“If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me. So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church” (1 Corinthians 14:11-12).

The purpose of all the movement of the Spirit is not for your sake, but for the sake of the body which is being built by the One who makes all things. Keep this in mind lest you give into the temptation of thinking more of yourself than you ought. Give thanks that the Lord has equipped you for the tasks He gives you. Know that He who is saving you knows what you need before you ask.

Lord, help me to see that all that I am is because of who You are. You have created me to fulfill Your will. Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may now and always live in Your presence, doing what is according to Your will. Help me resist any temptation which would take me out of Your will that I may always abide in You as You abide in me. Abide in me for Your glory.

Come, Holy Spirit, and not only empower me to do what You have called me to do, but also to remain fully in You and not see any of Your working through me as anything other than faithfulness. Thank You for the gifts You give. Guide me according to the Father’s will to live into this life to which You have called and empowered me to live for the sake of the Gospel. Amen.

“So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning” (1 Corinthians 14:9-10).

The Lord does not want to make us great to impress other people. He gives the gifts He gives that His will might be done, and others join in coming to Him. Do not think too highly of any abilities you have, but use all the Lord has given you for His purpose. Walk humbly with the Lord and be all He is creating you to be. We need to help others understand as we ourselves have received understanding.

Lord, help me to be teachable and to be one who is willing to teach, Guide me in the way of goodness that I would walk humbly in Your sight and use all You have given me for Your glory. Guide me, O Lord ,that I may now and always walk in Your presence as one who is Your servant. Keep me from pride that I would simply use all You have given to Your glory always.

Lord Jesus, You have shown us by Your example how to walk in this world, listening to the Father and doing what He gives us to do. Let me not be caught up in the ways of this world which seek notoriety, but instead receive a humbleness of purpose which sees that You are equipping each of Your saints for the task at hand. May I walk in Your example and do what is pleasing in the Father’s sight. Amen.  

“Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:7-8)

In this world, there is the tendency to not be whom the Lord made us to be. Each person is distinct and wonderfully made. Do not hide behind complacency, but become who you have been made to be. Play your instrument, so to speak, with distinction and clarity that others may know you belong to the Lord.

Lord, help me to see more clearly where I bury Your light in me under a bushel basket. Help me learn to let the light of Your presence shine in me, Keep me from hiding within complacency that I may learn to humbly yet boldly be whom You are making me to be. You have called for those who follow You to not be conformed to the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Lord Jesus, You have come into the world to save all those who turn to You and believe. Remove my doubts and fears that I would play the tunes You have given me to play. Help me to be persistent that I would be led by Your goodness and mercy and share the same with others. Through Your presence in my life, lead me in the upward call You have given me to be all You know I can be. Amen.

“Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying. But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching?” (1 Corinthians 14:5-6).

We combat pride in us, but may be tempted to want to be greater because of ability and then have others acknowledge this. Because this is what we are combating, see then that any gift the Spirit gives us is for the edification of the church. Do not be driven by self, but by the Lord and how He will use what He gives you for the body of Christ. Seek the good gifts for His sake and not your own.

Lord, continue to work on my heart that I would learn to walk humbly with You and serve my neighbor as You lead. Guide me to understand that I will not be greater or lesser, but faithful when I follow You. Help me to see through the temptations of this world that I may be equipped to do even greater things. May I learn humility in my serving Your people as I am empowered by You to do so.

Lord Jesus, all things are in Your hands, yet You emptied Yourself to become fully human. Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may serve You with my whole heart. Guide me along right paths to not fall into the pit of arrogance, nor think anything other than what You think of all I do. Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I would grow in becoming like You. Amen.

“But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church” (1 Corinthians 14:3-4).

Do you hear the message? It is not about you or me. It is about what the Lord is doing. Be guided not by your own ambition, but by the Lord who will lead those who humbly submit to Him. Come then and know that the Lord is the One who saves and He will lift up those who will live with Him, shaping them into and for His body. Seek what the Lord will give and be content in Him.

