EASTER 2021 PRAYER BOOKLET

FRIDAY 2ND TO SUNDAY 4TH APRIL 2021

THEME: GLORIOUS RECONCILIATION

2 CORINTHIANS 5:18

“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:” (Col. 1:20–23).

 

The Message of reconciliation means that all of Creation has serious Problem

In the church of Colosse there were teachings attacking the truth of the gospel. They said Christ was not God and that further revelation was needed for salvation.

Paul writes this letter to the Colossians to defend the supremacy of Christ. He said in the previous passage that the fullness of God dwells in Christ (v. 19). Essentially, he said Christ is God. He also said it is through Christ that all things shall be reconciled (v. 20).

Reconciliation is at the heart of the gospel. The word reconciliation means to renew a friendship or to restore to a right relationship. Paul told this church that if anybody was going to be saved—reconciled to God—it must be through Christ. He is the only one who can renew our relationship with God.

In fact, Christ taught the same thing. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father but by me” (John 14:6). There is no salvation apart from Christ.

In considering Paul’s defense of Christ and the gospel in the current passage, it must be noticed that he calls himself a “servant” of this gospel. In Colossians 1:23 he says, “This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”

Because Paul was saved and transformed by this gospel, he became its servant. This is the natural response for someone who has truly been changed and reconciled to God. He wants to serve this gospel by sharing it and enduring whatever cost that may come in the process of its dissemination. This is the only appropriate response for someone who is truly convinced of the gospel’s innate worth. Here is a story from the 1900s that illustrates Paul’s response to the gospel and how it should be ours as well.

While on a three–story scaffold at a construction site one day, a building engineer tripped and fell toward the ground in what appeared to be a fatal plummet. Right below the scaffold, a laborer looked up just as the man fell, realized he was standing exactly where the engineer would land, braced himself, and absorbed the full impact of the other man’s fall. The impact slightly injured the engineer but severely hurt the laborer. The brutal collision fractured almost every bone in his body, and after he recovered from those injuries, he was severely disabled.

Years later, a reporter asked the former construction laborer how the engineer had treated him since the accident. The handicapped man told the reporter: ‘He gave me half of all he owns, including a share of his business. He is constantly concerned about my needs and never lets me want for anything. Almost every day he gives me some token of thanks or remembrance.’1

That engineer who was saved became a servant of the man who saved him. In the same way, Paul, who was saved by the gospel of reconciliation, became a lifelong servant of it. Wherever he went, he preached it. He traveled to nations throughout the ancient world to tell them about what changed his life. This should be true of us as well. Second Corinthians 5:18–20 says this:

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

Yes, if Christ saved you, you are also called to be a servant of the gospel. You have a specific ministry. It is called the “ministry of reconciliation.” God is reconciling the world to himself and he chose to make his “appeal” through you.

Not only was this Paul’s ministry, but it is equally ours. Now if we are going to be ministers of this gospel, we must first thoroughly understand it. We must understand the message of reconciliation so we can better share it.

In this lesson, we will be studying the “message of reconciliation” so we can more effectively apply its truths to our lives and teach its richness to others. As we teach and spread this message, we do our part in declaring the supremacy of Christ as Paul did.

Big Question: What are the elements of the message of reconciliation as seen in Colossians 1:20–23?

“And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Col. 1:20).

Interpretation Question: Why do “all things” need to be reconciled unto God (Col. 1:20)? What do “all things” include?

Why does creation need to be reconciled unto God? A crucial part of the message of reconciliation is that man is separated from God. Something happened in the Garden of Eden when Adam sinned. Scripture teaches that man experienced spiritual death—a separation from God.

Man Hides From God

Right after Adam sinned, we see his new relationship with God. God came looking for him in the garden and instead of revealing himself, Adam hid (Gen. 3:8). This is a picture of man’s relationship to God since the inception of sin. Man, now, is in a state of hiding from God. Sin has so infected man that it caused him to separate from God. Listen to what Isaiah 53:6 says about man: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.”

All mankind has gone away from God as a result of sin. In fact, Paul declares that no one truly seeks him anymore. Romans 3:11 says, “There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.” In the same way that Adam hid from God, man today hides from God as well. Man does seek, but he seeks a god made in the image of man or any other imagination he prefers. Man cannot stand the God of the Bible. Consider what Paul says in Romans 1:21–23:

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Although man has an inward witness of God in his heart and the clear witness of creation (cf. Rom. 1:19–20), man still chooses to not acknowledge him. Instead, he creates his own god.

