Welcome to the July 2026 Prayer Vigil!
Most if not all of us have struggled with obedience one time or another in our lives. On those occasions we wanted to follow our own personal desires or agenda and didn’t consider or were ignorant of the consequences of not following the laws or instructions or pleas which were given to us – eat your vegetables because it’s good for your health, or don’t make fun of the dog otherwise you will get bitten, or don’t try drugs because addiction will destroy your life…and the list goes on. As followers of Christ and members of God’s kingdom it is important that we know clearly the implications of obeying God’s commands.
We see throughout the Bible many instances of people obeying God’s instructions and the result was that God’s glory was revealed and people came to know God. One big and obvious example was the conquest of Jericho where God told the Israelites that they needed only to march around the city of Jericho seven times with the ark of the Lord without saying a word until the signal to shout (Josh.6:1-21). In those days it must have been hard to picture that as a way to attack and conquer a city, but the whole community of Israel obeyed the command and what God said came true with the collapse of Jericho’s walls.
On the other hand, disobedience can result in disastrous consequences as we see from the disobedience of Achen who took treasures for himself from Jericho contrary to God’s command (Josh. 6:17-19). This sin resulted in grief not just for himself but also for the whole community of Israel (Josh. 7:1-5, 10-12). So, a person’s sin is not just about himself but can have far reaching consequences outside of himself, affecting even a whole community.
On a more personal level, there was the event of the healing of Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram. Naaman had leprosy and went to Elisha the prophet to be healed. Naaman was indignant when the prophet, instead of coming out to see him, sent a message to him to wash himself seven times in the Jordan River (2 Kings 5:11-12). However, Naaman eventually obeyed, was healed and believed in God (2 Kings 5:15-18).
In the New Testament we read about the raising of Lazarus from the dead (Jn. 11:1-44). Jesus ordered the stone which sealed the tomb where Lazarus was laid to be moved away but Martha, Lazarus’ sister, thought otherwise for fear of the stench from the dead man. However, she ended up obeying and witnessed God’s glory (Jn. 11:40) when her brother came out from the tomb alive, and many who witnessed the event believed in Jesus (Jn. 11:45).
The Bible also tells us that our obedience to God’s commands do not just affect ourselves and the visible world around us but also have cosmic consequences, affecting a cosmic and spiritual realm that is invisible to us. Obedience is our weapon in spiritual warfare and our attitude and actions when aligned with God’s desires will disrupt dark forces in the invisible cosmic realm. For example, Eph. 6:10-17 tells us that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” And living our lives in obedience to the truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, the word of God and leaning on our faith and salvation is essential in this struggle. James 4:7 tells us to submit and obey God and then we can resist the devil successfully. Luke 10:17-20 also shows how the invisible world was affected when the disciples returned from their mission after following Jesus’ instructions.
Finally, Christ’s ultimate act of obedience to his Father in going to the cross resulted in the forgiving of our sins“having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Col. 2:14-15).
Let us pray -
Almighty God, heavenly Father, I thank you for your love and mercy, your grace and your protection which I enjoy each day with your provisions for an abundant life. Thank you for Jesus who went to the cross for me in obedience to your will so that I am cleansed of my sins and be saved. As Pastor Dominic preached on Sunday 21 June, “a father is the one whose will and desire you do” and I am your beloved child through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. I pray that your Holy Spirit will help me in my weakness so that I may be obedient to your will under all circumstances; may your light shine through me in my obedience so that people will get to know you and praise your name.
Continue in prayer for -
- Thanksgiving for Pastor Dominic and other speakers whom the Lord has graciously called to minister to IBC and teach us God’s word.
- 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.
- 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 and the deacons to be led by the Spirit as they consider a possible candidate and the logistics/process of making a proposal to the church.
- Preparation for the Vacation Bible School (VBS) in August and for the Lord to call volunteers and participants.
- God’s guidance and protection for Carlos and Analie in their future ministry when the Lord calls them from Hong Kong at the appropriate time.
- Suzy Pelling in the Children Ministry and Amy Tong in the Youth Ministry.
- The missionaries among us and our mission partners as they work with IBC to reach out to the communities in Hong Kong and beyond; also, for our church members who reach out regularly to people in the community e.g. the prisons.
- 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 abroad (Mica Chan, Charis Yip, Miles Ling, Timothy Tso, Joshua Tso, Isabelle Roskell) or are planning their future (Nathaniel Yip, Emily Ling, Matthew Lam), for their protection and strengthening of their faith.
- 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.(treatment for 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); Charlie Teo’s grandfather (critically ill).
- God’s grace, care and strength for Beatrice, Y.M. Chen, Kaushic’s mother and Alex’s father; continue to pray for Steve Metz, who is also recovering from a recent shoulder surgery, and his family members.
- 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 – Charlie Teo’s grandfather; 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.
We lift up these prayers in the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior!
[This prayer guide was prepared by Charles Ip]