First of All, Pray

“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,” (1 Timothy 2:1-3, RecVer)

In the recent training for the elders and responsible ones, I was so touched by the burden of prayer. In fact, as the message was just released in Manila, Philippines, I sent a WhatsApp message to some groups I have been on, of this verse to first of all pray. Later, as we did the study, and also entered into the video training in Delhi again, I noted some important points in this message as below.

As we are learning to serve, we must take care of the most important thing first. First of all, we must pray. To have an unprecedented breakthrough, to have a genuine revival, we must first of all pray.

Prayer should be our living. During the pandemic, we have picked up the burden of praying for at least 100 days, but this should not merely be a movement, but it should be our living. And this prayer must continue all the days of our lives.

Prayer should be a ministry. In Acts 6, the apostles declared, “But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:4, RecVer) Yes, there is a need for the ministry of the word but what is most important is prayer. Prayer is a ministry, not merely an activity. We need to give ourselves to pray first. 

Prayer is a work. Prayer is more important than the work. We must stop all activities and learn to pray. Prayer is a petition, not a performance, not even to deal with a problem, but to petition, intercede, and thanksgiving. Our responsibility even extends to praying for those in the high authorities that we may live a tranquil and peaceful life for the sake of the church life to fulfill God’s economy. 

Prayer is a prerequisite for anything or any activity. Prayer should also be our life and living. A proper church is a praying church. Then, our church life will be living, vitalized, and uplifted. Let us be warned not to do anything presumptuously. A decision made apart from the Lord, be it small or great, should be condemned. Turn all the talking into prayer, and then the local church will be transformed.

“I desire therefore that men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and reasoning;” (1 Timothy 2:8, RecVer)

“Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. The petition of a righteous man avails much in its working.” (James 5:16, RecVer)

Hands are for doing which signifies our living. If we do not have a holy living we cannot pray. Our holy and pious living is the base for us to be able to pray. Then, our prayers will be effective and God will hear. Our church life will be rich and strong. Prayerlessness is a sin. For shepherding or administration of the church, prayer is required. We must also be regulated in our daily living. We will be wild without regulation; we must be regulated in our mind, emotion, and will and be a man of prayer. By prayer, we can shepherd the saints as we are able to read the saints through our prayers, and then we can bear the church on our shoulders. 

“Persevere in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving,” (Colossians 4:2, RecVer)

We must be willing, empty, and be a man of prayer to be filled with the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and skill for the noble work of building up the church.

Lord, make me a man of prayer.