Prayers Related to Church Construction

Below is a paper/prayer that I wrote a few years ago. At the time, our church was on the brink of building a new sanctuary. The pastor asked me to write something bind the people together in unity as the project got underway. I have removed the specific names of the church and pastor so you may fill in the blanks with the particulars of your church/pastor and type of project to be built.

This may also be a guide to building or remodeling your "heart house" wherein your Savior resides.

If you/your church is beginning  a  project, and in need of a similar prayer/paper; feel free to copy/share the following guide.

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Prayer Topic: Prayer for the Construction of  the new building.

Scripture Reading: I Chronicles 16:8-16, Nehemiah 3

Declaration: “The God of heaven Himself will help us succeed; therefore, we will arise and build!” Nehemiah 2:20

Scriptural Prayer: Omnipotent Father, we thank You for the Vision for this building. Thank You for being Jehovah Jireh, the One who will provide all the resources we need to complete this project. Thank You for giving our leaders wisdom, discernment, and favor as we move forward with this project. Thank You for entrusting this task to our body of believers. You are the Lord and beside You, there is no other. We can do all things through Christ, Who is our strength.

We stand in agreement for God’s Kingdom to come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven for the construction of our building . Lord, as we commit the plans for this construction project to You; we decree that these plans will succeed. In Proverbs 11:14, Your Word declares “Where there is no counsel, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” Therefore, we confess that we will seek the counsel of the godly as we proceed with this project.

Father, we expect You to call forth competent and skilled laborers for this project, just as You called forth the artisans for the building of the tabernacle. We decree that everyone involved in this project will focus their attention and efforts so that they can successfully complete their assignments and bring glory and honor to Your Name. By faith, favor surrounds this project and we will have good success with every person associated with the completion of this project.

Father, we are confident that our building will be completed because You spoke the idea/plan to our pastor and Your word will not return void; it will accomplish all that You send it to do. We commit to praying diligently for all involved in construction. We commit to praying throughout the course of this project, from beginning to full completion.

Lord, please bless our building & our body,  to provide ministry that will promote growth, development, education, and enjoyment for our church family, and the people of our community. As Your Light shines through us, help us to love, and lead by example, to reach the hurting and the lost.

Hide our Pastors, deacons, and building committee members under the shelter of Your wings and protect them from any opposition as they continue to manifest Your Kingdom here on earth, as they oversee the construction of our new facility.

In the Name of Jesus, we rebuke satan and any evil force that he would send our way. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God; and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” II Corinthians 10:3-5 KJV

Stir up the faith in our congregation so that we will walk by faith and not by sight. Stir up the faith in me so that I will walk by faith and not by sight. Grant us generous resources to support Pastor's vision through our giving, service, and prayers. Fill every participant, including the building contractors, permitting officials, architects, and engineers with Your spirit of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and excellence.

Merciful Father, please convict and forgive anyone in our congregation who is speaking against the vision that You have given to our Pastor. Correct those who are not willing to submit to his authority. Convict and forgive those who have loose lips and speak idle words against this project.

Help our church family to work together in unity. Convict and forgive us when we demand our own way and fail to function as one body. Please forgive us for all of our sins. Lord, forgive me for ___________, ____________________, ____________________ (list any sins that you have committed).

Holy Spirit, remind us all of those we need to forgive and help us to be quick to forgive. As for me, Holy Spirit, bring to my remembrance those I need to forgive. (As He shows you, say aloud, “I forgive ____________, ______________, ___________________name of person(s).” Then, trust the Lord to heal any wounds in your soul caused by unforgiveness.)

As a Church Family, help us to overcome temptation and deliver us from the evil one. Almighty God, we put our trust in You. Help us to be consistent in our prayers and support. Help us to be a beacon of hope to everyone that we encounter. All these things we ask in Jesus’ Name, for Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Additional Scripture References: Genesis 22:14, Isaiah 45:18-19, Matthew 6:10, Proverbs 16:3, Proverbs 15:22, Habakkuk 2:2, Exodus 31:1-6, Psalm 5:12, Philippians 1:6, Psalm 91:4, IICorinthians 5:7, Matthew 6:13, Isaiah 40:22-25

The Heart of the Cup Bearer

"The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, that Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem." Nehemiah 1:1,2 KJV

"...For I was the king's cupbearer." Nehemiah 1:11 KJV Full chapter, here.

As you read the entire chapter, take note of the parallel between his earthly (flesh) actions and what is required (spiritually) to be a faithful servant/minister of the Lord.  

Humble, Faithful, Trustworthy, Unselfish, Willing to go the extra mile, Wise, Worked within the protocol/boundaries/rules of the kingdom.... these are a few of the character traits of Nehemiah. Traits that we will exhibit, IF we strive to have them in our spirit.

The last verse of chap 1 sets the tone for the entire reading. He was the cup bearer..... SERVANT. Nehemiah had the training/skill set needed to serve the king. More importantly, he had the HEART of a servant. When driven by the heart to serve (in general) one will learn the skills needed to do whatever could be required by the recipient. In serving the earthly king,, the standards were set high and required full attention of the servant. Nehemiah applied this same observance to the work of the temple.

