Week 10 Prayer and Study Guide

FOLLOWING JESUS:
EXPLORING CHRISTIAN “BEST PRACTICES” FOR A MEANINGFUL LIFE
KINGDOM PRAYER & STUDY GUIDE MARCH 24-30, 2019
Week 10: KINGDOM HOSPITALITY


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Contents
WEEK 10 (March 24-30, 2019) KINGDOM HOSPITALITY
Day 64: Introducing Kingdom Hospitality....................7 Day 65: God’s Hospitality.........................................17 Day 66: Cultivating a Posture of Hospitality............25 Day 67: Practicing Hospitality at Home...................33 Day 68: Practicing Hospitality Among the Saints.....41 Day 69: Practicing Hospitality in Business.................47 Day 70: Practicing Hospitality in Society..................55
A Bonus Passage on Hospitality to Consider............61
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Romans 12:13
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Day 64:
Introducing Kingdom Hospitality
1. Center Down
Our breath prayer for today: As you inhale, whisper, “We desire...” As you exhale, whisper, “...to truly serve You, Lord.”
2. Slowly read aloud the following Scripture passage
“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit upon His glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in His presence, and He will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at His right hand and the goats at His left.
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed Me. I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited Me into your home. I was naked, and you gave Me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for Me. I was in prison, and you visited Me.’
“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see You hungry and feed You? Or thirsty and give You something to drink? Or a stranger and show You hospitality? Or naked or give You clothing?
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When did we ever see You sick or in prison and visit You?’
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to Me!’
“Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed Me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite Me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give Me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit Me.’
“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help You?’
“And He will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help Me.’
“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”
(Matthew 25:31-46, NLT
For further exploration:
Video: http://hospitality.video/christian http://hospitality.video/PohlExplainer
Book: Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition, by Dr. Christine D. Pohl
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3. Kingdom Prayer
Righteous Father, we thank You for being a God of grace and mercy. Thank You for knowing each homeless person and family intimately. Thank You for being their protection, shelter, hope and help. The heavens proclaim Your Glory, Lord. The skies display Your craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night You are made known. Father, Your instructions are perfect, reviving the soul. Your decrees are trustworthy, making wise the simple. Your commandments are right, bringing joy to the heart. Your commands are clear, giving insight for living. Reverencing You is pure, lasting forever. Your laws are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.
Glorious Father, we confess that Your arm is not too weak to save the homeless, neither is Your ear deaf to hear their calls. Lord, You know each of them and call them by name. You know everything about them, when they sit down and when they stand up. You know their thoughts even when they are far away. We rejoice Mighty King, because You said You will never fail nor abandon them. Lord, You said that the poor will always be among us, but You also mandated that we take care of them. You said that we are to share our food with the hungry, give shelter to the homeless, and give clothes to those who need them and to not hide from our relatives who need our help. We declare that, as a Church Family, we will commit to feeding the hungry and helping those who are in trouble. Lord, then You will guide us continually, give us water when we are dry and restore our strength.
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Holy Spirit, show me how I can be a blessing to the homeless community in Houston:
Holy Spirit, we ask that You would be a wall of protection and deliverance around the homeless daily. Watch over them while they sleep and protect them from violence, abuse, and theft. Lord, we cry out on behalf of the children whose families are homeless. Help them to overcome their bleak beginnings and show them how precious they are in Your sight. Help them to focus and study so that they will excel in school. Encourage them when other children say mean things about them because of their circumstances. Holy Spirit, change the hearts of the leaders of our country who continue to ignore the plight of the homeless, yet they pursue greed and avarice. Lord, for those who are homeless because of an addiction or mental illness, please help them to find the help they need so that they can get their lives back in order and begin to rebuild. Father, bless Pastor Velosia and Daniel Kibe and each member of our Global and Local Missions and Outreach ministries as they serve those in need. Please continue to empower and provide for our Church Family financially so that we have the resources to battle this cultural atrocity.
Merciful Father, forgive those homeless persons whose poordecisionshaveledtotheircurrentsituation. Forgive those who are homeless due to drugs, alcohol, gambling,
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addictions, or poor work habits. Forgive those people who would seek to take advantage of the homeless. Forgive those who look down upon the homeless. Forgive those of us who have resources to give to the homeless but refuse to give. Forgive those agencies who claim to be advocates for the homeless, but misappropriate the resources. Forgive our nation for creating systems that produce a homeless population. Lord, forgive me for (list any sins that you have committed).
