesus name, Amen.

DAY 26: THE GREAT COMMISSION

DAY 26: THE GREAT COMMISSION

SCRIPTURE:-

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Matthew 16:15-16

OBSERVATION:-

The call to go into all the world is given to the church as a whole, who are commissioned with their primary role and objective of going to every nation and people group and declaring the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. God wants all to be saved regardless of race or locality, and graciously forgives men their sins when they turn to Him in humility and true repentance.

There are those who will believe and those who won’t. Those who believe will naturally move on to the next step which is baptism. Those who say they believe but hold back from baptism because of fear fail to acknowledge the Lord before men, and risk not having the Lord acknowledge them.

The Greek Word for believe here literally means “continue to believe”. It is essential for Christians to keep on believing. In the last days when we are threatened by torture, imprisonment and death, only those who truly believe will be able to stand firm and overcome because they keep on believing, being fully assured with all their heart that their momentary sufferings and troubles are nothing compared to eternity.

APPLICATION:-

As part of the church, we individually need to be on the lookout for opportunities to preach the gospel. We may not be pastors or preachers, but each one of us can tell others our testimony of what God has done for us, and each one of us can live holy and righteous lives that are a good testimony to those who will be attracted to the light of our lifestyle.

PRAYER:

Dear Heavenly Father, we pray for Your love and compassion to flow through us towards those that we meet day by day. Help us to see others with Your eyes and feel for them with Your heart. Help us to so emanate Your love, that we will draw others to You. Forgive our complacency and selfishness. Open doors for us we pray that we may testify of Your goodness. We praise You and love You, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.

DAY 25: UNITY THROUGH THE FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY

DAY 25: UNITY THROUGH THE FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY

SCRIPTURE:

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-13

OBSERVATION:

Just as God give different gifts to different members of the body for different purposes, He also gives 5 distinct ministries that should be at the forefront of every church – apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. We should bear in mind here that these titles are not meant to glorify men, but each are slaves in Christ, with the duty and calling to fulfill what God has prepared for them through their gifts.

Apostles are the founding fathers of churches, who delight in going from place to place, founding and establishing churches before turning the leadership over to local pastors and teachers to continue the caring, governance and teaching of the church. Apostles usually will tend to continue to disciple and train the pastors and teachers of the various churches, encouraging them and strengthening them in the Lord.

Prophets are those who are able to hear messages from God, and speak these messages of love and encouragement and strengthening to the people. It is a particularly difficult ministry that potentially can be misused and cause dissension and unhappiness where care is not taken. It is important to test every prophecy and for the church to be strong in the Word to ascertain the accuracy of the prophecies.

Evangelists are those with the particular gifting of gathering souls into the kingdom of God. They naturally and affectionately share the message of God’s love with all around them, and bring many to the Lord, and gather them to the church for further training and teaching.

Pastors take care of their congregation like a shepherd over its flock, caring for them, visiting them, praying for them, doing what he can to ensure they continue their walk in the Lord and grow from strength to strength.

Teachers are those who have particular strength in understanding and applying the Word of God and communicating it to the congregation to build them up and make them strong so that they will not be shaken.

Paul was clearly an apostle, but also an evangelist and teacher. Philip was renown as an Evangelist. John was a loving Apostle and Pastor who addressed his congregation lovingly as little children. There were prophets functioning like Agabus in the early church, and there were also great teachers like Apollos.

When all these ministries are functioning well in the church, she is able to move forward powerfully and effectively for the kingdom of God.

APPLICATION:  

Ultimately, as Christians grow in maturity in the Lord, they will find themselves drawn towards performing one or more of these five-fold ministries. In the Cell Group itself, we can also see this working. There are apostles who oversee the multiplication of cell groups and continue to see that the newly formed groups are strengthened and encouraged. In each cell group, there may be prophets who speak words of edification for the group. Likewise, there could be cell group leaders or pastors who watch over the members, and also natural teachers who are able to lead and teach Biblical truths from the Bible. Very importantly too, there are the evangelists who go out and bring others frequently to the cell group. We need to ask God to show us where our inclinations are and to help us develop the areas of our gifting to serve Him, beginning with the cell group and then moving on to the church level.

