1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV)- I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
Sticks and stones are soon forgotten, but words breathe fire that lasts for a millennium. For hundreds of years the church has been divided in mind and thought. The reasons for the divisions are known, and they are still dividing the church. This is just as much spiritual battle as it is a verbal battle and we need to choose to end the war and stop fanning the wrong flame.
Less often than it should the church agrees to work together. When this happens the Lord's prayer is fulfilled and His kingdom has come and His will is done on earth as is has always been in Heaven. When heaven and earth collide there is a spiritual awakening in our hearts as we unite with purpose. This is what is happening in our city. Revival has started. It began with a person, rippled out to a group and when we start to come together as The Church revival will pour out on our city. Get your umbrellas and boats ready because the time for the out pouring of the spirit is now for our generation. We need to fan the flame brought by the Holy Spirit as it laps up the cleansing water and spreads like wildfire across our neighborhoods, towns and countries.
Dear Father you are the Prince of Peace. As a church we have failed to be at peace with our brothers and sisters in the church, and have been divided. Forgive us. Help us to join together with our family, The Church, across our neighborhoods, towns and country so that your Great Name will be known to all people.
Dear Father you are the God of order. Please forgive us for not being united and orderly with our brothers in word or deed. Give us opportunities to bring us together. Let us recognize these times and to utilize them to bring unity in your family.
Dear Father you are our Protector. Please forgive us for not protecting each other in The Church.We have put our own causes and plans ahead of our family, The Church, because we are selfish. Let us be a refuge of hope to the lost in our community and come together with a plan to build up and protect each other.
You are our Hope and Shield. Please forgive us for hoping in our congregation and for lying by calling it the church. Please let us see the beauty in our differences and use them as strength. Your hope is our protection from the evil one. You have always been the only Hope we have. Let us see that as a united Church we can bring hope to our neighborhoods, community and nation by working together as one church.
God of Many names you are our sustainer and giver of life. Let us reflect this life in our neighborhoods, community and nation as we go to make disciples for your family. We declare this day that we will strive to be one, united with purpose to make your Great Name know to our generation as the God who can do all things and bring unity to your family.
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