Living and Serving according to God’s Economy
concerning the Church
Message Four
A Proper Prayer Life for a Proper Church Life
OPENING WORD OF THE PROPHESYING MEETING
Reading the verses in each day.
Reading the main points in the outlines.
Pray-reading the verses:
1 Tim. 2:1-2 I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men; on behalf of kings and all who are in high position, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and gravity.
Col. 4:2 Persevere in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving.
Exo. 28:29-30 …Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastplate of judgment on his heart when he goes into the sanctuary, for a memorial before Jehovah continually. And you shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be on Aaron’s heart when he goes in before Jehovah…
Word of Appetizer
What is the prerequisite for having a proper church life in the Lord’s recovery today?
A prerequisite for having a proper church life in the Lord’s recovery today is to have a prayer life; a proper church is a praying church; all in the Lord’s recovery must be prayerful and stand against the sin of prayerlessness.
if we exercise ourselves to have a prayer life, the church will be living and uplifted. Instead of talking so much and even instead of working so much, we should pray more; only after we have prayed for a matter thoroughly should we make a decision concerning it, not by ourselves independently, but in oneness with the Lord and according to His leading.
Spiritual Burden
A prayer ministry is the prerequisite for the administration and shepherding of a local church. A proper church is a praying church…All in the Lord’s recovery must be prayerful and stand against the sin of prayerlessness.
The breastplate is the building up of the Body life and the means for us to know God’s will concerning His people; by much and thorough prayer, we can experience the reality of the breastplate.
Concluding Word of the Prophesying Meeting
The Revelation of the Truth
“I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men; on behalf of kings and all who are in high position, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and gravity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior God”.
In order to be infused with the instruction of God to care for the church, the elders must have much and thorough prayer so that they can enter into the reality of “reading the saints,” just as the high priest in the Old Testament read the stones on the breastplate with the Urim and Thummim in the presence of God.
The Experience of Life
In our prayer under the shining of the light of the Lord’s indwelling presence that we receive wisdom and the real understanding of the Lord concerning the situation, concerning people, and concerning the church. If all the saints in all the churches persevere in prayer, the recovery will be greatly enriched and uplifted; furthermore, the saints will enjoy the Lord, His presence, and His instant and constant anointing; all day long they will enjoy the smile of the Lord’s face, and the living person of Christ will become their experience and enjoyment.
Practice and Application
The leading ones, those who minister the word in the church, should take the lead to have a prayer life; they need to “persevere in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving”; in order to be filled continuously with the Spirit, we need to be those who are willing, empty, and praying.
To have a prayer life and pray unceasingly, our emotion and mind must be regulated to be in a normal condition, under the control of the Spirit in our spirit.
Instead of talking so much and even instead of working so much, we should pray more; only after we have prayed for a matter thoroughly should we make a decision concerning it, not by ourselves independently, but in oneness with the Lord and according to His leading.
PROPHESYING TOPICS—TWELVE TOPICS PER WEEK
Day 1
T1 A prayer ministry is the prerequisite for the administration and shepherding of a local church (1 Tim. 2:1)
(Please illustrate that if we would have a proper church life, we must first have a prayer life.)
T2 Whenever we hear some news, good or bad, concerning a particular church, we should pray (1 Tim. 2:1-2)
(Please illustrate that whenever we hear of problems among the saints, do not discuss the situation, do not gossip about it, and do not criticize. Just pray! )
Day 2
T1 Prayer is more important than work (1 Tim. 2:1; 2:4)
(Please illustrate that our prayer is required for the carrying out of God’s desire.)
T2 Hands symbolize our doings (1 Tim. 2:8)
(Please illustrate that the spiritual significance of “lifting up holy hands” when we pray in every place.)
Day 3
T1 When the Urim and the Thummim were added to the breastplate, they caused it to become the breastplate of judgment (Exo. 28:29-30)
(Please illustrate the meaning and function of the Urim and the Thummim.)
T2 Both the Urim and the Thummim typify Christ…The breastplate typifies the church (Exo. 28:29-30; Rev. 22:13)
(Please illustrate that how we can apply that the Urim and the Thummim added to the breastplate typify Christ added to the church.)
Day 4
T1 The breastplate was called the breastplate of judgment (Exo. 28:15; Rom. 8:4)
(Why is the breastplate of judgment is actually the breastplate of leading?)
T2 The building of the breastplate is a picture of the building up of the Body of Christ (Rom. 12:2b; 5)
(Please illustrate that to know the Lord’s will is something in the Body.)
Day 5
T1 God speaks through negative situations (Eph. 5:8)
(Please illustrate that God speaks not through the stones that are shining but through the stones that become dark.)
T2 Paul wrote 1 Corinthians according to his reading of the negative situation at Corinth (1 Cor. 1:9)
(Please illustrate the principle on which Paul’s Epistles and the seven epistles of the Lord Jesus to the seven churches in Asia were all written.)
Day 6
T1 Persevering in prayer (Col. 4:2; Acts 6:4)
(Please illustrate that Whether the church is living and fresh and enriched depends on three things.)
T2 The Christian life is a life of prayer (Col. 4:2; Acts 6:4)
(Please illustrate that when the serving ones come together, they should pray, not just discuss things.)
