Discipling through Devotionals (2)

Jesus’ Temptation in the Desert

Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13

Satan’s question to Jesus, “If You are the Son of God” like every other temptation is simply a variation of his first question to Eve, “Did God really say?”[1] Of course Jesus is the Son! God had just said so at Jesus’ baptism. Satan’s main aim, then as now, is “to break the bond of obedient trust that lies at the heart of (our) relationship with the Father”.[2]

In order to truly understand what was happening here in the temptation narrative we have to grasp the truth with regard to Jesus’ Humanity. Dann Spader explained this well when he wrote: “By adding humanity, (Jesus) chose temporarily to restrict the full expression of His deity. Never less than God, He chose to live His life never more than man.”[3] Why is this so important? Because when Jesus resisted and rebuked Satan, He did not do so as God, even though He never ceased to be fully God at any point in time. No, Jesus defeated every temptation because throughout the ordeal He remained an obedient and trusting Son completely surrendered to the will of His Father. He was thrust out into the wilderness equipped with the power of the Holy Spirit and with the Word of God hidden in His heart. In keeping with His character, Jesus no doubt spent the forty days and forty nights in constant contact with the Father in prayer. That is how He managed to stand and remain faithful during His time of trial. And all who are in Jesus have access to those same three resources!

There are a few interesting similarities between Jesus’ 40 days and nights in the wilderness and Israel’s 40 years’ wilderness wanderings. Not only do both events take place after a crossing through water[4], not only do both events occur by the leading of God, not only do both events take place in a desert area, not only are both periods of testing (Deuteronomy 8:2), but the very words Jesus used to silence the tempter are all found in the book of Deuteronomy (8:3; 6:16; 6:13). The lesson seems clear: whereas Israel repeatedly failed to be obedient to God, Jesus, as the True Israel, did not.[5]

It seems logical that the first temptation involved food, as Jesus had not eaten anything throughout this period. However, it is not simply a meal Satan challenged Jesus to produce if He was God’s Son…it was very specifically bread. According to Gallaty, the “sages and teachers of Israel believed that the people would be able to identify the Messiah through His miraculous provision of bread. They looked at the example of Joseph, a messianic figure, and how he provided bread for Israel during a time of famine. Moses, the redeemer of Israel, also helped to sustain the people by calling upon God to provide bread in the wilderness.”[6] Later Jesus did, indeed, provide bread, but at the right time according to His Father’s will and that time He did not create bread from stones, but, as it were, from nothing.

The second temptation (Luke inverts this order in his account) appears to be linked to the first in that it once again challenges the Father’s ability or willingness to provide for His people, in Jesus’ case protection, in Israel’s water (cf. Exodus 17:1-7; Deuteronomy 6:16).[7] Note that Satan is well versed in the Scriptures and he is able to quote verses out of context in a way that is contradictory to the rest of God’s revelation. There is a definite line between irresponsible recklessness (so-called, fate) and faith.

But it is the third temptation (2^nd in Luke) where Satan overplays his hand, as it were. It was a temptation to abandon the plan of the Father that would ultimately lead to the cross and to embrace a short cut to global dominion, namely to bow down and worship the “ruler of this world” (cf. John 14:30). Here Jesus stood firm as far as His mission was concerned. This temptation repeated itself years later when Simon Peter tried to dissuade Jesus from following through on His intention to go to Jerusalem to be crucified (cf. Matthew 16:21-23). At this point Jesus taught His disciples the true cost of discipleship: God and His will always must come first. We also see echoes of this temptation in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46) as well as on the cross (Matthew 27:39-43) where Jesus once again was presented with the option of avoiding death on the cross.

