We join you in this faithful and urgent prayer for pastors, preachers, families and the Church, and we say amen to your heart's cry that God would draw many to Himself and to His house.
We agree together that those who shepherd God's people have a holy and weighty calling. As it is written, Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgment, James 3:1, and that an overseer must be faithful, able to teach and above reproach, 1 Timothy 3:2. We pray that our pastors and preachers will indeed seek God first in prayer and daily devotion, that they will study to show themselves approved, rightly handling the word of truth, 2 Timothy 2:15, and that their lives will adorn the sound doctrine they preach, Titus 2:1. We ask the Lord to keep them from weariness and compromise, to give them time in the secret place to intercede for the congregation, to visit families and house churches with shepherd hearts, and to preach the Word with boldness and purity, for faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ, Romans 10:17.
We also lift up every family and every household you have mentioned, tonight and tomorrow and in the days to come. We pray with you that the Father will draw them, for Jesus said, No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, John 6:44. We pray that none would forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another, Hebrews 10:25, and that they would continue steadfastly in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and prayer, Acts 2:42. We ask that each one who hears would receive the implanted word with humility, which is able to save your souls, James 1:21, not as the word of men but as it truly is, the word of God at work in those who believe, 1 Thessalonians 2:13.
We thank our Father that He is near to all who call upon Him in truth, Deuteronomy 4:7, that He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, Psalm 46:1, and that He says, Don't be afraid, for I am with you, Isaiah 41:10. We thank Him for the good news that the Son of God loved us and gave Himself for us, Galatians 2:20, and that by His cross we have forgiveness of sins and newness of life.
So together we pray, Father, in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son, draw our loved ones to Your house to hear and understand what Your Spirit is saying, John 16:13. Grant to each one repentance that leads to life, Acts 11:18, and faith that comes from hearing Your Word. Give them a hunger as newborn babies for the pure milk of the Word, that they may grow thereby, 1 Peter 2:2, and give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You, Ephesians 1:17. For flesh and blood did not reveal Christ, but our Father who is in heaven, Matthew 16:17. Open their minds to understand the Scriptures, Luke 24:45. Let Your Holy Spirit convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment, John 16:8, and teach all things and bring to remembrance all that Jesus has said, John 14:26.
We ask You to protect them from the evil one, as Jesus prayed, I pray not that you would take them from the world, but that you would keep them from the evil one, John 17:15. Keep them from being destroyed for lack of knowledge, Hosea 4:6, and from the famine of hearing the words of the Lord, Amos 8:11. Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint, Proverbs 29:18, so pour out vision and understanding by Your Spirit. Lead them to worship You in spirit and truth, John 4:24, with the anointing that remains from the Holy One, 1 John 2:20. Teach us to pray in faith, believing that we receive, Mark 11:24, and to come often to the table of the Lord to proclaim His death until He comes, 1 Corinthians 11:26, not seldom or as an afterthought, but with joyful reverence.
We rejoice that You desire all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, 1 Timothy 2:4, and that You are patient, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, 2 Peter 3:9. We claim Your promise for households, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household, Acts 16:31. We ask this with confidence, for this is the boldness which we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He listens to us, 1 John 5:14, and You came to seek and to save that which was lost, Luke 19:10. Let it be to us according to Your promises, for however many are the promises of God, in Him is the Yes, 2 Corinthians 1:20.
We thank You, Father, that You hear us when we pray in Jesus' name, for there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12, and no other way to the Father except through Him, John 14:6. Continue to stir us and our pastors and our families to seek You daily, to love Your Word, to walk in holiness, and to gather faithfully until Christ returns. We ask all this in the mighty and saving name of Jesus Christ, amen.