St Stephen's Church Bentilee

19/03/2026

Lent Day 25. Prayer

In his letter to the Ephesian Church Paul warns us about spiritual warfare. When we pray we need to be aware that we are in a spiritual battle with evil forces, so we need to put on the armour of God to protect us.

' Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.'

So take a minute to put on the armour of God when you start to pray and as God to fill you with the Holy Spirit.

Every prayer is a powerful weapon in our battle against evil.

19/03/2026

Bible Verse of the Day:

2 Thessalonians 2:15
"So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter."

New International Version (NIV)

19/03/2026

Come along and join us all are welcome

18/03/2026

18/03/2026

Bible Verse of the Day:

3 John 1:4
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."

New International Version (NIV)

17/03/2026

Lent day 25 Prayer

Prayer is a step of faith, we pray to a God we can't see with hope that he will listen and answer our prayers.

In Hebrews 11 it says
'faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see'

We have to have courage when we pray and we need to ask God for a miracle. We often fall short of asking for a miracle because we don't believe it will happen. So instead of praying for healing, we pray for release from pain, because we worry that our prayers won't be answered.

God may not answer our prayers straight away, but this should not stop us from asking him again and again. We should follow the example of Peter who met a lame beggar and told him in the name of Jesus to get up and walk.

17/03/2026

For many years, people believed that faith in China would slowly disappear. Restrictions, closed churches, and pressure on believers made it seem almost impossible for Christianity to grow. But something unexpected has been happening.

Across the country, more and more people are discovering the message of Jesus. In homes, small gatherings, and quiet communities, believers continue sharing the Gospel and encouraging one another in faith. Even when circumstances are difficult, the message of Christ continues to reach new hearts.

History has shown that faith often grows strongest in places where it is tested the most. When following Jesus requires courage, commitment becomes deeper and more sincere. What is being built in China today is a community of believers who continue to pray, gather, and share hope with one another.

The words of Jesus in Matthew 16:18 remind us of something powerful: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

No matter where people live, the message of the Gospel continues to move from heart to heart. Faith cannot be confined by borders or circumstances.

Christ’s message of hope, love, and salvation continues to reach the world.

If you believe the Gospel will continue reaching every nation, comment AMEN and share this message. ✝️🙏

17/03/2026

17/03/2026

God offers lasting strength even in the deepest weakness and grief. Will you choose to lean on Him? He is the One who can carry you forward. To discover what it looks like to know God personally, visit hopewithGod.com/hope.

17/03/2026

Bible Verse of the Day:

Proverbs 11:30-31
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives. If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!"

New International Version (NIV)

17/03/2026

Lent day 24 Prayer

Jesus and his disciples healed many people during their ministries. We too are called to pray for healing of others.

James in his letter says this

Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

We have a God who heals, but sometimes we hold back when we pray for healing, it is almost as if we don't believe that God will heal someone if we pray for them. We need to be bold and expect miracles.