My greatest take away from today's passage is this: we cannot serve God any better than we serve our fellow man. For. Christ came not to be ministered into, but to be a minister. And, as we have done to to least (mankind) we have done into Him.

Additional scripture references:

Mark 10:43-45, "....even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Matthew 20:26,27, "...whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:"

Luke 12:48, "..... to whom much is give, much is required"  

Matthew 25:31-46  "....Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Routed by Routine

Often we under-value the importance of our daily routines  Take for example, brushing our teeth. Our parents taught us how and reminded us to do it, until it became a regular habit for us. As grown ups, it is just something we do, without giving it a thought. We understand the importance of brushing, but rarely think about it, until it is time to see the dentist.....(smile)

In I Samuel chapter 16, we read about the first anointing of David, future king of Israel. God instructed Samuel to go to Jesse's house and there he would anoint the next king of Israel. After passing over seven of Jesse's sons, Samuel was convinced that there had to be another son. Verse 11 reveals the eighth and youngest son, David. He was out in the countryside, tending to the sheep.

His job was to keep the sheep together as a flock and lead them to water & grass. He had to study the elements, lay of the land, weather patterns & etc to know the best places/times to feed, stay put, or travel.  He was to keep them safe from lions, bears, & other predators. Which meant, he had to learn the signs of the predators & their deceptive ways of getting their prey. All of these things became parts that made up his ROUTINE.

If we want to excel at any task, sport, hobby, or skill, we have to study every aspect of it as we learn it. Besides having a teacher/mentor,  we learn through regular repetition. In time, we will be able to go through the motions without actually thinking about what comes next. Our reactions become automatic just like a reflex action.

Fast forward to I Samuel chapter 17. The taunts of Goliath brought fear upon the entire Israeli army. They essentially had no hope of defeating him. They cowered at his challenge. For forty days, the giant had stood and belittled the army of Israel. King Saul as their leader, had no idea what to do next. 

In verse 17, Jesse sends David to the battlefield with food for his brothers. David hears the railings of Goliath and puts the whole scene into perspective.  And proceeds to  volunteer to answer the challenge of the giant. You see, David had been faithful to the routine of keeping his father's sheep. He had been faithful to protect them. God had enabled him to kill both a lion and a bear; and he knew this beast of a man would be no different. The precedent had been set.

The rest is history. David killed Goliath. Israel routed the Philistines and plundered their belongings. All because David had been faithful in tending the sheep. All because David recognized the battle as a spiritual skirmish that could only be won by operating in the the power of God. All because David was the right man, with the right heart, at the right time, to deliver God's people.

Want to be an agent of deliverance for the lost, bound, sick,or destitute? You can be the right person at the right time for the right purpose, if you are in right standing with God and have made it your routine of life to be fully dependent upon Him.

Context: I Samuel 17:16-58

Side bar: David played the harp, SKILLFULLY.  ...... had to have been some routine practice.

Responsible With the Routines

Recently, Pastor Earl shared a few memories with me. Just a sketch of what it was like to be eight years old and how his daily chores, if left undone, could drastically impact the entire family.  As he talked about life on the farm, a panoramic picture formed in my mind. I could see a home place; complete with laundry on the line, chickens scratching about the yard, a tractor peeking out from an old barn, cows resting in the shade, and the fields of corn, ripening in the sun. Overall, a peaceful image, yet one that brought to mind the countless hours of labor required to maintain a rural homestead.

Watering the corn was one of his primary duties. Without water, there would be no corn. Without the corn, there would be no feed for the livestock. Without the livestock, there would be no meat on the table. Without meat on the table, there would be no physical strength in family members.

Why was he faithful to water the corn? Was it because he saw the big picture of how things would unravel if he didn't? Was it because of the punishment that would await him, if he did not? Or was it because that was his routine? While all of those reasons influenced him, it was the look of his father's approval that spurred him to do what was asked of him & do it to the best of his ability.

 Proverbs 11:30 says this, "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise". Soul winning should be at the forefront of our Christian lives. We are commanded to  go into all the world and preach/teach & baptize believers. (Mark 16:15,16, & Matthew 28:18,19) Most often, we think of it in terms of the actual act of "leading someone to the Lord". That is, we tell them the Good News that Jesus saves. We testify to them about what Jesus has done for us. We explain the plan of Salvation and then lead them in the Sinner's Prayer. And just like that, they are "won" for the Kingdom.

However, there is much more to the process of winning souls.The process begins (John 6:44) & ends with the love, mercy, & grace of God.  I Corinthians 3:6-9 lends the following insights; one plants the seeds, another waters, another takes in the harvest, yet all are laborers together of the harvest that God brings to fruition. 

Man was created with a void that only God can fill and given a measure of faith, with which he could seek & reach God. That measure of faith is like a seed planted in the soil of the heart. Water activates seeds to sprout. Genuine acts of kindness, mercy, or generosity will act like water upon the seed. Hearing he Word of God/the Good News can definitely water & activate the seed/measure of faith. 

So my brothers & sisters, we need to be responsible Christians & develop a routine of sharing the Gospel & watering the seeds. In doing so, we will experience the approval & favor of God.