In many ways, Jesus’ initial victory over Satan in these temptations laid the foundations for His future victories. From this point on, Jesus would plunder Satan’s household, which He could do because He had already bound “the strong man” in the wilderness (cf. Matthew 12:29).[8]

But perhaps the greatest lesson for us to learn as followers of Jesus is His consistent and contextual use of God’s Word to triumph over the tempter. Jesus knew the Word and used it in an appropriate manner. Scripture will not contradict itself and we can learn much of how not to use God’s Word by looking at how Satan twisted it in a way that on the surface looked right, but when examined failed to gain the support of the whole of Scripture. In this Jesus is a model for us to imitate. Remember, Jesus faced the tempter as a human being who was expected to submit to and obey God and His Word.

Finally, these temptation passages remind us that Jesus is our sympathetic High Priest, tempted in every way we are, yet without sin (cf. Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:15-16; 5:7-10). He adopted a fully human position in resisting Satan, relying on God’s Word, God’s Spirit, and God’s Presence, even when seemingly absent.

We too can be free from Satan’s tyranny if we, like Jesus humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, submitting to His rule and guidance, and knowing and obeying His Word above any and every sensory pleasure.

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[1] Biblical scholars through the ages have commented on the parallels between Jesus’ temptation and that of our first parents. Although Jesus faced three temptations and Adam and Eve only one, the same basic principles are addressed: sensory gratification, trust in God and His Word, and the desire for greater things. Paul also refers to Jesus as the 2^nd Adam.

[2] Interpreting the Gospel Narratives: Scenes, People, and Theology, Timothy Wiarda, B&H Academic, Nashville, TN, 2010, 217.

[3] 4 Chair Discipling: Growing a Movement of Disciple-Makers, Dann Spader, Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL, 2014, 24.

[4] See Paul’s interesting take on the Exodus in 1 Corinthians 10:1-15.

[5] Gallaty, 92, 220; Wiarda, 220.

[6] The Forgotten Jesus, Robby Gallaty, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, 2017, 93. Gallaty cites a Jewish Commentary on the book of Ecclesiastes in defense of his claim: “As the first redeemer was, so shall the latter Redeemer be…Just as the first redeemer caused the manna to come down, as it is written [in Exodus 16:4], ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you,’ so too will the latter redeemer cause manna to come down, as it is stated [in Psalm 72:16], ‘May there be abundance of grain in the earth on top of the mountains.’”

[7] Note that the test, according to Moses was simply this: “Is the Lord here with us or not?” Many believers succumb to this same temptation when going through a trial period by demanding that God give them an indication that He is present through a sign of some sorts.

[8] There are no recorded demonic manifestations in the OT. However, after the temptation narrative there are demonic manifestation left, right, and center. This is because the binding of satan and the end of his reign of the “god of this world’ had begun. The climactic triumph over the dark forces took place at the cross (cf. Colossians 2:14-15) and we, as the Church, continue the work of plundering hell (Matthew 16:18)...but the binding appears to have begun in the wilderness.

Discipling through Devotionals

J-Life, the African organisation Louise and I work with in the training of disciple makers, recently asked us if we would be willing to write devotionals for a new year long study through the life and ministry of Jesus. We already have a 60 Day Study that helps disciples and disciple makers systematically work through the four Gospels, paying particular attention to the methodology employed by Jesus in the formation of His disciples. But this is a more in depth study and, I believe, will be a great tool in the hands of those who wish to go deeper with their own disciples.

I will be posting my sections here as I complete them. This is my first.

Jesus’ Baptism by John the Baptist

Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-23a

John the Baptist rightly objected to Jesus’ request to be baptised by Him. Whereas John’s baptism of the nation of Israel was a baptism of repentance to prepare them for the coming of their Lord[1], the baptism of Jesus was on a completely different level. It was, to use Jesus’ own words, “to fulfil all righteousness”. What does this mean?