Holy Spirit, remind the homeless of those they need to forgive and help them to be quick to forgive. As for me, Holy Spirit, bring to my remembrance those I need to forgive. (Take a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal names or faces of people that you may need to forgive. As He reveals them, say, “I forgive name of person(s).” Now, trust the Lord to heal any wounds in your soul caused by unforgiveness.)
Holy Spirit, help the homeless not to yield to temptation but deliver them from the evil one.
O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, where is there anyone as mighty as You? You are entirely faithful. You are far more awesome than all who surround Your throne. Your home reaches up to the heavens, while its foundation is on the earth. You draw water up from the oceans and pour it down as rain on the land. The Lord is Your Name! You are mighty, but You do not despise anyone! You are mighty in both power and understanding. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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4. Concepts to Consider
God is serious about hospitality. Providing for the stranger, the foreigner, the widow, the orphan, the pilgrim, the least, the last, and the lost are everywhere you turn in the Biblical narrative. From Genesis to Revelation, we see examples of hospitality that go way beyond our modern “let’s have a few friends and family over for dinner” definition of hospitality.
Kingdom hospitality has a great deal to do with how we see “the other,” our Creator, and ourselves (aka, our Kingdom disposition). A classic case in point is the Matthew 25 passage above. When we are able to trust God with our very lives--”what we shall eat and what we shall drink”--then welcoming someone who cracks our facade of self-reliance and stretches our sensibilities becomes easier. We don’t want to miss Jesus Himself because we were too narrowly focused on what we don’t have or what we could lose.
To be clear, the Biblical hospitality imperatives are not asking us to be undiscerning about who we allow into our presence and homes, but they are asking us not to make biased assumptions about people who cross our paths who may not be “our kind of people,” but to whom God may desire us to show holy love and hospitality.
Indeed, one of the words translated as “hospitality” in the New Testament is “philoxenia” (φιλοξενία; phee- lohx-eh-NEE-ah) or “brotherly love for a stranger or foreigner” (see: Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13:2) and was a distinctive feature of the early Church.
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While we today may from time to time receive kindness from strangers during the aftermath of natural disasters or when our car breaks down out of town, in the Ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman contexts of the Bible, providing hospitality could mean life or death on a regular basis. Remember, there were no Hampton Inns, Denny’s or Ubers around. Travelers and visitors depended exclusively on the hospitality of people outside of their immediate family group for food, security, and shelter. Not providing hospitality was viewed as a terrible social faux pas and was the height of societal neglect.
Biblically, hospitality is derived from the core belief that all persons are created in God’s image and by virtue of this fact all humans are deserving of radical and responsible welcoming provision and care. Throughout this week we will explore how to give and receive Godly hospitality.
5. Reflection Questions:
a. Personal Reflection: When have you received
hospitality? What was the experience like?
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b. Kingdom Reflection: Why do you think hospitality is so much a part of the Biblical narrative?
Optional Time of Centering/Soaking:
If possible, take some time, perhaps 5 to 15 minutes, to get into a comfortable position and simply allow the Lord to minister to you at a deep level (Psalm 42:7). Turn off or put down all distractions. Close your eyes. Hold in your thoughts a meaningful word, phrase, or image from the Scripture you read today. Release all other thoughts and concerns into the Presence of the Lord. If your thoughts wander, that’s okay, just gently return to your Scriptural word, phrase, or image. You may want to set a timer.
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Notes:
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Day 65:
God’s Hospitality 1. Center Down
Our breath prayer for today: As you inhale, whisper, “O Lord, You have welcomed us...” As you exhale, whisper, “...like family.”
2. Slowly read aloud the following Scripture
Before the Passover festival began, Jesus was keenly aware that His hour had come to depart from this world and to return to the Father. From beginning to end, Jesus’ days were marked by His love for His people. Before Jesus and His disciples gathered for dinner, the adversary filled Judas Iscariot’s heart with plans of deceit and betrayal. Jesus, knowing that He had come from God and was going away to God, stood up from dinner and removed His outer garments. He then wrapped Himself in a towel, poured water in a basin, and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with His towel.
Simon Peter (as Jesus approaches): Lord, are You going to wash my feet?
Jesus: Peter, you don’t realize what I am doing, but you will understand later.
Peter: You will not wash my feet, now or ever!