It's Not About the Place, It's About People

Recently, I was talking with a friend about how the Church (at large) has weathered this Covid -19 season and what measures could be taken to restore those that have drifted away from gathering with the saints. We talked about how many have become satisfied with watching online services and have no immediate plans to return to the church buildings. And about others, that have fallen prey to fear, apathy, depression, mediocrity, sloth, and/or any number of temptations that are bound to occur during an extended separation from being in FELLOWSHIP with the Body of Christ.  

The faithful church members have been hindered by the public gathering restrictions. The Easter/Christmas attendees have been excluded from hearing the Gospel. Even the souls that would normally only hear scriptures at a funeral or wedding, have been denied the opportunity of being affected by the Word of God.

Now many of the sanctions are being lifted. Churches are reopening, yet attendance is a fraction of what it once was. What can be done to re-fill the pews? More importantly, how can we re-claim those who have become disconnected during the pandemic? And even more pressing as the return of Christ nears; how can we reach the the back-sliders and those who have never accepted the saving grace of Jesus? 

In reality, the church building is merely a tool to assist "The Church" (believers) in fulfilling her mandate to reach, teach,and equip........ With that; my friends, reaching souls today is no different that it was in Christ's day. We must proclaim the Good News. We must offer what the original disciples offered; hope, healing, & heaven. We must LIVE what we proclaim. And when wayward return, we must extend mercy and forgive them, embrace them, and help them find their place within the Body, again.  And when souls are converted, we must be willing to disciple them/help them to mature in their Christian walk.

So, you see..... if we reach the PEOPLE, the people will re-fill the pews......

Can You Hear Me Now?

Ever have the feeling that God is not listening to your prayers? We've all been there. We pray and pray and it seems the heavens are brass. Frustrating, isn't it? So, we try a different approach, a alternate format, or modified version of our request. Or we cry, complain, and quit praying altogether. In essence, we do everything except, patiently wait for His reply. Sometimes that is all that is necessary. Yet, sometimes it is necessary to check our hearts/motives.

I'm sure Alexander Graham Bell tried hundreds of modifications to get his invention to work. He probably said, "can you hear me now", thousands of times before he finally got an answer. One thing is certain, the recipient had to be within reach of the phone in order to hear it and reply. The only way to make or get a call was to be located close to the phone when it rang. 

Technically, that is still true. However, mobile phones have eliminated the need to be where a phone is mounted in a physical structure. One can be anywhere and make or receive a call. Almost anywhere...... there are still "dead spots" and places where calls are "dropped". Generally those limitations have to do with the distance from a tower or the obstructions that exist between the tower and the phone.

I am reminded of an old hymn entitled Royal Telephone.  Let's look at verses 3 and 4. "Fail to get the answer, Satan's crossed your wire, by some strong delusion, or some base desire; Take away obstructions, God is on the throne. You will get your answer through this royal telephone. (4) If your line is grounded and connection true, has been lost with Jesus, tell you what to do; Prayer and faith and  promise, mend the broken wire, til your soul is burning with the Pentecostal fire."

Romans 8:35-39 states clearly that we can not be separated from God's love. However, I submit to you; we can be separated from His presence. Another saying that I'm fond of using is this: "when you feel far away from God, guess who moved? God is omnipresent, so it had to be you".

In 2002, Verizon came up with a campaign that made them millions. Basically, "the test guy" went from place to place with his cell phone, asking "can you hear me now?". Their competitors were touting great prices for x amount of minutes/data. Verizon capitalized on the fact that a price break was useless if the connection was flawed or non-existent.

No matter how eloquent your prayer, how long, short, lofty, or humble it is, if your heart is cluttered with bitterness, envy, strife, jealousy, a grudge, or any other sin; you are not likely to get the answer for which you have prayed. Sin obstructs the way into God's presence. You will have to repent/seek His forgiveness first, then make your requests known.

God is beckoning us to a closer relationship with Him. He is calling, "can you hear me, now". He is omnipresent (everywhere) and omnipotent (all powerful). Nothing wrong with His signal. He knows where we are at all times (omniscient).

The Dew of God's Mercy

Nebuchadnezzar reached a place in his life where he was no longer the ruler of his kingdom or of his own directives. As the dream went, his kingdom was a tree laid bare & cut down, all except the stump. The stump was then encircled with a band of iron and left open in the field to receive the dew that fell upon the earth. Daniel 4:10-18

 

You see; even though his kingdom was cut down, there remained hope for its restoration. The stump had no choice in the matter. As the dew & rain fell upon the earth, it fell upon the stump. The stump soaked up the moisture and eventually was revived with new growth. The band around it had kept it from rotting & being absorbed back into the ground. 

Job 14:7-9 sheds light on this process: "For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant." 

 

It is my prayer that you will never suffer as King Nebuchadnezzar, and that your "kingdom" never be cut down to just a stump. But regardless of what takes place in your life, I believe it is prayer that will be the band that will preserve your "kingdom", your spirit-man. Prayers for mercy, grace, love, and conviction will be instrumental in keeping the rain and dew of heaven, falling upon you.