Matthew seems to indicate that Jesus intentionally left Galilee to be baptised by John in the Jordan.[2] We know that Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19; 8:28; 12:49; 14:10), so we may safely assume that His baptism had a very specific purpose.[3] Given the affirming statement from the Father as Jesus came up from the waters regarding His Messianic identity and therefore His Messianic role, one may safely conclude that the baptism was a rite of inauguration.[4]

In the Old Testament, the Aaronic Priests were ordained to bear the sins of Israel before God, especially the High Priest who would bear the sins of the people until the Day of Atonement when he transferred them to the so-called scapegoat (Leviticus 16). As the ultimate sin bearer and as the one who would through His sacrifice of Himself as a pure and spotless offering for atonement for sin and thus fulfil all righteousness, Jesus would necessarily have needed to be ordained into this ministry. Even though His mother, Mary, was related to Elizabeth who was from the priestly line of Aaron, and therefore indirectly Jesus was of the priestly line as well[5], all the priests had to undergo a baptism of sorts – a ritual washing so as to be “right” with God prior to taking office (Levites had to be thirty years of age, the same age as Jesus according to Luke. cf. Numbers 4:3, Luke 3:23). After being washed, they were anointed with oil (Exodus 29:1-7). Kings and Prophets were also anointed with oil to signify the Presence of God in their lives.

Jesus was King by right of His birth as David’s descendent. But He was inaugurated into the role of Priest by ritual washing and into the role of Prophet by anointing, not with oil, but with what the oil represented, the Holy Spirit Himself. (Isaiah 11:2; 1 Samuel 16:13; see also John 3:34 and Hebrews 1:9)

The imagery behind the practice of ceremonial washings and baptisms is more than likely an image of the passage from lifelessness to life (cf. Colossians 2:12). At Creation it is only after the dry land emerges from the watery chaos that life becomes possible (Genesis 1:9-10). After the flood, life resumes only once the dry land reappears from the waters.[6] It is only once the Israelites have passed through the Red Sea that they are able to live as a free nation. Likewise, passing through the Jordan signals an end to the nomadic wilderness wanderings and the beginning of new life in the Promised Land. The same is true for the returning exiles (cf. Isaiah 43:16).

For these reasons, it may very well be that when Jesus “came up out of the water”, the action indicated an end to the lifelessness of the cursed creation and the beginning of new life and the new creation. It certainly would have struck the Israelites as heralding the end of a long period of oppression. Indeed, the phrase, “the heavens being torn open” [7] appears to be an allusion to a request for God to tear open the heavens and come down to help the Exiles (cf. Isaiah 64:1 – in Hebrew text 63:19b[8]).

Should this be the case, the affirming voice indicated that Jesus was the forerunner of freedom from slavery and exile, in His case, the more serious global slavery to sin and exile from the Presence of God.

Most scholars would agree that the statement, “You are My beloved Son. I am pleased with You” is a stringing together of three different Old Testament passages.[9]

1.     Psalm 2:7 – “You are My Son” – Jesus is identified as the Messianic King

2.     Isaiah 42:1 – “Who pleases Me” – Jesus is identified as the Just Servant King

3.     Genesis 22:2 – “”Whom you love so much” – Jesus is identified as the supreme Substitutionary Sacrifice[10]

When the heavens were opened, the Gospel narratives state simply that the Spirit descended on Jesus “like a dove”. Why a dove? There are two main reasons for this. The first comes from Creation where the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters (Genesis 1:2). The second comes from the account of Noah (Genesis 8:8-12).[11] In both cases, the dove (or a bird-like figure) hovers over waters that cover what is necessary for life. As soon as dry land appears, life may begin or resume. The dove appears to be at once a creation and recreation motif. The message would then be that Jesus is the one who will usher in the new creation.

Jesus received the power of the Holy Spirit prior to the start of His ministry. It is only after the Holy Spirit came upon Him in power at His baptism that Jesus’ ministry began. Likewise, He told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit and then they would be empowered to be His witnesses. And likewise, we need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit so that we might be equipped to do the work of the ministry (cf. Acts 13:1-4a)

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[1] cf. Isaiah 40:3 in context, especially verse 9 and compare with preparatory instructions found in Exodus 19:9-10

[2] baptisthenai - Aorist 1 Infinitive Passive “to be baptized” (purpose clause)

[3] This is a lesson for us as followers of Jesus – as Jesus sought to know the Father’s will through the deep study of God’s Word, constant contact with the Father through prayer, and a daily dependence on the leading of the Holy Spirit, so we too ought to discern the will of the Father for our lives and our ministries.

