Arise to Proclaim the Gospel

Today we think about how we are called to proclaim the Gospel both locally to our community and globally to the world. In this most special prayer Jesus prays for those who will become His followers. If you have time read the whole prayer and think about how Jesus prays for you.

Reading: Jesus Prays For All Believers – John 17:20-25

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one — I in them and you in me — so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me.

Responsive Praise

Reflective Prayer

Take time to pray for those in your family, workplace, neighbours or friends who as yet do not acknowledge Christ as their Saviour. Pray for the effectiveness of the Church throughout the world to make Christ known. May God guide you to the part He would have you play in spreading the Gospel. Give thanks for how God’s church is worldwide. You will have your own particular mission interests so spend some time praying for their work. Pray for the translation and distribution of God’s Word, the Bible, to those who have never read it. Pray for our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted today for their faith. The words of this prayer might help to structure your thoughts.

A prayer for the nations
Loving God of all the world,
We hold before you the nations
To the God who reigns over governments,
Bring justice where injustice rules.
To the God who carries a weary world without growing weak
Give strength to the struggling and hope to the hopeless.
To the creative God who dreamt up our world
Grant vision and insight to those with a heart to change things for the better.
To the compassionate God
Heal what is hurting and restore what has been broken.
With grateful hearts we thank our loving God,
whose compassion never ceases,
whose love for us never runs dry,
whose fight against injustice never relents.
Amen.