Prayer For The Body of Christ

We have been praying for the people who are called by God's name to humble themselves and repent from their wicked ways, so God might heal our land and Jesus might have the Bride that He is worthy of. Jeremiah 6 speaks a strong word from the Lord concerning the sin in the church and the leaders. Let's begin at verse 13. "For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for gain, and from the prophet even to the priest everyone deals falsely. And they have healed the brokeness of My people superficially, saying 'Peace, peace', but there is no peace. Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; they did not even know how to blush." (NAS) Sadly these same sins are in the Church today. We see greed, lust for money, lust for power, lust for recognition. There are some false prophets and false pastors who are leading the people astray by watering down the gospel and not warning their flock of the consequences of sin. They are lulling the people to sleep with words of assurance that they are OK and all is peaceful. Yet the people of God are indulging in sin. I hear stories of Christians who have live in boyfriends, are dating married men, having abortions, having affairs, looking at pornography and they do not blush about it. They do not try to hide it. They have been lulled into a false sense of security. They have their ticket to heaven and want to live only for their own gratification.
What does the Lord say we must do? In verse 16 " Thus says the Lord, 'Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls.'" (NAS) The NIV Bible says "Stand at the crossroads and look and ask for the ancient paths." We must choose to either walk after the laws of God or to walk after the desires of the flesh. The Body of Christ is standing at a crossroad and we must turn back to holiness and purity and sanctification. We must make the right choice and turn to the Ancient paths, to the well worn paths of those who have gone before us, following the laws and commandments of God. We must walk on the path that the Ancient of Days has laid out for us to follow. A path of holiness and righteousness. Jeremiah 18:15 says, "Yet My people have forgotten Me.... They have been caused to stumble in their ways, in the ancient roads, to walk in bypaths, in a way not graded up-not a highway." (AMP) the people of God have become sidetracked and are no longer walking on the highway to Zion but are walking on the bypaths of this world. Being pulled off into worldly thinking and activities and straying from godly principles. The saints of God are plaqued with problems, sickness, heartache and oppression because they have stumbled off the highway of God. Jeremiah 31:21 tells us to "Set up for yourself roadmarks, place for yourself guideposts; direct your mind to the highway, the way by which you went." (NAS) Make markers, reminders, scriptures, prayers that will guide you and direct your steps to stay on the right path. Keep your mind focused on the highway to Zion and not on the path of the world which will lead only to destruction. Seek God's face and study His Word. Pray the scriptures over yourself and your family and your home. Enlist the help of the Holy Spirit to lead you into all holiness. Remember in Jeremiah 6:16 the Lord said that you will find rest if you stay on the ancient paths. Let us pray for the saints and for our spiritual leaders to return to the Ancient paths - the laws of God's Word and cleanse our hands and purify our hearts before Him. Let us show reverence to God by living righteously before Him.