Jesus: If I don’t wash you, you will have nothing to do with Me.
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Peter: Then wash me but don’t stop with my feet. Cleanse my hands and head as well.
Jesus: Listen, anyone who has bathed is clean all over except for the feet. But I tell you this, not all of you are clean.
(He knew the one with plans of betraying Him, which is why He said, “not all of you are clean.”) After washing their feet and picking up His garments, He reclined at the table again.
Jesus: Do you understand what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and truly, that is who I am. So if your Lord and Teacher washes your feet, then you should wash one another’s feet. I am your example; keep doing what I do. I tell you the truth: a servant is not greater than the master. Those who are sent are not greater than the one who sends them. If you know these things, and if you put them into practice, you will find happiness. (John 13:1-17, VOICE)
For further exploration:
Video: http://b.link/FootWashingLiveLove http://b.link/FootWashing1
3. Kingdom Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of salvation. Thank You for desiring fellowship with us. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for atoning for the sins of the entire world. Holy Spirit, we thank You for empowering us to be effective witnesses here on earth. Lord, You are great and deserving of praise. All the nations of the world will recognize You as Lord. You
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We come to give You the glory You deserve. We worship You in all Your holy splendor and the earth trembles before You. We proclaim to all the world, the Lord reigns! The heavens proclaim Your righteousness and every nation sees Your glory.
Righteous Father, You loved the world so much that You gave Your one and only Son so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. You did not send Jesus into the world to judge it, but to save the world through Him. Father, we declare that Your Word will move swiftly through the earth and save the lost. Lord, You are not slow concerning Your promises as some people think, but You are patient for humanity’s sake, not willing that any should perish, but all should come to repentance. We are Your masterpiece, created anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things You planned for us long ago. We declare, by faith, that (say aloud the names of nonbelievers) will confess with their mouths, the Lord Jesus, and believe in their hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead and we expect that they will be saved. Father, we decree that they will know the truth, and the truth will set them free.
Glorious Father, we know that the unsaved cannot come to You unless they are drawn, so we ask that You would circumcise the hearts of every man, woman, boy, and girl and draw them. During these perilous times, we specifically make intercession on behalf of all world leaders and those around the world who do not acknowledge Your Son, Jesus Christ. Lord, surround them with the counsel of the Godly so that they may be washed in the water of Your Word − putting away the
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old nature and putting on the new. Father, we ask You to save the unsaved. Remove the darkness in their hearts so they may see Your light.
Holy Spirit, show me those people who are in my circle of influence that I can share the Good News with:
Redeeming Father, forgive the unsaved for not acknowledging You or Your Son. Forgive them for disobedience, hatred, rebellion, murder, idolatry, sexual immorality, greed, racism, injustice, violence, and rejection of Your Gospel. 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. (Take a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal names or faces of people that you may need to forgive. As He reveals them say, “I forgive name of person(s).” Now, trust the Lord to heal any wounds in your soul caused by unforgiveness.)
Holy Spirit, help us all to not yield to temptation but deliver us from the evil one.
Holy, holy, holy, are You, the Lord God Almighty. You are worthy, to receive glory, honor and power. To You the blessed, and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, Who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; to You be honor and everlasting power. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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4. Concepts to Consider
In the foot-washing scene above from the Gospel of John, we see Jesus acts as both the One Who welcomes and the One Who is welcomed. When we practice Christian hospitality we are acting in continuity with the character of Jesus. When we welcome one another we are also welcoming Jesus.
In the Judean cultural context of John’s Passover scene washing the feet of those who entered your house was an ordinary act of hospitality. Jesus, of course, took the ordinary and made it extraordinary as He insisted that His followers take on the posture of servant hospitality as a way of ministering to each other and as a means of welcoming persons into His Presence, even when they “don’t deserve it,” like Judas.
Throughout Scripture, we see God exhibiting hospitality toward humanity, even in our rebellion and brokenness. Sabbath, the Biblical feasts, and the Eucharist (“The Lord’s Supper") are all examples of God’s ongoing hospitality. Think about it. As we discussed in our study on Sabbath a few weeks ago, it is a time God has provided for us to reset and realign that opens our being to the hospitality of God Himself. Why do you think all of the festivals, and even Eucharist, involve food, pausing, worship, and prayer? These are living demonstrations of God’s call to “come home” to Him. Remember, Jesus said, “in my Father’s house there are many rooms” (John 14:2), and this is a hospitable invitation to “dwell in the House of Lord forever!” (Psalm 23:6)
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At its core then, the Good News of Jesus is all about making room. God has made room for us, and through the enlivening action of grace, we make room for Him in our lives and our communities.
