Above Only Daily Devotional http://cgmglobal.org/aboveonly Friday, AUG 10 Burden for the Church Ephesians 6:18 (GNB), 2Cor. 11:27-28 (GNB), Rom.1:9

Above Only Daily Devotional
http://cgmglobal.org/aboveonly

Friday, AUG 10

Burden for the Church

Ephesians 6:18 (GNB), 2Cor. 11:27-28 (GNB), Rom.1:9 
Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God's people. *And not to mention other things, every day I am under the pressure of my concern for all the churches. *For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.

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When Nehemiah heard of the state of the land of Israel, he wept bitterly, fasted and prayed unto God, (Neh.1:2-4). God eventually intervened in the situation through him. After Herod killed James in Acts Chapter 12, he proceeded to arrest Peter with the intention of killing him also. However, the church arose and prayed without ceasing and God sent His angel to miraculously deliver Peter.

If you and I will not just complain but arise and pray for the body of Christ, God will move and intervene in every issue that is not His will for our lives. Jesus prayed for us to be one and He prayed for God to keep us from the evil of the world, John 17:11, 15 & 21. Epaphras fervently labored in prayers for believers to be perfect and complete in all the will of God, Col.4:12. Imagine what would happen if every one of us prayed for the Church in the same way that Epaphras did. Also imagine what our lives would be like when God answers such a prayer.

The Bible reveals so many prayers that Apostle Paul prayed for believers. Apostle Paul prayed for believers to be strong in their spirits, to know God's love and to be filled with God's fullness, Eph.3:14-19. He prayed for the eyes of believers to be open to God's truth, God's purpose for their lives and to God's riches and power in them, Eph.1:16-20. We need to pray for ministers of the gospel. We need to pray for new converts. We need to pray for souls to be added to the church daily and for these souls to be established in God and His ways.

PRAYER FOCUS: Pray in faith and with passion for every issue that the Spirit of God will stir up in your heart about the body of Christ.

BIBLE IN A YEAR READING PLAN: PSALM 79-80; ROMANS 11:1-18

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