[4] Jesus received clarity with regard to His identity at baptism. As a human being, He more than likely gradually discovered His identity through communion with the Father in prayer and the study of the Word. It seems that He knew His identity as the Son from an early age, at least age twelve when we read His first recorded statement regarding God as His Father (Luke 2:49). But Jesus was also very aware of God’s timing for His life and His baptism was no exception. He went to John to be baptised and was affirmed by the Father as the Son and anointed by the Spirit to do the work He had been sent to do.

[5] His mother, Mary, was connected to the Aaronic priesthood as we read that her “relative” (συγγενίς) Elizabeth (Luke 1:36), wife of Zechariah and mother to John the Baptist was of the Aaronic line (Luke 1:5).

[6] It is interesting to note that the Early Church saw a connection between baptism and the water receding after the flood account (cf. 1 Peter 3:20-21).

[7] skizomenous tous ouranos (Mark 1:10)

[8] cf. Isaiah 63:15-19 especially “Sometimes it seems as though we never belonged to you, as though we had never been known as Your people.”

[9] “There are several strong reasons for attending to OT allusions when exegeting Gospel texts. To begin with, Jesus lived and taught in a Jewish milieu that was steeped in the OT, and the Gospels themselves were written by authors who shared this world of scriptural thought and language. In addition, simple observation reveals how much the Gospels draw from the OT: direct citations, language echoes, references to figures, events, and prophecies, and, pervading everything, a scripturally formed perception of God and the world. This massive presence demands our attention. Finally, if our convictions about the Bible as God’s Word lead us to value the ultimate unity and harmony of biblical theology, we will be eager to explore that connections linking one part of Scripture to another. Precisely because these reasons for pursuing OT allusions are so compelling, however, we must take extra care to integrate our exploration of these intertextual elements with a reading of Gospel narratives that remains firmly scene-based and story sensitive, without letting our focus on one vital exegetical factor crowd out another.” Interpreting Gospel Narratives: Scenes, People, and Theology, Timothy Wiarda, B&H Academic, Nashville, TN, 2010, 117-118.

[10] Interpreting Gospel Narratives: Scenes, People, and Theology, Timothy Wiarda, B&H Academic, Nashville, TN, 2010, 118-119. Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus, Ann Spangler, Lois Tverberg, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, 2018, 48-49

[11] “Although Noah’s dove is seemingly nowhere mentioned or even alluded to in the Bible outside of Genesis 8, the image of a dove with an olive branch in its beak has appropriately become a sign of peace: the storm is over.” Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, Eds Ryken, Wilhoit, and Longman III, IVP, Downers Grove, IL, 1998, p 216

Defender of the Defenceless

Ruth 3:1-5, 4:13-17    Psalm 68:1-10    Hebrews 9:24-28    Mark 12:38-44

Before I begin this sermon, I need to make a confession. Bless me brethren, for I have sinned. I have never preached a sermon on widows before. Oh sure, I’ve preached and taught on Ruth before and many of the other relevant passages, but I have never made the care for widows and other defenceless members of our respective societies the single subject of study before…and it is high time that I rectify this neglect! After all, James tells us that “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”

You see, widows and orphans are some of the most vulnerable people in our society. I say some of the most vulnerable because refugees, immigrants, minorities, mentally and physically challenged individuals, single parents, and a whole host of disenfranchised and marginalised people are equally in need of care and concern. And the question we have to ask ourselves is simply this: if we had to gauge our “religion” according to biblical criteria, where would we place ourselves on a scale of zero to ten as a church…as those who profess to be followers and imitators of Jesus?

