2 Pet. 1:5-11
Pray for the saints to grow in life unto maturity so that “in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly and bountifully supplied” to them (2 Pet. 1:5-11).
2 Pet. 1:5-11—And for this very reason also, adding all diligence, supply bountifully in your faith virtue; and in virtue, knowledge; and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control, endurance; and in endurance, godliness; and in godliness, brotherly love; and in brotherly love, love. For these things, existing in you and abounding, constitute you neither idle nor unfruitful unto the full knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he in whom these things are not present is blind, being shortsighted, having forgotten the cleansing of his past sins. Therefore, brothers, be the more diligent to make your calling and selection firm, for doing these things you shall by no means ever stumble. For in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly and bountifully supplied to you.
Ministry: Cooperating with God to Bind and Loose
God wants to do many things on earth today. But He must have the church stand on His side before He can accomplish these things through the church. God cannot do what He wants to do by Himself; He has to do it with the cooperation of the church. The church is the means through which God expresses Himself. Let me repeat: the church is like a water tap. If the tap is small, the amount of water flowing through the tap will not be great…God truly wants to work in heaven, but He has to wait for the earth to move before He can work. There are many things that God wants to bind in heaven, and there are many things that God wants to loose in heaven. God wants to see many people, objects, and things contrary to Him bound, and He wants to see many spiritual, valuable, beneficial, and holy things that are of Him loosed. The question is whether or not there are men on earth to bind what God wants to bind and loose what God wants to loose. He wants the earth to control heaven. God wants the church to control heaven. (The Prayer Ministry of the Church, p. 14)
© Living Stream Ministry. Used by permission.
2 Tim. 4:10; Acts 2:40; Phil. 2:15
Pray for all the saints, especially the young ones and new ones, to not love the present age but to be saved from “this crooked generation” and “be children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation, among whom [they] shine as luminaries in the world” (2 Tim. 4:10; Acts 2:40; Phil. 2:15).
2 Tim. 4:10—For Demas has abandoned me, having loved the present age.
Acts 2:40—And with many other words he solemnly testified and exhorted them, saying, Be saved from this crooked generation.
Phil. 2:15—That you may be blameless and guileless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine as luminaries in the world.
Ministry: Pray in This Way (1) — “Father…Your Name be Sanctified”
“Your name be sanctified!” God has an expectation that we all pray for His name to be sanctified by men. His name is exalted among the angels. But on earth, His name is being used in vain; even the idols use His name. When a man takes the name of God in vain, God does not show His wrath by striking him with thunder. He hides Himself, as if He did not exist. When a man takes His name in vain, He does not do anything to deal with him. Yet He wants His children to pray, “Your name be sanctified.” Brothers and sisters, if you love God and know Him, you will want His name to be sanctified. If anyone takes God’s name in vain, you will feel hurt, your desire will be even stronger, and you will pray even more earnestly: “Your name be sanctified.” One day man will sanctify this name and no longer take this name in vain. (The Prayer Ministry of the Church, p. 32)
© Living Stream Ministry. Used by permission.
Matt. 24:40-47; Rev. 21:2; 19:7-9
Pray for the saints to be watchful and prudent and to experience all that is needed to be “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” and to be “called to the marriage dinner of the Lamb” (Matt. 24:40-47; Rev. 21:2; 19:7-9).
Matt. 24:40-42—At that time two men will be in the field; one is taken and one is left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one is taken and one is left. Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord comes.
Matt. 24:45-47—Who then is the faithful and prudent slave, whom the master has set over his household to give them food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Truly I say to you that he will set him over all his possessions.
Rev. 21:2—And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev. 19:7, 9—Let us rejoice and exult, and let us give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready...And he said to me, Write, Blessed are they who are called to the marriage dinner of the Lamb.
Ministry: Pray in This Way (2) — “Your Kingdom Come”
“Your kingdom come!” This is not only a desire of the church, but also a responsibility of the church. The church should bring in God’s kingdom. In order to bring in God’s kingdom, the church has to pay the price to be restricted by heaven and come under heaven’s rule. It has to be the outlet for heaven, and it has to allow heaven’s authority to be expressed on earth. In order to bring in God’s kingdom, the church has to know all the schemes of Satan (2 Cor. 2:11). It has to put on the whole armor of God and stand against the stratagems of the devil (Eph. 6:11), for wherever the kingdom of God is, the devil is cast out. When the kingdom of God rules on earth fully, Satan will be cast into the abyss (Rev. 20:1-3). Since the church has such a tremendous responsibility, Satan will do all he can to attack the church. May the church pray like the saints of old, “O Jehovah, bow Your heavens down and descend” (Psa. 144:5). “Oh that You would rend the heavens, that You would come down” (Isa. 64:1). At the same time, we should say to Satan, “Depart from the earth immediately, and go to the eternal fire which God has prepared for you” (cf. Matt. 25:41). (The Prayer Ministry of the Church, pp. 34-35)
© Living Stream Ministry. Used by permission.