Man’s Sin Suppresses The Truth Of God

Here in Colossians, Paul further explains man’s depravity and natural tendency to separate from God. He says, “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior” (Col. 1:21).

Sin in man makes him hide from God and alienate himself from him. Man is alienated “because” of his “evil behavior.” Just as sin caused Adam to hide from God, sin causes man today to hide and deny God. Romans 1:18 describes this: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness.”

When man is living in sin, he wants to push away the reality of a holy God. Man’s evil behavior compels him to. Jesus taught something similar about his first coming: “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed” (John 3:19–20).

Because man practices evil, he hates the light. He wants to suppress the idea of a holy God, lest his deeds be exposed. Mankind wants to suppress the truth of God. Consider how Paul describes man’s thinking in relationship to God and his law. Romans 8:7 says, “The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.”

Man’s natural mind is at enmity with God. It suppresses him; it doesn’t want to believe in him. It doesn’t want to follow the laws of God. In fact, it cannot follow them. Man is a slave to the cravings of his sinful nature. He is controlled by sin. Jesus said, “He who sins is a slave of sin” (John 8:34). Nature determines action. A lion will always eat meat instead of a carrot because it’s his nature. Similarly, a sinful nature only yields sinful behavior.

This is the natural state of man. He is at enmity with God. He will not seek him. His mind cannot understand him. The teachings of Scripture are foolishness to him (1 Cor. 2:14). He runs away from him. He is dead in his sins—separated from a holy God (Eph. 2:1). He suppresses the truth of God because he would rather live his own life apart from God’s lordship. Man, by nature, despises authority or anything that restricts or constrains him. He wants his own unbridled freedom. In his eyes this is right, and anything or anyone that interferes is not welcomed (Ps. 2:1–3).

God Is At Enmity With Man

But, this situation gets even worse. It is not just that man is at enmity with God and needs to be reconciled to him, but that God is at enmity with man. Yes, this is a far worse picture than man simply running away from God. It is not a big thing for an ant to be angry at a lion. What is drastically worse is that God is at enmity with man. Look at what Paul says about man in his natural state apart from God: “All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath” (Eph. 2:3).

Scripture proclaims that men by nature are “objects of wrath.” We as sinners abide under the wrath of an angry God. John 3:36 says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

God is so holy that he cannot stand sin. He is so just that he must judge it. And therefore, because of his sin, man is under the judgment of God. This is the condition of all men. They are separated from God and at enmity with him. The writer of Hebrews says, “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14). Because God is holy, man cannot have a relationship with him. The requirement of being in God’s presence is a holy life.

Well, one person might ask, “What if man works really hard and practices righteousness and good deeds? Can he then have a relationship with God and have eternal life?”

This is what the religions of the world advocate. But they don’t fully understand:

  1. the gravity of man’s sin and
  2. that God is just.

Imagine for a second this happening in a human court. Imagine a man on trial—a convicted murderer of thousands of people, as well as a rapist and thief—asking the judge if he could get off “scot-free” by promising to do good works for the rest of his life. If this judge exonerated him, would he be a just judge?

There would be an uproar in society if this happened. Righteous deeds are what we are supposed to do. It doesn’t pay back for the sins we already committed. The judges in our judicial systems may not always be just, but we can be sure the God of Scripture is just and that there is no amount of good works that can amend for the sin of man. There is no amount of religious devotion, prayer, or giving that can atone for one’s past sins.

 

 

DAY ONE

TOPIC: PERFECT WORK OF RECONCILIATION Ephesians 5:14-22; Colossians 1:19-22

 

  1. Father, we thank You for agape love that You bestowed to humanity through Your Only begotten Son who died for our sins and reconciliation from sins. John 3:16

 

  1. We thank You our Redeemer Christ, Lord Jesus for Your willingness to suffer for the sins You did not commit. 2 Corinthians 5:21

 

  1. Lord Jesus we appreciate and reverence You for the pains You endured on the Cross for the work of our reconciliation to God. Hebrews 12:2

 

  1. Father, by Your grace, forgive every sin of the works of the flesh hindering our full reconciliation in Jesus Name. Galatians 5:19-21

 