5. Reflection Questions
a. Personal Reflection. Can you think of other examples in the Bible when God shows hospitality? If so, give an example:
b. Kingdom Reflection. Hospitality is foundational to Biblical Christian faith. How do we see God’s hospitality exhibited in the formation and continuation of the Church?
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Optional Time of Centering/Soaking:
If possible, take some time, perhaps 5 to 15 minutes, to get into a comfortable position and simply allow the Lord to minister to you at a deep level (Psalm 42:7). Turn off or put down all distractions. Close your eyes. Hold in your thoughts a meaningful word, phrase, or image from the Scripture you read today. Release all other thoughts and concerns into the Presence of the Lord. If your thoughts wander, that’s okay, just gently return to your Scriptural word, phrase, or image. You may want to set a timer.
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Day 66:
Cultivating a Posture of Hospitality
1. Center Down
Our breath prayer for today: As you inhale, whisper, “We welcome You, O Lord...” As you exhale, whisper, “...into our lives.”
2. Slowly read aloud the following Scripture
God appeared to Abraham at the Oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent. It was the hottest part of the day. He looked up and saw three Men standing. He ran from his tent to greet Them and bowed before Them.
He said, “Master, if it please You, stop for a while with Your servant. I’ll get some water so You can wash Your feet. Rest under this tree. I’ll get some food to refresh You on Your way, since Your travels have brought You across my path.”
They said, “Certainly. Go ahead.”
Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. He said, “Hurry. Get three cups of our best flour; knead it and make bread.”
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Then Abraham ran to the cattle pen and picked out a nice plump calf and gave it to the servant who lost no time getting it ready. Then he got curds and milk, brought them with the calf that had been roasted, set the meal before the Men, and stood there under the tree while They ate. (Genesis 18:1-7, MSG)
For further exploration:
Video: http://scriptures.church/AbrahamHospitality http://b.link/RublevIconExplainer
Article: http://b.link/TrinityRublev 3. Kingdom Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for being our provider. Thank You for giving us Your Word on how to make our way prosperous and successful. Father, thank You for surrounding us with Your favor like a shield as we do business in our public and private lives. Thank You for continuing to open doors of opportunity. Thank You, Father, for Your Word to use as our economic strong tower during these trying financial times. We praise You with all of our hearts; we will tell of all the marvelous things You have done. Your reign is forever. You execute judgment from Your throne. You judge the world with justice and the people righteously. Lord, You are a shelter for the oppressed and a refuge in times of trouble. We trust in You because we know Your Name; we know that You do not abandon those who search for You. Father, Your righteousness reaches to the highest heavens. You have done wonderful things! Who can compare with You?
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Glorious Father, we declare that we are blessed because we fear You and delight in obeying Your commands. We believe that Your plans for our finances are for good and not for disaster, to give us a prosperous future and a hope. As we are willing and obedient, according to Your Word, we will have plenty to eat. We will trust in You because we know that Your Word is Truth. We confess that our confidence is in You and not in our jobs, our investments, our bank accounts or ourselves. We commit to seeking Your Kingdom first above all things and living righteously and we know that You will give us everything we need. We rebuke old mindsets, habits and behavior patterns that have created lack and poverty. In the Name of Jesus, we stand united against thoughts of failure, defeat and mediocrity. According to Your Word, we confess that we will be wealthy and our good deeds will last forever.
What is a financial breakthrough that you are expecting to receive? Find God’s promises concerning finances and begin to declare them over your life:
Holy Spirit, we ask You to help those who are drowning in financial debt. Lead them to someone who can help them to manage their finances better. As we receive increases in our finances, help us, Holy Spirit, to remember that You are the One who provides abundance. Please help us not to hoard Your financial blessings. Your Word says that when we help the poor
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we are lending to the Lord and He will repay our generosity. So please, Holy Spirit, remind us to be generous and to look for opportunities to be a financial blessing to someone else in need. Teach us Your Way to love people and to use money, rather than the devil’s way of loving money and using people.
