“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
The church represents members of God’s household standing on the foundation that was built by the apostles and prophets. Jesus represents the main foundation that holds it all together and without which the church cannot stand on its own. Each believer in Christ represents a block and we are all joined together through the finished work on the cross to form a holy temple, a dwelling place for the Lord. Each block has a responsibility to do their own part so that the entire structure attends to the purpose of its establishment.
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.”
Ephesians 2:4-5 “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.”
Thank God for loving us so much that He come and set us free and made us alive by His grace
Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
God uses us as blocks to build His church and He stated that the gate of hell cannot prevail, so it’s our responsibility to stand against the gate of hell constantly declaring that it cannot stand against the work of God. As a block pray that the gate of hell will not prevail against your section of block you are occupying in the body.
Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Pray that as the body of Christ, each of us will do our part in ensuring that Christ’s love is the center of our relationships and meeting, as well as a place to encourage each other as we learn to grow closer to God
Colossians 1:10 “So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
Pray for the grace to walk in the manner that is worthy of the call as God’s building blocks and that we will please Him in every aspect of our being.
Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
Pray that the church will be willing to grow in the Word of God and allow the Word to dwell in us so that we are well equipped to teach, admonish one another with the wisdom that comes from the Word.
Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Pray the we will be mindful of the expectation as believers to present ourselves before God (not only on a Sunday morning as we walk daily) as living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.
Pray that we will keep ourselves in the Word and presence of God so that our minds are renewed by the Word of God to keep us away from the patterns of the world.
Ephesians 4:2-5 “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
As a church, we are owned by one God and Father, therefore, we are children from the same blood line; Jesus’ blood, thus we should pray and ask God for the grace to contribute our portion to ensure there is oneness, love, and unity in the body.
Ephesians 4:25- 29 “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Pray that God will deliver the church from falsehood, the way we talk and interact with one another, all these behaviors block the spiritual flows and thus the Holy Spirit
Acts 2: 42- 47 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
Pray that the church will go back and be devoted to the teachings of the apostles who laid the foundation of the church. It’s only these teachings that can bring others into the church as it was tested and proven that it works.
Pray for unity. John 17:23 “I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.”
If we operate in unity, we will do everything in agreement; 1 Corinthians 1:10 “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.” Pray for against the spirit of disagreement, that we will have one mind in Christ.”
Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Pray that we will not see other blocks in the church for who we think they are but will relate with them as members of the same body with whom we are all joined by the blood of Jesus.
Acts 20:29 “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock.”
Pray against the wolf that come in and scatters the temple of the living God.
Isaiah 62:6 “On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest”
Pray that God will raise watchmen at the walls of the church to stand against the gates of hell and ensure the church is keeping with its purpose.