1 Timothy 2:1-5 (NKJV) Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour,who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus
As Christians, we must not just pray for our own needs but also intercede for the church, government, officials, schools, and the neighbourhood if we want to see changes in our country, home, school, and any other situation. Also, we need not pray alone, but we can pray together with other believers through corporate prayer, a good option of which is prayer walking.
There are several different methods. First, the house-to-house approach entails going from house to house, asking for prayer requests and then praying with the people on site. We can also pray from strategic locations within the target area, such as parks, city squares, high points, crossroads, and lift entrances. Alternatively, we can pray from within specific buildings like schools, churches, government agencies, factories, and businesses to achieve specific goals. Finally, the most common type is the street method, which is walking, driving, or riding through a target area and praying.
There are many benefits of prayer walking. It proclaims our reliance upon God for a harvest and opens the hearts and eyes of the intercessor to see the needs of others. Furthermore, it is a form of prayer-evangelism which prepares hearts for the gospel, destroys the devil’s strongholds, and bears spiritual fruit that lasts. Prayer walking is an active, intentional method of corporate prayer. Rather than just affirming what we already know, we conquer new ground for the Kingdom of God by tearing down the enemy’s strongholds in specific places and spheres of society. We pray in the very places where we petition God to transform. God will often reveal the specific ways He will bless the people. Therefore, we should ask God to show us what or who to pray for.
We should also pray for specific spheres of society, such as academic institutions and schools at all levels, that they stop teaching ideology against God’s truth, God will raise up godly teachers who instil biblical principles and knowledge, and God will protect the hearts and minds of students from corruption. We should also pray for the commercial sphere, where strongholds persist such as the love of money and dishonesty. We pray that people will find comfort in God as Jehovah Jireh—the God who will provide—and that socioeconomic justice will prevail, with no more oppression and extortion. Government officials and wider society also need our prayers and intercession.
Prayer walking is a potent weapon in our spiritual warfare. It will strengthen our connections with other believers, tear down demonic strongholds that prevent people from coming to faith, and help God’s will be done on earth by the authority of Jesus’ Name.
Sermon Series:Do Not Lose Heart, But Always Pray Until Something Happens
步行祷告
提摩太前书2:1-5:我劝你第一要为万人恳求、祷告、代求、祝谢,为君王和一切在位的,也该如此,使我们可以敬虔、端正、平安无事地度日。这是好的,在 神我们救主面前可蒙悦纳。他愿意万人得救,明白真道。因为只有一位 神,在 神和人中间,只有一位中保,乃是降世为人的基督耶稣。
作为基督徒,我们不仅要为自己的需求祷告,如果我们希望看到国家、家庭、学校等各方面有所改变,我们还要为教会、政府、官员、学校和邻里代祷。此外,我们不必独自祷告,还可以通过集体祷告来与其他信徒一起祷告,其中一个很好的选择就是步行祷告。
步行祷告有如下几种方式。首先,挨家挨户的方法,这需要挨家挨户询问祷告要求,然后当场与那家的人一起祷告。我们也可以在目标区域内的战略位置祈祷,例如公园、城市广场、高地、十字路口和电梯入口。或者,我们可以在学校、教堂、政府机构、工厂和企业等特定建筑物的内部进行步行祷告,以实现特定目标。最后,最常见的类型是穿街过巷法,即步行、驾车或骑车穿过目标区域并祈祷。
步行祷告有很多好处。它宣告我们依靠上帝来获得灵魂,并打开代祷者的心和眼睛,看到他人的需要。此外,它是一种祈祷传福音的形式,使人心为福音做好准备,摧毁魔鬼的营垒,并结出不朽坏的属灵的果子。步行祷告是一种积极、有目的的集体祷告方式。我们不仅仅是在肯定我们已经知道的事情,更是通过摧毁敌人在社会特定地方和领域的营垒,为上帝的国度攻克新的领地。我们站在祈求上帝改变的地方祈祷。上帝经常会揭示祂将祝福人们的具体方式。因此,我们应该请求上帝告诉我们应该为谁祷告,或为何祷告。
我们还应该为社会的特定领域祷告,例如各级学术机构和学校,愿他们停止教导违背上帝真理的意识形态,愿上帝兴起敬虔的教师,灌输圣经原则和知识,愿上帝保护学生的心灵免受腐化。我们还应该为商业领域祷告,因为在那里坚立着贪财和不诚实等营垒。我们祈祷人们能在耶和华以勒神那里找到安慰——祂是万物的供应者——愿社会经济正义得以实现,不再有压迫和勒索。政府官员和更广泛的社会也需要我们的祷告和代祷。
步行祷告是我们属灵争战中强有力的武器。这能加强我们与其他信徒的联系,摧毁阻止人们信仰的邪恶营垒,奉耶稣之名的权柄,使上帝的旨意成就在地上。
讲章系列:不要灰心,总要祷告,直到发生改变
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