1 Tim. 1:3-4; Gal. 2:20; Phil. 1:21a; John 21:15-17; 1 Cor. 12:24; Col. 3:10-11
Pray for the Lord’s recovery to experience a new revival, a revival that has never occurred in history, which will be the issue of our successful practice of the high peak revelations of God’s economy, including the God-man living, the universal shepherding, and the blending for the reality of the Body of Christ and of the one new man (1 Tim. 1:3-4; Gal. 2:20; Phil. 1:21a; John 21:15-17; 1 Cor. 12:24; Col. 3:10-11).
1 Tim. 1:3-4—Even as I exhorted you, when I was going into Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus in order that you might charge certain ones not to teach different things nor to give heed to myths and unending genealogies, which produce questionings rather than God's economy, which is in faith.
Gal. 2:20—I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Phil. 1:21a—For to me, to live is Christ.
John 21:15-17—Then when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You. He said to him, Feed My lambs. He said to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You. He said to him, Shepherd My sheep. He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me? Peter was grieved that He said to him the third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep.
1 Cor. 12:24—But our comely members have no need. But God has blended the body together, giving more abundant honor to the member that lacked.
Col. 3:10-11—And have put on the new man, which is being renewed unto full knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all and in all.
Ministry: Pray in This Way (3) — “Your Will Be Done”
Many people have the wrong concept that the reason man prays to God is to initiate something and ask God to do something. But the Bible shows us that God first has a will and wants to do something, next He shows us His will, and then we speak out with our mouth the will that we have come to understand. This is prayer. The Lord taught us to pray. God Himself wants His name to be sanctified. God Himself wants His kingdom to come, and God Himself wants His will to be done on earth. Yet God will not do these things alone. He is waiting for the church to pray. If you pray, I pray, and all of God’s children pray and if the prayers are numerous enough, His name will be sanctified, His kingdom will come, and His will will be done on earth as it is in heaven. God’s children must learn to pray this kind of prayer…Although the ultimate fulfillment of His name being sanctified, His kingdom coming, and His will being done on earth will be in the millennium, the timing of it, whether it will come early or late, depends on the prayer of His children. (The Prayer Ministry of the Church, pp. 36-37)
© Living Stream Ministry. Used by permission.
Phil. 3:20; 2 Tim. 4:8; Titus 2:13; Rev. 22:20
For the Lord Jesus to come back quickly (Phil. 3:20; 2 Tim. 4:8; Titus 2:13; Rev. 22:20).
Phil. 3:20—For our commonwealth exists in the heavens, from which also we eagerly await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Tim. 4:8—Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, with which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will recompense me in that day, and not only me but also all those who have loved His appearing.
Titus 2:13—Awaiting the blessed hope, even the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Rev. 22:20—He who testifies these things says, Yes, I come quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Ministry: Persevering in Prayer
According to Paul’s word in [Colossians] 4:2, the thing that requires our perseverance is prayer. We need to persevere in prayer because prayer involves a battle, a fight. Two parties, God and Satan, are hostile to each other. The meaning of the name Satan is adversary. Satan is both the enemy without and the adversary within. On the one hand, he is the enemy trying to defeat God; on the other hand, he is the adversary within God’s realm seeking to cause damage. As the adversary, Satan opposes God from within God’s realm, God’s kingdom...Although the battle raging in the universe is between God and Satan, another party is involved. This third party consists of God’s chosen and redeemed people, the ones who will actually decide the outcome of the battle. If we take sides with Satan, God will lose, even though He is almighty…In a very real sense, God needs us. Without us, He would not have a way to carry on the battle against Satan. He must maintain His status as the Creator. For this reason, He needs us to carry on the actual work of warfare...In order to fight on God’s side against Satan, we need to persevere in prayer. (Life-study of Colossians, pp. 577-578)
© Living Stream Ministry. Used by permission.
Persevere in prayer.