Praying for Others

Can anyone pray? What if I don’t feel worthy?

We live in a culture where the phrase, “I’ll pray for you.” is a common phrase uttered amongst even the most wicked in society. And the question we must ask as we examine this text is, “Who can pray?” Can any scared student preparing to take an exam send up a prayer and expect to be heard? Is this a universal right to the world or only to the Church? John 9:31 gives us clear insight as it says, “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.” As Paul is speaking to the Philippians, he is confident that their prayers will not only be heard, but answered by God. It is helpful to note what Paul says in v1-2 and 6 in that these are people who have experienced the grace of God for themselves. James 5:16 gives us clear insight that “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

But we were not made righteous by our works, our efforts, or our prestige. No, this is a right only granted by the finished work of Christ. Ephesians 2:11-13 “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:18 “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”

There was a man who felt like a failure. Everything he attempted seemed to turn out wrong. He began to fantasize about being rich. He would do the one thing he could do to make the most money in the briefest period of time. He would take up the occupation of bank robbing.

The would-be bank robber began to plan his strategy. He sat up late at night working on detailed plans, drawing sketches and going over steps he would take in robbing the bank. But he could never seem to get around to robbing the bank. He would plan each night, but when morning came, his anxiety paralyzed him, again.

One night he determined that his mind was made up. Regardless of his feelings he would force himself to rob the bank the next morning. The next morning an anxiety attack paralyzed him again. Finally he came through it and forced himself to get into his car and go to the bank.

The reluctant bank robber sat in the car in the parking lot from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. trying to force himself out of the car. Finally, he got out of the car and went into the bank. At the teller's window he handed the teller his pistol. He stuck his brown paper bag in her face and said, "Don't stick with me. This is a mess-up."

Seeing the glorious fact that all because of what Christ did alone we have access to the throne we should be thrilled, but often times we have a mindset that if i mess up or if I slip up then God is going to stiff arm me, He’s not going to hear me, I’ve failed Him too much. I feel unworthy now. Here me out here: Your worthiness to approach God as your Father was never because of you. This privilege is only ours because of Christ. He alone is our confidence! 1 Peter 2:4-5 “To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” Hebrews 4:15-16 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

One man said, “God wants us to pray, and He wants to hear our prayers - not because we are worthy, but because He is merciful.”

Since God is sovereign, what’s the point? Does prayer really change anything?

The story is told of a new bank president who met with his predecessor and said, "I would like to know what have been the keys to your success." The older gentleman looked at him and replied, "Young man, I can sum it up in two words: Good decisions." To that the young man responded, "I thank you immensely for that advice, sir, but how does one come to know which are the good decisions?" "One word, young man," replied the sage. "Experience." "That's all well and good," said the younger, "but how does one get experience?" "Two words," said the elder. "Bad decisions."

Martin Luther said, “No one can believe how powerful prayer is, and what it is able to effect, but those who have learned by experience.”

There are many people who sit and question the probabilities of things in this life that never participate in the act at hand. But there is nothing as powerful as prayer and as we examine this question through the lens of Scripture today I believe we, as children of God, will find our hearts stirred to experience such privilege for ourselves.

When it comes to prayer, we must remember two things: The first is that prayer is a command of God. In 1st Thessalonians 5:17 we receive the imperative command to pray without ceasing. This is not a mere suggestion but a command from the Holy God of all Heaven and Earth to you as His child.

John Wesley said, “God’s command to pray without ceasing is founded upon the necessity we have of His grace to preserve the life of God in the soul, which can no more subsist one moment without it, than the body can without air.” We must understand that a life of prayerlessness is a life in sin. It was Spurgeon who said, “A prayerless soul is a Christless soul.” Prayer is the lisping of the believing infant, the shout of the fighting believer, the requiem of the dying saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is the breath, the watchword, the comfort, the strength, the honor of a Christian. If you are a child of God, you will seek your Father's face and live in your Father's love. This not some emotion stirred or an action prodded to achieve salvation, but it is a desire that flows from the heart of the believer as beckoned by the Holy Spirit and this leads me to my next subpoint:

