"Unless the LORD Builds the House" - 20 June 2021

 

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. LORD, you are the One who builds the house, and watches over the city. We plant and water, but you are the one who gives the growth! Bless our congregation with fitting and fair growth that we would grow roots downward and bear fruit upward, that you would add to our numbers such as are being saved. Father, we pray you would bring us families with children, pre-teens, middle school, and upper school kids, single people, widowed, married, and divorced, and those across the ethnic spectrum. We solicit your help in drawing in folks from the neighborhoods around here. We also long to have men, women, boys, and girls who will come, believe in Jesus, profess their faith, and receive Christian baptism. And then, Mighty God, we pray for your Church all around this marvelous globe, including Faith Victory Fellowship, Family of Faith AOG, Fellowship Church, and First Deliverance Church, and we pray for our General Assembly that meets soon. Preserve and protect your Church from scandal and suffering; repair her breaches and breaks with the healing glue of the Holy Spirit, with the supremacy of the Gospel, and with all that accords with sound doctrine. And, LORD, since we are so dependent on you for life, health, wholeness, and livelihood, we pray for those who are feeling the slowing effects of age (…); the wearisomeness of having more month than money (…); the cruddy results of sickness, disease, cancer, or confusion (…); give to your beloved sleep, rest, fullness, and restoration that they may rise up and sing your praises. Hear our prayer, O Lord, and let our cry come to you.

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate (Psalm 127). Oh High King of Heaven, take care of our country. Prosper, replenish, and promote what is good, just, decent, and fair. Bring a change of heart and a change of mind to that which is cramped, crooked, or corrupt. Make America great, but great in ways that are ethical, sensible, and moral. Lead our leaders to truly be for America, and for the honorable ideals America has stood for. And with our fellow citizens who descended from African slaves, we rejoice and delight in liberty! Thank you that our nation became more consistent with its Declaration of Independence, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Finally, good Father, we give you thanks for the fathers in our lives, especially those who tried to be good fathers, those who struggled to provide, and parent well. For the fathers here we ask you to guide and steer them as reflections of your Fatherhood. For those who are heartbroken because of their children’s’ choices and directions, help them to know that you know what that’s like; to find comfort in being close to you, a Father of many ornery and obstinate children. For those who had absentee, abusive, or overassertive fathers, may there be repentance, reconciliation, and forgiveness before it’s too late. And those who wanted to be fathers, but in your providence it never happened, may they know your love fully and their importance to all of us. Hear our prayer, O Lord, and let our cry come to you.

All we ask in union with Jesus Christ your Son, and our Lord and Savior, as we pray together what he taught us, saying; Our Father…