Prayer, Suffering, and the Church: Union with Christ is a Call to Die
Prayer is an indispensable tool that is easily neglected but often taken up when circumstances are difficult, as they are for many house church Christians…the culture of prayer that has carried over from the earliest days of the house church in China rings true. Their prayers are often ones of lament or desperation, but they are also filled with hope. When they are harassed, persecuted, beaten, arrested or mistreated by the authorities, most house church believers recognize that they have no recourse other than to take their grief and lament to the Lord and pray for his grace and strength. They have no politicians who represent them, nor do they possess political power to leverage circumstances to achieve a favorable outcome when things get bad. Prayer becomes, for them, a precious tool.
Twenty Years of China Partnership: “This Is a Movement of the Holy Spirit”
I identify myself as the fruit of this gospel movement. The first time I joined the basic training in a tiny, dark apartment in Shanghai, it was intense and overwhelming, but I still remember one thing: the speaker distinguished the difference between the gospel, and the fruit of the gospel. For me, coming from a legalistic church, that training opened the door of Narnia. Later, I became fully involved in this gospel movement…I have been renewed in my personal life, my marriage, my parenting, through seminary, and also in ministry by this same gospel I preach week after week. I expect this change will keep on going. This is a movement of the Holy Spirit.
Your Shame Has Been Crucified: A Reflection on Psalm 130
The gospel does not give us a piece of cloth to cover up our sins as we come to meet God. The gospel pulls down the last veil and lets the light of God shine on and heal us completely…Christian, do you believe all your shame has been crucified together with Jesus? If you believe, do not shut yourself out of the church because of external factors.
A Deeper Understanding of Prayer
We need to have a deeper understanding of prayer. We also need practical equipping in how to pray—how to teach prayer, how to practice prayer, how to keep our prayer meetings fresh, and so on…When I first came to faith, for a very long time I had an amazing prayer life. I was moved by the Holy Spirit and received clear guidance from God. But as ministry became busier, prayer became less easy. Prayer gradually became less personal, and more about ministry; less emotional, more rational; less an inner experience, and more an outer practice.
Prayer is the Most Incredible Thing in this World
CP: If you could give other Chinese Christian friends a message about prayer, what would you say?
He: I would say two things. First, prayer is the most incredible thing in this world. It is amazing that the king of kings would be willing to hear the cry of such a small person like me. And secondly, there is no one in greater debt to God and to their neighbors than a Christian who does not pray.
God loves us, and we love you!: Loving the City that Hates You, Part 2
It is not that we make the world our enemies, but that the world unreasonably hates Christ. Because the world hates Christ, it unreasonably hates those who believe in him. What is more, the world does not believe in love that has no explainable cause.
The officials’ request is simple: give up our faith, or flee the city. Once, out of curiosity, those who arrested us asked: “Why did you not leave the city as quickly as possible once you were released?” We replied: “Because God loves us, and we love you!”
A City of Living Souls: Loving the City that Hates You, Part 1
Before I was converted, I looked at a city and to me, the buildings were nothing but concrete and steel. It is only since I have become a follower of Jesus Christ that I have seen this place as a city of living souls. In the past, I never cared about who became the mayor. But since I have started praying for the city regularly, I began to genuinely care about the officials of the city. I started to pray that their souls would come to Christ. I also began to pray for their marriages and families and children. To me, it was a new spiritual understanding when I realized that the decisions these leaders must make will either bless or harm the city—so the pressure they face and the risks they bear are far greater than those of us who are not in their positions.
Making Disciples Through Prayer
Christians learn to pray by praying. Right now, urban Chinese Christians are prioritizing this vertical communication with their Heavenly Father. In the midst of uncertainty, these believers have great hopes for what God will continue to do as he builds his Kingdom on earth.
“As we pray together with King Jesus,” said Wu Enhui, “the Lord’s church will be strengthened, and all the disturbances and attacks of evil will be nullified. The gospel will be preached widely, disciples will be built up, and we will become leaders in prayer to carry out the Great Commission.”
Pray for China
Our goal is not just to get “more” prayer; our desire is a different kind of prayer, prayer that is informed by the challenges and triumphs Chinese Christians actually face. Prayer is spiritual labor in which every believer—those who are themselves Chinese and those who have never visited China—can be intimately involved…Prayer helps us love God’s world. As a pastor’s wife in Nanjing said, “Prayer helps us see from the Lord how he loves not only one nation, but he wants us to love the neighbor far away.”
Puritans and House Church Christians: Translation to Make the True God Truly Known
Valley of Vision directs people to a theologically sound knowledge of God and his work, and that knowledge is the basis for right feelings and right doings. This devotional work is balanced in motivating people in these three categories: right thinking, right feeling, and right doing…I hope this work will first edify Chinese pastors and workers, then they can use this book to influence their congregations. I hope this book will help Chinese Christians know God better, love God more deeply, and follow God forever.
