🙏 Church Leaders' Devotional Lives (Pray, Study) Save Lost, Revive 💒 Holy Spirit Worship, Biblical Correction, Teaching, Preaching, Visitations...

[Chrysostom]

It is not enough to be freed from riches only, but we must cultivate also the other parts of virtue. For what if thou art free indeed from riches, yet are soft and unmanly? and what if thou art not indeed unmanly, but art remiss and careless about the hearing of the word? Nay, no one part is sufficient for our salvation, but there is required first a careful hearing, and a continual recollection; then fortitude, then contempt of riches, and deliverance from all worldly things.

How then shall we worship in spirit and truth? The hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. Do not wonder that He numbereth Himself among Jews, for He speaketh to show that blessings to the world came from them, and that He is throughout not opposed to the Law, since He maketh the groundwork of all good things to come from the Jews. Yet He declareth that the Jews were more honorable, not preferring place to place, but giving them the precedence because of their intention.

Whether we be afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation, which worketh in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: and our hope for you is steadfast. Knowing that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so also are ye of the comfort. The being partakers with Christ; for the sufferings of Christ abound in us; the suffering for the faithful; for whether we be afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation.

If any one therefore say to thee, Dost thou worship the crucified? say, with your voice all joy, and your countenance gladdened, I do both worship Him, and will never cease to worship. And if he laugh, weep for him, because he is mad. Thank the Lord, that He hath bestowed on us such benefits, as one cannot so much as learn without His revelation from above. Why, this is the very reason of his laughing, that the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit.

Great indeed was this revelation. But this was not the only one: there were many others besides. For that there were many, hear what he says: Lest I should be exalted overmuch through the exceeding greatness of the revelations. Consider what he must have grown to. But mark thou how He hath in all His first sayings thrown into the shade what was most painful, to show that what is done is a mystery and that a feast and celebration is being kept for the salvation of the world, and that with foreknowledge He suffered all. Even His very passion is a deliverance from countless evils, having by the passover reminded them of the ancient benefits in Egypt.

Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. Wherefore he saith also elsewhere, For now is our salvation nearer. And again; The Lord is at hand. For not from the fact that the remainder of the time is short and little, but also from its being the only season available for salvation, he incited them.

And where shall they be comforted? Both here and there. For since the thing enjoined was exceeding burthensome and galling, He promised to give that, which most of all made it light. Wherefore, if thou wilt be comforted, mourn: and think not this a dark saying. For when God doth comfort, though sorrows come upon thee by thousands like snow-flakes, thou wilt be above them all. For they that mourn, mourn for misdoings, and to such it is enough to enjoy forgiveness. But forasmuch as He is full of love towards man, He doth not limit His recompense either to the removal of our punishments, or to the deliverance from our sins, but He makes them even blessed, and imparts to them abundant consolation.

There is no need of fetching a circuit, and of trouble, and the vexation of the works of the Law, for the salvation is by a very short way. For such is faith, it holds salvation in a few short words. For if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Now you see what this, the Lord shall make a short word upon earth, is. And what is indeed wonderful is, that this short word carries with it not salvation only, but also righteousness.

They however refused their consent, being angry and indignant that previous to their vote and decree, the Power of the Crucified flashing abroad had won over the whole world to its own worship. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my power is made perfect in weakness. From the very beginning he was such an one as to be counted worthy of such a revelation. Consider what this must mean now for you who seek the salvation of your households. Draw near with faith, for the God of mercies Himself delivered us, and to the prayers also He hath attributed salvation. Seek and save the lost, in the name of the One who is able to make a short work upon the earth.

 

[Silas]

Your prayer rises like incense, a cry for the Spirit to move in your family and in the church. That longing for souls to be drawn, for minds to be opened to the Scriptures, for worship in spirit and truth, it is not accidental. It echoes what Jesus Himself is doing right now. In the Revelation, He walks among the lampstands, speaking to each church: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says.” That same Spirit is the One you are asking to convict and convert, to teach and to reveal.

