Prayer for the Resurrection in our Church
By Victoria Riolano
Bible Reading:
“Therefore, make the disciples of all nations, and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. – Matthew 28:19-20
Listen or read:
The church needs Jesus. This is not a new concept, and it is fair to say that without Jesus we know that the church would not exist. But as a pastor’s wife, I always come across the truth of the matter… modern churches need a resurrection. Little debates on worship style, volume of music, length of service, and the best church model have overtaken many churches. These issues are minor compared to departments that occur on the ground around beliefs about politics, leadership structures, and the fact that some people think the church “doesn’t do it.” As I listen to these conversations every week, can I not help but wonder if I am lamenting that I am not focusing on the great committee? Have we focused on our own beliefs and selfish desires, and placed our thoughts on directing people towards Jesus?
We must ask ourselves, what if a true resurrection breaks out, like what we saw in the book of conduct? What would happen if our followers worked as a unified front? Do you focus on divisive opinions on proclaiming the good news, declaring the truth that Jesus came to free the prisoners, heal and rescue the oppressed? But it’s not enough to just question these things. We were asked by God Himself to be part of seeing people fundamentally for Jesus.
After his resurrection, Jesus says this in Matthew 28:19-20: “Therefore, I will make disciples of all nations, baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I command you. As believers, we must note that these words from Jesus are not passive. They are direct commands from Jesus to believers, and not only listen to Jesus for ourselves, but also take as many people as possible to Christ. This requires them to “go” or move on to action. Interestingly, this passage doesn’t say, “You might want to build a local church and make it as attractive as possible, and people might want to be present.” Instead, it pleads us to leave our Christian community comfort zone as followers, spread to other cultures and communities, and to talk about Jesus. But telling them about Jesus is just the beginning. We are to teach them everything that Jesus taught us.
A true revival requires followers to recognize their role in the Great Committee and be willing to move on to action! This may seem to deliberately enter the community and pray, pray outside of Sunday morning experiences where people can worship no matter the timing, and communicate their neighborhood about Jesus through Bible study and disciples. Local churches can take on this responsibility, but individual followers can also stand up. I’ve heard this once said. My mind is concerned that modern churches are so focused on not essential to faith that they forget to see others have eternal life. This promise of eternal life should help us bring hope and bring joy when we share the gospel, even when it is uncomfortable.
My prayers today leaned upon what we found in Psal 85:6 and said, “Do not resurrect us again; may your people please you?” May the Lord ask us for him and give others a fiery passion to share this great news about who Jesus Christ is.
Let’s pray:
Lord, thank you for the gift of salvation. Forgive me in the time when I ignored this elegant offering of eternal life. Give me a heart to see God, neighbours, counties, schools, and homes radically changed for you. Give me strength, boldness and courage just as people want to see you know you. Let me start the revival with you so that I can encourage others. I look to me, see the people who need you and the wisdom, and connect with other followers who want to spread the gospel.
Jesus, I will come to you in sincere prayer for the local church. Please forgive us for being distracted by the everyday life and traditions of the church, which have forgotten why we gather. Lord, I pray that local pastors and church leaders will guide ministries towards evangelism. I pray that they will be intentional about telling people about Jesus and discipling them through the truth of the gospel. Tell your local church to rekindle it again. Please cherish the truth of your words and clean up false teachings that keep people away from the Lord in your local church. God sends your spirit to bring fresh wind to the church so that we can shock, encourage, and guide Him. We trust you in the resurrected church and the strategies that will lead many to you. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Christin Lola
Victoria Riolano is a mother of eight, a veteran spouse, a professor of psychology and a doctoral student, and Victoria has learned the art of balancing her family and achieving the ultimate purpose of God in her life. Victoria holds a Masters degree in Child Psychology and is the author of two books, The Victory Walk: The 21 Days of Devotional Life and the Warrior Mother. When she is not writing, you can find her serving in her local church as the pastor’s wife, worship leader, and youth pastor. In the end, she hopes that a woman will lead a life of victory, hope and love. Connect to @myvictorySpeaks on Instagram at Victoria (www.victoryspeaks.org) and Social Media at Victoria Speaks by Victoria Riollano.
Pray through Psalm 15: Prayer to those who never shake up
Are you tired of being spiritually exhausted? You’ve come to the right place! Join us in the age of prayer, reflection and meditation. Put your day’s luggage behind you, refresh, update, and reconnect with God. Who is the one who never shakes you up? Explore poem sal 15 with today’s 10 minutes of devotion. If you like what you hear, you won’t miss an episode.
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