In Jesus' Name預覽

It Takes Two

Norwegian missionary Maria Monsen had reached a point in her life where she wondered what good praying could do. She longed to see God’s river of life flood a spiritually dry China, but she didn’t see a way. Then one day she realized that the source of the mighty Yangtze River started with tiny drops of rain that came together at the top of the mountains. So, Maria sought a prayer partner who would join her in claiming the promise that “if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:19). When she finally found someone she exclaimed, “The awakening has begun, two of us have agreed!” The raindrops of revival prayer were coming together.

Soon, about 40 Christians began meeting in a town in North China for prayer four times a day beginning at dawn. When revival came, more people were born again than in any previous year in North China. One missionary estimated that 3,000 people came to Christ in his town. People, including pastors and missionaries, experienced a deeper Christian life than they had ever known before. A spirit of prayer was poured out on the church, and many times prayer meetings lasted two or three hours. Even children’s prayers led to the salvation of their parents and teachers. In 1932, after several years of people standing together in prayer, revival came to North China ... all because Christians began to partner together for Jesus’ greater purpose!

God wants us to form partnerships with one another because joining together in prayer is powerful and scriptural. In Ecclesiastes, we read that “two are better than one” and “a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” He created us to live with others, and He wants us to enter into partnerships with other Christians so we can agree together in prayer for the presence and power of God to engage in our lives, families and workplace.

As you form prayer partnerships, first look for someone who has strong Christian character and is involved in a local church. You need to form a bond with a person who is also chasing after God and trying to become more like Him. This will give you a foundation of trust, and you can begin to share confidential prayers with each other.

When Jesus was on earth, His disciples were His prayer partners. Each disciple was prayerfully chosen by Jesus to be by His side and operate in partnership together. There were many times Jesus would pray with His disciples. Luke 9:28 says, “He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.” Just like Jesus and His disciples, God wants us to have people in our lives who will partner with us in prayer ... people who will pray, believe, laugh and cry with us. Philippians 2:1–2 (NLT) says, “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.” God is looking for those who will join together with one another and pray during the mundane, the hectic and the tragic. As we enter into an eternal partnership with Him and others, let us lift up His name and pursue His will.

There is unusual power in united prayer. God has planned for His people to join together in prayer, not only for Christian fellowship, spiritual nurture and growth, but also for accomplishing His divine purposes and reaching His chosen goals.~Wesley L. Duewell

Prayer

Father, thank You for inviting us to partner with You in prayer to bring Your will from heaven to earth. Show us those You have designed to partner with us in prayer. Show me how to be a person who is worthy of partnership with others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Activation

• Ask the Lord to show you who He has for you to partner with in prayer.
• Examine your own heart before agreeing to partner with another person.
• Stay connected with one another and set up regular times to meet and pray together for each other’s needs.

Memory Verse

"If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." Matthew 18:19–20 (NKJ)