Merciful Father, forgive us for all acts of sin including idolatry, greed, stinginess, self-centeredness, arrogance, pride, stubbornness, financial disobedience and any other act of unrighteousness. Forgive those of us who continue to participate in the downward spiral of financial mismanagement. Forgive those of us who, whether in ignorance or in rebellion, fail to develop financial plans that include tithing, debt reduction, savings and investments. Forgive us for living beyond our means and misusing credit cards. Father, forgive those members of the Body of Christ who do not pay their tithes and help them to get on track and begin to tithe. 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. (Take a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to show you names or faces of people that you may need to forgive. As He shows you, say aloud, “I forgive name of person(s).” Now, trust the Lord to heal any wounds in your soul caused by unforgiveness.)
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Holy Spirit, help us all not to yield to temptation but deliver us from the evil one.
Glorious Lord, You made the earth by the power of Your Word and preserve it by Your Wisdom. With Your own understanding You stretched out the heavens. When You speak in the thunder, You announce that the heavens are filled with water. You cause the clouds to rise over the earth. You send the lightning with the rain and release the wind from Your storehouses. Holy, holy, holy are You the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the whole earth is filled with Your glory! In Jesus Name, Amen.
4. Concepts to Consider
Genesis 18 shows us what it means to have a posture of hospitality. The scene opens with Abraham sitting at the entrance to his tent. This would seem quite ordinary except that he had just been circumcised three days earlier (ouch!). Let’s face it; most people would have been in their beds groaning in pain rather than sitting at the doors of their tents. Even in his personal discomfort Abraham is seen scanning the horizon for anyone who might walk by. He’s ready to offer hospitality at a moments notice.
This hospitable disposition set Abraham apart and God took notice. On His/Their way to Sodom and Gomorrah God (as three "angelic" Persons) stops by to visit Abraham who--even in his pain--invites Them/Him to stop and receive gracious conversation, foot washing, rest, and a feast.
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This story is extraordinary in the way it interweaves singular and plural verbal forms in reference to the complex yet unified nature of the One God presented as three Persons, and it highlights the exemplary hospitality of Abraham, "the father of many nations" (Genesis 17:5).
While there are many layers to this story in Genesis 18, one of the points we are encouraged to notice is that we, as the “children of Abraham,” are emboldened to follow his example by developing a general disposition of hospitality. In a sense, hospitality is an antidote to the “self-referenced life” we have all inherited from our first parents, Adam and Eve. If you think about it, Abraham is portrayed as a more obedient type of “Adam” and Sarah is a type of “Eve.” Their open and welcoming interaction with the “Divine Guest(s)” is both a beautiful representation of God’s desire to be with us and what a heart that is turned to God looks like in its willingness to receive God’s imminent Presence. The writer of Hebrews will later pull on these images as examples of how followers of Jesus should welcome others, because you never know when you, like Abraham and Sarah, might be entertaining “angels--i.e., the Messengers of God’s Presence--unawares” (Hebrew 13:2).
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5. Reflection Questions
a. Personal Reflection: Have you ever offered hospitality to someone and you felt the presence of God with you? If so, briefly describe how that felt.
b.KingdomReflection: Howmightdeveloping a posture or attitude of expectant hospitality (being ready to show hospitality at any moment and as a way of life) change the world around you?
Optional Time of Centering/Soaking:
If possible, take some time, perhaps 5 to 15 minutes, to get into a comfortable position and simply allow the Lord to minister to you at a deep level (Psalm 42:7). Turn off or put down all distractions. Close your eyes. Hold in your thoughts a meaningful word, phrase, or image from the Scripture you read today. Release all other thoughts and concerns into the Presence of the Lord. If your thoughts wander, that’s okay, just gently return to your Scriptural word, phrase, or image. You may want to set a timer.
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Day 67:
Showing Hospitality at Home
1. Center Down
Our breath prayer for today. As you inhale, whisper, “Our hearts are at home...“ As you exhale whisper, “... when they rest in You.”
2. Slowly read aloud the following Scripture
Putting out from the harbor at Troas, we made a straight run for Samothrace. The next day we tied up at New City and walked from there to Philippi, the main city in that part of Macedonia and, even more importantly, a Roman colony. We lingered there several days.
On the Sabbath, we left the city and went down along the river where we had heard there was to be a prayer meeting. We took our place with the women who had gathered there and talked with them. One woman, Lydia, was from Thyatira and a dealer in expensive textiles, known to be a God-fearing woman. As she listened with intensity to what was being said, the Master gave her a trusting heart—and she believed!