  1. Holy Spirit, open our eyes of understanding to know how much Christ Jesus loves us and suffered for the work of our reconciliation in Jesus Name. Ephesians 1:16-18

 

  1. Father, deliver us from the Spirit of error and satanic deception that can draw us away from the truth of the Gospel in Jesus Name. 1 Timothy 4:1

 

  1. Everything the Father did in Christ Jesus belong to us; Holy Spirit help us to know them and achieve them for our daily living in Jesus Name. Romans 10:1-4

 

  1. O Lord, give us the grace not to miss the purpose of Christ’s death on the Cross for earthly pursuit and for gain in Jesus Name. Matthew 16:26

 

  1. Holy Spirit, fill our hearts and empower us to work out our Salvation with fear and trembling; and help us to please You, in the journey of life in Jesus Name. Philippians 2:12-13

 

  1. Father, perfect the work of reconciliation that Christ Jesus did for us on the Cross that we might be what You purpose for our lives in Jesus Name. Philippians 1:6

 

  1. Father God correct and rearrange every past mistake we have made against the perfect work of Christ on the Cross in Jesus Name. Amos 9:11

 

  1. Father uproot anything the enemies has planted in my life, family that are working against Your good purpose for me. Matthew 15:13

 

  1. Lord Jesus calm every storm ranging and wants to sink the boat of Christ The Living Word Church in the ocean of failure in Jesus Name. Mark 4:35-39

 

  1. Father in Your mercy help us to enjoy the full perfect of the work of reconciliation that Christ did for us in every area of our lives in Jesus Name. 2 Peter 1:3

 

  1. Through the perfect work of Christ on the Cross, Father feed us with honey from the rock that will satisfy our souls in Jesus Name. Deuteronomy 32:13b

 

  1. Father reconcile the Body of Christ worldwide to Yourself that manifest Your perfect work of reconciliation done on the Cross in Jesus Name. Colossians 1:20

 

  1. Through Your perfect work of reconciliation Lord Jesus reconcile every separated family or relationship by the devil or human error has scattered in Jesus Name.

 

  1. Father by Your grace I will not miss heaven because of the perfect work of reconciliation works of Jesus on the Cross in Jesus Name.

 

  1. Loose the blessings of the perfect work of reconciliation of Christ to Your helpers and loved ones in Jesus Name. John 4:28-30

 

  1. Father we thank You for answered prayers.

 

 

 

DAY TWO

SATURDAY 3RD APRIL

 

TOPIC: GLORIOUS MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION. Romans 10:11-17; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21

 

  1. Father God we give You all glory in heaven and on the earth that no human not things can share them with You. Isaiah 4:28

 

  1. Lord Jesus we humbly reverence and honour You for Your love and care for humanity through the message of reconciliation.

 

  1. We thank You for counting us worthy by Your grace to be partnership with You in Your glorious message of reconciliation. Matthew 28:19-20

 

  1. Father forgive us every sin of disobedience and laziness of failing to carry Your message of the Gospel of reconciliation to the world.

 

  1. Lord Jesus give us a fresh baptism of the Holy Ghost with fire and power for the works of the Ministry in Jesus Name. Acts 4:31

 

  1. Father God, wake up the Body of Christ from slumbering and spiritual deadness for the glorious message of reconciliation in Jesus Name. Ephesians 5:14

 

  1. Lord Jesus give us divine visitation in Christ The Living Word Church that will bring us a realisation of our calling in Jesus Name. Mark 16:15

 

  1. Father heal our backsliding and graciously return us to fervency in the works of the ministry of reconciliation in Jesus Name. Jeremiah 3:22

 

  1. By the power of the anointing of the Holy Ghost, we break and destroy every demonic stronghold erected against the progress of Christ The Living Word Church in Jesus Name. Isaiah 10:27

 

  1. Father deliver me from the spirit of procrastination and laziness from preaching the message of the Gospel or Evangelising in Jesus Name. Proverbs 6:9

 

  1. Holy Ghost open the eyes of understanding of the Jews to know Jesus Christ is their Messiah that they are eagerly expecting in Jesus Name. John 1:10-12

 

  1. Father kindle the fire of revival to United Kingdom that will spread to Europe and Western world that will deliver them from their apostasy to Christianity again in Jesus Name. Hosea 14:4-6

 

  1. Father empower and strengthen all missionaries in every nation and deliver them from the mouth of human lions working against their ministry in Jesus Name. 2 Timothy 4:17

