Heavenly Father when You sent the Holy Spirit to the upper room You started the church or body of Christ to replace the previous temple and sacrifices because Christ had fulfilled the requirement for the sacrifice for all time. We praise You for creating change and allowing us to have a personal relationship and the availability of the Holy Spirit to walk by our side.
Holy Spirit it is time, with all the chaos of COVID 19, Russia invading the Ukraine, the fierce division made in our politics and government. The chasm growing between people in our country, and the hatred, anger, apathy and suicides on the rise for the church to come alive and do life differently. We need to forget our differences and pray in unification for Your Will not our pathetic ideas of what it should look like. We need to focus on Your commission to the church, that Paul laid out in Romans: I urge you, brothers [and sisters], in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer 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. Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. [Romans 12:1&2; Romans 12:12; Romans 12:9-13; Romans 15:2-6; Romans 15:13; Romans 16:17-20; Romans16:25-27]
Holy Spirit we need to have You breathe on us again and ignite a flame in our hearts to pray with a fervency that has not been seen since the time of Daniel and Nehemiah. Help us to find Your will by completely dying out to our wills and ourselves. Help us to encourage each other whether we meet in a building, a home or over the internet or at a coffee shop. Let us most of all demonstrate Your love for us and the grace and mercy You have issued through Your salvation.
The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:7-11