Easter Prayer Guide 2010

Easter Prayer
Feel free to use this guide or not, it is merely a tool to help you if you choose.

We celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ. The death of Christ was necessary to atone for the sins of the world, but what of the resurrection? The resurrection demonstrates God’s power. It proves Jesus Christ’s divinity. The resurrection is the reason for our hope of eternal life, the source of our salvation & justification. Christ becomes the judge for mankind, the authority given by the Father. And finally, it is the fulfillment of prophecy-God’s plan for mankind. Reflect on the importance of the resurrection, as you pray for our Easter celebration.

God’s power
You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. –Ps 77:14
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. –Romans 1:1-6

Spend time in prayer & reflection of God’s power in your life, within our church family and in our community. With God’s power and in His will, we can accomplish anything for the Kingdom.

Christ’s divinity
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." Luke 1:29-33
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. –Hebrews 1:4
Without the resurrection, there would be no eternal kingdom.

Give thanks & praise for the hope of eternal life that we have, that we will spend eternity in the presence of God Almighty, because Jesus Christ has overcome the grave.

Salvation & Justification
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. -Col 2:9-15

We are only saved by our faith in what Jesus did on the cross. Take this time to thank & praise God for your salvation, for that of your family members, friends & church family-but more importantly, to pray for the salvation & justification of those who do not know Jesus as their Savior. Pray for those visiting our Easter service, looking for answers and a church home.

Fulfill prophecy
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. -Isaiah 9: 6-7

No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him- the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough- that he should live on forever and not see decay. For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others.
Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves. But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish. This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
Like sheep they are destined for the grave, and death will feed on them. The upright will rule over them in the morning; their forms will decay in the grave, far from their princely mansions. But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself. –Isaiah 49:7-15

God’s plan is always a better plan. Praise and thank Him for making a way for us to return to fellowship with Him. Thank Him for His Word, which is perfect & true. His Word points to the cross from the very beginning.

Appointed judge of mankind

Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. -John 5:19-23


Thank God that our Judge is the One who died for our sins. Because of His sacrifice, we do not need to fear God’s righteous wrath. Pray for those are lost, that they will turn their faces to God and be spared.

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What is our response to the death & resurrection of Christ? It should be faith & obedience. Pray for guidance & revelation, in your own walk with the Lord. Pray for the same for our congregation.


Pray for our church body.
Lift up those who have been and will continue to work on the preparations for our Easter celebration. Pray for our worship, that it will be pleasing to God. Pray for God’s presence in our worship-invite Him to join with us, for His Spirit to fall fresh on each and everyone of us.


Pray for our community.
Pray for all of those who have received invitations, to those who are searching for a church home, for those who are seekers, that for them the barriers, obstacles & excuses will be removed and they find their way to worship with us.
Pray for our fellow brothers & sisters in Christ, for the other churches in our community and for unity in the body.

Pray for our nation.
Praise God for our nation, our very blessed nation in which we are able to worship openly. Pray for the direction & wisdom of our leaders. Pray for the safety of our military personnel & their families. Pray for our relationship with the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people.


Pray for our hurting world.
Pray for workers in the field—that we as individuals, as a church family and as the Body of Christ will be willing to be the hands & feet of God. Pray for our mission workers all over the world. Pray for the persecuted church. Pray for peace on earth.


In Closing
Why do you call me Lord?

John 13
Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love. The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.

After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place.
"Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Close your prayer time in whatever way the Spirit leads. Thank you for giving of your time and God bless you!