“these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations (Isaiah 56:3)
In this passage God prophesied that Jews and Gentiles would find joy in the house of prayer because their sacrifices were being accepted and therefore their prayers were being heard. Jesus came into the world to be that sacrifice that takes away the sins of all who believe in Him, so that our prayers can be heard and answered. But, because of Jesus, we don’t need to go to the temple to pray anymore, we have become the temple in whom the Holy Spirit dwells; we have become “the house of prayer for all nations”.
On Sunday, November 24, 2019, we are very deliberately choosing to not only dedicate our new facilities to God but also ourselves as individuals and as a congregation. I am praying that this will be no-mere-formality for us, but a deep heart-felt expression of our commitment to and faith in the One who has called us into being “living stones” that are being built up unto the full stature of Christ. May God help Chapel Ridge to fulfill this calling for us, so that His Kingdom will come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven and our joy will be full…..and may prayer increasingly be at the heart of all we do as we reach out to the nations.
I am deeply grateful for these past 39 days …. grateful to the Lord for placing this vision and desire within you, Luke, grateful to every person who has shared their thoughts, words and insights, grateful for the great stirring the Lord is doing within my heart and spirit, grateful to be able to come together each week in corporate worship, grateful for the season we are entering into with so many opportunities, so many hungry hearts that Jesus has brought right to our door …… we don’t have to go far to enter the mission field …. simply open our doors wide and follow where He leads ….. come Lord Jesus …..
I echo Andrea’s words. Thank you Lord Jesus. May we be faithful to follow your calling to be living stones.