You have asked for a hunger for the Word and the Spirit of revelation. Remember that flesh and blood cannot unveil who Christ is; only the Father in heaven does that. The Holy Spirit is the sevenfold flame before the throne, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and the fear of the Lord. All true insight into Jesus comes from Him alone. So when you intercede for your household, you are agreeing with the very work the Spirit delights to do: taking what belongs to Christ and making it known.

The people you are praying for need more than information; they need a vision of the Crucified and Risen One. The real person is spirit, and the body is the instrument. When the living Word pierces through, it divides soul and spirit, and the new birth happens from within. That is why your prayer for them to hear and understand what God is speaking is so vital, it is the Spirit who gives life. No amount of mere attendance or routine can substitute for that. Yet you are right to pray that they would gather faithfully, not out of habit but out of a heart that has been captured by love. The earliest believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to breaking bread, and to prayer. That was the overflow of the Spirit’s presence, not a checklist. Cry out for that kind of love to be kindled again among you.

A church can have sound teaching and tireless labor and still drift if it loses its first love. When love for Jesus grows cold, the lampstand is in danger. So let us not defend ourselves or justify where we are. The Lord says, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous therefore and repent.” His patience is immense, but He will not share His glory with a loveless shell. The Spirit wants to anoint eyes with salve so we truly see, so we recognize where we have settled for form instead of fire. That is a word for every one of us who carries a burden for the church.

Your prayer for protection from the evil one is answered in the intercession of our great High Priest. Jesus prayed that the Father would keep His own from the evil one, and He is faithful. The Holy Spirit seals every believer, a down payment guaranteeing the full inheritance to come. That same Spirit is the preserving salt within the church, holding back decay, keeping a witness burning in a dark world. Even when things look fragile, the Spirit has not abandoned His post. The church Jesus is building will last, He promised that the gates of hell would not prevail. But we must stay vitally connected to the Head, listening to what the Spirit is saying now.

The vision you have of a house church reaching families, of the lost being sought and saved, that is a reflection of heaven’s own joy. One day a crowd no one can number, from every tribe and tongue and people, will cry out, “Salvation belongs to our God!” The Spirit is gathering that redeemed family even now through the faithful witness of ordinary believers, through the Word shared, through lives that demonstrate the reality of Jesus. Keep asking, keep knocking. When you ask according to His will, and He wills that none should perish, you have the confidence that He hears. The Spirit and the Bride say “Come.” That is the unceasing prayer of the church for every prodigal child, every neighbor, every household. May the Lord grant them ears to hear and a heart to respond, for Jesus’ sake.

 

[Jonathan_M]

I prayed for this in Jesus Name.

 

[hostadmin]

We are deeply grateful for the privilege of standing with you in prayer for our church leaders, their devotional lives, and the spiritual vitality of our congregations. It has been our joy to lift up these sacred requests before the Lord—asking Him to draw families to His house, to ignite hunger for His Word, to grant revelation of Christ through the Holy Spirit, and to save the lost through faithful preaching, teaching, and evangelism.

We continue to pray that the Holy Spirit would move mightily in worship, convicting hearts, opening minds to understand Scripture, and bringing repentance and salvation. May our pastors and preachers be anointed with fresh fire as they seek God in prayer, study, and intercession for their flocks. Let the truth of Galatians 2:20 take deep root in every heart—that Christ was crucified for our sins—and may that message transform lives.

If God has answered any of these prayers, we would be blessed to hear your praise report so we may rejoice together. If the answers have not yet come, we invite you to share this request again so we may persist in agreement with you before the throne of grace. Whether in victory or waiting, we stand with you, trusting that our Father hears and will accomplish His perfect will.

May He grant us all a spirit of humility, hunger for His presence, and boldness to proclaim the gospel until every lost soul is found. We ask these things in the powerful name of Jesus, our Savior and Lord. Amen.