The Master's Vessel Ministry: Spiritual Journey (March 30-April 5, 2015)
Spiritual Emphasis 2015: "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1)
We have come to another Spiritual Journey of The Master’s Vessel Ministry (MVM) which runs from March 30th-April 5th, 2015. As usual it is a time of prayer and fasting. For those who may say “another,” so soon after the first one? May I remind you that our enemy, the devil, never takes a holiday. The Parable of the “Wheat and Tares” in (Matt. 13:24-30) reminds us that the enemy sowed tares in the field “while men slept.” We must not sleep, in Jesus’ name.
We shall meet in our respective congregations in the evening at a time that suits each local congregation, as our custom is, to conclude each day’s fast with prayer. Let me remind us that those who are unable to fast till the end of the day for health reasons should feel free to fast as much as they can for the fast is unto the Lord who understands each person’s condition or circumstance. Before you start, dedicate the fast to Him; let it be a conscious and deliberate action.
Non-members of The Master’s Vessel Ministry may submit their prayer requests to the appropriate box on the Ministry website,<a title="Prayer Request" href="https://www.tmvc.org/prayer-request/" target="_blank">Click here for Prayer request</a>. Please feel free to use the meditations below, drawn from the Passion or Suffering of Christ, particularly, His agony at the Garden of Gethsemane and His crucifixion. You should not be limited to the said devotions.
| DAY | MEDITATION | SOME SUGGESTED PRAYER POINTS |
|---|---|---|
| March 30 Luke 22:39-46 | The suffering of Christ started in earnest at the Garden of Gethsemane where He prayed that the Father might provide a different alternative, if that was consistent with His (the Father’s) will. Jesus did not insist that His own will be done. How about You? This experience also teaches us the importance of prayer. Perhaps Peter would not have denied Jesus if he had prayed when the Lord commanded him to pray (vv. 40, 46). | Dedicate this time of fasting and prayer to God. Ask Him to create in you the hunger and strength to pray. Ask Him to teach members of The Master’s Vessel Ministry how to pray. Pray that His will alone be done. |
| March 31 Luke 22:47-53 | Judas betrayed Christ with a kiss. What a painful experience! How often have we betrayed the trust reposed in us by friends, fellow believers, or family members? Those who fail to fight on their knees will always employ the wrong and inferior weapon as Peter did (v. 50; John 18:10). | Pray that the Lord will help you put on the appropriate spiritual armour (2 Cor. 10:3-6; Eph. 6:10-18). Ask for the fullness of the Holy Spirit. |
| April 1 Luke 22:54-62 | Peter did not only resort to the use of an inappropriate weapon, he denied the Lord three times, all because he failed to pray when he needed to pray. But before he denied Christ, he chose to follow Him at a distance (v. 54). How closely are you following the Lord now? If your zeal for Him and what concerns Him is growing cold, you are surely following Him at a distance. There is hope, though, if only you would repent sincerely as Peter did (v. 62) | Let us pray that zeal for Christ would consume us. Pray that the Lord would reveal to us that which causes our love for Him to grow cold. Let us pray that the Lord would give us genuine, heart-felt repentance. |
| April 2 Luke 22:63-65 | Behold the humility and love of God! That He would permit those He created to abuse and taunt Him with impunity is the height of humility and love. This reminds us of the testimony in (Phil. 2:5-8) concerning Him. May this mind of Christ be found in us who claim to know Him as Saviour and Lord. | Pray that the mind of Christ be in us. Pray that the church of Jesus Christ, and particularly, The MVM, would be a reflection of His love and humility. |
| April 3 Luke 22:66-71 | Though held captive by His enemies, Jesus was still in command of the situation. He spoke authoritatively and never backed down from the truth by which He was known. The Lord is looking for disciples who are not easily intimidated by the enemies of the Gospel. Such people will not compromise the truth and cannot be bought. | Pray that the Lord will make this caliber of believers out of us. Pray that the Lord would help us to stand for the truth at all times, especially when it is difficult to do so |
| April 4 Luke 23: 1-12 | The Lord faced injustice in two dimensions - - false accusations and inhuman punishment for no just cause. Both Pilate and Herod found no fault in Him (v. 4). He suffered for the transgressions of others - - you and me, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah (Isa. 53:4-8). The words of the hymn writer were indeed true: “Man of sorrows, what a name! For the Son of God was He, ruined sinners to reclaim, hallelujah, what a Saviour!” Embrace Him as your Saviour, if you have not for there is no other apart from Him. | Pray for those who are in the valley of suffering and pain; that their faith would not fail. Ask God to see them through. Pray particularly for our brothers and sisters whose loved ones have departed. Pray that the unsaved would be saved. |
| April 5 Luke 23:26-38 | On His way to the cross, Jesus told those who pitied Him that they were out of order (vv. 27-31). They had His sympathy instead. In the same vein, He prayed the Father to forgive those who crucified Him and even found an excuse for them- - they did not know what they did (v. 34). Have you received His forgiveness yet? If you have, He wants you to share the Good News with those who have not. Jesus Christ will not be surprised if you lay down your life for Him; He expects that level of love! | Pray for Nigeria - - its leaders and citizens. Pray that the fear of God will rest upon, both the leaders and the led. Pray that He would frustrate the plans of evil men and women. Pray that the Lord would revive His church. |
Please note that you are not limited to the prayer points suggested above.
Joshua Uhiara (Ph.D.)
President (MVM)