A. The story is told about three men were hiking one day and unexpectedly came upon a large, raging, violent river.
1. They needed to get to the other side, but had no idea of how to do so.
2. The first man prayed to God, saying, “Please God, give me the strength to cross this river.”
a. Poof! God gave him big arms and strong legs, and he was able to swim across the river in about two hours, after almost drowning a couple of times.
3. Seeing this, the second man prayed to God, saying, “Please God, give me the strength and the tools to cross this river.”
a. Poof! God gave him a rowboat and he was able to row across the river in about an hour, after almost capsizing the boat a couple of times.
4. The third man had seen how this worked out for the other two, so he also prayed to God saying, “Please God, give me the strength and the tools and the intelligence to cross this river.”
a. And Poof! God turned him into a woman. She stopped someone and asked for directions and was told that just a couple of hundred yards up stream was a bridge.
5. Sometimes we have to be careful about what we pray for!
B. Look at this Peanut cartoon…
1. Prayer is a mystery to us – we are always trying to figure it out, right?
2. I’m guessing that most of us believe in prayer, but we would have to admit that we don’t feel like we are very good at it, or that we don’t do enough of it.
3. One survey revealed that the average church member spends four minutes a day in prayer, while the average minister spends just seven minutes a day in prayer.
4. Why is that?
C. Richard Meyer gave three reasons for our lack of prayer in his chapter on praying for one another, in his book “One Anothering.”
1. First, he said that we don’t pray because we don’t know how to pray.
a. And that certainly can be a reason.
b. Many of us may feel like we don’t know where to begin, or we aren’t sure what to say.
c. There is a need to learn how to pray, it is not something that we know automatically.
2. Second, he said that we don’t pray because we don’t think prayer accomplishes much.
a. I don’t’ think that many people would admit to this, and yet many may feel that way.
b. Deep down we might think that prayer is a nice religious thing to do because it makes us feel better, but that’s about all it does.
c. Do we really believe that prayer moves the hand of God? Do we really believe that prayer unleashes the power of God?
d. If we really believe that shouldn’t it cause us to pray more than we do?
3. Finally, Meyer says that we don’t pray because we have a faulty concept of God.
a. If we view God as a cosmic kill-joy, then we will not go to God very often in prayer.
b. If we picture God as a colossal vending machine, whose sole purpose is to give us what we want, then we go to him, put in our quarter and out pops what we desire.
c. The problem is – that’s not the way it works. When we don’t get what we want, we become disappointed and angry and we kick the machine for swallowing our prayer.
d. The right view of God is to see Him as our Heavenly Father, who is a great parent who hears all our requests but gives us what is good for us, which is not always what we want.
e. Understanding that God is a loving, heavenly parent will have an effect on how we pray and on our desire to pray.
4. I’d like to add two more to Meyer’s list – I think that sometimes we don’t pray as much as we should because we are too self-reliant, too self-sufficient.
a. We are over-confident in our own abilities to handle life.
b. We tell God that we will handle all the little stuff and only bring the big stuff to Him.
c. So we think we don’t need much prayer.
5. Also, we sometimes don’t pray because we have TB – too busy.
D. Nevertheless, whatever our objections, struggles or hesitancies are regarding prayer, they do not change the fact that we are called to pray, and we are called to pray specifically for one another.
1. Paul gave this command at the end of his letter to the Ephesians, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Eph. 6:18)
2. Look again with me at our Scripture reading from James 5:16, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
3. We notice that James stresses two things in that verse.
a. First of all, he wants us to know that prayer is powerful and effective. Prayer can accomplish so much!
b. Second, James wants to know that we need to pray for each other.
c. Prayer involves an intimate relationship where we share our struggles and needs with each other so that we can pray for each other.
d. When we do so, God moves in His marvelous ways.
4. One man observed, “Certain things will not happen in another person’s life unless we pray for him.” (Louis Evans, Jr.)
E. The apostle Paul is such a great example for us in this – he was not too proud or self-reliant to ask for prayer. Over and over again in his letters he asks for prayer.
1. For instance, he wrote, “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” (Eph. 6:19,20)
2. To the Colossians, Paul wrote, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.” (Col. 4:2-4)
3. In 1 Thessalonians 5:25, Paul simply says, “Pray for us.”
F. Not only did Paul request prayer, he made it known to others that he was praying for them.
1. Look at what he prayed for the Ephesian Christians, “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Eph. 1:15-19)
2. This is what he prayed for the Philippians, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:3-6)
3. Here’s one more example, look at Paul’s prayer for Philemon, “I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” (Philemon 1:4-6)
G. Now here’s a good question: What difference can our prayers make in the lives of others?
1. First, our prayers can literally save a life.
a. One of my favorite biblical stories about intercessory prayer (when we pray for others) is the story of the apostle Peter.
b. The Bible says: It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. (Acts 12:1-5)
c. This is a great “against all odds” kind of story. This is the way that God likes to work, when it is obvious that He is the one who did it, because it is only something He could do.
d. So Big Bad King Herod has Peter in prison and has him heavily guarded.
e. But the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
f. That’s the best “but” there is, but the church was praying to God for him.
g. The story continues: The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.”
When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. (Acts 12:6-12)
h. Nothing is impossible with God through prayer! Amen!
i. Soldiers, chains, locked gates…nothing can stop God.
j. The final part of the story includes a little bit of humor.
k. The Bible says: Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”
“You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”
But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the brothers about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.
In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. (Acts 12:13-19)
l. Isn’t that amazing, those who were praying for Peter’s release, didn’t believe that God would save him in such a miraculous way.
m. So, why did God include this embarrassing little tidbit?
n. I think God included it as an encouragement to us, so that we would understand that God answers our prayers even when our prayers and our faith are not perfect.
o. Our prayers can literally save a life – whether it has to do with disease, or persecution, or foolishness, accidents, or salvation.
p. So let’s be praying for one another.