Lord, open my mind to see more of the revelation You have given. Guide me with understanding to be able to give an account of the hope that is within me. Send me as one who gives consolation to those in need, In all things, be the One who is leading me that I may be Your instrument now and always. Let me never only edify myself, but edify Your people through all that I say and do.

Lord Jesus, You have come to disciple all who will follow You in the way of eternal life. You know what I need. You know what You will give me. You know what needs to decrease and what needs to increase. Lead me, Lord, and help me to get out of the way that You would increase and I would decrease. In all things, guide me that I may be what You are creating me to be in You. Amen.

Prayers of the Church, 6^th Sunday of Easter, Cycle A (May 17, 2020)

Let us pray to our risen Savior on behalf of the Church, the world, and all people according to their need.

A brief silence

Thank you, Jesus, for your faithful servants who have openly proclaimed what otherwise would have been hidden to us: that you are true God and true man, crucified and Raised from the dead for the forgiveness of sin unto eternal life. Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to teach, comfort and guide us in your Way forever.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Grant that your Church always worships and proclaims you as the Redeemer of the world. Fill it with your Spirit, so it is always ready to make a defense to anyone who questions the hope that is in it. Cause it to speak and act with gentleness and respect. Above all, kindle in the Church such love for you that it beautifully keeps your commandments and draws many to faith in you.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Come to the aid of your persecuted disciples throughout the world. Fill them with such faith, hope and charity, that, when they are slandered, those who revile their good behavior in you may be put to shame.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Give a double portion of your Spirit to missionaries of the Gospel. Use them to bring many to faith in you. Guide and direct discipleship coaches, spiritual directors, and all who teach the faith to the next generation of believers. Bless all they do that glorifies your name.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Give the members of this congregation the observant eye and quick wit of St. Paul, who proclaimed your Gospel to skeptical Greek philosophers. Though we may not speak with his eloquence, help us to relate to people around us with words and stories that resonate with them. Help us to share the hope that is in us, and the love you bear for them.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Graduation approaches for many of our young people – and for many who have returned to school later in life. Give them wisdom as well as knowledge; focus as well as confidence; and righteousness as well as competency in their chosen fields. Use their skills to better this world, and keep their eyes fixed on the world to come.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

The nations do not know you, dear Lord; and they suffer because they are starving for your Word of life, truth, forgiveness and salvation. Unleash your Holy Spirit throughout the world, so that our leaders seek to obey your Father’s will; and all those who blindly serve “an unknown god” may learn to love and serve you, their Redeemer and Lord. Teach all of us to seek peace, do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly in your sight.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Deal gently with all who are afflicted by pain, confusion, sorrow, remorse, or despair. Heal every hurt they have sustained. Especially we pray for: {List}. Attend to the voice of our prayer for them .Bring them into a place of refreshment, health and hope. Give compassion, wisdom and patience to everyone who cares for them; and sustain them with your gracious Spirit.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

Most holy Savior, we bless and adore you. You have promised life and salvation to all who trust in you. We commend to your care our beloved dead. Do not leave us as orphans, grieving as those who have no hope. Draw close to us, and keep us in your care. Fill us with your Spirit forever. Make us abound in faith and good works, and help us to share these gifts with gentleness and respect. Gather us with all your saints into your mighty arms. And lead us into the life, light, and love you share with your Father and the Holy Spirit forever.

Lord, in your mercy, please hear our prayer.

We praise and magnify you, dear Jesus. Accept our prayers and lay them at the feet of your Father, who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns gloriously as our Lord and our God, now and forever. Amen.

“Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries” (1 Corinthians 14:1-2).

This is not a call to go into spiritual ecstasy, but to seek the deeper things of God. Have you ever listened to a lecture of one who seemed way above your head? Was it not that they seemed to be speaking in a foreign language? Learn the language of the Lord that You may grow closer to Him. Seek what He will give you to understand that You may learn His will.

