PRAY IN THIS WAY
MARCH 31, 2020
Many matters require the church’s prayer. The items of prayer listed below are offered as a help to focus and enrich the prayer of the saints and of the churches. They are not meant to be restrictive or exhaustive, nor are they meant to be legally adopted. In the end, it is the Spirit who intercedes for us, in us, and through us according to God and His will. The intercessors’ responsibility is to be one spirit with the Lord and one mind with Christ to discharge the inner burden with Spirit-inspired utterances. In light of the current global pandemic, let us persevere in prayer with a strong spirit over the next 21 days:
DAY 1: PRAYER ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 6
MATT. 6:9–10; REV. 11:15
For the Father’s name to be sanctified (Matt. 6:9b), for His kingdom to come (Matt. 6:10a; Rev. 11:15); and for His will to be done on the earth (Matt. 6:10b).
DAY 2: PRAYER FOR THE NEW MAN & THE BRIDE
EPH. 1:9–10, 23; 4:13, 16; 5:27; REV 19:7
For God’s good pleasure to be fulfilled, His purpose to be accomplished, and His economy to be carried out (Eph. 1:9-10) that He might have the church as Christ’s built-up Body and a full-grown new man to express Him (v. 23; 4:13, 16), and as Christ’s prepared bride to satisfy Him in love (5:27; Rev. 19:7).
DAY 3: PRAYER FOR WORLD AFFAIRS
DAN. 4:17; REV. 1:5; PROV. 21:1; DAN. 2:21
For God in Christ to rule over all world affairs (Dan. 4:17; Rev. 1:5), to turn the hearts of kings to do His will (Prov. 21:1), and to raise up and put down leaders as He sees fit (Dan. 2:21).
DAY 4: PRAYER FOR THOSE IN AUTHORITY
1 TIM. 2:2
For those in authority to have the wisdom to discharge their responsibilities and govern righteously according to God so that the church may go on in peace and tranquility (1 Tim. 2:2).
Acts 17:26-27; Phil. 1:21a; Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:16; Rev. 19:7
Pray for God’s ultimate move over the whole earth to gain a people who know the wonderful, all-inclusive Christ, who experience Him as their life and live Him, and who are transformed and built up to be His Body and ultimately His prepared bride for His return (Acts 17:26-27; Phil. 1:21a; Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:16; Rev. 19:7).
DAY 6: PRAYER FOR THE GOSPEL
Rev. 6:1-2; Rom. 2:4; Acts 26:20; Mark 1:15; 1 Tim. 2:4a
For the white horse of the gospel to run and for the long-suffering God to lead men to repent, to turn to Him and believe the gospel according to His desire that all men be saved (Rev. 6:1-2; Rom. 2:4; Acts 26:20; Mark 1:15; 1 Tim. 2:4a).
DAY 7: PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED, OPPRESSED, & SUFFERING
1 Pet. 4:12-14; 5:9-10
For the God of all grace to comfort, perfect, and establish the brothers and sisters throughout the world, especially those who are persecuted, oppressed, and suffering deprivation and trials (1 Pet. 4:12-14; 5:9-10).
Persevere in prayer.
DAY 8: PRAYER FOR THE DORMANT, WAYWARD, & BACKSLIDDEN
Eph. 5:14; James 5:19; Gal. 6:1
For the dormant believers to be enlivened, the wayward Christians to be recovered, and the backslidden saints to be restored to the Lord and to the fellowship of the church (Eph. 5:14; James 5:19; Gal. 6:1).
DAY 9: PRAYER FOR THE SCATTERED BELIEVERS
Acts 9:2, Acts 26:19; Ezra 1:5; Ezek. 36:24
For the scattered believers to see the heavenly vision of God’s eternal purpose, to be stirred up in their spirits to seek the deeper things of Christ and God’s building, and to take the way of God’s New Testament economy (Acts 9:2, Acts 26:19; Ezra 1:5; Ezek. 36:24).
