Welcome to the October 2025 Prayer Vigil!
One of the songs that was sung at IBC during worship was “His Glory and My Good” by CityAlight.
What is the relationship between God’s glory and my good? As we meditate on this, we will find that God’s glory has undeniable significance for believers and for God’s plan of redemption. Just as Apostle Paul emphasized the importance of Christ’s resurrection in 1 Cor. 15: 14 and 17, so too our faith is useless if we worship a god withno real glory.
The word “glory” leads us to think of power, might, splendor, authority, greatness, magnificence, perfection, beauty, goodness, righteousness, grace and perhaps generosity and true love. These attributes are all inherent in God’s being as revealed to us in the Bible. Humans were created in God’s image (Gen. 1: 27) and was crowned with glory and honor (Ps. 8: 4 – 5). However, humans have fallen because of sin and have fallen short of God’s glory (Rom. 3: 23). Instead of seeking God, fallen humanity seeks after and are drawn to worldly glory – the glory of people in sports, in the entertainment industry, people with riches and wealth or things created by man. Although what man can do or achieve are just faint reflections of God’s glory or are copies of His creations, there is a tendency for man to worship created things rather than God the creator (Rom. 1: 25).
God’s glory is far greater and richer as we can see in all His creations (Ps. 19: 1; Rom. 1: 20). Christ embodies the glory of God the Father (Jn. 1: 14, 10: 30, 14: 9). He revealed that glory to his disciples in his transfiguration (Matt. 17: 1 – 3) and God’s glory was revealed in Christ’s work on earth, his crucifixion and resurrection (Jn. 17: 4 – 5). God’s glory will be revealed again when Jesus returns
(Matt. 24: 30; Mark 13: 26 – 27; Luke 21: 27).
One of the most significant aspects of God’s glory is His unconditional or self-giving love which existed between the Father and the Son in the Trinity before the creation of the world (Jn. 17: 24). This sets apart the God of the Bible and the “deities” of all other religions
(Ex. 34: 6; Jn 3: 16; 1 Jn 4:16). This is seen in the action of Jesus laying down his life for us – “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (Jn. 10: 14 – 15).
Without love, glory is empty of meaning (1 Cor. 13: 1 – 3).
The revelation of God’s glory is for our good because –
- It draws us to believe and to worship Him, the one and only true God (2 Chron. 7: 3).
- It reveals the truth about God and makes us aware of our sinful nature (Is. 6: 5 – 7).
- It leads us to repentance (Job 42: 5 – 6).
- It gives us purpose, hope and assurance of our status and future (1 Peter 1: 3 – 5).
- It motivates us to follow His will which is for our good (Rom. 8: 28; Phil. 1: 6).
- His glory revealed through us will lead to praise for God (Matt. 5: 16).
- It will lead to our ultimate fulfillment, satisfaction and joy (Jude 1: 24).
- Believers will become united as one, just as Christ and the Father are one (Jn. 17: 22 – 23).
Let us pray –
Holy Father, Almighty God, what a privilege it is to come to you in prayer because you are the creator and Lord of the universe, the beginning and the end, and there is no other like you. I pray that all who come to your church at IBC will experience your love and see your glory through your people there, so that they are drawn to worship you and to follow our Lord Jesus. I pray that we will allow your word and your Holy Spirit to work in our lives such that we will mature and conform to your glory in order that those who see our deeds will praise and glorify you.
Continue in prayer for –
- The Lord’s continual care, protection and guidance for our church that we may work together as one in the Body of Christ at IBC.
- Thanksgiving for those who have been preaching in previous months and ask for the Lord to strengthen the church as the deacons
preach in the coming weeks.
- 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.
- The Pastor Search Team to be guided by the Spirit as they follow up on connections in their search; for the church to be united in
prayer for the Lord to reveal the one who will shepherd IBC in the future.
- 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 to grow together in Christ.
- The preparations for the 29 October church retreat and for Pastor Eric Scott.
- The missionaries among us and our mission partners as they work with IBC to reach out to the communities in Hong Kong.
- More volunteers to join the Christian Kun Sun Association to visit prisoners with the gospel.
- The inmates of the Ling Oi Drug Rehab Centre, the street sleepers in Shamshuipo 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.
- The Father to provide wisdom, energy and joy for those who minister to our children, youths and young adults.
- The Lord to provide a Children’s Ministry Coordinator and a Youth Worker for IBC.
- The young people who are studying or working abroad; for their protection and strengthening of their faith.
- Thanksgiving for Herald Lau’s complete recovery after a life-threatening illness.
- Those we know who need physical, emotional or spiritual healing and care: Dave Kwok’s colleague Demi (recovery after stroke);
Michelle Niem (treatment for cancer); Tony Mo (recovery after 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,
Kaushic’s mother 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.
These prayers we pray in the wonderful name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
[This prayer guide was prepared by Charles Ip]