Welcome to the July 2025 Prayer Vigil!
The sermon at IBC on June 22 was on Psalm 63: 1 – 11, “A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah” hiding from his enemies. The psalm reveals to us that David’s relationship with God and God’s love were of the utmost importance to him especially in his time of loneliness and despair. David tells us in Verse 3 “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.” The rest of the Bible also tells us about how God’s love is better than life.
God’s love means we can have eternal life with Him if we respond to His love through Jesus Christ His son so that we will not perish because of our sins –
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3: 16, 17)
“…for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”” (Rom. 10: 13)
God’s love means I have identity and purpose –
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Rom. 8: 16)
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph. 2: 10)
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.”
(Eph. 1: 5, 6)
God’s love means His constant presence and companionship –
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Ps. 46: 1)
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Ps. 145: 18)
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14: 16 – 17)
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8: 38 – 39)
God’s love means He is my safety and protection –
“How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” (Ps. 36: 7)
“I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Ps. 91: 2)
“The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” (Ps.121: 7 – 8)
God’s love means we need not fear darkness or evil –
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Ps. 23: 4)
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Eph. 6: 10 – 11)
“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” (2 Thess. 3: 3)
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)
God’s love means my needs will be satisfied and I lack nothing –
“…. for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” (Ps. 107:9)
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4: 19)
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt. 6: 33)
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1: 5)
Pray –
Holy Father, I praise you and thank you for your steadfast love which is the most precious thing in this universe for out of love you created me and have given me life. Thank you for the transformative power of your love through which I have been granted eternal life through your son, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour. Your love is indeed more precious than life itself because life’s very existence depends on your love. Thank you for your constant presence in my life through your Holy Spirit and because of your love I can in turn love others, being transformed through the power of your Holy Spirit and bearing its fruit. May you be glorified through my transformed life and my relationship with others around me. I pray in Jesus’ name.
Continue in prayer for –
-
The Lord’s continual care, protection
and guidance for our church that we may work together as one Body of
Christ at
IBC.
-
The Pastor Search Team to understand
the true nature and needs of the Body of IBC; for the church to be
united in
fervent prayer for the Lord to lead us to the one who will shepherd IBC in the
future.
-
Pastor Will, the deacons, ministry
leaders and teams, the church staff, Life Group leaders and Small
Community
Group hosts, that they may be provided with strength, joy and wisdom as they
continue in the
work of the kingdom.
- The missionaries among us and our mission partners who are listed in the church Mission Budget.
- God’s vision for IBC to reach out to the surrounding community.
-
The Father to provide wisdom, energy
and joy for those who minister to our children, youths and young
adults; for
the Lord to call volunteers for the VBS in August.
- The Lord to provide a Children’s Ministry Coordinator.
- The young people who are studying or working abroad; for their protection and strengthening of their faith.
- Mona Amrithraj who is moving to live in India to care for her mother.
- God’s protection and guidance for those who will be traveling during the summer.
-
Those we know who need physical,
emotional or spiritual healing and care:
Kaushic’s mother (need knee
surgery); Dave Kwok’s colleague Demi
(recovery after stroke); Michelle Niem (treatment for cancer); Tony
Mo (recovery
after a stroke); Mike Ainslie (Alzheimer’s); Brian and Yun Xiang’s baby Hudson;
Alice Tsui
(prolonged bad eczema);
Alice's brother in law, Edward (receiving stem cell 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); for
God’s grace, care
and strength for Beatrice, Y.M. Chen, Herald Lau and Alex’s father.
- The Lord’s strength, wisdom and peace for caregivers for the elderly or those with health or special needs.
- 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.
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Eph. 3: 20 – 21)
[This prayer guide was prepared by Charles Ip]