"O Lord, Who Has Mercy" - 25 October 2015 AM and PM

Sunday morning:

O Lord, who has mercy on whom you have mercy, and compassion on whom you have compassion, so that it depends not on human will or exertion, but on you, who has mercy (Romans 9:15-16); thank you for your mercy and your compassion which we have tasted with bread and fruit of the vine this day.

We pray for the weighed down and careworn peoples in our world, suffering from floods, famines, unemployment, military threats, societal fears and virulent disease (Syria, Afghanistan, South Africa, Liberia, Myanmar, Ukraine, to name but a few). Please establish peace, justice, recovery and efficient economies in all lands for the good of all, so that the Gospel of Jesus may spread unchecked, and that your Church may dwell securely in peace and quietness.

Guide our own national, State, county and city leaders to cast away selfish, harmful designs and desires and to put on that which will bring about real justice and civil harmony. Dear God, be merciful to our land!

Give ear to our concerns as we pray for those who are still in their unbelief and for those who have deserted the Christian Faith….may they turn around and believe in your Son Jesus Christ, and have everlasting life.

We plead with you for those who are struck down, worn out, and bowled over from physical disease, financial worries, vocational fears, family troubles, mental anguish, and gripping grief….lift them up and mend what is wrecked in body and soul, what is wrecked in expectations and aspirations, what is wrecked by life or by death so that they may rejoice in your goodness toward them.

We pray for our enemies…that you would lead them and us from prejudice to truth; and deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty and revenge to faith, hope and love; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you through Jesus Christ your Son and our Lord.

For this congregation, and your church in all places, include the Christian Reformed Church of North America; Reformed Church U.S.; the Christian and Missionary Alliance; the Church of North India and the Church of South India. Those congregations and denominations that have stumbled into errors that dishonor you and create schism, restore them to your way of truth; those who have allowed their desires and ambitions to squeeze out brotherly love and create fights and wars, reinstate them in the cross-shaped ways of Christ; those who are towing the line and promoting wholesome doctrine and genuine godliness in modesty, encourage them by giving grace to the humble while you withstand the proud; and those who are standing firm against the pressures and persecutions of the world, strengthen them that in life and in death they may remain faithful witnesses.

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Sunday evening:

Lord Jesus, who calmed the raging seas by a word, ““Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm;” and then calmed the raging man at your word, and for the first time in ages he was found “sitting there, clothed and in his right mind” (Mark 4.39, 5.15); it is to you we come knowing, trusting, believing, you can calm the fears, worries, chaos and calamities that rage in our hearts and bodies and worlds.

Lord Jesus, speak your peace into the lives, minds, illnesses, sorrows, desperations and depressions of these whom we silently mention before you now:…. O Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, who loved this church and gave yourself up for her; please sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of water with the word; and present this church to yourself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5.25-27). O Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, we ask you to be with your Church all over this world, including Foursquare Church of God; Gospel Celebration Fellowship; Korean Full Gospel Church; Livingwaters Lighthouse; Shekinah Fellowship Church; Oklahoma Full Gospel Central Church; and Friendship Pentecostal Holiness Church. We confess that your catholic Church has been sometimes more, sometimes less visible; and that particular Churches are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the Gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them (Westminster Confession of Faith 25.4); therefore, bring renewed clarity to your church, that she may become more – not less – pure, and more – not less – visible. To that end we pray that the doctrine of the Gospel would be more fully and beautifully taught and embraced, and the sacraments and worship would be performed more and more purely, to the glory of your name, the welfare of your people and the salvation of multitudes.  O Lord, hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords, to whom one day, all that is in heaven, and on earth and under the earth, will bow the knee and confess as Lord; we pray that the needy will not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor will not perish forever; and we especially beseech you for your people being pursued, persecuted and pummeled: “Arise, O LORD! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! Put them in fear, O LORD! Let the nations know that they are but men” (Psalm 9.18-20). O Lord, hear our prayer.