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In His heavenly ministry Christ is interceding, ministering, and executing God’s administration, and we need to be those who respond to Christ’s activities in His heavenly ministry by our prayers in the church as the temple of God, a house of prayer — Heb. 2:17; 4:14; 7:25-26; 8:1-2; Rev. 5:6; Col. 3:1-4:
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Through our prayer Christ, the Head, is given a way to carry out His administration through His Body; as the Head is working in heaven by interceding, ministering, and administrating, we, the Body, are working on earth by responding to the heavenly ministry of Christ and reflecting what He is doing — 1:18a; 2:19; 3:1-2; Heb. 2:17; 4:14; 7:25-26; 8:1-2; Rev. 5:6.
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If we seek the things which are above and have one life and one living with Christ, we will be wholly occupied with the Lord’s interest; our heart will be with Him in heaven, where He is interceding for the churches, supplying the saints, and administrating God’s government — Col. 3:1-4, 17.
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The prayer in the church as a house of prayer is in the position of ascension, and with this position of prayer there is the authority of prayer; when we have the heavenly position and authority, our prayers become God’s administration, the executing of God’s will; this is the prevailing prayer of the church — the prayer of the age — Eph. 1:22-23; 2:6; Matt. 6:9-10, 13b.
Morning Nourishment
Col. 3:1 If therefore you were raised together with Christ, seek the things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.Eph. 1:22-23 And He subjected all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church, which is His Body, the fullness of the One who fills all in all.
We need to see that ascension is a position, and with such a position there is the corresponding authority. The spiritual life of a Christian is not only a matter of life but also a matter of position. Hence, it is not only a matter of power but also a matter of authority. Life brings in power, whereas position brings in authority. Resurrection is a matter of power, whereas ascension is a matter of authority. In order to have a certain measure or kind of authority, you need to be in a certain position. If you are in the heavenly realm, you will spontaneously have the heavenly authority. All our genuine prayers are the exercising of heavenly authority in the heavenly position.
The position of prayer is the position of ascension. You can pray only in the heavenly sphere. Whenever you leave the heavenly realm, you lose the position of prayer. You may pray, but that prayer does not count before God. (CWWL, 1959, vol. 4, “Lessons on Prayer,” p. 182)
Today’s Reading
All prayers in ascension are prayers of authority. We know that prayer in ascension is a command to God. Our prayer is not begging but commanding…. In Isaiah 45:11, God says, “Command Me.” Sometimes this commanding is a direct command to God, and sometimes it is an indirect command to the environment. Examples are: Moses standing on the shore of the Red Sea commanding the water to be divided, the Lord Jesus in the boat commanding the wind and the sea to be still, and the Lord commanding sickness to leave men. If you have learned to pray by standing in the realm of ascension, you can even command poverty to leave you.If you really wish to have some worthwhile prayers before God, you need to be able to give out some authoritative commands before God. Standing before God, I can tell you that in the past years in some places, as we encountered some problems in the work or in the church, we prayed this kind of commanding prayer. We expressed ourselves boldly before God, saying, “God, we cannot allow this matter.” If your position is wrong and your condition is not in the heavenly realm, such prayer would be an insult to God. But if your position is right and your state is in the heavenly sphere, then such prayer would be a real pleasure to Him. The words you pray are equal to God’s administration; they are equivalent to executing His commands. I can testify that God answers such prayers.
When you come to the point where you have the heavenly position and the heavenly authority and are thus able to utter forth authoritative prayers, you are one who is on the throne, standing in the ruling position together with the Lord. Just as He reigns at the right hand of God, so you also reign together with Him in the heavenly realm. At this time your prayer is not only an authoritative prayer but also a reigning prayer. Your prayer is to rule with authority, executing God’s orders. So at this time all your prayers become God’s administration, the execution of God’s rule.
In summary, there is only one position for prayer—the heavenly sphere. Once you leave this sphere, you lose the position of prayer. Prayer is not only concerned with certain matters, but much more, it is concerned with a certain position. You need to be in the heavenly sphere. Then you have the position to pray, you are able to pray with authority, and you are one sitting on the throne, uttering forth prayers of the throne. (CWWL, 1959, vol. 4, “Lessons on Prayer,” pp. 186-188)
Further Reading: CWWL, 1959, vol. 4, “Lessons on Prayer,” ch. 17; CWWN, vol. 48, “Messages for Building Up New Believers (1),” ch. 10