BLESSINGS
Blessings in the Bible are powerful and often prophetic. As we say the blessing God has commanded us to declare, so, in the heavenly realm, we draw on the resources of the Holy Spirit to bless those on earth. This is a real transmission of spiritual blessing. Both Jesus and Paul tell us to bless our enemies; so we can certainly bless those around us in our community, city, town or village. We are not blessing drug taking or any evil acts in the homes or institutions of our locality; we are summoning God's light to drive away darkness. By including this blessing Sunday by Sunday the church is reminded that we worship and pray not first for ourselves but for those outside the church.
For teaching about blessings see Addresses and Sermons -
Holy Spirit & Renewal Addresses - 2 Blessings
Holy Spirit & Renewal Sermons Sermons with Deliverance teaching
1 A Priestly People, Pouring Out Blessings, Dealing With Curses
The Priestly Blessing - Numbers 6
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus shall you bless the Israelites. You shall say to them,
The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them. Numbers 6.24-27
All Christian believers in a locality are now God's priesthood. So let us pray this blessing on all peoples in out neighbourhood
The Ffald-y-brenin blessing
I bless you in the name of Jesus to know God, his purpose for your life, and his blessings on you and your family and the situations of your life.
Roy Godwin and Dave Roberts, The Grace Outpouring David C Cook 2008 p.18
A Blessing at the End of the Church Service Based on Numbers 6
After the congregation has been blessed, the congregation turns outward, the doors are opened, and the blessing is repeated phrase by phrase after the leader. It can be varied as appropriate
The Lord bless and keep our town/community (named)
bless the children
bless the families
bless the schools
bless the shops
bless the businesses
bless the care homes
bless the land
The Lord be gracious to the lonely
- gracious to the elderly
- gracious to those who struggle
- gracious to the strong
The Lord show his face all over our town/community
and give its people peace
now and for ever. Amen
Alternative Blessing at the End of the Service
repeated phrase by phrase after the leader. Can be varied as appropriate.
Once the rhythm has been established the congregation can be encouraged to call out their
wishes for God to bless
God's blessing on our village/town/community (named)
- on our families
- on our children
- on the schools
- on those who live alone (pause)
God's blessing on the shops
- on the businesses
- on the farms (pause)
God's blessing on the poor
and on the more well off
- on those who struggle
and on the strong (pause)
The blessing of the Father who loves us
The blessing of the Son who died for us
The blessing of the Spirit who comforts and leads us
The blessing of God be on our community
This day and always. Amen
This blessing can be varied to include the police, the social services. etc.
Blessing the City -Holy Trinity Church Coventry 1992
printed in the liturgy and said after giving the blessing to the congregation and the congregation turning to face the city with the doors opened.
Leader: God has blessed us with the light of Jesus Christ. We share that blessing with our city and its people, driving the powers of darkness far from us.
People of our city, we bless you in the name of Christ
All: God rule over you in justice and peace
PRAYERS
LITANY PRAYERS
These litanies work well if the congregation stand. At appropriate points they can face the place for which they are praying; and they can be invited to add their own petitions while keeping to the rhythm of the litany. In our praying we need to be heard as those who believe that their prayers are changing the world. Intercession is spiritual warfare; we need to pray as those who are engaged in warfare for the kingdom of God. The short, sharp style of the petitions and response assist the conviction that this is real business.
Litany - 'Come, Lord Jesus'
The short petitions and response, 'Come Lord Jesus', estabishes a rhythm in which there is alert participation. Pauses allow time for reflection on the petitions we have made. Once the rhythm is established, extra petitions can be invited from the congregation, keeping the rhythm. A selection of areas of prayer can be made. The structure can easily be adjusted and adapted.
Our Lord Jesus is the Prince of Peace. We pray for his peace, saying, 'Come, Lord Jesus'
choose some of these sections
I (Personal) Leader Response
Into my heart Come, Lord Jesus
To meet my needs Come. etc.
To forgive my sins Come,
To heal my wounds Come,
Into my home Come,
Into my family Come,
Into my work place Come,
(pause, silence)
II (Street)
Into my street (or town) Come, Lord Jesus
To the homes of my neighbours Come, etc
With the power of your kingdom Come,
Where there is illness Come,
Where there is pain Come,
Where some are afraid Come,
Where some are lonely Come,
Where some have no work Come,
Where some are on drugs Come,
Where families are broken Come,
To show them your goodness Come,
To shine in their hearts Come,
To make your love known Come,
(pause, silence)
III (Town, locality)
To all in our town Come, Lord Jesus
To the local councillors Come, etc.
To planners and decision makers Come,
To give opportunities for all Come,
To strengthen our schools Come,
To those unemployed Come,
To...
