The following is the corporate prayer we prayed this morning at New Covenant Church. And two great texts from Matthew's gospel shaped this prayer: Matt. 28:18-20, the Great Commission; and Matt. 22:37-40, with the great command.
The Prayers at NCC (3/8/15)
Our
Lord Jesus, Lord of glory, we are gathered this Lord’s Day in your name, “name
above every name” (Phil. 2:9). Because of your obedience even unto “death on a cross . . . God has highly exalted [you]” (Phil. 2:8-9). And so we bend the knee before you, we bow before
you, and confess you are “Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10-11).
We
are gathered in your presence, our risen King, as your blood-bought bride,
ransomed from among the nations, indwelt by your Spirit. And in your majestic
presence this Lord’s Day, we consider our world. We consider the powers of the
earth that strut their stuff: China and Russia; Japan and Iran; India and
Korea; Germany and France and Britain; and most powerful of all, the United
States.
And we consider, O sovereign Christ, how you are above all earthly powers, ruling over
every nation as King of kings and Lord of lords. All these “nations are as a
drop from a bucket” before you; they “are accounted as dust on the scales,” like
breath, without weight, “as less than nothing and emptiness” (Isa. 40:15-17).
O
risen and exalted Christ, supreme over all, "all authority in heaven and on
earth" is yours! (Matt. 28:18). And your potent atonement put away all our sins,
and the sins of all your people—forever! By your blood you purchased us,
and made us yours. And Lord of all, you have commanded us to disciple the
nations, baptizing them, and teaching them (Matt. 28:19-20). Empower us, we pray, to do what you
have commanded.
And
so as we give ourselves to making disciples, we ourselves eagerly desire to
obey all your commands. And with
crystal clarity you taught us to give our utmost attention to the great
command—to love God heart, soul, mind and strength (Matt. 22:37-38; cf. Mark 12:30). Fill us then, we cry out,
with the fullness of your Spirit, so that we would be enabled supernaturally to
love God with the very love with which you yourself loved God the Father in the
power of the Holy Spirit in the days of your flesh. Fill us, we pray, fill us
with love divine.
And
surely, Lord Jesus, if we are to make disciples and teach them to obey all you
have commanded, surely you would have
us teach a supreme love for God, finding ultimate satisfaction in him and his
will, delighting in him and doing his good pleasure. Surely you would have us evangelize others and mentor others and
serve others right up into fulfilling the
great command—love for God "with all [our] heart and with all [our] soul and
with all [our] mind" (Matt. 22:37).
So
fill us, O risen Jesus, with a love that longs to imitate God’s self-giving love—that we might love our neighbors even as we love ourselves (Matt. 22:39), and love them
with a divine love right up into a supreme satisfaction in God.
Help
us, we pray, O risen Christ, to do this in the strength you supply (1 Pet. 4:11). “Not by
[human] might, not by [human] power, but by [your] Spirit” (Zech. 4:6). That in everything God may get the glory (1 Pet. 4:11).
You have promised, Lord, saying, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). These words are more precious to us than jewels, sweeter than honey to our taste. Thank you for this promise, Lord. Thank you.
It is to you, Lord of all, we pray, gathered in your name.
Amen.
(For the title of this prayer, see Douglas O'Donnell's short article on the melodic line of Matthew's gospel.)
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