After she was baptized, along with everyone in her household, she said in a surge of hospitality, “If you’re
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confident that I’m in this with you and believe in the Master truly, come home with me and be my guests.” We hesitated, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer. (Acts 16:11-15, MSG)
For further consideration:
Video: http://b.link/AtTheTable 3. Kingdom Prayer
Triumphant Father, we thank You for the fathers in the Body of Christ. Thank You for reminding them daily that they are created in Your image. Thank You for crowning each of them with glory and honor. Thank You for helping them to take their rightful place as the head of their homes. We, Your servants, give praise to You, Lord. Your Name will be blessed now and forever! Everywhere from east to west, Your Name shall be praised. Lord, You are high above the nations; Your glory is higher than the heavens. No one can be compared with You! Not to us, O Lord, but all glory will go to Your Name for Your unfailing love and Your faithfulness.
Majestic Father, by faith, we declare that the fathers in the Body of Christ are saved, sanctified, and filled with Your Holy Spirit. They are priestly providers and protectors of their families. We confess that our fathers will not copy the behavior and customs of this world; but they will allow You, Lord, to transform them into new men by changing the way they think. We decree that our fathers are the head and not the tail; they are always on top and never at the bottom. They are not victims of society; but they are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. Their children will honor them; for this is right in Your sight. We confess that our fathers will not provoke their children to anger by the way they treat them; but they
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will raise them with the discipline and instruction that come from You, our Heavenly Father. Above all, we confess that our fathers have victorious futures because Your plans for them are of hope, filled with good and not evil. We decree that the fruit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are evident in their lives. The light of Jesus is reflected in their actions. We confess that our fathers are mighty men of valor.
I will pray for the following fathers in the Body of Christ:
Holy Spirit, we ask You to fill our fathers with the knowledge of Your Word in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. Please order their days so that their daily activities are balanced and fruitful. Make the crooked places in their lives straight and perfect those things that concern them. Help each father not to grieve Your Spirit. Teach them how to develop the individual spiritual gifts and talents of their children. Restore the broken or struggling relationships between fathers and children. Increase Your love in those father/ child(ren) relationships that are doing well. Holy Spirit, comfort those who have experienced the death of their fathers and equip us as the Body of Christ to provide the support that they may need.
Faithful Father, forgive our fathers for sins of disobedience, selfishness, and lying. Forgive our wives and mothers for taking on the roles You have ordained for husbands and fathers. Forgive us as a society for focusing on the fathers who are not living up to their responsibilities while ignoring those who are taking care of their families. Father, forgive me for (list any sins that you have committed).
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Holy Spirit, remind our fathers of those they need to forgive and help them to be quick to forgive. As for me, Holy Spirit, bring to my remembrance those I need to forgive. (Take a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal names or faces of people that you may need to forgive. As He reveals them say, “I forgive name of person(s).” Now, trust the Lord to heal any wounds in your soul caused by unforgiveness.)
Holy Spirit, help our fathers not to yield to temptation but deliver them from the evil one.
Exalted Lord, we praise Your Name. Your Name is great; Your glory towers over the earth and heaven. You are worthy, Lord, to receive glory, honor and power. You created all things; by your will they exist and were created. You are Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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4. Concepts to Consider
Lydia, an entrepreneurial leader in her community and a God-fearing woman, heard the Good News about Jesus and put her trust in Him. It’s interesting to note that her very first impulse after receiving Jesus was one of hospitality. She invites Paul and Silas, these traveling missionaries that she had just met, to her home, not just for a meal, but to be her guests, in essence, to stay with her and her family while they ministered in the area around Philippi.
One of the most familiar elements of a wedding reception is the cutting of the cake. Traditionally, this joint gesture by the couple is meant to symbolize their intent to be hospitable and to have a home where guests are fed and welcomed, just as the cake they have just cut will feed a room full of guests.
There is an old saying that goes, “charity begins at home” and so does hospitality. Most of the earliest churches were in family homes (like Lydia's). In many ways our “first church” is still in our homes and hospitality radiates to the world around us from that anchor point.
May the Lord grant us peace in our homes so that they can become rest stops and way stations stations of healing and hope for those the Lord brings across our threshold.
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5. Reflection Questions:
a. Personal Reflection: What are some ways that you currently show hospitality to your family and those who enter your home? What are some areas you could, with God’s help, improve?
b. Kingdom Reflection: How can we begin to make our homes the incubator for Kingdom work in our communities?
