On June 4, Pastor Bai Yu'e shared the third sermon in a series on the revival of the church, describing the significance and role of prayer for the church's revival.
Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen, to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” (Acts 1:24-25)
Revival begins with prayer — it is the essential ingredient for revival. Pastor Bai Yu'e explained the importance of following the three aspects of prayer: everyone must pray, everyone must know to whom they pray, and the object of prayer, and prayer needed to be done in unity with others.
1. Everyone must pray
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Acts 1:14)
Everyone is the subject of prayer. Some people in the church do not realize the importance of prayer, so they look around and wander back and forth during the prayer meeting. Looking back on the history of the church’s development, the first people did not know God very well, but they had a passion for God. A simple prayer might be very touching, and many people would grow through these prayers. Today there are not many people in the church who are eager or truly willing to pray, and deeply attracted by the Lord to pray. Some people pray only when they need the Lord. So what the church urgently needs to do now is to encourage everyone to pray.
There are many truths of prayer, and the most important one is that everyone needs to pray. The first sign of a newborn baby's life is breathing, and the first action of a reborn Christian is prayer. Prayer is evidence that we are truly converted, and also is the Christian's duty.
Prayer is not so much an action as it is an attitude of relying on God. Some people say that they can’t pray. The more we pray, the more we are able to pray, and only with sincerity will our prayers be effective. If we don’t pray, how can we say that we have faith?
2. Everyone should know the object of their prayer
The first sentence of the Lord’s Prayer is “Our Father in heaven.” This not only tells us that we need to establish a relationship with God but also lets us know that the object of our prayer is a father, who is different from our earthly father. "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—” (John 1:12) We become the children of God through faith, and we can enjoy the authority of prayer that God has given us. Many people refuse to come to God to pray, mainly because they don't know the importance of prayer, the wonderful results that prayer can bring, and that we are praying to an omnipotent God. God is the source of how the church can be rejuvenated. Whenever people pray, God works. Only when we wait in front of God with our most eager, believing, and urgent prayers, can the Holy Spirit of God bring down the power of revival.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12)
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. (Colossians 4:3)
I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. (Luke 11:8)
We see that these persistent and urgent prayers are examples of eagerly seeking God. As long as we seek, God will definitely let us find. We must come to the Lord in prayer and seek Him. Jesus once promised us, “Everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” So in our current environment, we must attach importance to prayer.
3. Prayer must be done in unity with believers
In the first prayer meeting in history there were only eleven apostles and a few women and Mary the mother of the Lord. They witnessed the greatness of the Lord and felt the urgency of God. They prepared for the this great mission with prayer, through which they drew the power from the Holy Spirit. These were the prayers from past believers. In contrast, many people in today's church are numb in spirit, and indifferent about their mission. So we should show heartfelt passion in our prayers.
The church grows only when it prays. There will be a rapid increase in the number of people coming to God only when we pray. Neglect of prayer is the greatest cause for persons backsliding. Our prayers are closely related to increasing the number of churches. Looking at the first prayer meeting recorded in the Bible, the number of participants was not large, but the effects of prayer appeared immediately. As it is written, there were a group numbering about one hundred and twenty. The group that began with only 12 persons quickly increased to 120, a nearly ten-fold increase. We know that a spark can start a prairie fire, and prayer has such an effect.
The only way to get real joy in this world is to cast our cares on God. In the hope of the revival of the church, the believers' prayers for the pastors are the greatest help to them. Praying for the pastors with love can push the pastors’ ministry forward. Pray for the minister, but also pray for doors to open in the ministry. " And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ.” (Colossians 4:3), (Colossians 4:3 Hehe Version) To spread the gospel to them, we ask God to give us wisdom and to open the door through prayer. Pray that the message of God can be spread. " As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. ”(2 Thessalonians 3:1)
"We need more power to obviously pray for needed items, such as for the work of the church. We need to understand and beg God to open the door."