PRAYER:

We thank You and praise You, Lord, that You made each of us special with different inclinations and giftings. Show us O Lord, the places where you have prepared for us, and the work that You have graciously set for us. May we always have that heart of service that is willing to serve others in humility and truth. In Jesus name, Amen.                                                                                                                                                  

DAY 24: TRUTH IS THE FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIAN UNITY

DAY 24: TRUTH IS THE FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIAN UNITY

SCRIPTURE:

For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 2 Corinthians 13:8

When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? Galatians 2:14

Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 1 John 2:4

OBSERVATION:

Although unity is so paramount to the church of God, it is absolutely essential that it must not be at the expense of the truth. Speaking the truth can really hurt, especially when it comes to correcting fellow brothers and sisters in the church. However, we cannot corrupt or dilute our creed for the sake of not offending someone. 

In the church today, there is a difficult situation, as false teachings have come in and created many controversies, but to give in to them in the name of unity only pollutes the gospel and we actually have a duty to speak up as Paul did to Peter when he did not act in line with the truth of the gospel.

APPLICATION:

First of all, we must ensure that we ourselves are founded on the truth, and know the basics of our faith – of repentance, faith, baptisms, the laying of hands, resurrection and final judgment as listed down in Hebrews. Then, we need to delve into the Word so that we can be firm and secure in the Scripture, not easily tossing about as the wind and waves  turns. Where required, we need to stand up and speak out against teaching that is contrary to Scripture.

PRAYER:

Dear Father, even as we pray for unity and seek to be one before You as one church, we pray for boldness at the same time to remain true to the truth. Quicken us and strengthen Your Word within us we pray, that we may be grounded and strong in Your Word, able to discern right and wrong. Raise up for us godly teachers of the Word who are sound and accurate, who preach without fear or favor, and declare Your truth courageously against the heresies that invade the church, even from within. We praise You and thank You, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen. 

DAY 23: BIBLICAL UNITY IS NOT UNIFORMITY

DAY 23: BIBLICAL UNITY IS NOT UNIFORMITY

SCRIPTURE:

¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. ¹⁹ If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 1 Corinthians 12:17-20

OBSERVATION:

God made each one of us different. Some are tall, some are short. Some are fair and some are dark. Some are fast and some take their time. Some like water while some like wine.

In this Scripture, Paul emphasizes that biblical unity is not uniformity. It does not mean everyone doing the same thing. However, it means everyone following the same Lord, with the same purpose of serving and honoring and glorifying the Lord Jesus. In every church, different members perform different functions. Some functions are in the forefront like worship leading and preaching while others support in other ways such as ushering, arranging chairs, preparing the Communion elements, or even giving quietly to the finances of the church. Each one have their own strengths and purposes, and each one combined is the body of Christ in the church.

Across churches likewise, each have their own strengths and weaknesses. Brethrens are traditionally strong in the Word. Charismatics may be strong in the gifts of the Spirit. Some churches may be strong in community works, or special ministries to foreigners or children’s ministry. There are theological differences, but when we come together, we need to ultimately focus on the core issues and pray together in unity for God’s favor on the nation, for God helping each individual to grow deeper in Him, for strength and faithfulness in reaching out to the lost. 

Our mindset is important here, to look at our brothers and sisters from different backgrounds as being parts of the same body, and pray for God’s blessing and sustenance throughout. Where one part suffers, the rest suffer along.

APPLICATION:

Make it a point to set aside prejudice against Christians of different denominations, but encourage each other to focus on Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, trusting in Him to help us in all things, and to help us do God’s will for our lives. Ask the Lord to help us see each other as part of the same body, the same family. Be humble and gentle with each other, and encourage each other in our core faith in Christ Jesus.

