2 Thessalonians 3
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.
3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
4 And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you.
5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
In part 1, we made lots of general comments, but now we want to help you pray in a specific way.
What should you pray for:
THE CHURCH
The church overall is mostly women, so the major prayer point, is that men take a greater leadership role.
God’s work must be done in God’s way Titus 2 and 1Timothy 3, and so this is a really important focus for your prayers.
Also prayer is needed for unity between churches, this is also a major focus.
THE CITIES
Many cities have grown up over the last thirty years, such as Shenzhen and Chongqing, the flow of people into the cities is amazing and ongoing.
PRAY FOR COMMUNITIES
Each community has many complexes, our area has up to 30-40 complexes, our complex has up to 600 flats.
Please pray that each community, has it’s own Bible study, led by people from it’s own complex.
PRAY FOR THE COUNTRYSIDE
Many of the churches in the vast countryside have been stripped of their best church coworkers.
In past years, this is where revival started, so please pray that God would do it again.
PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE CLUSTERS
China has hundreds of minority people, but the main peoples are the Han Chinese.
Specific focus has to be given to the Han Chinese, God is moving in the Han Chinese and when the Han people turns to Christ entirely, they can evangelise the other groups.
PRAY FOR CHINA’S CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE
Children in China, are exposed to atheism/humanism from an early age. Not only that but parents and grandparents, place great pressure to gain a high score in exams and to gain a good job/marriage.
There is much more, but I will stop there and let David say a few words:
I grew up in China and was born in Wuhan, China. China has a lot of people. I became a Christian in the USA while a student at Cornell University, in 2010. Now it’s my 14th year as a Christian. I would say that the greatest challenge facing Chinese churches today is forsaking the love that we had at first. (“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” Ephesians 2:4) Yes, we have had great revivals in the past. We have had exponential church growth. But today, many people’s love has grown cold because they have seen much lawlessness. (“and because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:12-13) Many house churches are bitterly divided over tiny theological issues or over personal differences. Please pray that there will be unity within the house churches in China. Please also pray that churches may be grounded theologically, as there are many heresies in China. Please also pray that the Chinese church may partake in foreign missionary work as well, as many Chinese gospel workers have gone overseas to many Muslim nations. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)