LIFT UP CONTINUAL PRAYERS FOR THE LORD’S CHURCH

The day Christ washed away our sins, he added us to his church (Acts 2:47).

His church is as precious to him as your beloved mate is to you (Eph. 5:25). His church is the kingdom of God on this earth (Matt. 16:!8-19). Christ and his church are the hope of the world. The church with its many members constitutes the hands of God ministering to the needs of suffering humanity. The purest and best of humanity, before us and in our own generation, have been members of Christ’s church.  Ambassadors of the church brought the gospel to each of us and led us to salvation in Christ. The church taught us, trained us, nurtured us in the faith of Christ and is preparing us for eternal life with the Father in Heaven.

Today the Church of Christ is a kingdom under siege by foes within and without.  She desperately needs our prayers for her well-being and prosperity; for her protection and survival. A band of people have arisen within the church who are determined to impose changes on her that will corrupt her faith and practice and transform her from the precious bride of Christ into a worthless human denomination.  Therefore it is essential that every faithful child of God daily lift up prayers to the Father on behalf of the church:

	That God will protect her from those who would do her harm (Is. 31:5).
	That He will raise up an army of faithful soldiers to lead his church in this day of trial (II Tim. 2:2-4).
	That he will overthrow the schemes and plans of those who would subvert the faith of His people (Ps. 83:17).
	That He  will open the eyes of elders, preachers and brethren (Eph. 1:18), so they can clearly discern those who are false teachers and refuse them a hearing (I John 4:1).
	That He will heal the wounds that “agents of change” have already inflicted upon His beloved church (Hos. 6:1).
	That he will stir the hearts of elders and other Christians to use their resources to help provide the weapons needed to win this battle for the hear and souls of the church (I Tim. 6:17-18).
	That He will restore his church to peace, harmony and prosperity (Eph. 4:3-4)

Our old hymn “I Love Thy Kingdom Lord,” captures the thought of this exhortation, “For her our tears shall fall, for her our prayers ascend to her my care and toils be given till toils and cares shall end.” Let a hundred thousand prayers ascend each day as sweet incense and we shall see better and happier days for the church we love.