(suitable petitions can be added)
IV (Schools)
Into our schools, Come, Lord Jesus
To strengthen the teachers Come,
To bless the pupils Come,
To give a good atmosphere Come,
To keep children secure Come,
To stir up faith Come,
To prevent bullying Come,
For every child to be happy Come
(pause, silence)
V (Nation)
Into our nation Come, Lord Jesus
Into our confusion Come,
Into our godlessness Come,
Into our moral decline Come,
To stir up Christian faith Come,
To make the church strong and lively Come,
To draw people to worship Come,
To convince people of sin Come,
(pause)
To give us good government Come, Lord Jesus
To guide our leaders Come,
To help the homeless Come,
To those in our prisons Come,
To those in despair Come,
To deal with our racism Come,
To...
(suitable petitions can be added)
VI (World)
Into your world Come, Lord Jesus
To establish your kingdom Come,
To make good government Come,
To give leaders integrity Come,
Where there is war Come,
Where there is famine Come,
Where people are driven from homes Come,
To all refugees Come,
Where there is centuries of bitterness Come,
To bring healing and peace Come,
(pause, silence)
(suitable petitions can be added)
VII (Church)
To pour out your Spirit Come, Lord Jesus
To make us one people Come,
To give hearts for worship Come,
And hunger for your Word Come,
That we may bless our community Come,
That many may be healed Come,
To anoint and guide our leaders Come,
VIII (Personal)
Into my (our) darkness Come, Lord Jesus
To purify me (us) Come,
To forgive my sins Come,
To make me repent Come,
To help me to forgive other people Come,
To take away my (our) bitterness Come
To make room for you Come,
To bring your kingdom in me Come,
(pause)
Into my life Come, Lord Jesus
into my time Come,
Into my priorities Come,
To make me like you Come,
So that I do your work Come,
I speak good news Come,
I care about your kingdom Come,
I spread “the fear of the Lord” Come.
I bring healing and peace Come,
Litany- ‘Your Kingdom Come’
The short petitions and response establish a rhythm in which there is alert participation. Pauses allow time for reflection. Extra petitions can be invited from the congregation, keeping the rhythm. A selection of areas of prayer can be made. The structure can easily be adjusted and adapted.
I the Kingdom
Lord, your Kingdom is justice and joy and peace and you have taught us to pray for it..
In bringing about your will here on earth Your kingdom come
In pouring out the blessings of your love/Spirit your..
In holding back the power of evil your..
In working repentance your..
In creating communities of love your..
In releasing generosity and forgiveness your..
In causing the nations to hear the gospel your..
In turning people everywhere to you your..
(short pause to reflect on what we have prayed for)
II nations
In Syria, where there is such destruction your..
In Ukraine…. your..
etc.
III locality: people asked to turn and face the street where they live
In the street where I live your..
In the hearts of my neighbours your..
Where there is sickness your..
Where there is family breakdown your..
To remove all racism your..
To build belonging and community your..
To awaken faith in you your..
To show your love through me your..
(short pause to reflect on what we have prayed for)
In the town where I live your...
In its shops your..
etc.
IV schools: people asked to turn and face a school in the locality
In our local schools your..
In ……school your..
Giving skill to the teachers your..
and learning to the pupils/students your..
In stopping all bullying your..
In awakening Christian Faith your..
For the fear of the Lord your..
(pause, silence)
V community
In this community your..
Where people struggle your..
Where people cannot help themselves your..
Where there are drugs your..
Where there is family breakdown your..
Where there is financial hardship your..
In caring for the children your..
In bringing better health your..
For the lonely your..
For the elderly your..
VI for Lent or Holy Week
We are sinners and you are the Holy One.
Thank you for bearing the death we deserved.
In our hearts your..
In our lives your..
In dealing with our sin your..
In making us clean your..
In making us holy your..
In calling us to follow you your..
In giving us new beginnings your..
In always making us welcome your..
In full commitment to you your..
As we meet you in the communion/eucharist your..
As we journey through Lent/Holy week your..
Easily adapted to suit the occasion.
Litany – Teach us to Pray
Lord Jesus, as your disciples asked you, Teach us to pray
In the joy of calling you ‘Father’, Teach…
In the power of the name, Jesus, Teach…
In prayers given by the Spirit, Teach…
As we pray for your kingdom on earth, Teach…
As we listen for your will, Teach…
In being your royal priesthood, Teach…
As we lift the cries of many to you Teach…
In company with saints and angels Teach…
As we come boldly before your throne Teach
In the stillness of listening Teach…
With our imagination Teach…
With words of urgency Teach…
As we face our temptations Teach …
As we struggle to do your will Teach…
In asking, seeking and knocking, Teach…
In expecting to see mountains moved Teach…
As we ask for the Holy Spirit Teach…
In blessing our local community Teach…
PRAYERS FOR DELIVERANCE
1 Prayer of Release From Curses (Derek Prince)
Click here to read or to download and print the prayer
2 Prayer of Release From Curses (Ruth Hawkey)
Click here to read or to download and print the prayer
3 Prayer for Plenary or Group Deliverance (Graham Dow)
Click here to read or to download and print the prayer