The End Time
In the end time, we need to pray with faith to oppose Satan and hasten his abdication of his position and authority.
Watchman Nee emphasizes the urgency of prayer in the end times, highlighting that as the return of the Son of Man approaches, faith and prayer will be in short supply among believers. He points out that many lack the faith to pray against Satan's influence, doubting the power of their prayers despite God's promises. Nee calls for a faithful minority to rise up and engage in spiritual warfare through prayer, opposing Satan's authority and seeking God's intervention. He reminds believers that the end times are marked by increased activity from evil forces, making prayer more crucial than ever. The sermon challenges the congregation to be vigilant and proactive in their prayers against the enemy.
Text
After the Lord finished this parable, He concluded with this word: "Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" (v. 8). It seems as if the Lord was saying that at the time when He is about to come, this kind of prayer will be greatly lacking. Believers do not pray because they do not have faith. They think that it is too great and too difficult a thing to cast Satan out of heaven and into the abyss and, eventually, into the lake of fire. "Now the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly" (Rom. 16:20). Concerning this verse, they may think, "If this promise has passed through twenty centuries and has still not yet been fulfilled, how could we hope to see Satan punished by God merely by our prayer?" The Lord's word implies that when He is about to come, man will not have the faith to pray for this matter. Yet, the end time is exactly the time that we need this kind of prayer. Can we be the faithful minority that offers up prayers to oppose and attack Satan at this unprecedented hour, prayers to hasten his abdication of his position and his authority? We know that the end time is the time when Satan and his evil spirits are particularly active in their work. For this reason, we should all the more oppose him and overturn his government by prayer. Strictly speaking, at the present time, there is no greater work for God's children than this. Who is willing to pray the prayer that opposes Satan, for his own sake and for God's sake?
Strive, O Jehovah, with those who strive with me;
Battle against those who battle against me.
Take hold of shield and buckler,
And rise up as my help.
Draw out also the spear, and close up the way
Against those who pursue me;
Say to my soul,
I am your salvation.
Let those who seek my life
Be put to shame and humiliated;
Let those who devise evil for me
Be turned back and confounded.
Let them be like chaff before the wind,
With the angel of Jehovah driving them on.
Let their way be darkness and slipperiness itself,
With the angel of Jehovah pursuing them.
For without cause they hid their net for me in a pit;
Without cause they dug a hole for me...
Awake, and stir Yourself for my cause,
For my contention, O my God and my Lord.
(Psa. 35:1-7, 23).
Sermon Outline
- I. The Lack of Faith in Prayer
- A. Believers do not pray due to lack of faith
- B. They think it is too great a thing to cast Satan out
- II. The Importance of Prayer in the End Time
- A. The end time is the time we need this kind of prayer
- B. We should oppose Satan and overturn his government by prayer
- III. The Urgency of Prayer
- A. Satan and his evil spirits are active in the end time
- B. We should strive to pray against Satan for our sake and God's sake
Key Quotes
“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” — Watchman Nee
“Now the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly” — Watchman Nee
“Awake, and stir Yourself for my cause, For my contention, O my God and my Lord.” — Watchman Nee
Application Points
- We should strive to pray against Satan for our sake and God's sake.
- Prayer is the greatest work for God's children at the present time.
- We need to have faith to pray effectively against Satan.