DAY 10: PRAYER FOR ONE ACCORD
Rom. 15:6; Col. 3:10-11
For all the churches to be in a prevailing one accord, glorifying our God and His Christ with one mouth to bring forth the reality of the one new man (Rom. 15:6; Col. 3:10-11).
DAY 11: PRAYER FOR THE CHURCHES
Acts 16:5; Eph. 1:19; Col. 1:11; Rev. 1:9
For the Lord to strengthen, uphold, and prosper the churches in every country in His recovery as the testimony of Jesus (Acts 16:5; Eph. 1:19; Col. 1:11; Rev. 1:9).
DAY 12: PRAYER FOR THE CO-WORKERS & LEADING BROTHERS
Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2; Heb. 13:17
For the Lord to supply the co-workers and leading brothers and grant them wisdom to lead and shepherd His people onward in these days (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2; Heb. 13:17).
DAY 13: PRAYER FOR THE SAINTS TO BE SANCTIFIED
1 Thes. 5:22-23; Rom 12:2, 4-5
For the saints to be preserved and sanctified in their tripartite being, to be separated unto God from common and sinful things (1 Thes. 5:22-23), and to not be conformed to this age but to be transformed and prove the will of God by living the Body-life (Rom 12:2, 4-5).
DAY 14: PRAYER TO POSSESS THE ALL-INCLUSIVE CHRIST
Col. 1:12; Eph. 3:8, 17-18
For the saints to fully possess their allotted portion of the all-inclusive, all-extensive Christ by being strengthened with power through the Spirit into their inner man that Christ may make His home in their hearts (Col. 1:12; Eph. 3:8, 17-18).
Persevere in prayer.
DAY 15: PRAYER FOR THE BUILDING UP OF THE BODY
Col. 2:6-7; Rom. 8:4; Eph. 4:15-16
For the saints to walk in Christ by the spirit in their daily life, to grow up into Christ in all things, and to be knit and built together as the Body of Christ (Col. 2:6-7; Rom. 8:4; Eph. 4:15-16).
DAY 16: PRAYER FOR THE GOD-ORDAINED WAY
Acts 2:46-47; 1 Pet. 4:10; 1 Cor. 14:26; Eph. 4:12, 16
For the saints to use the present circumstances to cultivate a church life that is more vital, more prevailing, more fruitful, and more according to the God-ordained way through the release of the organic function of every saint (Acts 2:46-47; 1 Pet. 4:10; 1 Cor. 14:26; Eph. 4:12, 16).
DAY 17: PRAYER FOR THE SAINTS TO BE LABORING PRIESTS
Rom. 15:16; 2 Tim. 4:2; Acts 10:24
For all the saints to be energized as laboring priests of the gospel, who preach the Word in season and out of season to their relatives, friends, colleagues, and people they meet, in order to gain them and offer them as a sanctified offering to God (Rom. 15:16; 2 Tim. 4:2; Acts 10:24).
DAY 18: PRAYER TO CONTINUE STEADFASTLY
Acts 2:42; Matt. 6:6; 18:19-20; Col. 4:2; 1 Thes. 5:17
For the saints to continue steadfastly in prayer and for their prayer life to be built up personally, in small groups, and in the church meetings until prayer is unceasing (Acts 2:42; Matt. 6:6; 18:19-20; Col. 4:2; 1 Thes. 5:17).
DAY 19: PRAYER FOR THE OVERCOMERS
Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 12:5, 10-11; 14:1-5
For the saints to be raised up and constituted as overcomers to be the Lord's dispensational instrument to turn the age (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 12:5, 10-11; 14:1-5).
DAY 20: PRAYER TO BIND THE ENEMY
Mark 3:27; 1 John 3:8; Rev. 12:10-11; Luke 18:7
For the enemy, Satan, to be bound, for the works of the devil to be destroyed, for the accuser of the brothers to be cast down, and for the saints to be avenged of their adversary (Mark 3:27; 1 John 3:8; Rev. 12:10-11; Luke 18:7).