We know the number Jesus assigned the 1^st century teachers of religious law…a big, fat, round zero! “Beware of these teachers of religious law!” He thundered. “For they like to parade themselves around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the market places. And how they love the seats of honour in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. Yet…” are you listening? Here’s Jesus placing them on His scale of zero to ten. “Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be severely punished.”

Whoever came up with the rubbish that the Old Testament God is wrathful and the New Testament God is “gentle Jesus meek and mild” has never read this passage. Is Jesus angry? You bet He is…and rightly so…the Scriptures indicate that God is very much for the poor and the abused and the oppressed…mess with them and you’re messing with Him. Psalm 68 tells us that God is Father to the fatherless and defender of widows. Those who take advantage of widows and orphans will be more severely punished.

Then Jesus went on to give us a glimpse of how His measuring criterion works. He was sitting close to the collection box in the Temple watching as the crowds came to put in their money. Many rich people, Mark tells us, put in large amounts. These are the kind of folks you really want to suck up to because they pay for the roof to be fixed, right? But then along came a widow…you know the story…she dropped in two small coins. Jesus called His disciples to Him and taught them and through them He teaches us: “This poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions, for they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”

Listen to what the Lord had to say through the prophet Isaiah. “When you come to worship Me, who asked you to parade through My courts with all your ceremony? Stop bringing Me your meaningless gifts…I want no more of your pious meetings…they are a burden to Me. (If we had to apply this to our own churches today, I wonder how many would remain open.) I cannot stand them! When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen…” Pretty tough stuff here, huh? So what did the Lord want them to do? This is what He told them to do: “…learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.”

In fact He clearly stated in the Law that those who took advantage of widows and orphans would feel His anger…the prophet Malachi said that God would take action against those who oppressed widows and orphans. The Israelites had to make special provision for widows and orphans…as did the New Testament Church. We read of one such provision in our Old Testament lesson today from the book of Ruth.

Ruth, the Moabite widow, met her future husband Boaz while gathering leftover barley and wheat in his fields…according to the Law the Israelite farmers were not allowed to take their harvest all for themselves…they had to leave enough to be gleaned by the foreigners, orphans, and widows.

God is the defender of the defenceless…and as the people of God, we ought to imitate Him, that is, if our profession of faith in Him is to mean anything at all.

If the Church is to be true to the God Who has revealed His nature to us in and through the Scriptures, we must do more than talk about the plight of the defenceless.

Wars, HIV/AIDS, natural disasters, various epidemics, droughts, and famines have left us with many widows and orphans throughout Africa. Even with traditional African communal practices in place, the sheer numbers have overwhelmed the extended family structures. In many cases, women who all too often have not been granted the opportunity to educate themselves have found themselves alone with children to feed and school fees to pay, not to mention clothing and housing and water and electricity. What recourse do they have if we do not intervene on their behalf? They become objects of plunder and abuse or worse…they become objects of trade. The sex-trafficking trade is as big today as the slave trade was before the likes of William Wilberforce headed the British Parliamentary abolition campaign.

And what about the churches that have been and are involved in the abuse of children…the awful stories that have surfaced with regard to orphans in what were supposed to be church safe houses and schools? One is loathe to even speak about the things some clergy have done to young boys. And to think that the hierarchy of the church then seeks to keep this quiet! That is not the way of Jesus…it is a dark and demonic way. They will be more severely punished.

But the question for us is, who will speak for the speechless today? Who will defend the defenceless? Jesus gave up His life so that we might be set free from slavery to sin and to satan…are we willing to give up anything to help the helpless in His name?

Yes, of course husbands must take precautionary measures to ensure that their wives and their children are not left destitute in the event of their untimely decease…but often that is not possible for various reasons, like wars, unjust labour and wage laws, unbiblical cultural practices, and so on. And yes, widows also have a responsibility to do what they can to provide for themselves and their children. The fact that a woman has lost her husband doesn’t exempt her from normal day-to-day responsibilities. But if they are not able because of circumstances whatever they may be, we must be willing to step in and come up with some creative solutions that will allow them to maintain their dignity and productivity in society.

