“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.”
In Christ, our identity is changed from the state of stranger, alien, or guest to that of a citizen in the house of God. A citizen is a legally recognized person of a nation. A citizen is eligible to acquire the benefits of the nation he/she is a citizen of. We enter into God’s house as building blocks to be used in building His house on a solid foundation. According to 1 Peter 2:5 “You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”. There is no solid building without a solid foundation. The only true and secure foundation is that which has been put in place by the apostles, the prophets and Jesus Christ Himself as the Cornerstone. Without the Cornerstone, the house cannot stand strong. What distinguishes and qualifies us as building blocks is the fact that when we come to Christ, He makes us alive in Him. After being made alive in Christ we are able to present ourselves as building blocks. As these building blocks, we are living, spiritual, and holy, with the main purpose of offering continuous spiritual sacrifices to God. Matthew 7:24-27 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Therefore, our identity as citizens is in our ability to hear, study and act upon and continuously abide in the word of the Lord because that is the only way that we can remain secure in our citizenship.
Pray that the church will have a desire to continuously abide in the teachings of Christ, which is the source of life for our existence. 2 John 1:9-11 “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.”
Paul is encouraging us here on how we should present ourselves at the altar when we come as a sacrifice. Pray that our sacrifice will not be rejected. Genesis 4:4-5 “And Abel also brought an offering--fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.” Romans 12:1 “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.”
The church has been made holy through the sanctifying power of the blood of Jesus Christ. Pray that we will continue to allow that sanctifying power of the blood flow through us in our daily walk with the Lord. Deuteronomy 14:2 “for you are a holy people belonging to the LORD your God. The LORD has chosen you to be His prized possession out of all the peoples on the face of the earth”.
There is no one that does not wish to be rich in material things. Translate that into spiritual riches, which will bless us and those around us. We can only be blessed by the Word of God if we dwell in it. So pray that the church will desire the Word of God so that it will dwell richly in us, transform us, and bless those around us. 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 our daily walk will be worthy of who we are in Christ and nothing less. Philippians 1:27 “Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending side by side for the faith of the gospel.”
Pray for the spirit of discernment so that we will be able to identify falsehood and chase them out of our churches and communities. Romans 16:17 “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.”
Declare this word on your life and the church for this is who we are. 1 Peter 2:9-10 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
For the fact that we are building on the foundation of the apostles, we must follow through with the example they left. Pray that as a church or body we will be devoted to the foundation that has been laid by them. Acts 2:42 “And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
One of the characteristics of the apostles was the investment in studying the word of God. Today everybody is so busy and always complaining about time. Pray that the church will devote time to studying the word of God. 2 Timothy 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
Pray for a Pentecostal visitation over the church again. Acts 2: 1-4 “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
We have been commanded to love, it’s not debatable. Pray that the love of God will burn in the heart of the church. John 13:34-35 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Pray that we will constantly remind ourselves that our bodies belong to God and they are not a temple of wickedness. Romans 6:13 “Do not present the parts of your body to sin as instruments of wickedness but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and present the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.”
Our God is faithful to His Word and there is no doubt about it. His desire is that the church walks in unity. Pray for unity in the church. 1 Corinthians 1:9-10 “God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction.” Psalm 133:1-3 “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.”
Pray that we will all identify our place in the house of the Lord and keep away from jealousy and competition. Romans 12:4-5 “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”
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