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Optional Time of Centering/Soaking:
If possible, take some time, perhaps 5 to 15 minutes, to get into a comfortable position and simply allow the Lord to minister to you at a deep level (Psalm 42:7). Turn off or put down all distractions. Close your eyes. Hold in your thoughts a meaningful word, phrase, or image from the Scripture you read today. Release all other thoughts and concerns into the Presence of the Lord. If your thoughts wander, that’s okay, just gently return to your Scriptural word, phrase, or image. You may want to set a timer.
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Day 68:
Practicing Hospitality Among the Saints
1. Center Down
Our breath prayer: As you inhale, whisper, “Let us break bread together...” As you exhale whisper, “...in Your Presence.”
2. Slowly read aloud the following Scripture
And [the Church] devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47, ESV)
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and
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especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9, ESV)
For further exploration:
Videos: http://visit.social/HospitalityWHY
3. Kingdom Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your eternal love and unmerited grace. We thank You for Your love for us that never ceases and Your mercy which never comes to an end. Your mercies are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Thank You, Father, for being our strength, our shield, our provider and our Savior. You are great and You do wondrous things. You are God alone. Lord, You are in Your Holy temple; You are on Your heavenly throne. To You, O God do we give thanks. Yes, to You do we give thanks. We extol You, our God, O King, and we bless Your Name forever and ever.
Righteous Father, as Kingdom citizens, it is Your will that we excel in the area of our finances. We recognize that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Therefore, we will earn, save, spend and invest money in obedience to Your perfect plan for our lives and our families. We confess that as You bring financial blessings into our lives, we will remember that it is You who gives us the power to get wealth so that the covenant which You swore to our fathers will be established and we will be positioned as instruments to build Your Kingdom.
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Father, we decree that all that we set our hands to do is blessed because You have commanded blessings on our storehouses, including savings, investments and retirement accounts. Lord, as Your blessings overtake us, we will be able to lend money to many and not have to borrow from anyone. We confess that as we bring our tithes and offerings into Your house, we are expecting You to pour out blessings that we will not have room to receive and You will rebuke the devourer for our sakes. Lord, because we will be faithful stewards of Your financial blessings, we expect You to confirm Your Word and make us rulers over abundant wealth.
Holy Spirit, show me what I need to do so that I can be a better steward of the resources I have been blessed with:
Holy Spirit, we ask that You shift our focus from spending to saving and from consuming our income to building wealth. Help the members of the Body of Christ to bind mercy and truth around our necks and write them on our hearts; causing us to have favor in Your sight and in the sight of man. Lord, help us to study Your Word, to meditate on it day and night and observe to do the things written within it so that we may make our way prosperous and have good success. Holy Spirit, help us to build business and personal relationships with other Christians. Help us to begin to love people and use money rather than loving money and using people. We pray for a breaking of old mindsets and generational curses of poverty and lack within the families in the Body of Christ.
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Forgiving Father, forgive us for our sins. Forgive us for repeating patterns of financial failures such as living beyond our means and misusing credit cards. Forgive those in the Body of Christ and our communities for our heavy dependence on payday loan outlets and pawn shops. Forgive us for failing to develop financial plans that include debt reduction, savings and investments. Father, forgive us for walking by sight rather than walking in faith. Forgive many of us for entertaining thoughts that we are supposed to have the most of the worst and the least of the best. Forgive those in our congregation who have refused to make court-ordered child support payments. 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. (Take a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal names or faces of people that you may need to forgive. As He reveals them, say, “I forgive name of person(s).” Now, trust the Lord to heal any wounds in your soul caused by unforgiveness.)
Holy Spirit, help us all not to yield to temptation but deliver us from the evil one.
Yours, Almighty God, is the power and the glory. Yours, O Lord, is the victory and the majesty. All that is in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours is the Kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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4. Concepts to Consider
As we are discovering, Biblical hospitality is inextricably linked to the Gospel. Jesus is both guest and host. God has shown us His gracious hospitality and we are called to go and do likewise. It is a primary mode of evangelism as well as an indicator of our life in Christ.
In the Acts and Galatians passages above we see the emphasis on the “household of faith.” Yes, our call is to “go into all the world” (Mark 16:15), but we must also keep a clear eye on what’s happening in the church and to responsibly meet the needs of those “in the house,” as well as those “outside the house.” Torah- based hospitality is not a hand-out, nor does it encourage codependency. Torah-based hospitality offers a safe space and a launching pad for healing and ministry, not a place to perpetually “free-load.”