When it comes to prayer we must not only see it as the command it is, but it is the invitation of God! Christ calls, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”, Peter writes, “Casting all your cares upon Him for He careth for you.” James says, “Ye have not because ye ask not.” And the writer of Hebrews said, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

Think of it like this: The sovereign God of Heaven and Earth created you, chose to love you, and now invites you, a creature made of dust who rebelled against Him but He graciously saved, to spend time communing with Him. In this life we often feel that the worse life is then the more alone we are. But in Hebrews it says that Christ is touched with the feelings of our infirmities. This is sympathy. This is not a detached pity, but close deep felt solidarity like a parent aching over the injury of their child, but deeper. Dane Ortlund wrote, “In our own pain, Jesus is pained; in our suffering, he feels the suffering as his own even though it isn’t- not that His invincible divinity is threatened, but in the sense that His heart is feelingly drawn in our distress.” What a beautiful truth! In our pain we are not alone but are invited, and even commanded, to flee into the arms of our loving Lord away from the pain, away from the fear, away from the world and to rest for it is the sovereign God of all who has embraced me.

Now, referring back to the presented question, “Since God is sovereign, what’s the point of praying?” Certainly in our carnality we may wonder, “Doesn’t He already know? What’s the purpose!” But the correct thought here is not, “Since God is sovereign, why pray?” but it is rather, “Since God is sovereign, I pray!” Aside from His divine command and invitation, I want to see a few Scriptural reasons to pray:

1.) We pray that our hearts may be united to His. (Psalm 37:4)

2.) We pray that our desires may be purified. (James 4:3, 6-10)

3.) We pray that our hearts may be aware of His provision and we may give thanks. (2 Cor. 1:11)

Another question that is beneficial to address is, “Does prayer really change anything?”

We must understand first, that prayer does not change God’s mind. For anything to altar the mind of God would, in essence, mean that God would improve Himself in some way and that is simply not the case. Now, we are aware of the Scriptures such as Genesis 6:6 “And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” But this does not mean that God was sorry about making man and that He thought He messed up! The word, “repented” comes from the word “nacham” which means to change ones mind, but it also has another meaning which is “to sorrow”. As we understand the perfection and knowledge of God we understand that God was grieved by the wickedness of man.

Prayer does not change God’s heart, but it does change ours. In the garden the Lord prayed, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” In the midst of the agony of Gethsemane we witness Christ’s earnest prayer and the most marvelous examples of a heart ultimately submitted to the will of the Father!

During the early days of the Salvation Army, William Booth and his associates were bitterly attacked in the press by religious leaders and government leaders alike. Whenever his son, Bramwell, showed Booth a newspaper attack, the General would reply, "Bramwell, fifty years hence it will matter very little indeed how these people treated us; it will matter a great deal how we dealt with the work of God."

How can I pray for others?

Richard Foster said "Intercessory prayer is priestly ministry, and one of the most challenging teachings in the New Testament is the universal priesthood of all Christians. As priests, appointed and anointed by God, we have the honour of going before the Most High on behalf of others. This is not optional; it is a sacred obligation - and a precious privilege - of all who take up the yoke of Christ."

Going further into the text, we find that as our brothers in Philippi receive such news as Paul gives in Philippians he knows that they will be stirred to pray on his behalf. There is truly no better deed preformed on the behalf of a friend than to pray for him and there is genuinely no better example of this than Christ. In John 17, lets examine His prayer concerning His followers and how this may influence how we pray for others.

That they may have eternal life. (v3)

That they won’t fall away. (v11)

That they may have joy. (v13)

That they may stand against evil. (v15)

That they might grow by the Word (v17)

That our love might convey Christ to the World (v23)

That love my be shared between brothers in Christ (v26)

In her book A Practical Guide to Prayer, Dorothy Haskins tells about a noted concert violinist who was asked the secret of her mastery of the instrument. The woman answered the question with two words: "Planned neglect." Then she explained. "There were many things that used to demand my time. When I went to my room after breakfast, I made my bed, straightened the room, dusted, and did whatever seemed necessary. When I finished my work, I turned to my violin practice. That system prevented me from accomplishing what I should on the violin. So I reversed things. I deliberately planned to neglect everything else until my practice period was complete. And that program of planned neglect is the secret of my success."

Luther said, “If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.”