The earnest and heartfelt prayer of the whole congregation is particularly crucial to the revival of the church.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
白玉娥牧师谈教会复兴（三）
6月4日，白玉娥牧师在线上分享了教会复兴的第三篇，讲述了祷告对教会复兴的重要意义和作用。
众人就祷告说：“主啊，你知道万人的心，求你从这两个人中，指明你所拣选的是谁，叫他得这使徒的位分。这位分犹大已经丢弃，往自己的地方去了。”(使徒行传 1:24-25 )
复兴是从祷告开始的，祷告也是教会复兴的原则，白玉娥牧师就祷告的话题讲解了人人都祷告、祷告对象、以及激起参与祷告者的对比三个方面的重要性。
一、所有人都要祷告
这些人同着几个妇人和耶稣的母亲马利亚，并耶稣的弟兄，都同心合意地恒切祷告。(使徒行传 1:14 )
人人都是祷告的主体。教会中有的人不重视祷告的重要性，在祷告会中东张西望、来回游荡。回首教会发展历史，最初的人们不是很了解神，但却有着对神的热情。一个简单的祷告就会让人非常感动，很多人还可以在祷告中成长。现在的教会中迫切祷告的人、真正愿意祷告的人、被主深深吸引祷告的人并不是很多。有的人只是需要主时才祷告。所以现在教会迫切要做的是让所有的人都祷告。
祷告的真理有很多，最为关键的就是人人都需要祷告。新生的婴儿有生命的第一个标记就是呼吸，重生的基督徒第一个动作就是祈祷，祈祷是我们真心改变的证据，基督徒的本分。
与其说祷告是一种行动，不如说祷告是我们一种依靠神的态度。有人讲自己不会祷告，祷告只有越常祷告才能越会祷告，只有真心实意才会有所效力，不去祷告又谈何说自已是有信仰呢。
二、 人人都要清楚自己祷告的对象
主祷文的第一句便是，我们在天上的父。这不单是告诉我们要与神建立生命的关系,更是要我们认识我们祷告的对象乃是一位父亲，与地上的父亲有不同的差别。“凡接待他的，就是信他名的人，他就赐他们权柄作神的儿女。(约翰福音 1:12 )“我们就因信而成为了他的儿女自然就可以享用神赐给我们祷告的权柄。很多人不肯来到神的面前祷告，主要是还不知道祷告的重要，还不晓得祷告能够带来的奇妙果效，还不认识这位无所不能的神。神是教会复兴的能力之源，人祷告神就会做功，唯有在我们极渴望、相信、迫切的祷告中，在神的面前等候，神的圣灵才倾斜出复兴，加增能力。
在指望中要喜乐；在患难中要忍耐；祷告要恒切。(罗马书 12:12 )
也要为我们祷告，求神给我们开传道的门，能以讲基督的奥秘，(歌罗西书 4:3 )
我告诉你们，虽不因他是朋友起来给他，但因他情词迫切地直求，就必起来照他所需用的给他。(路加福音 11:8 )
我们看见，这些恒切祷告、迫切祷告在神面前都是在渴慕寻求神，只要寻求，神就一定让我们寻见。我们一定到主面前来寻求祷告，耶稣曾经承诺和应许我们，说你们祈求，就给你们寻找、寻见，叩门就给你们开门。所以在我们现在所处的环境，一定要重视祷告。
三、 激起参与祷告者的对比
过去信徒的祷告，历史中第一次祷告会只有十一个使徒和几个妇女以及主的母亲玛利亚等。见证了主的伟大，他们感到迫切，因而以祷告准备迎接伟大的使命，支取从圣灵而来的能力。对比来看，今天的教会很多人的灵性已经麻木，使命感变得淡漠。所以要心中再次燃起对祷告的热切。
教会有祷告才有增长。有祷告才有人数的迅速增加。忽略祷告是退步最大的原因。我们的祷告，与增加教会的人数是息息相关的。看圣经记载的第一次祷告会，参加的人数不多，但是祷告产生的果效却随即地显现出来。如经上所记，那时有许多人聚会，约有120名。可以看见，最开始只有十多个人的祷告小组一下子就加增到120人，近十倍的增加，我们知道星星之火可以燎原，祷告便有这样的果效。
在这个世界中要想得到真正喜乐的唯一方法就是常常将忧虑卸给神。希望教会的复兴，信徒们对牧者最大的帮助就是为他们祈祷，带着爱为牧者祷告能推动牧者前行。为传道人祷告，还要对传道的门祷告。“也要为我们祷告，求神给我们开传道的门，能以讲基督的奥秘，(歌罗西书 4:3 和合本)“把福音传给他们，就是求神给我们智慧，借着祷告,福音d大门来被神打开。为神的道传开祷告。”“弟兄们，我还有话说：请你们为我们祷告，好叫主的道理快快行开，得着荣耀，正如在你们中间一样”，(帖撒罗尼迦后书 3:1 )
“我们需要更大的能力、更明显的祷告对准有需要的地方祷告，比如工作性的祷告。我们需要明白求神开门。”
教会的复兴中，全员参与的、热切而发自内心的祷告，尤为关键。
On June 4, Pastor Bai Yu'e shared the third sermon in a series on the revival of the church, describing the significance and role of prayer for the church's revival.
Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen, to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” (Acts 1:24-25)
Revival begins with prayer — it is the essential ingredient for revival. Pastor Bai Yu'e explained the importance of following the three aspects of prayer: everyone must pray, everyone must know to whom they pray, and the object of prayer, and prayer needed to be done in unity with others.
1. Everyone must pray
They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Acts 1:14)
Everyone is the subject of prayer. Some people in the church do not realize the importance of prayer, so they look around and wander back and forth during the prayer meeting. Looking back on the history of the church’s development, the first people did not know God very well, but they had a passion for God. A simple prayer might be very touching, and many people would grow through these prayers. Today there are not many people in the church who are eager or truly willing to pray, and deeply attracted by the Lord to pray. Some people pray only when they need the Lord. So what the church urgently needs to do now is to encourage everyone to pray.
There are many truths of prayer, and the most important one is that everyone needs to pray. The first sign of a newborn baby's life is breathing, and the first action of a reborn Christian is prayer. Prayer is evidence that we are truly converted, and also is the Christian's duty.
Prayer is not so much an action as it is an attitude of relying on God. Some people say that they can’t pray. The more we pray, the more we are able to pray, and only with sincerity will our prayers be effective. If we don’t pray, how can we say that we have faith?
2. Everyone should know the object of their prayer
The first sentence of the Lord’s Prayer is “Our Father in heaven.” This not only tells us that we need to establish a relationship with God but also lets us know that the object of our prayer is a father, who is different from our earthly father. "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—” (John 1:12) We become the children of God through faith, and we can enjoy the authority of prayer that God has given us. Many people refuse to come to God to pray, mainly because they don't know the importance of prayer, the wonderful results that prayer can bring, and that we are praying to an omnipotent God. God is the source of how the church can be rejuvenated. Whenever people pray, God works. Only when we wait in front of God with our most eager, believing, and urgent prayers, can the Holy Spirit of God bring down the power of revival.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (Romans 12:12)
And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. (Colossians 4:3)
I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. (Luke 11:8)
We see that these persistent and urgent prayers are examples of eagerly seeking God. As long as we seek, God will definitely let us find. We must come to the Lord in prayer and seek Him. Jesus once promised us, “Everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” So in our current environment, we must attach importance to prayer.
3. Prayer must be done in unity with believers
In the first prayer meeting in history there were only eleven apostles and a few women and Mary the mother of the Lord. They witnessed the greatness of the Lord and felt the urgency of God. They prepared for the this great mission with prayer, through which they drew the power from the Holy Spirit. These were the prayers from past believers. In contrast, many people in today's church are numb in spirit, and indifferent about their mission. So we should show heartfelt passion in our prayers.
The church grows only when it prays. There will be a rapid increase in the number of people coming to God only when we pray. Neglect of prayer is the greatest cause for persons backsliding. Our prayers are closely related to increasing the number of churches. Looking at the first prayer meeting recorded in the Bible, the number of participants was not large, but the effects of prayer appeared immediately. As it is written, there were a group numbering about one hundred and twenty. The group that began with only 12 persons quickly increased to 120, a nearly ten-fold increase. We know that a spark can start a prairie fire, and prayer has such an effect.
The only way to get real joy in this world is to cast our cares on God. In the hope of the revival of the church, the believers' prayers for the pastors are the greatest help to them. Praying for the pastors with love can push the pastors’ ministry forward. Pray for the minister, but also pray for doors to open in the ministry. " And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ.” (Colossians 4:3), (Colossians 4:3 Hehe Version) To spread the gospel to them, we ask God to give us wisdom and to open the door through prayer. Pray that the message of God can be spread. " As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. ”(2 Thessalonians 3:1)
"We need more power to obviously pray for needed items, such as for the work of the church. We need to understand and beg God to open the door."
The earnest and heartfelt prayer of the whole congregation is particularly crucial to the revival of the church.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