Lord, I look at these things through the eyes of pride. Help me instead to see all things through Your eyes. Guide me in the way of truth that I would learn to live and love as You would have me live and love. Help me to not be contented with what I have learned, but strive for the greater portion which You offer freely. Lead me in the way of truth that I may learn to think and speak in the heavenly tongue.

Holy Spirit, where there are issues of pride in my heart, slay them. Where there are obstacles that keep me from pursuing the greater portion You offer, remove them. Guide me deeper into the faith You give with a willingness to learn the heavenly language to be able to speak of the truth which You have revealed through the One who is our Savior. Guide me as I need to be guided. Amen.

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:12-13).

Pride is at the top of the list in what is keeping us from the Lord and one another. How does the Lord rid us of pride? Is this why we need to die with Christ? But we are instructed to live into the great things, faith hope and love. Are you able to see the call of the Lord? Will you seek to walk in this direction? These are the imperative things for our heart, mind, and soul.

Lord, I am so prideful that I do not even know how much pride is in me. Lord, strip me of myself that I may be whom You have made me to be. Guide me in Your goodness that I may learn from You to have faith, hope, and to learn to love as You love. Guide me, Lord, in the ways I need to go that I would have a change of heart and focus upon You and Your will.

Lord Jesus, You have tolerated the foolishness of every generation. You have tolerated my foolishness. Lead me, O Lord, down the path You know I need to go that I would abide in You and all that You give for me to grow in Your likeness. Help me see that in You alone is all hope, for You are the author of my faith. Teach me to love as You love that I may fulfill what You have come to accomplish in me. Amen.

Many of you are probably already aware that the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau’s (ALPB’s) board is reprinting its daily prayer book, “For All the Saints.” 

• The ALPB board approved the reprint of Volume One and it is now available for purchase, either by itself or in the set. 
• The board felt it didn’t have any choice but to reprint, since these books have been such a blessing to many people’s spiritual life. 
• This set of 4 pocket-sized, beautifully bound volumes is designed to be used for daily prayer and Bible reading by Christians everywhere. 
• Based on the two-year daily lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer and the Lutheran Book of Worship, the volumes cover a 2-year period. 
• Each volume measures 4″ by 6″ with a gold-stamped, leather-like cover, durable sewn binding, ribbon markers, and over 1300 pages printed on high quality lightweight Bible paper.   
• Please go to our website at www.alpb.org and find out more about these wonderful books.  Then if you are still interested, please feel free to purchase them right on our website (under “Shop”, eighth book down) or contact Donna Roche at the address below.   
• While you are browsing our website, check out our newer books like Robert Benne’s “Thanks Be To God” and Carl Braaten’s “My Ecumenical Journey.”  

Donna K. Roche, Office Manager
American Lutheran Publicity Bureau
P.O. Box 327
Delhi, NY  13753-0327
(607) 746-7511
www.alpb.org

“But when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things” (1 Corinthians 13:10-11).

Jesus taught us to not hinder the little children. We need to have the eyes of children as we begin. But let us never forget that all life shows us that we must mature, grow and in this age, change. The call of salvation is to put on Christ and become as He is. We will put away the childishness of this age in order for us to stand in the presence of a holy and perfect God who is in all and through all.

Lord, grant me eyes to see more clearly the reality of what You are doing. Let me not get caught up in the insanity of this world which is looking for perpetual youth, but to see that You are maturing me in the way of everlasting life. Help me now and always to see that in You alone is the hope for all people. Help me to become like You in maturity, yet retain the wonder of a child.

Lord Jesus, You are the way, truth, and life. In You is the hope of every generation. Guide me, Lord, that I may walk humbly in Your presence and follow as You lead. Remind me when I am childish and when I think I am mature and I am not. Help me to live into the life to which You are calling me and let nothing get in the way. May I now and always look to You alone for salvation. Amen.