We join you in this burden for pastors and preachers and for families to be drawn to the house of God, and we agree together before the Father in Jesus' name.
We pray that our shepherds would indeed seek God first in prayer and daily devotion, giving themselves to intercession for the congregation and to diligent study of the Word. We ask that God would raise up faithful men who are blameless and who hold to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that they may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine and to convict those who contradict it, as in Titus 1:9. We pray they would be diligent to present themselves approved by God, workers who do not need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of truth, 2 Tim 2:15, and that they would take heed to themselves and to their teaching, for in doing so they will save both themselves and those who hear them, 1 Tim 4:16. We ask for integrity of lifestyle, for sound teaching, for visiting families and house churches, shepherding the flock of God which He purchased with His own blood, Acts 20:28.
We also lift up every family and household, that the Father Himself would draw them, for Jesus said, No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, John 6:44. We pray they would not forsake the assembling of themselves together, as the custom of some is, but exhort one another, and so much the more as we see the Day approaching, Heb 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 they would receive the implanted word with humility, which is able to save souls, James 1:21, not merely as the word of men but as it truly is, the word of God, and that it would be revealed by our Father in heaven, for flesh and blood has not revealed this, but our Father who is in heaven, Matt 16:17.
We pray for true worship in spirit and truth, John 4:24, with the anointing of the Holy Spirit who teaches us all things and brings to remembrance what Christ has said, John 14:26, and we thank God that we have an anointing from the Holy One, 1 John 2:20. We thank our Father who is ever near, for God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, Ps 46:1, and He says, Do not be afraid, for I am with you, Isa 41:10. We thank You for the message of Your Anointed One crucified for our sins, for we have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer we who live, but Christ living in us, Gal 2:20.
We pray You would grant to our family members and to all who will hear, faith and repentance unto salvation, knowledge of the forgiveness of sins and newness of life, and vision, for where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint, Prov 29:18. Let the Holy Spirit convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment, John 16:8, and guide us into all truth, John 16:13, opening our minds to understand the Scriptures, Luke 24:45. We ask for a true hunger for Your Word, as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, 1 Pet 2:2, and for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, Eph 1:17, that faith would come by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ, Rom 10:17, and that what is asked in faith we would pray and receive, Mark 11:24.
We ask for Your protection over each one 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, for Your people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, Hos 4:6, and there is a famine not of bread but of hearing the words of the Lord, Amos 8:11. We rejoice that You desire all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, 1 Tim 2:4, and that You are not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, 2 Pet 3:9, and we claim the promise that if we ask anything according to Your will, You hear us, and if we know that You hear us, we have the petitions which we have asked of You, 1 John 5:14-15. We pray that as often as we eat the bread and drink the cup we would proclaim the Lord's death until He comes, 1 Cor 11:26, with understanding and faith.
Father, we ask You to seek and to save that which was lost, Luke 19:10, and to draw our households to Yourself, for it is promised, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household, Acts 16:31. We ask all of this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12, and it is only through Him we have access to You, for Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me, John 14:6. Let Your will be done and let every promise find its Yes in Him, 2 Cor 1:20, amen.