The Church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ her Lord;
She is his new creation,
By water and the word;
From Heav’n he came and sought her
To be his holy bride;
With his own blood he bought her,
And for her life he died.
‘Mid toil and tribulation
And tumult of her war,
She waits the consummation
Of peace forever more;
Till with the vision glorious
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest. (“The Church’s One Foundation” by Samuel J. Stone, 1866)
I was wondering how to pray for Jesus’s Church today, and God led me to these strong words from Matthew 10 (NASB). Let’s pray the scripture together:
Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness...”And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons.”
Jesus, you have given each of your Children and your Church overall a strong calling to bring your Kingdom into this world. You have given us authority over the evil one, and the command to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out demons. Forgive us when we do not heed these words or these callings. Forgive us when we do not see those who need your power and purpose poured into their lives. Give your Church – and each of its members – the boldness to be your hands and feet in a world that is broken and hurting.
“Freely you received, freely give. Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, or a bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is deserving of his support.”
God, thank you for the spiritual, financial, and relational provision you give your Church. Help us to understand that although the love of money is the root of evil, you also give us what we need to create wealth to use for your Kingdom purposes. Pour out wisdom and resources on those who will use them to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and bring healing and grace to those in need.
“And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. As you enter the house, give it your greeting. If the house is worthy, see that your blessing of peace comes upon it. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet. Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment, than for that city.“
Holy Spirit, we pray you will move in the hearts and spirits of those who consider themselves part of your Church. If they are in local congregations that are not led by you, we pray you would direct them to new bodies of believers. If a local church is resistant to the move of your Spirit, we pray you would develop a hunger in that place for you. May they not be cold or lukewarm in their faith, but may they be on fire for the things of God. And if a local body that calls itself a church will not align with your Word and Spirit, if they will not receive or listen to you, send new spiritual leaders and bring worthiness and a blessing of peace upon that church. May the people repent and turn back to your righteousness and your Truth. Strengthen your Church, her leaders, and her members for greater fruitfulness in this day and this hour.
“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves. But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who are speaking, but it is the Spirit of your Father who is speaking in you. Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.“
God, you warned us that to be your followers would be counter-cultural, even dangerous to our earthly lives. Thank you for all the faithful that have come before us to show us what it means to serve you, even to the point of martyrdom. May we not be fearful of persecution, but trust you for the words and actions we need. May we not be faltering in our faith, but bold in our witness. May we not be people who want to please others, but people who want to please our Lord. Help us to be wise as serpents, but innocent as doves. Help us to endure to the end and be saved, we ask in the strong name of Jesus Christ our Lord, AMEN.
1 Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.
2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; and James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who also betrayed Him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them, saying, “Do not go on a road to Gentiles, and do not enter a city of Samaritans; 6 but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. 9 Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts, 10 or a bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker is deserving of his support. 11 And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. 12 As you enter the house, give it your greeting. 13 If the house is worthy, see that your blessing of peace comes upon it. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. 14 And whoever does not receive you nor listen to your words, as you leave that house or city, shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment, than for that city.
A Hard Road Ahead of Them
16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be as wary as serpents, and as innocent as doves. 17 But be on guard against people, for they will hand you over to the courts and flog you in their synagogues; 18 and you will even be brought before governors and kings on My account, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who are speaking, but it is the Spirit of your Father who is speaking in you.
21 “Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. 22 And you will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. (Matthew 10:1-22 NASB)
For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:10 NASB)
But you are to remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, in order to confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. (Deuteronomy 8:18 NASB)
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have no need of anything,” and you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked… (Revelation 3:15-17 NASB)