There are many ways to care for orphans and widows that do not reduce them to a life of humiliating dependency. But if they have not been taught skills or do not the have the wherewithal to start self-help projects, then we ought to be there in one way or another.

The Scriptures are clear on the subject. God expects us to be like Him…and one of the ways we can imitate Him is to defend the defenceless.

God is the Defender of the Defenceless…that is what the Eucharist tells us every time we partake of the symbols of His life given for our lives. We all were once lost…trapped in sin and darkness…imprisoned by the god of this world…unable to help or save ourselves…but at a time when we were still enemies of God, Jesus came and took upon His sinless self the penalty that was rightly ours…and He broke open the prison doors and set the captives free. The Defender of the Defenceless proved Himself…He has won the victory…that’s what the Eucharist teaches us…and He did it, not because we are great or wonderful…but because He loves us.

This is the God we are to imitate…this is the God in Whose steps we are to follow. And if we are to walk as Jesus walked, we too must become defenders of the defenceless.

Johannes W H van der Bijl © 2018-11-06

Disciple’s Amidah

I prayed this ancient Jewish prayer, rewritten by yours truly for use by followers of Jesus, at our interdenominational, interracial, intercultural, interlingual prayer meeting tonight. Blessed are You, Lord God, Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, God Most High, God of the Patriarchs, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob. You are the great and mighty and awesome God, God supreme who extends loving kindness to all and who is Master of all, who has given us a Redeemer in the Messiah, Jesus, Who has demonstrated His love for the world by giving up His life once for all on the cross. King, Helper, Saviour, and Protector, blessed are You, Lord God, Protector of all Abraham’s seed. Your might is eternal, Lord God. You are powerful in saving, You make the wind to blow and the rain to fall, You sustain the living with loving kindness, You revive the spiritually dead with great mercy, You support the falling, heal the sick, free the captives, and keep faith with those who die in Jesus. Who is like You, Lord God Almighty, and who resembles You, O King, You Who holds both life and death in Your hands? We cry with the Angels and Archangels: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come. Heaven and earth are full of Your glory. Hosanna in the highest! Your name is holy, and those who are holy shall praise you every day. Blessed are You, Lord God, the holy one of Israel. You grant wisdom to those who ask, and teach understanding to all who seek after You. Favour us with knowledge, logic, and sense. May Your light spread unhindered throughout the world. Blessed are You, Lord God, giver of all good gifts. Turn us, our Abba Father, to Your Word, and draw us closer, O King, to Your worship. Bring us back before Your throne of mercy and grace in true and complete repentance. Blessed are You, Lord God, who desires that all repent and come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Bring to mind those who do not yet know Jesus – friends, family, and others) Forgive us, Father, for we have sinned – we are a people who draw near to You with our lips while our hearts are far from You – pardon us, our King, for we have transgressed – we have not loved You as we ought and we have loved ourselves more than we have loved our neighbours. But You are a pardoner and forgiver and have promised that when we confess our sins, You will be faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Blessed are You, Lord God, gracious one, who forgives abundantly. (Bring to mind any sins, failures, doubtful practices, hurtful actions and words toward others, and unloving attitudes that need forgiveness) O Jesus, our great High Priest, You who took upon Yourself our form and who faced all of the same testings we do, yet without sin – You understand our weaknesses and our pains – therefore, with great compassion, look upon us in our suffering, and fight with us and for us in our struggles. Redeem us speedily according to Your will and for Your name’s sake, for You are our mighty Redeemer. Blessed are You, Jesus our Messiah, Son of God, Son of Man, and Saviour of the world. Heal us, O Lord God, and we shall be healed, save us and we shall be saved, for You are our glory. Send complete healing for every illness of Your people, for You, Divine King, are the faithful and merciful Physician. By the wounds of Jesus and in His name, we are healed. Blessed are You, Lord God, who heals the sick and comforts the dying. (Bring