2. Second, our prayers can help protect others from temptation.
a. In Luke 22, when Jesus was observing the Last Supper with his disciples, he made this statement to Peter: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Lk. 22:31-32)
b. How would like to be told that Jesus is praying for you?
c. Simon Peter did succumb to the temptation and he denied Jesus three times. He fell hard and far, but he turned back to Jesus, and he did go on to lead the church and strengthen his brothers.
d. He couldn’t have done it without the prayers of Jesus, and neither can we.
e. Jesus continues to intercede for us, and we can intercede for each other.
f. Knowing that others are praying for me, helps me more than I can say.
g. So let’s be praying for one another.
3. Third, our prayers can provide others what is needed for life and ministry.
a. We have already looked at a number of verses that speak to this reality.
b. God hears and answers our prayers for help and healing, for opportunities and courage.
c. Jesus gave us this promise: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Mt. 7:7-11)
d. We could name many other specific ways our prayers make a difference, but hopefully these will suffice to motivate us to be praying for others.
H. As we move toward a conclusion for this lesson, I want to draw our attention back to Paul’s prayer requests for himself.
1. For instance, look again at Paul’s request of the Ephesians: “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” (Eph. 6:19,20)
2. Perhaps we learn as much by what Paul does not ask his readers to pray for as by what he does ask them to pray for.
3. Paul was a prisoner at the time and was awaiting trial before the Emperor.
4. Given those circumstances, we might expect Paul’s prayer request to include release from prison, the preservation of his life, or at a minimum, comfort or healing from the sores on his wrists and ankles from the shackles.
5. There would be nothing wrong with Paul asking for those kinds of prayer requests, but he had something more significant in mind.
6. Paul prayed to have God’s perspective about things.
7. Paul prayed to experience God’s purposes through his life.
a. Paul was less concerned about his comforts and was more concerned about God accomplishing His purposes.
b. How would that change the way we pray for ourselves and others if we prayed less about our needs and desires and prayed more for God’s purposes?
8. Finally, Paul prayed to have God’s power.
a. Even though we have ample evidence that Paul was a very effective and gifted communicator, he still asked his readers to pray that he would be given the right words every time he opened his mouth.
b. Even though we have no evidence that Paul ever lacked boldness, he regularly asked that they pray for his courage and fearlessness.
c. Paul’s requests make it quite evident that he recognized that his ministry was totally and completely dependent on God’s power at work through him.
I. I want to end with two true stories about the way God works through prayer, in order that we might make prayer for others a higher priority.
J. A.W. Tozer ministered in the city of Chicago for many years.
1. On one occasion when a new minister arrived in Chicago, Tozer called him and described the challenge of ministering in such a city and the need for prayer.
2. Tozer said, “If you ever want to pray with me, I’m at the lakeside every morning at 5:30. Just make your way down and we can pray together.”
3. Some time later, the new minister was going through a difficult time and decided to meet with Tozer for prayer.
4. He made his way to the lakeside around 6 AM and there he found Tozer prostrate in the sand praying to God.
5. Tozer died in 1963, but his life continues to be a powerful force for Christ because his writings challenge people to have an intimate walk with God through prayer.
K. Dr. Helen Roseveare was a missionary to Zaire.
1. On one occasion, a mother died giving birth to a premature baby at her mission station.
2. There was no incubator so they tried to keep the baby alive with a defective hot water bottle.
3. The children were asked to pray for the baby and one girl prayed, “Dear God, please send a hot water bottle today. Tomorrow will be too late because by then the baby will be dead. And dear Lord, send a doll for the baby’s sister so she won’t feel so lonely.”
4. That afternoon a large package arrived from England.
5. The children watched eagerly as the package was opened.
6. Everyone was delighted to find a hot water bottle under some clothing.
7. Immediately the girl who had prayed so earnestly started to dig deeper in the box, exclaiming, “If God sent that water bottle, then I’m sure He also sent a doll.” And she was right.
8. God knew in advance of that child’s sincere requests, and so five months earlier He had led an English ladies’ group to include both of those specific items in a package that would arrive that day five months later. [Quoted in Our Daily Bread (Grand Rapids, Radio Bible Class, March 18, 1987)]
L. We will never understand everything about the way that God works through prayer, but we can know that He does.
1. God promises that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (Jam. 5:16)
2. We can faithfully pray for one another and see how God moves through our prayers.
3. The question is – Will we pray? And Will we pray for one another?
4. Will we pray boldly in a way that only God can get it done and only God can receive the glory?
5. Prayer is ultimately not getting our will done in heaven, but getting God’s will done on earth.
M. And as we pray, I pray that we will experience God’s promised peace.
1. Paul wrote, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7)
2. Let me end with this prayer that many ministers have used over the years to close out the worship service: “Lord, dismiss us with Your peace, except for those who don’t know You, or are not living in obedience to You; keep them miserable until they turn to You.”
3. Our God is an awesome God and a wonderful heavenly Father.
4. Prayer is our privilege and responsibility.
5. Let’s pray for one another fervently and faithfully!
Resources:
One Anothering, Richard Meyer, LuraMedia, 1990
“Pray for One Another,” Sermon by Samuel Stone, SermonCentral.com
“How to Pray for Others,” Sermon by Pat Damiani, SermonCentral.com
“Interceding for Others,” Sermon by Elmer Towns, SermonCentral.com
“Praying for One Another,” Sermon by Elmer Towns, SermonCentral.com
“Prayer for Others,” Sermon by Guy Caley, SermonCentral.com
