Matthew 23:27-28 ESV - “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Matthew 23 talks about hypocrisy. This Bible chapter clearly rebukes those people who show cleanliness outside like doing good to others. They were very good in speaking but still the inner part of their body, including their heart, is like a tomb full of bones of the dead, everything is smelling bad, and the inner parts of the body is unclean. This is true to some of us including business sectors, trying to do something good to impress others. They do not even realize that God wants us to be genuine and true to Him all the time.
God will search not the outer appearance of the body but instead the inner part of us like what the Pharisees did and they were known as hypocrites who were leaders of the church. It is easy to hide our identity before others, but God knows every detail what is in our hearts. We must uphold honesty all the time and purity whatever we do.
PRAYER: Father, in the name of Jesus, we come into Your presence thanking You for __________(name of church). You have called us to be saints in __________(name of city) and around the world. As we lift our voices in one accord, we recognize that You are God and everything was made by and for You. We call into being those things that be not as though they were.
We thank You that we all speak the same thing: There is no division among us; we are perfectly joined together in the same mind. Grant unto us, Your representatives here, a boldness to speak Your Word, which You will confirm with signs following. We thank You that we have workmen in abundance and all manner of cunning people for every manner of work. Each department operates in the excellence of ministry and intercessions. We have in our church the ministry gifts for the edifying of this body till we all come into the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a mature person. None of our people will be children, tossed to and for and carried about with every wind of doctrine. We speak the truth in love.
We are a growing and witnessing body of believers becoming __________(number) strong. We have every need met. Therefore, we meet the needs of people who come — spirit, soul and body. We ask for the wisdom of God in meeting these needs. Father, we thank You for the ministry facilities that will more than meet the needs of the ministry You have called us to. Our church is prospering financially, and we have more than enough to meet every situation. We have everything we need to carry out Your Great Commission and reach the __________(name of city or county) area for Jesus. We are a people of love as love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. We thank You that the Word of God is living big in all of us and Jesus is Lord!
We are a supernatural church, composed of supernatural people doing supernatural things, for we are laborers together with God. We thank You for Your presence among us, and we lift our hands and praise Your holy name! Amen.
If you would like to continue to pray on this topic, Germaine suggests that you pray the Prayers for the God's People, Ministers, and Ministries to be found in the Prayers That Avail Much Commemorative Edition.
Scripture References: Acts 4:24; Ephesians 4:11-15; Romans 4:17; Philippians 4:19; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Romans 5:5; Acts 4:29; 1 Corinthians 3:9; Mark 16:20; Psalm 63:4; Exodus 35:33 ~Prayers that Avail Much
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