PRAYER:

We thank You, precious Father, that You made each of us different because You love diversity, and have created such beauty in diversity. Teach us, Lord, to set aside our prejudice and to really view each other as being of the same family, and same body. Bring us together, Lord, from various creeds and denominations to seek You together as one voice. Please bless our nation we pray. In Jesus name, Amen.

DAY 22: UNITY ENABLES MISSIONS

DAY 22: UNITY ENABLES MISSIONS

SCRIPTURE:

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

OBSERVATION:-

The hallmark of the church must be love and unity. In the early church, the unity and love was so strong that no one in the church had any need because those who had shared with those who were lacking, and the Lord added daily to their number those who were being saved. When a church is united and love each other dearly as truly family, the witness to the world is loud and clear. In the world, everyone is for himself, and selfishness rules supreme. However, in the church, we are one body with one Lord.

This was the Lord’s will from the start, that we learn to love one another as Jesus loved us. It was a new command, for the degree of love required by Jesus was one that equaled his own. With man, it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible. If we are led by the Spirit, we will find ourselves loving our fellow Believers, for the first fruit of the Spirit, after all, is love. And as we love each other, and show love to those in need, some will likewise come and find His love….

APPLICATION:

Once again, the call for us is to pray and do all that we can to maintain the unity in our families, our cell groups, our ministries and our church. To love with the love of Jesus, we need to depend on His Holy Spirit of love. Let us keep our hearts and minds open to Him, letting Him to lead us and pray for and help others in His love.

PRAYER:-

We thank You and praise You, Lord, that in You we have hope, and we can love because You first loved us. Teach us to love, Lord, even as You fill us with Your Spirit of love. Help us and give us the wisdom to always strive for unity, letting Your love always reign supreme in our families, our cell groups, our ministries and our church that we may be shining beacons of light that draw men to Yourself. In Jesus name, Amen

DAY 21: CHRISTIAN UNITY DEMANDS THE MATURITY OF OUR GROWTH

DAY 21: CHRISTIAN UNITY DEMANDS THE MATURITY OF OUR GROWTH

SCRIPTURE

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-13

OBSERVATION:

What should be the goal of every church, and her leaders? What is the purpose of the five-fold ministries of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher? Paul gives us the natural progression here, of what is essentially the bedrock of Christian growth.

Firstly is the equipping of God’s people for works of service. We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works. The purpose of going to Church on a Sunday is not to do a once a week duty but to receive instruction on how to live life for God on every other day of the week! In God’s kingdom, there is no such thing as a Sunday Christian. Every disciple is commissioned with the duty of going forth to shine the light of Jesus in the dark world wherever they go. And the church must give emphasis on giving out all-important instruction in this.

Secondly, the equipping is to build up the body of Christ. Every member of the body has a different role to play and everyone needs each other for the whole body to function effectively. The purpose of the equipping here is to strengthen each part of the body so that every member can press on towards being the best they can be in their particular role as led by the Holy Spirit from glory to glory in Christ Jesus.

Ultimately, all the equipping has the goal of bringing every member to maturity, each individual eventually coming to a level where he acts and talks and loves like the Lord Jesus Himself. And this maturity also has the mark of having unity in the faith which is unity of heart and unity in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which is unity in the mind, which of course comes about by having unity in the Holy Spirit.

APPLICATION:

Our goal ultimately is maturity and unity, and to reach a level where we are able to think and love and act like Jesus would. We need to see ourselves as lights in a dark world. Church is a place where we recharge, learn and be encouraged before going back to our daily lives to shine for Christ. We also need to check ourselves to distance ourselves from divisions and gossip, but to pray for and seek the unity of the church.

PRAYER:

We praise and worship thee, Father Lord, for You hold all things in Your hands. According to Your good pleasure, it is Your will for us to receive Your salvation, and to be changed from glory to glory in the likeness of Your Son. Build us up O Lord, as one body we pray, and help us be strong individually and collectively, even as we seek to grow more and more in Your likeness day by day. Strengthen us O Lord, and quicken our spirits and our minds, that we may grow deeper and deeper in You and Your knowledge. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.