DIY Sunday Service Kit 29/10/2023 - Malachi 1:6-14 - Patronage, gratitude and Glory

 

Welcome to the DIY Sunday Service Kit for 27th. October 2023.

As the air and ground war intensifies in Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank, and the conflict leads to further protests and clashes around the world, we pray for peace and justice to prevail. And we also prat that the sovereignty and reign of Christ the King will be recognised and will restrain the hostility of humanity, and subdue all of the work of the Enemy of Souls in the hearts of mankind.

And as we are troubled in spirit by the things we see and hear from around the world, we now find fresh assurance in these words of the song 'Day After Day, Jesus Reigns' in order to keep hold of the cosmic realities in the teeth of the terrors that prevail in so much of our fallen world.

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It's time to pray

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Last week we asked for prayer for Llanelli Free Evangelical Church who were working hard on a tender for new, larger church premises to accommodate the work there which has ben growing steadily for a number of years.

This week, we can give thanks to God that they have already heard that their tender has been successful.

1. We continue to pray for those caught in the conflagrations igniting throughout the 10/40 Window. Be it the Israel-Hamas war, the ongoing terrible violence in Sudan (now in its sixth month), the instability in the Sahel and the ‘coup belt’ nations of Africa, the continued civil unrest and warfare in Myanmar, or the threats of war on the horizon (Taiwan, North Korea, Ethiopia and its coastal neighbors, etc) or the impact of the war between Russia and the Ukraine—all of these are wounding and scarring, sending millions of refugees scurrying to the faintest vestiges of safety in terribly poor camps, and causing untold suffering. In their midst, believers and networks of believers are struggling to provide compassionate and charitable aid and relief to those around them. We pray for those who are trying to figure out what to do, how to do it, and how to live in the midst of very difficult and confusing times.

2. We pray for the many who are attempting to flee war, rumors of war, natural disaster and economic hardship. In an article on Tunisians trying to leave their towns to make it to Europe we read a heartwrenching lament: “I would do anything to go to Europe. Europeans are living in luxury; here, we are dying.” We the many who find themselves “stuck” in unlivable situations, bordering on death, will find rescue and redemption by the God who sees every sparrow that falls. We also pray for believers in the host European countries who will have compassion on these men and women who also are made in the image of God.

3. We pray for the Spirit to give parents the wisdom to talk with their children about the terrible events happening in the world, and help their children manage their access to social media. Let’s ask God to give us wisdom and protect us from the “brutal voyerism” with which the Internet is now awash. We want to know enough to pray for people and discern if and how we might be a blessing, while keeping ourselves and our children safe from terrible things they don’t need to see or hear.

4. We pray for the many young girls who, in the midst of the world’s current instability, wars, and economic disasters, are being married off very young. This article from Afghanistan is only one of the latest in a string of examples. See also 23 million child brides in Nigeria, and another earlier about Covid brides from Bangladesh). “Underage and forced marriages have been a serious concern in Afghanistan in recent years.” Many families feel they have few options for their children. UNICEF estimates 100 million girls are at risk of child marriage by the end of the decade.

5. As Sri Lanka opens its doors to tourists, we pray many believers will find innovative routes to serve the spread of the Gospel in that nation. The country would like to boost itself from its current 1.5m tourist arrivals to 5 million. Many of these come from India and Russia.

6. We pray for the various diaspora groups in the UK, including the Chinese church (one of the fastest growing as people from Hong Kong arrive) and Sudanese (who are worried about their future as their six-month visas are expiring). We pray for believers to have the desire to reach out to these diasporas, to build friendships, and to be a blessing to them.

7. We pray for the peoples of India, who are caught up in many forms of idolatry, and for believers who will introduce them to the saving power of Jesus. This article is a colorful introduction to the festival of Durga Purja. While it highlights a sense of modernization about the festival, at bottom it is still obviously a celebration of idols, gods, spiritism, etc. We are thankful for the many rapidly growing movements to Christ throughout the states of India, and pray that these and the tens of millions of other believers in India will be bold witnesses of the only true God.

Father we thank you for the access you have created for us into your presence, by atoning for our sin through the sacrificial death of your Son.

Hear our prayers today then, we pray, through the grace you have shown us and heal your broken world we pray in His Name.

For Jesus' sake.

AMEN.

Click on the Bible pic for today's Bible reading from the book of Malachi

Let's be sure to show our gratitude to God as City alight lead us in worship

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The Word for the Week video (5 mins.) is a sofa-lounge version of today's sermon ... who might you be able to share it with online or in person?

But the 'real' sermon is here, so ...

It's time to open up the Bible together and apply God's Word to our hearts

(click the pic below)

Let's seek to honour God now as we sing ...

If we can support you with our prayers, please do get in touch in the usual way.

If you would like to join us is worshipping by giving, please click the offering bag below.

Next week, Malachi take us to the heart of God's New Covenant initiative. it will be in the weekly mailing, arriving in your inbox by midnight next Saturday, so long as you are on the list ... look out for it! (And if you'd like to receive this regularly please email HoWChaplain@gmail.com)

Have a great and a very grateful week!