For a team to pursue the same goal, it needs an organized structure. On the Chinese speaking side, the Blessing Group is a good structure, but having a good structure does not automatically mean success as it requires Godly people to run it. One of the most essential ingredients is prayer. Team members must commit to praying.
Prayer: Everyone knows we need to pray, but if we pray improperly, the whole team will suffer. We should pray with discernment. That is to discern our felt needs in light of sound doctrines. Otherwise, our prayers could be out of God’s will and purpose.
The biggest problem in our prayers is when we ask God to work. This kind of prayer implies (1) God is not working. (2) God does not know what to do, and He needs our advice. (3) God is passive and is in need of a push. (4) God has great power, but He does not know what to do with it. Read the following verses and see which one contains any of the above ideas.
Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too am working.” John 5:17
For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him….. 2 Chronicles 16:9
For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
…... I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
When He (Holy Spirit) comes, He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment. John 16:8
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law….. Galatians 4:4
“Therefore go …..., and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19
God is always at work and he is way ahead of us. It is absurd to beseech God to do something, as if he is unwilling or neglectful. It was rather the disciples of the Lord who did not know what to do, Jesus commanded his disciples: “Therefore go...”
How then should we pray? We should ask God to work on us:
1) Acknowledge our ignorance of the supremacy of God’s kingdom and His mercy for the world, and ask God to broaden our minds and horizons through evangelism.
2) Pray that God trains us to be diligent and faithful to the work assigned.
3) Acknowledge the corruption in our flesh. With the spirit of repentance, restrain our tongues from criticism and judgment. Speak only words of kindness and encouragement to team members.
一個羣體要向同一個目標進發,需要一個適合團隊作業的架構。幸福小組固然是個好架構,但一個好架構並不等於必定成功;因爲這個架構需要人來運作,成敗關鍵在於團隊成員。幸福小組成員必須在「禱告」方面委身。
禱告:誰都知道要禱告。但如果禱告不當,反而使整個團隊無力。禱告要有悟性;就是瞭解聖經的啓示,順應地祈求。否則,我們就算是禱告了,也會懷疑自己的祈求是否合理,更不要期待蒙神應允。
我們禱告中最大的毛病是求神作工。這樣的祈求在暗示(1)神沒在作工。(2)神不知道該做什麼,需要你我去提醒祂。(3)神不夠積極,需要有人禱告推祂一把。(4)神空有大能卻不懂得使用,需要我們指點指點。請看以下經文,有那一節存這個意思?
耶穌就對他們說:「我父做事直到如今,我也作事。」(約翰福音 5:17) 耶和華的眼目遍察全地,要顯大能幫助向他心存誠實的人。…… (歷代志下 16:9)
神愛世人,甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們,…… (約翰福音 3:16)
……我來了,是要叫人得生命,並且得的更豐盛。(約翰福音 10:10)
他(聖靈)既來了,就要叫世人為罪、為義、為審判,自己責備自己。 (約翰福音 16:8)
惟有基督在我們還作罪人的時候為我們死,神的愛就在此向我們顯明了。(羅馬書 5:8)
及至時候滿足,神就差遣他的兒子,為女子所生,且生在律法以下,…… (加拉太書 4:4)
所以,你們要去,……20……我就常與你們同在,直到世界的末了。」 (馬太福音 28:19)
看來,神一直在作工是件不容質疑的事實。反而是主的門徒不知道要做什麼。所以,耶穌這樣吩咐門徒:「你們要去,……。」那麽,我們該禱告什麼?
1) 承認我們對天國權能和神憐憫世人的無知無覺,求神藉着傳福音,開拓我們的心胸和視野。
2) 求神鍛鍊我們刻苦,爲所分配的工作盡心竭力。
3) 承認我們肉體中的敗壞,要用悔改的心,約束自己的舌頭,在團隊中不說論斷批評的話,只說造就鼓勵的話。