Welcome to the May 2026 Prayer Vigil!
In Matthew 16: 16
Peter answered Jesus’ question by confessing “You are the Messiah, the Son
of the living God.” And in John 20, we read that Jesus appeared to the
disciples who had locked themselves in a house after Jesus’ crucifixion and
resurrection. Thomas after touching Jesus wounds, said “My Lord and my
God!”.
That Jesus is God is central to the Christian faith for if Jesus is
not God, if he is only an angel or subordinate emissary of God, or just a good
human teacher, then our faith is worthless, we have no hope and we are guilty of
idolatry!
So, what does the Bible say that has led us to the belief that Jesus is God?
Prophesied and proclaimed in the Old Testament –
“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.” (Is. 9: 6). This familiar passage from the Book of Isaiah foretold the birth of Jesus who was to be called “Mighty God”.
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Is. 7: 14). Jesus, born of a virgin will be called Immanuel which means “God with us” (See Matt. 1: 22 – 23).
Claimed by Jesus and witnessed but rejected by the religious leaders –
“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”” (Mark 2: 5 – 7). Similarly in Matthew 9: 2 – 3.
“In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” (Jn. 5:17 – 18).
“Jesus answered, “……. I and the Father are one.” 31 Again
his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him,
32 but
Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For
which of these do you stone me?”
33 “We are not stoning
you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere
man, claim to be God.”” (Jn.10: 30 –
33).
““Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was
born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones
to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple
grounds.” (Jn. 8: 58 – 59).
Jesus’ use of “I am” in many situations is the same as what God or Yahweh of
the Old Testament used as the name for himself – the “I AM” (Ex. 3: 14),
showing Jesus’ claim to be God.
Although Jesus was telling the truth about himself, he was accused of blasphemy by the non-believing Jews who wanted to kill him and that led to his crucifixion.
Witnessed by the disciples –
In the Book of John Jesus is described as the “….one and only Son, who is himself God….” (Jn. 1: 18 NIV). See also John 3: 16 – 18. In the King James Version, the words “only begotten Son of God” is in the place of the NIV’s “one and only Son”. “Begotten” is significant as what is begotten or “born of” should be of the same nature as what gave birth to it and “only begotten” shows the uniqueness of Jesus. This means that Jesus is the one and only with the same nature as God the Father – he has the same substance, power and authority of eternal God. Hence “He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (Jn. 1: 2- 3). We see in Col. 2: 9, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form….” And in Rom. 1: 4, “…. 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.” The resurrection shows the world the divine nature of Jesus.
Pray –
Holy Father, Almighty God, thank you for your revelation in the Bible that, Jesus, the second person of the Trinity is of the same nature and is one with you, that we may worship him, submit to his authority and put our faith and hope in him as our Lord and Saviour. We pray that you will guard this truth in our hearts such that no human arguments or Satan’s deceptions will make us deviate from it. Help us grasp any opportunities to proclaim this truth to those around us that they may also receive salvation by your mercy and grace.
Continue in prayer for –
-
Pastor Dominic and
other speakers whom the Lord has graciously called to minister to IBC and teach
us God’s word;
for the deacons as they make plans for Sunday worship.
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The deacons, ministry leaders and teams, the church
staff, Life Group leaders and Small Community Group hosts,
that the Spirit will
work through them to help the whole Body of IBC work together as one and grow
in Christ.
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The Lord to raise up more leaders and discipleship
makers in IBC so that we will be a community of disciple makers
and prayer
warriors to fulfill the vision and mission of IBC.
-
The Pastor Search Team to be led by the Spirit as
they consider candidates to identify the one God has called to
shepherd IBC.
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The participants in the Alpha Course, that God’s
word will dwell in their hearts and bear fruit even though Alpha has
ended.
- God to reveal to Carlos and Analie their future call to ministry after they leave Hong Kong.
- The Lord to prepare Suzy for the Children Ministry and Amy for the Youth Ministry.
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The missionaries among us and our mission partners
as they work with IBC to reach out to the communities in Hong
Kong and beyond.
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The inmates of the Ling Oi Drug Rehab Centre, Lai
Chi Kok prison and other prisons; the street sleepers in Sham
Shui Po and Happy
Valley; the elderly in Wah Fu Estate and Silver Mine Bay; that they may
experience God’s love
and receive salvation through Jesus.
- Our young people who are studying or working abroad; for their protection and strengthening of their faith.
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Those we know who need physical, emotional or
spiritual healing and care: Dave Kwok’s colleague Demi (recovery
after stroke);
Tony Mo (recovery from second stroke); Mike Ainslie (Alzheimer’s); Brian and
Yun Xiang’s baby
Hudson; Alice's brother in law, Edward (treatment for rare
illness); Thomas Lam (eyesight); Iris’ two sisters, Winnie
and Teresa, and
Jackson’s sister-in-law Alice (God’s grace in their fight with cancer);
Stephanie’s father (eyesight
and hearing); Frank’s brother Jan (glaucoma) and
brother John (cancer); Ailin Iwan’s father Susanto Iwan in the
U.S.
(metastasized prostate cancer); Vera Tong in Canada (chemotherapy for
cancer); Sandy’s father
(Thomas’ father-in-law) in Shanghai (cancer treatment);
Auntie Anna’s granddaughter (treatment after removal
of rare brain tumour).
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God’s grace, care and strength for Beatrice, Y.M.
Chen, Kaushic’s mother and Alex’s father; continue to pray
for Steve Metz and
his family members.
- The Lord’s strength, wisdom and peace for caregivers for the elderly or those with health or special needs.
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Non-believing friends and loved ones to be drawn to
Jesus – Frank’s brother Jan; Kenneth’s mother and siblings;
Terry’s son Joseph;
Michelle Niem’s family members; Angela’s sister and brother-in-law; Pansy’s
husband;
Stephanie’s parents and sister; Frederick’s mother; Ivy’s son and
family; Maria Tanielu’s mother and family in Samoa;
Charles’ brother William in
Canada; Iris’ sister Winnie in Australia; Ailin Iwan’s parents in the U.S.; and Sandy’s
father in Shanghai.
“And [we believe] in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father ….” (excerpt from Nicene Creed)
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
[This prayer guide was prepared by Charles Ip]