8 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR A READY CHURCH
Day 1: The Ready Bride
In Ephesians 5:25-27, the apostle Paul uses the image of a bride to describe the church, saying that Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her "to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless."
This passage highlights the idea that the church, as the bride of Christ, should be ready and prepared for his return. This means living a life following Jesus, being washed by the Word of God, and continually striving to grow in faith and obedience.
Pray: Dear God, thank you for your love for the church, which was demonstrated through Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Please help me to grow in my understanding of this love and to see how Christ's sacrifice has made the church holy and blameless in your sight. Please help me to live a life that is pleasing to you, striving to be holy and blameless in your sight, and being an active participant in the work of the church. Please continue to cleanse me through the washing with water through your Word, so that I may be continually renewed and transformed by your Spirit. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Day 2: The Ready Church
In the book of Revelation, there is a passage that speaks about the bride of Christ making herself ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb. This passage is found in Revelation 19:7-8, which says:
"Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints."
This passage describes the bride of Christ as having made herself ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb, which is a symbol of the union between Christ and his people. The passage also indicates that the bride is adorned in fine linen, which represents the righteous acts of the saints.
The phrase "made herself ready" suggests that there is a responsibility on the part of the bride to prepare for this union. This preparation involves living a life of faith, obedience, and righteousness. It also involves actively pursuing a relationship with Christ and growing in knowledge and understanding of His Word.
At FBG, we reflect this through the words "Faithful. Focused. Prepared. Looking." We are:
Faithful in a daily relationship with Christ.
Focused on His return.
Prepared for every opportunity to serve Him.
Looking for someone to invite into the family of God.
Pray: Lord, we pray that you would help us to make ourselves ready for this glorious and real event. Help us to grow in our understanding of the depth of your love for us, and to be filled with joy and gratitude for the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus Christ, We look forward with great anticipation to the coming of the marriage supper of the Lamb, and we ask that, through your Spirit, you would help us to be faithful and obedient servants until that day.
Day 3: The Ready Church Member
As Christians, we believe in the promise of Jesus' return, and that when He returns He'll make all sad things untrue. For the next few days we'll look at ways we as Christians can respond to this truth.
Repentance and Faith: Being a "ready church" focusing on Jesus' return includes repenting of our sins and having faith in Jesus Christ that His work on the cross is the only means by which those sins are forgiven. This means acknowledging our need for salvation and trusting in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross as the only way to be reconciled with God.
Pray: Where is the Lord calling you to repent?
Day 4: Prayer and Reading God's Word
To grow in our faith and relationship with God, we need to be regularly engaged in prayer and the study of God's Word. This helps us to understand God's will for our lives, to know who He is, and to stay faithful, day-by-day, in a relationship with Jesus.
At FBG, we believe that Biblical Literacy is a key ingredient in the life of a thriving Christ follower.
Pray: Ask the Lord to cause mighty wave of people at FBG who have an insatiable appetite for the Word of God. Give us curiosity, passion and diligence in our daily lives. Ask for the grace of the Lord to infiltrate our hearts, causing us to seek every opportunity to turn to Him in prayer.
Day 5: Living in Community with Other Believers
As followers of Jesus, we are called to live holy and righteous lives with other followers of Christ. This means striving to avoid sin and to live in a way that honors God, and encourages our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We are able do this by the Holy Spirit and seeking to align our lives with God's Word.
At FBG, Biblical Community means being truly known by others who are following Jesus. When we allow our sin struggles to be known, we are living in the humility that God desires. He wants to strengthen us through other members of the church, and that happens when we prioritize Biblical community.
Pray: Pray that as a church we would be rigorously honest, authentic people who desire to share our lives with other followers of Christ. Ask the Lord to expose any areas in your life where you are resistant to Christian community.
Day 6: Serving Others
Serving others: Jesus taught us to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:37–39), and one way we can do this is by serving others. He not only taught this, He modeled it beautifully. God gave each person in Christ's Church gifts and talents specifically to be used in serving each other.
Pray: Thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to serve others. Help us to be humble and compassionate, seeking to meet the needs of those around us. Give us wisdom to know how to serve in a way that is truly helpful and meaningful. Help us to see others as you see them, and to love them with the same love that you have shown us. May our acts of service bring glory to your name, and may they be a reflection of your love and grace.
Day 7: Sharing the Gospel
Sharing the gospel is an act of love and obedience to God. Jesus commanded us to go and make disciples of all nations, and sharing the good news of salvation through Him is a way to demonstrate our love for Him and for others. It is a privilege to be able to share the hope and joy of the gospel with those who need it, and to see stories transformed by the power of God's grace.
Pray: We thank you for the good news of the gospel and for the opportunity to share it with others. Please fill us with your Holy Spirit and give us the courage and boldness to proclaim your truth to those around us. Help us to share the gospel with love, kindness, and gentleness, and to be sensitive to the needs and concerns of those we speak with. May the message of your salvation reach the hearts of those who hear it, and may your name be glorified through our words and actions.
Day 8: What difference could "a ready church" make?
When a church lives as a ready church, like Jesus commanded, it can have a powerful impact on the community around it.
As our church seeks to respond to God's faithfulness through the things we discussed above, it becomes a beacon of hope and light in the midst of darkness and despair. God uses His word, prayer, community, serving, and the gospel to shake foundations.
People begin to see the church not as an institution, but as a community of people who genuinely care about their well-being.
As a church, living on mission, FBG becomes a catalyst for positive change. Members of the church begin to actively serve and engage with each other and the community, meeting tangible needs and sharing the love of Christ in practical ways.
Ultimately, when a church lives ready, it has the potential to transform the community from the inside out. Stories and lives are changed, and the kingdom of God is advanced as people come to faith and experience the transformative power of Christ.
Pray: Ask the Lord to shake our church and city with the power of the gospel! Where would He have you participate in the mission of becoming a ready church?
