1:To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2: Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God (Rev.3:1-2).

Examples: In the verse above all regarded her as a flourishing, active, successful church – all except Christ. The reason is that despite all her activities, she is not confessing him. Pray for Queensland Synod as it meets in the first week of November and the Council of Synod as it seeks ways of implementing decisions following that. May each decision be God-glorifying. Pray that God will not only revive the Uniting Church, but will revive the Church world-wide. Pray that God will revive each one of us, that is, you and I.
 

18:To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.      19: I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first… Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds 23b: (Rev.2:18-19.23b).

Examples: Pray for our Pastor, Elders, Church Councillors, RE teachers, Joy and the Pastoral Care team, all those who participate in the service each week and those who work behind the scenes. Those who keep the property maintained. Pray for more leaders and helpers for Children’s Church Pray for all who organize and are involved in activities throughout the week. Those involved in the hospitality and catering ministry. Pray that more people will make themselves available for training in the use of the new multi-media equipment, and that God will supply all the money for the cost of this equipment. Pray that God will enable us to meet our weekly budget.
 

14: Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15: so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16: as you hold out the word of life. (Phil.2:14-16a).

Example: Pray that each of us will maintain a balance between what we are to do and what we strive to be. ‘Do’ (v14, ‘Be blameless’, ‘Shine’ (v15) ‘Hold fast’ (v16). The reassurances are ‘God is at work, (v13), you are God’s children, and you are lights (v15). Pray that we might understand that the Christian life, growing in the likeness of Christ is a blend of rest and activity that is, resting confidently in what God is doing within, and actively pursuing the duty of being blameless. "Let go and let God!"
 

21: The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord (Acts 11:21).

Example: Pray for Bill Newman and his outreach to the youth of the Gold Coast at Easter time next year. Let us pray for ways that PPUC may become involved. Pray for our children (children’s church); our Youth (RE students; Gold Coast North Youth Centre); our children and grandchildren, that they may come to know him as Lord and Saviour. Pray that we all might ‘shine’ and by witnesses, for example: by acts of kindness, sharing our story with others, sharing books, tracts etc.

Doug Alton
Monthly Prayer Points Convenor

Prayer is either a sheer illusion or a personal contact between embryonic, incomplete persons (ourselves) and the utterly concrete person (God) – C S Lewis