 

  1. Holy Ghost equip and empower every believers of the Gospel to resist the law forbidden the preaching of the message of the Gospel of Salvation in Jesus Name. Acts 3:17-21

 

  1. Father bless Our nation United Kingdom and every other nations on earth that believe the glorious message of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in Jesus Name. Genesis 12:7

 

  1. Holy Ghost blow Your winds of revival to every nations on earth that will make them be blessed through the glorious message of Salvation. Genesis 12:7

 

  1. Lord Jesus, back our Ministry with signs and wonders in healing the sick, delivering the demonic oppressors that will make the Gentiles believe our message of the Gospel of Power in Jesus Name, John 4:48

 

  1. Holy Ghost lead and direct us to the prepared souls that are hungry for the Salvation of the Gospel in Jesus Name. Acts 16:6-10

 

  1. Father God help and carry our Spiritual, Financial, Material and Physical burden of Christ The Living Word Church for her effective operation in Jesus Name. Acts 16:14-15

 

  1. Lord Jesus Christ give us the grace to reign with You in Your eternal life in Jesus Name. John 14:2-4

 

  1. Father we thank You for answered prayers

 

 

 

DAY THREE

SUNDAY 4TH APRIL

 

TOPIC: PRACTICAL RECONCILIATION. Jeremiah 3:22; Matthew 5:9, 23-24; Galatians 6:1

 

  1. Lord Jesus, we thank You for saving our souls, through our faith in Your Name that gave us the grace of Salvation. Ephesians 2:8

 

  1. Father forgive every sin we have committed after receiving our Salvation through Your Gospel in Jesus Name. 1 John 1:8-9

 

  1. Father give us the grace to completely give ourselves unto You as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God in our daily living in Jesus Name. Romans 12:1

 

  1. Father of mercy deliver and set us free from the bondage of sin and work of the flesh warring in our minds to bring us to captivity again in Jesus Name. Romans 7:19-25

 

  1. Holy Ghost empower us to preach the Gospel of Peace to the people around us and to reconcile them to their Creator (God) in Jesus Name. 2 Corinthians 5:20

 

  1. As Your ambassador, O Lord, give us the grace to represent You as Your faithful Servants without tarnishing Your Holy Name in Jesus Name. 1 Corinthians 4:2

 

  1. Father give us the grace to be shining the Light of Gospel in the midst of this sinful world that people will see Your glorious Light in us in Jesus Name. Matthew 5:14-15

 

  1. As Jesus was made sin that make us righteous, Father give us the grace and power to remain living righteously unto You henceforth in Jesus Name. 2 Corinthians 5:21

 

  1. Christ suffered shame to give us glory, Father make us to be the shining glory of Your Son to the world in Jesus Name. 2 Corinthians 4:6

 

  1. Holy Spirit teach and direct us how to restore any believer that fell into sin in a Spirit of gentleness back to faith in Christ in Jesus Name. Galatians 6:1

 

  1. Father give us the grace to be manifesting Godly character and integrity that the unbelievers will be reading in us in Jesus Name. 2 Corinthians 3:2

 

  1. Lord Jesus deliver Your church, The Body of Christ worldwide, from the love of money and materialism in Jesus Name. 1 John 2:15-17

 

  1. Everything that was against us that Christ bore for us on the Cross by Your grace O Lord; we will not bear them again in Jesus Name. 1 Peter 2:24

 

  1. By the grace of God, sin will not have dominion over us henceforth anymore in Jesus Name. Romans 6:14

 

  1. Father God, as Your children, anywhere we go let people see the identity of Your Son Christ Jesus in us. Acts 11:26c

 

  1. Lord Jesus let Your Word of Salvation produce faith in us to be completely trust and hope in You continually in Jesus Name. Romans 10:17

 

  1. Father restore every opportunity we have lost through our mistakes, carelessness, and disobedient to Your Word in Jesus Name. Joel 2:25

 

  1. The uncommon and notable miracles that will de-populate Satanic kingdom and increase Christ Kingdom let it begin to happen in Christ The Living Word Church in Jesus Name. Acts 4:4

 

  1. Father give us the blessings of resurrection of Christ from deadness to life in every area of our lives in Jesus Name. Romans 8:11

 

  1. Thank You Lord for doing beyond our request. Ephesians 3:20