A Letter from Bishop Chris (April 2024B)
Jesus teaches us that prayer, along with a life shaped by the Scriptures and worship, is at the heart of our walk with God. It is our intercession that serves as the engine through which the Kingdom of God abounds in our lives, in the Church and in the world. Prayer is so vital to the Christian life and to the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom that God desires all of us to be mighty in prayer. In his book, The Ministry of Intercession, Andrew Murray wrote, “Where we work more than we pray, the presence and power of God are not seen in our work as we would wish.”
Listen to what Jesus says about prayer from the Gospel of Matthew alone:
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)
Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. (Matthew 18:19-20)
Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. (Matthew 21:21-22)
These are extraordinary statements and bold principles Jesus gives us about the importance and efficacy of prayer. While God’s overarching, eternal plans are unchangeable, in working out the details, He has ordained to work in cooperation with His praying, obeying children. While prayer is neither formulaic nor mechanistic, even still:
- God answers when we ask.
- United prayer moves God to act
- Faith filled prayer is powerful
- Prayer orients us to what God is doing around us
As such, my sisters and brothers, I invite you to join me and countless other Christians around the world who are praying for peace in the Middle East. It is critical that we pray and not give up.
Here’s a way we can pray together in faith and unity (adapted from 24-7 Prayer):
Father God, King of all nations, we cry out to you now for peace in the Middle East. We ask you to rescue those who are vulnerable from the hands of their enemies that they may live without fear before you all their days [Luke 1:74-75]. Bring all hostilities to an end. We ask for healing and recovery for the injured and traumatized on all sides.
Jesus Christ, you are Lord of lords and Prince of peace, and we cry out to you urgently to write another story in our time. Reveal yourself to people throughout the Middle East so that they might know you as Savior and Lord. Give wisdom beyond human wisdom to peacemakers seeking an equitable and less violent way. May politicians exercise the wisdom from above, which is peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, and full of mercy [James 3:17].
Holy Spirit, we pray for the Church throughout the region. Give our many brothers and sisters courage in this crisis that they may proclaim the good news of your kingdom, bind up broken hearts, and bring comfort to all who mourn. [Isaiah 61:1-2].
Holy Trinity, You make wars cease to the end of the earth; you break bows, shatter spears, and burn shields with fire [Psalm 46:9]. And so we ask you now to make a peace that is strong and not weak. Deescalate this crisis. We hear of wars and rumors of wars (Matt. 24:6], but you Lord are our rock, our fortress and our deliverer. Our hope is in you. And so we address the nations now. In the name of Jesus we say: “Be still and know God! He is exalted among the nations; he shall be exalted in the earth!” [Psalm 46:10]
Kyrie eleison - Lord have mercy.
Christe eleison - Christ have mercy.
Kyrie eleison - Lord have mercy.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
Amen
Blessings and prayers,
+Chris