DAY 30: PRAYER FOR THE LORD’S RETURN
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).
Gal. 4:19; Eph. 3:14-21; Matt. 16:18; Eph. 2:21-22; 1 Cor. 12:27
Pray for all the saints to open their entire being to the Lord so that He may carry out the central work of God—God building Himself in Christ into us and building us into Himself for the building up of the church as the Body of Christ (Gal. 4:19; Eph. 3:14-21; Matt. 16:18; Eph. 2:21-22; 1 Cor. 12:27).
Gal. 4:19—My children, with whom I travail again in birth until Christ is formed in you.
Eph. 3:16-17, 19b—That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit into the inner man, that Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith...that you may be filled unto all the fullness of God.
Matt. 16:18—And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Eph. 2:21-22—In whom all the building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in spirit.
1 Cor. 12:27—Now you are the Body of Christ, and members individually.
1 Cor. 12:12-13, 23-27
Pray for the saints to live the Christian life and the church life according to the practical points concerning blending, having the blending of all the individual members of the Body of Christ, all the churches in certain districts, all the co-workers, and all the elders through fellowship and by doing everything through the cross and by the Spirit to minister Christ for the Body, with the goal that in the Lord’s recovery we will be the reality of the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-13, 23-27).
1 Cor. 12:12-13—For even as the body is one and has many members, yet all the members of the body, being many, are one body, so also is the Christ. For also in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and were all given to drink one Spirit.
1 Cor. 12:23-27—And those members of the body which we consider to be less honorable, these we clothe with more abundant honor; and our uncomely members come to have more abundant comeliness, but our comely members have no need. But God has blended the body together, giving more abundant honor to the member that lacked, that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same care for one another. And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one member is glorified, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the Body of Christ, and members individually.
Rev. 8:1-8
Pray for the saints to offer prayers to which Christ as another Angel can add incense so that from the throne of God the fire of righteous judgment will be cast to the earth to deal with godlessness and lawlessness (Rev. 8:1-8).
Rev. 8:1-8—And when He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another Angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer, and much incense was given to Him to offer with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense went up with the prayers of the saints out of the hand of the Angel before God. And the Angel took the censer and filled it with the fire of the altar and cast it to the earth; and there were thunders and voices and lightnings and an earthquake. And the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to trumpet. And the first trumpeted, and there was hail and fire mingled with blood, and it was cast to the earth; and the third part of the earth was burned up, and the third part of the trees were burned up, and all green grass was burned up. And the second angel trumpeted, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea; and the third part of the sea became blood.
Matt. 6:19-34
Pray for the saints not to be anxious about human life at the present time but to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and serve God alone, not storing up treasures for themselves on earth (Matt. 6:19-34).
Matt. 6:19-21—Do not store up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves dig through and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven...For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Matt. 6:24-25—No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. Because of this, I say to you, Do not be anxious for your life, what you should eat or what you should drink; nor for your body, what you should put on. Is not the life more than food, and the body than clothing?
Matt. 6:31, 33—Therefore do not be anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, With what shall we be clothed?...But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matt. 6:1-6; Col. 3:3
Pray for the saints, as kingdom people, children of the heavenly Father, to have a spiritual life that corresponds with the mysterious, hidden nature of the divine life, praying to their heavenly Father in secret, experiencing some secret enjoyment of the Father, and receiving some secret answer from Him (Matt. 6:1-6; Col. 3:3).
Matt. 6:1-6—But take care not to do your righteousness before men in order to be gazed at by them; otherwise, you have no reward with your Father who is in the heavens. Therefore when you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be glorified by men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward in full. But you, when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you. And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners, so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, They have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, enter into your private room, and shut your door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
Col. 3:3—For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Persevere in prayer.