For the earliest church, one of the most effective means of bringing others into a life in Christ was the obvious hospitality that the saints showed one another. When people outside the church saw how the saints loved one another and took care of one another, they said, “Wow, I want some of that!”
As we stated in day 65 above, even Holy Communion/The Lord’s Supper mediates and demonstrates hospitality between God and us through Messiah Jesus enlivened by His Spirit.
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5. Reflection Questions
a. Personal Reflection. Have you ever considered that the Good News of Jesus is linked to hospitality? If so, how have you seen Jesus come alive in making room for others?
b. Kingdom Reflection. How could we spread the Gospel through hospitable acts from our church?
Optional Time of Centering/Soaking:
If possible, take some time, perhaps 5 to 15 minutes, to get into a comfortable position and simply allow the Lord to minister to you at a deep level (Psalm 42:7). Turn off or put down all distractions. Close your eyes. Hold in your thoughts a meaningful word, phrase, or image from the Scripture you read today. Release all other thoughts and concerns into the Presence of the Lord. If your thoughts wander, that’s okay, just gently return to your Scriptural word, phrase, or image. You may want to set a timer.
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Day 69:
Practicing Hospitality in Business
1. Center Down
Our breath prayer for today. As you inhale, whisper, “I will walk...“ As you exhale whisper, “...in integrity.”
2. Slowly read aloud the following Scripture
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, be- cause he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. (Luke 2:1-7, NIV)
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For further exploration:
Video: http://b.link/HomeboyIndustries
3. Kingdom Prayer
Almighty Father, we thank You for providing for us, during these tough economic times. Thank You for being the source of our supply. We thank You for taking care of us and supplying all of our needs from Your glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Father, You created the heavens and the earth and everything in it. You give breath to everyone and life to everyone who walks the earth. We will praise Your mighty deeds, O Sovereign Lord. We will tell everyone that You alone are just. We praise You, Lord! Father God, we are joyful because we fear You, Lord, and delight in obeying Your commands. We are blessed to be Your children.
Heavenly Father, we expect business leaders in our community to honor Your Word and live by Your precepts. We command light to shine in the darkness for the Godly. We declare that they are generous, compassionate, and righteous. Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly. Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. During the current economic difficulties in our nation and around the world, we decree prosperity for our community. We decree that the merchants in our community will not fear bad news; they confidently trust You, Lord, to care for them. They are confident and fearless and
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can face their foes triumphantly. They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor.
Holy Spirit, touch the hearts of the people in our community to support these businesses. Help our business leaders to establish fair and honest business practices so that the residents in our community will enjoy doing business with them. Show the owners and managers new and creative ways to increase their revenue without taking advantage of their customers. Convict the hearts of business owners in all communities who treat their employees and customers poorly. Holy Spirit, help the employees to be diligent, hard- working individuals who will work as unto You instead of to man.
Make a list of small businesses in your community and begin to support them:
Righteous Father, forgive the business leaders in our community for all acts of sinfulness. Forgive those who have not been diligent in seeking Your leadership for their businesses. Forgive those who do not trust in You and Your business principles, but lean on their own understanding. Forgive those who have compromised Your Word in order to make a profit. Forgive those who have not treated their employees and customers fairly. Forgive those who have not properly taken care of or shown respect for the community they live in. Lord, forgive me for (list any sins that you have committed).
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Holy Spirit, remind the business leaders in our community of those they need to forgive and help them to be quick to forgive. As for me, Holy Spirit, bring to my remembrance those I need to forgive. (Take a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal names or faces of people that you may need to forgive. As He reveals them say, “I forgive name of person(s).” Now, trust the Lord to heal any wounds in your soul caused by unforgiveness.)
Holy Spirit, help the business leaders in our community not to yield to temptation but deliver them from the evil one.
Almighty God, You are awesome in Your sanctuary. O God of Israel, You give power and strength to Your people. Sovereign Lord, You are great! You are robed with honor and majesty. You are the eternal King. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture References for the Written Text: Psalm 23:1, Philippians 4:19, Isaiah 42:5, Psalm 71:16, Psalm 112:4-6, Psalm 112:7-9, Psalm 68:35, Psalm 104:1
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