Sunday Evening
Praise
“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. -Revelation 1:5b-6
As we begin a new season, and we approach it with proper prayer and fasting, let us take some time to reflect on the words of verse 5. Christ is the one who loves us. His disposition toward us is love. More than that, as the act of his love, he has freed us from the prison of sin. Sin used to control us and our destiny but no longer does on account of the blood of the lamb. Lastly, he has made us into a kingdom. That is, he has created a new community of sinners who share something powerful in common. Reflect on these things and allow them to lead you into a time of worship.
Confession
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. -Revelation 1:7
You cannot truly know Christ apart from acknowledging deeply your sin, brokenness, and shame. To see Christ is to be brought to a kind of Holy grief. “All the tribes of the with will wail on account of him”, this passage says. Take a few moments of silence and acknowledge your sinfulness before Christ. Sit with it. Don’t move past it quickly, but allow the full weight to sit with you as you consider who you are and who Christ is.
Assurance
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. -Revelation 2:7
The idea of “conquering” is a strong theme in the opening chapters of Revelation. We will hear promises related to it quite frequently as we walk through these chapters. Romans 8:37 picks up this them as it describes Christ’s people as “more than conquerors”. If you are in Christ and have confessed your sins, he promises you the gift of eternal life - eating from the tree of life in the paradise of God. Take some time to thank him for his lavish forgiveness.
Petition
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’ -Revelation 2:10-11
As we approach this new season, the word of Christ to us is to approach the mission He has called us to with courage. “Do not fear”...even the devil, our Lord says. Take some time to pray for our church to grow in courage that results in a sacrificial mission to our town. Pray for renewed evangelism, bold outreach, and tangible signs of courage. Pray that we would see at least 5 new conversions of faith this year.
Monday Morning
Worship
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not…” -Revelation 1:12-17a
Take some time to sit with this description of Jesus. How do you feel considering this picture? The sight led the apostle John to be overcome with fear. But the message of Christ was that he need not be afraid (vs 17). The image of profound power is one that is for us, not against us. Take some time to allow these words to lead you into worship.
Confession
“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. -Revelation 1:2-4
The letters of Christ to the churches of Asia minor in the opening chapters of Revelation contain encouragement, affirmation, and confrontation. In this passage, Christ confronts the deterioration of love. The sense is that the church had lost its zeal and no longer had any passion. They were being obedient but had lost a passion for such. Take some time to reflect on your own experience. Has your love for Christ and his mission grown cold? Do you obey out of duty but lack passion? Confess these things to him now.
Assurance
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ - Revelation 2:7
We again turn to this promise given to the church in Ephesus. Turning to Christ in repentance holds with it the promise of paradise. Let us praise him for his lavish forgiveness.
Petition
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. -Revelation 2:5
Iron Works started with a spirit of prayer that was intended to fuel our mission. Pray for a renewal of this spirit of prayer and for at least one specific person in your life that you can share the gospel with. Name this person, and pray for the courage to be faithful in reaching out to them. Pray for them to respond to the Lord.
Monday afternoon
Worship
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. -Revelation 1:17-19
As we take some more time for prayer and consideration of our God, let us consider these words: “I have the keys of Death and Hades”. As we approach Jesus, we approach him in his authority. He has the final say regarding death and life thereafter. Take some time to consider the authority of Jesus and allow these things to lead you into worship.
Confession
15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. -Revelation 3:15-16
We see as a recurring theme in Christ’s letters to the churches in the opening chapters of Revelation this issue of being lukewarm. As Christians we have a tendency to lose passion and become passive, indifferent, and complacent. Take some time to consider to what extent this charge might be true of you. Ask Christ to search you to identify areas in your life where you have lost passion and zeal for him. Repent of these things and confess them freely to him.
Assurance
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. -Revelation 3:19-20
Christ will always pursue his church to lead us in repentance. He does this because of his love. He adds this promise to all who repent: He will dwell inside of you. He will be close to you. No sin will keep him out because you have been washed thoroughly clean through his blood. Hallelujah! Let us thank him for his forgiveness.
Petition
Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. -Revelation 3:10-11
Christ writes these words (Interestingly!) to the church in Philadelphia. The exhortation of our Love is to hold fast. The instructions to the church are to preserve under what is expected to be unrelenting pressure from the surrounding world due to trial. These words find special significance in our day as our world collectively faces trial on several fronts.
Pray for Iron Works to have a bold and courageous witness to our town that is able to preserve under strong opposition. Pray for our congregation to hold fast to the scriptures during times of pressure. Pray we would avoid being led astray by outside voices that contradict the message of our gospel (partisan politics, social media, current philosophy) and would hold fast to the faith we profess. Lastly, pray that we would be fruitful in evangelism and service to the city this year. Pray for a harvest as we seek to love and serve this great town.