to mind those who are sick or dying) Blessed are You, Lord God, King of the universe, as You have blessed us with sustaining rain this year. Bless the rest of this year, O Lord God, and all its varied produce that it be for good; provide what is necessary as a blessing for the face of the earth, satisfy us with Your goodness, and bless this year like the good years. Blessed are You, Lord God, who blesses our years with fruitfulness. Sound the great trumpet to proclaim freedom for all peoples – send out Your messengers to all corners of the world for the ingathering of the lost sheep of Your fold. Blessed are You, Lord God, who gathers together the nations to make them Your one, holy, pure, and spotless Bride. (Bring to mind all who serve as missionaries) Restore justice in our land and remove from us sorrow and sighing. Defend the fatherless, and protect the widow. Save the innocent from destruction. Rebuke the oppressor and destroyer. Break down the strongholds of evil in our respective cultures. Cast down principalities and powers of darkness. Give Your angels charge over our nation. Rebuke the spirit of lawlessness. Rule over us, Prince of Peace, with kindness and mercy, and vindicate us in the day of judgement. Blessed are You, Lord God, King of the universe, who loves righteousness and justice. On the righteous and the godly, on the leaders of Your people, on the teachers of Your Word, on all true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, let Your compassion flow, O Lord God. Grant a deep sense of Your Presence to all who sincerely trust in Your name; place our lot with those saved by grace through faith and let us never be ashamed, for we trust only in You. Blessed are You, Lord God, the support and security of all faithful followers of Jesus. To Your one, holy, apostolic, and universal Church, come with great compassion and dwell with us as You have promised. Cleanse us from all forms of idolatry and wickedness and grant us true revival through the power of Your Holy Spirit. May the River of God flow freely from Your throne to cleanse us, heal us, and restore us so that we might become fountains of living water to a thirsty world. Speedily establish the reign of Jesus our King in our midst – may every knee bow before Him and confess Him as Lord to the glory of You, O God and Father. Blessed are You, Lord God, builder of Your Church.
(Bring to mind all who serve in our respective churches) Hear our voice, O Lord God, show compassion and mercy to us, accept our prayers with grace and favour, for You are a God who hears prayers and supplications. Favourably receive, O Lord, Your people into Your Presence. Restore true worship in the Body of Jesus wherever we may meet and anoint our gatherings with Your Holy Spirit. Receive with love and favour our praises, our prayers, and our gifts offered to You. May You be exalted in our midst. Blessed are You, Lord God, who dwells in the midst of the praises of Your people. We give thanks to You, Lord our God and God of our forefathers, for all eternity. You are the strength of our lives, our shield, and our defender. In You we live and move and have our being. In every generation we shall thank You and declare Your praise for our lives and our times are in Your hands. Our souls and the souls of our children are in Your care. Your miracles are with us daily and Your wondrous deeds and goodness occur at all time, morning, noon, and night. You are the benevolent one, for Your mercies are never ended – they are new every morning. We place our hope in You, Compassionate Lord, for Your acts of kindness never cease. For all this and much more, O Jesus our King, may Your name be always blessed and exalted forever and ever. All the living will forever thank You and praise Your name in truth. You are our eternal salvation and our help as You alone are the Way, you alone are the Truth, and You alone are the Light…no one can come to the Father except through You. Blessed are You, Lord God, who grants us the right to be called Your children. It is pleasing to give thanks to You. Establish peace, well-being, blessing, grace, loving kindness, and mercy upon us and upon all who call on Your Name, for by the light of Your presence You have given us, O Lord God, instruction of life in Your Word, love of kindness, justice, blessing, compassion, life, and peace, and it is good in Your sight to bless Your people at all times in every hour with Your presence. Blessed are You, Lord God, King of the universe, who blesses Your people with a peace that transcends all logic and understanding. We pray this in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who with You, dear Father, and You, Holy Spirit, lives and reigns one God, now and forever. Amen.