Note: This devotional is taken from the 2023 Prayer and Fasting Week.
Day 4
Truth to Ponder
READ: 1 Corinthians 12:12-20; Hebrews 10:19-25
No man is an island’ is an idiom taken from a 17th century sermon of John Donne, an Anglican clergyman who is also regarded as one of the greatest English poets. The sermon revolved around how human beings are connected to each other and how important that connection is. “When you hear the church bell tolling for someone who has died, don’t ask who it is,” Donne says, “just know that it’s tolling for you too because you are part of the same society and the death of anyone takes a part of your own life away.”
The early community of believers can be characterized by four major activities: teaching, fellowship, communion, and prayer (Acts 2:42-47) – activities that cannot be done alone. In fact, in the New Testament, the “one another” statements appears about 59 times: “love one another,” teach one another,” “admonish one another,” “encourage one another,” “be at peace with each other,” “wash one another’s feet,” “be devoted to one another,” “live in harmony with one another,” “stop passing judgment on one another,” “accept one another, ” “instruct one another,” “greet one another,” “serve one another,” “carry each other’s burdens,” “be kind and compassionate to one another,” “submit to one another,” “pray for one another,” and so on.
Consider the veracity of these statements and then consider how intentional you are about “one-anothering” – that is, in helping build a healthy and biblical community. Do you feel you belong? Are you doing something to belong? Are you a part of a community that follows Jesus Christ?
Examine the Word
1. According to 1 Corinthians 12:12-20, the church is like the human body, which is one unit consisting of different parts. Every part is unique and equally important. Read the verses again and honestly reflect on each question.
vv. 12-14. What do you think is your part and function as a member of Jesus’ Body?
Are you currently doing your part and function?
vv. 15-17. Do you find your role in the Church unimportant? Do you wish to have a different role or function?
v. 18. Who assigned or gave you your role in the Body of Christ?
vv. 19-20. Do you acknowledge that you are an integral part of the Church?
How are you serving the Body of Christ?
2. According to Hebrews 10: 19-21, as a community of believers, we were all given access to God through Jesus Christ. Read the verses again and identify the 3 reasons why every follower of Jesus can come confidently and boldly before God the Father.
3. The previous verses essentially serve as the foundation for the author’s three imperative exhortations in verses 22, 23, and 24 of Hebrews 10 – “Let us….” Evaluate how you fare in each of them.
v. 22. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of (faith) …
v. 23. Let us hold fast the confession of our (hope) …
v. 24. Let us consider how to stir up one another to (love) …
Personal Application
1. KBCF needs people to fulfill their individual and unique roles, just as much as the human body needs all its members to function and serve their purpose for it to be a dynamic and working entity. Pray and ask of your specific role and function in serving the church and others this year. Trust God to empower and use you for His plan and purpose.
2. The church today is packed full of Christians wading through all types of struggles alone. It’s an epidemic. Knowing that in a place of isolation and doubt, the evil one thrives and the attacks are much stronger without a support system, in what practical ways can you combat the isolation epidemic that has infiltrated even our current Christian culture? i.e. have deeper conversations; move beyond social media and actually sit down with people; when you tell someone you will pray for them, actually do it; etc.
3. Do you know of any KBCF member who needs your encouragement and support? In what ways can you help build a biblical and Christ-centered community in our church?
Prayer
Father God, thank you that because of Jesus, I am part of the universal Body of Christ. I am also grateful that I belong in a local congregation – a family of believers committed to follow Christ. As you have given varying gifts to each of your followers, may You find me faithful and obedient, according to the grace You provide. Help me discover my own gifts and role that You specifically designed for me. Grant me courage and strength, through the Holy Spirit, to love You and those around me, especially those belonging to the community of believers you have placed me in. Lord Jesus, allow me to be an integral part of Your Church. Amen.
Prayer Items
NATIONPHILIPPINES: 10-POINT AGENDA (Points 7&8)
Pray for the Holy Spirit to guide our government on the following agenda for economic renewal and long-term growth.
7. Energy Security: Boost local power generation capacity by reducing bureaucracy to attract energy investments and improve power delivery and distribution in order to provide competitive energy prices.
8. Future-ready Filipinos (Education): Provide quality education through standardized learning materials and digital tools. Upskill the workforce to improve employability and support priority industries.
Strengthen the Free College Tuition Act, construct specialized training colleges and universities and increase the number of young Filipinos acquiring science and technology skills through research and scholarship grants.
PHILIPPINES: Members of the Cabinet
Lift up to the Holy Spirit the specific work of each cabinet member. Pray for anointing to do the work.
- SCIENCE and TECH. SEC.: Renato Solidum Jr.
- BUDGET and MANAGEMENT SEC.: Amenah Pangandaman
- ENERGY SEC.: Raphael Lotilla
- INFO. and COMMS. TECH. SEC.: Ivan John Uy
- MIGRANT WORKERS SEC.: Susan Ople
- HUMAN SETTLEMENTS and URBAN DEV. SEC.: Jose Acuzar
FAMILY/HEALTH/PERSONAL BREAKTHROUGHS
Pray: physical strengthening of every family – sustaining observance of health protocols in face-to-face
activities outside the home; healing of loved ones with health challenges.
Pray: Families to pursue healing of relationships
KBCF
47th Anniversary Message
Point I. The Call—Pray KBCFers to walk as Jesus walked; to understand that Jesus will change the priorities of our lives, to be set apart so that we will become fishers of men.
Point II. The Cost – Pray KBCFers to be prepared to suffer with and for him; to be willing to lose reputation, standing, position—everything for Jesus; to personally be fishing for men and making disciples.
FOUR (4) PRIORITY AREAS FOR 2023 (Number 4)
Pray for the Holy Spirit to enable KBCF to pursue priority:
MONITORING ENHANCING – Aspire for seamless church operations and activities.
FOLLOW THROUGH ON CLEANSING, EDUCATING and EQUIPPING (CEE)
Pray for the Holy Spirit to enable KBCF to follow through its past efforts on CEE:
a. Enable return to basics, roots of KBCF—intentional discipleship .
b. Enable pastors and members to sustain the implementation of Spiritual Journey/ related programs.
PAST CHURCH HEALTH ASSESSMENT (CHA)
Pray for the Holy Spirit to enable KBCF to follow through its past efforts on CHA findings on Ministries
Pray Holy Spirit to:
– Move among cells, ministries for prayer to be a priority
-Increase number of volunteers (more COL members to be
active in the ministry)
– Enable KBCF to have concerted effort to minister to needs of the community
– Encourage members help carry the burden of ministries now being borne by just a few.
Pray for follow through on findings of the CHA, God to enable KBCF to further respond to past findings where needed:
a. Oversight (Leadership, Administration) – 42.9%;
b. Training / Equipping (including evangelism and discipleship) – 14.3%%;
c. Ministry volunteers – 14.3%%;
d. Guidance – 14.3%
Pray the Holy Spirit to enable leaders to implement continual improvement of church’s organizational structure;
To give leaders discernment to know and prepare for what He wants KBCF to be in the coming generations.
