Day 13: 40 Days Fasting & Prayer

Build Your Church

“Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock, I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” (Matthew 16:18 NLT)

The church is an assembly of believers, the called-out ones. Many have a limited understanding of the church, and they have limited the church to a building. The building is different from the church; never think that a physical place of worship is the real church.

The Greek word for church is "Ekklesia," which means an assembly of the called-out ones. We are the redeemed of the Lord, the ones called out of darkness into His marvellous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

Believers are the church, and the church is the body of Christ here on earth. Different doctrines have divided Christians into different denominations. Instead of being united as "believers," everybody is trying to protect the interests of their denomination at the expense of the cause of Christ. We have to return to the place of unity as "believers," and prayer is needed if Christians must be united.

We are God's foot soldiers in the earthly realm, and we must pray strategic prayers over our nation so that God can carry out His will of building the church. Whatever God wants to do must be prayed for. Our prayer is what gives Him the legal right in the earthly realm to do what He wants to do. He ordained it to be so, and we have to understand the principles by which God chooses to work in the earthly realm.

When Christians are united, the kingdom of darkness will lose its hold on the lives of many, and our nation will be transformed. Our schools, politics, healthcare, military, education, business, media, and family would enjoy these transformations.

The Church can be categorised into two forms:

1. The Universal Church

The universal church comprises all the believers in every nation.

2. The Local Church

The local church is a group of people (believers) within a geographic location that meet together to worship, pray, fellowship and learn about God.

The Church can also be referred to as

1. The household of God. (1Timothy 3:15)

2. The bride of Christ. (Revelations 19:6-9, 21:2, 2 Corinthians 11:2)

3. The body of Christ. (Ephesians 1:22-23)

4. The Temple of God. (1 Peter 2:5, Ephesians 2:19-22)

5. The Flock of God (1 Peter 5:2-3)

6. The Vineyard of the Lord (Isaiah 5:1-7)

7. The Household of Faith (Galatians 6:10)

The Responsibilities of the Church

The responsibilities of the church are not limited to religious worship; we have to impact our societies more than that. So then, what are some of the responsibilities of the church?

1.Worship

singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. (Ephesians 5:19)

2.Influence

We are to influence our societies not by coercion but by portraying the right examples to them.

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. (Matthew 5:14-16 NLT)

3.Transforming Lives

We are to move men from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. We are to witness the good news of Christ and the kingdom of God to men. The gospel has the power to transform lives.

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. (Romans 1:16 NLT)

4.Destroying the Works of the devil

We are to bind, loose, and destroy the works of the devil in the lives of men. Our societies need God, healing, safety, deliverance, and help. If we don’t stand in the gap, unbelievers cannot resist whatever the devil is doing in their lives.

But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)

5.Intercession

We are instructed to pray for kings and those in authority. They are the devil’s primary target. If he can capture those in authority, he can get them to enact wrong laws that will affect believers and the kingdom of God on earth. Our prayers can shield them and also ensure they do God’s will over the nation and for the church.

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them, intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

6.Walk in Love

We are to walk in love toward unbelievers. We have what they don’t have, the love of God. The more we show forth the love of God, the more they will be attracted to God.

Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. (Ephesians 5:2)

7.Authority

The church has the authority in establishing and expanding the kingdom of God on earth.

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:19)

As believers, we must rise to the responsibility of praying for our nation. The peace and spiritual progress of our nation will also lead to our peace and progress.

The gates of hell are fighting the church with every means within her reach, but we must be strong in the Lord and the power of His might and fight the good fight of faith.

Further Study: Ephesians 1:22-23, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Repeat every prayer missile till it comes from your heart. Only then move on to the next prayer missile. (Repeat it, personalise it, do this with each prayer point for a minimum 1 minute)

1. Father, build your church in India in Jesus' name. (Matthew 16:18)

2. Father, give me the prayer burden to pray for this nation in Jesus' name. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

3. I join my faith with other Christians, and we weaken the strongholds of darkness over this city and nation in Jesus' name. (2 Corinthians 10:4)

4. Oh Lord, pour out your love on the churches in India, that we may be united and work together for the advancement of your kingdom on earth in Jesus' name. (John 17:21)

5. Over this city and nation, we claim new territories for Christ in Jesus' name. (Joshua 1:3)

6. Any laws that are against godly principles, values, and the church, let them be reversed in Jesus' name. (Proverbs 29:2)

7. We release the peace of God over our city and nation in Jesus' name. (Philippians 4:7)

8. Father, let your will be done over our city and nation in Jesus' name. (Matthew 6:10)

9. Father, I pray that You would grant Pastor Michael, his family and His team boldness and power to proclaim the Word of God in all circumstances and at all times, in Jesus’ name. (Acts 4:29)

10. Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask that mighty signs, wonders and miracles that will baffle human knowledge and understanding and that will dumbfound the scientific world take place in the Karuna Sadan church services. (Acts 2:22)

11. Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask that You would bless Pastor Michael, his family and the team with supernatural wisdom, understanding and knowledge to birth programs and activities that are catalysts to revival and church growth. (James 1:5)

Day 13: 40 Days Fasting & Prayer

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