Silas
Beloved of All
Your prayer reflects a deep love for the Lord, for His Word, and for those who have not yet come to faith, and it is right to bring all of these burdens before Him.
It is good to pray for those who lead and teach, that they would be devoted to prayer, to careful study of the Scriptures, to a godly life, and to sound teaching. The Lord calls shepherds to watch over His people with integrity and to feed them faithfully, and when leaders seek Him earnestly and handle His Word rightly, the whole body is strengthened. Praying that they would intercede for the congregation and care for families is very much in keeping with what God desires for His people.
Remember also that the church is not divided into many separate churches. There is one universal church of God, the body of Christ, and every true believer is a member of it. Only Jesus can say my church. We are all members of His body, and He is the head. That oneness is important to keep in mind as you pray for unity, for love, and for the work of the Holy Spirit among all who belong to Him.
You are right to ask for worship in spirit and in truth and for real teaching from the Bible. There is an important difference between proclaiming the good news to those who have not yet believed and teaching those who have already received Christ so they may grow. Proclaiming is how the message of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus is made known, and it has pleased God to use that proclamation to bring people to faith. Teaching is what builds up believers once they have believed. Both are needed, and both depend on the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit. Without His work the church lacks power, but when He is at work the church is established in the faith and grows.
Your burden for family and friends to hear and receive the Word is precious to the Lord. Faith comes by hearing the message, and no one comes to Jesus unless the Father draws him. Flesh and blood does not reveal who Christ is, but the Father in heaven reveals Him. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, opens minds to understand the Scriptures, and gives the new birth. It is right to ask Him to give hunger for the Word, humility to receive it, and the grace of repentance and faith that leads to forgiveness of sins and newness of life. God desires that none would perish but that all would come to repentance and to the knowledge of the truth, and He promises that when we ask according to His will He hears us.
It is also wise to pray for protection, as you have done. Jesus prayed that His people would be kept from the evil one, and the Scriptures warn about distraction, deception, false teaching, and fear. Praying to be kept from these things and to remain rooted in the truth is a faithful way to intercede for those you love. Continuing to gather together, to devote yourselves to the apostles teaching, to fellowship, to prayer, and to remembering the Lord is the pattern God has given for His people, and He uses it to nourish faith.
May the Lord answer your prayers by drawing your loved ones to Himself, by giving them ears to hear and hearts to receive the Word with faith, and by filling His people with the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ. May He keep leaders and hearers alike faithful to His Word, worshiping in spirit and truth, and may He guard all of you from the lies and schemes of the enemy. We join you in asking these things in the name of Jesus, who was crucified for our sins and raised for our justification, and in whom alone is salvation.
It is good to pray for those who lead and teach, that they would be devoted to prayer, to careful study of the Scriptures, to a godly life, and to sound teaching. The Lord calls shepherds to watch over His people with integrity and to feed them faithfully, and when leaders seek Him earnestly and handle His Word rightly, the whole body is strengthened. Praying that they would intercede for the congregation and care for families is very much in keeping with what God desires for His people.
Remember also that the church is not divided into many separate churches. There is one universal church of God, the body of Christ, and every true believer is a member of it. Only Jesus can say my church. We are all members of His body, and He is the head. That oneness is important to keep in mind as you pray for unity, for love, and for the work of the Holy Spirit among all who belong to Him.
You are right to ask for worship in spirit and in truth and for real teaching from the Bible. There is an important difference between proclaiming the good news to those who have not yet believed and teaching those who have already received Christ so they may grow. Proclaiming is how the message of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus is made known, and it has pleased God to use that proclamation to bring people to faith. Teaching is what builds up believers once they have believed. Both are needed, and both depend on the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit. Without His work the church lacks power, but when He is at work the church is established in the faith and grows.
Your burden for family and friends to hear and receive the Word is precious to the Lord. Faith comes by hearing the message, and no one comes to Jesus unless the Father draws him. Flesh and blood does not reveal who Christ is, but the Father in heaven reveals Him. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, opens minds to understand the Scriptures, and gives the new birth. It is right to ask Him to give hunger for the Word, humility to receive it, and the grace of repentance and faith that leads to forgiveness of sins and newness of life. God desires that none would perish but that all would come to repentance and to the knowledge of the truth, and He promises that when we ask according to His will He hears us.
It is also wise to pray for protection, as you have done. Jesus prayed that His people would be kept from the evil one, and the Scriptures warn about distraction, deception, false teaching, and fear. Praying to be kept from these things and to remain rooted in the truth is a faithful way to intercede for those you love. Continuing to gather together, to devote yourselves to the apostles teaching, to fellowship, to prayer, and to remembering the Lord is the pattern God has given for His people, and He uses it to nourish faith.
May the Lord answer your prayers by drawing your loved ones to Himself, by giving them ears to hear and hearts to receive the Word with faith, and by filling His people with the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ. May He keep leaders and hearers alike faithful to His Word, worshiping in spirit and truth, and may He guard all of you from the lies and schemes of the enemy. We join you in asking these things in the name of Jesus, who was crucified for our sins and raised for our justification, and in whom alone is salvation.
