Praying For One Another

A. WHAT PRAYER CAN DO FOR OTHERS

“Pray for one another” (James 5:16).

1. You can help people in trouble. “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1). “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church” (Acts 12:5).

2. You can lead to someone’s health or healing. “Pray for one another, that you may be healed” (John 5:16). Healing by medicine, surgery, medical procedures, therapy, rest, consultation, etc.

3. You can help others live peacefully. “I urge . . . that prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone, for kings, and all who are in authority . . . that we may live peacefully and quiet lives in quietness and holiness” (1 Tim. 2:1-2).

How to Pray for Your President/Government

* That Christians stand for righteousness

* For revival in the church first, and the nation second

* For confession and defeat on efforts secularize and promote immorality

* Salvation of our President and his family

* For the peace of Jerusalem and Israel’s safety (Ps. 122:6)

* For the prosperity of business and military (9/11 was an attack on the symbols of business: Twin Towers and the Pentagon symbol of military

* For financial recovery

“A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take away everything you have.” –Thomas Jefferson

4. You can help protect others from temptation. “But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not” (Luke 22:32).

5. You can pray for the ministry of others. “Join me in my struggle by praying to God for me” (Rom. 15:30).

6. You can help others grow in biblical understanding. “I keep asking . . . the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so you may know Him better” (Eph. 1:17).

7. You help deliver others from sin. “We have sinned . . . pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us” (Num. 21:7).

B. WHY YOU SHOULD PRAY FOR OTHERS

1. You follow the example of other intercessors: Moses, Esther, Daniel, Nehemiah, Paul.

2. You follow the prayer example of Jesus.

* To keep others from sin. “I pray for them . . . keep through Your name those whom You have given Me” (John 17:9, 11). “Keep them from evil” (John 17:15).

* For others to be joyful. “Now come I to thee . . . that they may have joy” (John 17:13).

* For others to be holy. “Sanctify them” (John 17:17).

* Jesus didn’t pray for their usefulness, but for their godliness.

3. You obey a Bible command. “I urge you, first of all to pray for all people” (1 Tim. 2:1, NLT).

4. To fulfill your responsibility to your friends and relatives, “Pray for one another” (James 5:16).

5. To put your faith into action. “When you pray, believe that you will receive them” (Mark 11:24). “Whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive” (Matt. 21:22).

6. To bear the burden of others. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2).

7. To carry out the Great Commission. Jesus commanded that the church, “Preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). The first thing they did, “. . . continued with one accord in prayer and supplication” (Acts 1:14).

8. To grow in the same area that we pray for others. “Give and it will be given to you” (Luke 6:38).

C. HOW TO GET YOUR PRAYERS ANSWERED

1. Believe God is able to do what you ask. “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Gen. 18:14). Remember the “3 ABLES:”

* God is able to do everything He wills – omnipotence

* God is able to be everywhere present at the same time – omnipresent

* God is able to know all things – omniscience

2. Believe God will hear you. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Is. 59:1-2).

3. Believe God will answer:

* Ask sincerely

* Ask in faith

* Ask continually

* Ask according to scripture

* Ask in Jesus’ name

* Ask according to the will of God

* Ask because your sins are forgiven

* Ask because you “abide” in scripture

4. Be yielded to God’s will. “Thy will be done” (Matt. 6:10).

5. Pray urgently and sincerely. “He (God) is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).

6. Search for God until you find Him. “You will . . . find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:13).