The Effect of Such Prayer
Prayer has a present effect of limiting Satan's power and a future effect of hastening God's final vindication of His chosen ones.
Watchman Nee emphasizes the profound impact of prayer in opposing Satan, illustrating that each prayer not only limits the enemy's power in the present but also contributes to his ultimate defeat. He explains that while our prayers invoke the victory of the cross and rebuke the devil, they also play a crucial role in hastening God's final judgment against Satan. Nee encourages believers to persist in prayer, as it is through their cries that God's avenging work is accelerated. He highlights the importance of collaboration between God and His children, asserting that divine action is often contingent upon human response. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a deeper commitment to prayer as a means of spiritual warfare and anticipation of Christ's return.
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What is the effect of this kind of prayer? The effect occurs in two instances. First, there is the present effect. Every time we accuse the enemy, he is limited by God from harming us. Although he will come to us again later, while we are accusing him, he is afraid and will not exercise his violence recklessly. Every time we invoke the victory of the cross, this victory becomes real to us once again. Every time we pray to oppose Satan, his work is once again annulled, and he is once again rebuked by the Lord. If we pray one more time, Satan suffers loss one more time. When God hears our prayer one more time, Satan's interest is stripped away one more time.
However, this effect is not limited to the present time. The Lord Jesus mentions a final vindication here. Every time we pray, the Lord rebukes and annuls the devil. But this is not accomplished once for all. He is restricted only for a while and has not yet met his final and complete destruction. The Lord says, "And will not God by all means carry out the avenging of His chosen ones, who cry to Him day and night?" (Luke 18:7). This speaks of the final annihilation of Satan. We know that in the millennium Satan will be shut up in the abyss and that after the millennium the Lord Jesus will cast him into the eternal lake of fire. This is to avenge the believers. For this reason, the believers should pray more prayers that oppose Satan now, so that they can be fully avenged. Now is the time when God is patiently enduring. Although He hears the believers' prayer and limits the devil's work, He has not yet removed him completely nor stopped his menacing permanently. Now is the time for the believers to pray so that that day may come soon. It seems that our prayer can hasten God's work. The widow cried continually, for she did not know when the judge would avenge her. Her crying hastened the day of his avenging. It is the same with us. The Lord says, "I tell you that He will carry out their avenging quickly" (v. 8). The Lord seems to be saying that the speed of God's work depends on our prayer. Our constant Satan-accusing prayers will hasten God's avenging of us. Satan will lose his authority when he is cast out of heaven at the coming of the Lord Jesus. The prayer that accuses Satan will hasten the day of the Lord's coming.
Many times we think that God works according to His will. This is true, but this is only one side of the truth. It is not the complete truth. God works according to His will; this is His principle. However, God cannot actually set out to work until His children have responded to His will. God wants man to work with Him.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Present Effect of Prayer
- A. Satan is limited by God from harming us
- B. The Lord's victory is made real to us
- C. Satan's work is annulled and he is rebuked by the Lord
- II. The Final Vindication
- A. Satan will be finally and completely destroyed
- B. The Lord will carry out the avenging of His chosen ones
- III. The Importance of Prayer
- A. Prayer can hasten God's work
- B. Our constant Satan-accusing prayers will hasten God's avenging of us
Key Quotes
“Every time we pray, the Lord rebukes and annuls the devil.” — Watchman Nee
“It seems that our prayer can hasten God's work.” — Watchman Nee
“The Lord says, 'I tell you that He will carry out their avenging quickly'.” — Watchman Nee
Application Points
- We should pray constantly to accuse Satan and hasten God's avenging of us.
- Our prayer can hasten God's work and bring about the day of the Lord's coming.
- We must work with God by responding to His will and praying in partnership with Him.