Ten Days of Prayer (Ascension to Pentecost)

30 May 2019 – 09 June 2019

Presented by Bishop Dr Azad Marshall’s
Church Ministry Team

ASCENSION THURSDAY

Ascension Thursday 30 May 2019 – Revelation 22;  2 Peter 1:10

Making our calling and election sure 

Today, Ascension Thursday, we remember Jesus’ return to Heaven, forty days after His resurrection from the dead. As His disciples watched him as He ascended, two men in white apparel appeared and said “…. why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner, as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11).

As He was returning to heaven, Jesus commissioned His disciples to go into all the world and make disciples (Matthew 28:20).  However, He also told them to stay in Jerusalem until they had been empowered by the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses, starting from Jerusalem to the utter ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).  Thus empowered, and obeying the Great Commission, the Apostles continued Christ’s work here on earth.  The early Church lived in the eager anticipation that Christ would return any day soon and this influenced their lives and witness for Christ as they lived in a state of preparedness for His return.

We, too, like the early disciples are “called” to serve Christ and carry out His mission here on earth in the anticipation of His return. We are called to preach the gospel and call sinners to repentance and to be His witnesses, in our homes, in our families, in our Church and in our workplaces and beyond. We are called to love God and love one another; we are called to feed the hungry, visit the poor, the sick and the prisoner, to strengthen and encourage them, we are called to let our lights shine brighter as the darkness around us deepens; to be the salt in society and in all things to bring glory to God.

Two thousand years or more have gone by since Christ ascended to heaven and still He tarries.  But as 2 Peter 3:9 tells us, “God is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance”.  God is giving us time to repent of our sins and receive His gift of eternal life, but He is also giving us more time to win as many souls as we can for Jesus. May we take every opportunity He provides to lead others to Him before it is too late.

Christ may come back sooner than we expect, to judge the living and the dead (Rev 22:12).  Pray that God may fill us with a sense of urgency to be prepared for Him and not be ashamed at His coming. (1 John 4:28).

The Book of Revelation ends on this joyous note: “Surely I come quickly. Amen.”  (Rev 22:20).

Maranatha!  Even so come Lord Jesus.

CHALLENGE

Are we ready to face Christ if He returns today?  What are the things we are involved in, if any, that would not stand up to Christ’s return?    Are we willing to set ourselves apart from those things if they do not please and glorify

PRAYER

Almighty God thank you that our Lord Jesus is coming again to take us home with Him.   May we be ready for Him and may we not be ashamed at His coming.  May our lives be lived to your glory and draw many souls to you.  In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

 

Day 1: 25th May – Thursday
The Holy Spirit and the New Covenant

Day 2: 26th May – Friday
The Holy Spirit

Day 3: 27th May – Saturday
The Holy Spirit Regenerates.

Day 4: 28th May – Sunday
The Holy Spirit indwells the believer

Day 5: 29th May – Monday
The Holy Spirit sanctifies us

Day 6: 30th May – Tuesday
The Spirit strengthens and edifies the Body of Christ

Day 7: 31st May – Wednesday
The Spirit empowers us for Witness

Day 8: 1st June – Thursday
The Holy Spirit Illuminates our minds

Day 9: 2nd June – Friday
The Spirit intercedes for us.

Day 10: 3rd June – Saturday
Reality Check