西三1 所以你们若与基督一同复活，就当寻求在上面的事，那里有基督坐在神的右边。

　　弗一22~23 将万有服在祂的脚下，并使祂向着召会作万有的头；召会是祂的身体，是那在万有中充满万有者的丰满。

　　你要看见，升天是一个地位，而在这个地位上，就有一个权柄。基督徒的属灵生活，不光是一个生命问题，还是一个地位问题，因此也不光是一个能力问题，还是一个权柄问题。生命带进能力，地位带进权柄。复活是能力的问题，升天是权柄的问题。你必须在那个地位上，才有那个权柄。你在属天的境界里，自然就有属天的权柄。我们所有真实的祷告，都是在升天的地位里面，运用属天的权柄。

　　祷告的地位就是升天的地位。你只能在天的境界里祷告。什么时候你从天的境界里出来，你就失去了祷告的地位。你可以祷告，但那个祷告算不得数（祷告，二三二至二三三页）。

　　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)

　　所有在升天里面的祷告，都是权柄的祷告。就在这里我们才懂得，祷告乃是对神的吩咐。我们的祷告不是苦求，乃是吩咐。……在以赛亚书里面神有一句话说，“你们可以吩咐我。”〔四五11〕这个吩咐，有的是直接吩咐神，有的是间接吩咐环境。就像摩西在红海边，吩咐海水裂开；主耶稣在船上吩咐风和海平静，或者吩咐疾病离开人。你若学过站在升天的境界里祷告，你都能吩咐贫穷离开你。

　　你若真要在神面前有一点有价值的祷告，就必须能在神面前发出权柄的命令来。我能站在神面前告诉大家，在已过的年日中，在有的地方，我们在工作上、在召会中，遇到为难的时候，就有这种命令的祷告。我们在神面前很厉害地表示说，“神，我们不能许可这件事。”如果你的地位不对，情形不是在天的境界里，你这个祷告就等于亵渎神。但你的地位若是对了，你的情景也是在属天的境界里，这样的祷告非但不亵渎神，神还顶喜欢。你祷告的话就等于神的行政，等于在那里执行祂的命令。我能作见证，这样的祷告神都垂听。

　　有了升天的地位，有了升天的权柄，也能发出权柄的祷告来，一到这个时候，你这个人就是在宝座上，和主一同在掌权的地位上。祂如何在神的右边掌权，你也如何与祂一同在升天的境界里掌权。到了这个时候，你的祷告不光是个权柄的祷告，也是个掌权的祷告。你的祷告就是执掌权柄，执行神的命令。所以这个时候，你所有的祷告都变作神的行政，变作神管理的一个执行。

　　总之，祷告只有一个地位，就是升天的境界。一从这里出去，就没有祷告的地位。祷告不仅是对付事情，更是对付地位。必须在升天的境界里，才有祷告的地位，才能发出权柄的祷告，才是一个在宝座上的人发出宝座上的祷告来（祷告，二三八至二四一页）。

　　参读：祷告，第十七篇；初信造就，第十篇。

　　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