Who Do You Want Praying For You?
Scripture: Mark 11:22-24; James 5:13-16; Proverbs 18:21
The title of my message this morning is “Who Do You Want Praying For You?” Now before I give you any context whatsoever, I want to ask you a question: “If you were in need of prayer, who would you go to first, your pastor or Sis. Betsy, one of the regular members of the Church?” Please write your answer down. Now depending on your relationship with your pastor, many people would go to their pastor first for prayer because of the perceived notion that the pastor, based on his/her position within the Church, can get a prayer through if no one else can. But as you listen to the message this morning, I want you to listen for some criteria that should be considered when you decide ask someone to pray for you in a time of need.
Jesus said the following in Mark 11:22-24, “(22) So Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Have faith in God. (23) For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,’ ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. (24) Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Jesus told us to have faith in God so that when we pray we have the confidence to believe in that prayer leading to our prayers being answers. He actually took it further than just praying; He said that based on our faith in God, we can speak to mountains and have them removed. Now I recognize that we are not at this point in our relationship with God, but doesn’t it make you wonder what could be? Doesn’t it make you wonder why some of your prayers are being answers and why some are not? Could it be that we are praying and saying all the right words, but we do not truly believe God for an answer?
Last week my wife asked me to remove a sconce globe from the lights above our fireplace so she could clean them. I removed the first one with no problem. But when I got to the second one it started to turn but then it got stuck. No matter how hard I tried to turn it, it would not move. I was growing frustrated and you know what happens when we grow frustrated when doing something. We begin to complain to ourselves about why we are doing it in the first place. Then we start thinking, if whatever it is we are attempting to do, does it really need to be done in the first place. I had these thoughts running through my mind as I also contemplated what would happen if I turned too hard and broke it. Finally I stopped, took a deep breath and prayed. Yes, I stopped and prayed and asked God to show me and help me remove the sconce. After I prayed I tried again and it did not move. Immediately the thought entered my mind that the prayer did not work, but I rejected it. I said out loud, Father I believe you. Immediately I tried again and it came off without a problem. This was something that was simple, but it showed me how easy it is to pray about something and not expect anything to change. We must stop praying prayers just to get the words out there – we must do exactly what Jesus said – have faith in God, believe and don’t doubt, and then see our prayers answered. The people you have praying for you, do they meet these criteria? When you are praying for yourself and for others, do you meet these criteria?
There was a survey that I read by Pew Research several years ago that found that less than 40% of Christians pray daily – and that include all types of prayer. Of those surveyed, those between the ages of 30-49 had the highest percentage of respondents who prayed daily at 34%. What caught my attention is the fact that, as people gained more education, they prayed less. Forty-three percent of those with a high school education or less prayed daily versus only nine percent of those with a post-graduate degree. Those with some college or with a college degree fell between these two (35% and 15% respectively.) What we are seeing being played out in the world today is indicative of people who no longer see the need for prayer, or it could be that they do not believe God plays a role in their lives. I may be naïve, but if we want to see anything change in this world or more specifically, in our lives, it begins with understanding what God’s Word says and our prayers. You see, the most powerful prayers that we can pray are those based on what we know are promised to us in the Word of God. But even if you do not know a lot of the Word, prayer should still be a major part of your life on a daily basis.
Turn with me to James chapter five and we are going begin reading at verse thirteen. As we read these verses, think about the person being described as the one actually doing the prayer. It says, “(13) Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. (14) Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. (15) And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (16) Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:13-16)
In these verses James talks about praying. He says the person who is suffering should pray. The person who is sick, should be prayed for. Then he says that we should be praying for one another. So we should be constantly praying for our afflictions (which are hardships and not physical illnesses); for sickness; and for one another’s faults. But here again we see a criteria – he said the prayer of faith will save the sick. So the person doing the praying must have faith in God otherwise they are just spewing unproductive words. Then he says that the “effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” That word “avails” means “to have or exercise force.” It paints the image that, because you have prayed, because you have spoken it forth, it is going to happen. It means that something is going to change because you prayed! James makes it clear that when the prayer of faith is prayed, and the name of Jesus Christ invoked, the Lord shall act! Again, this is part of our inheritance as children of the Most High God! James tells us that when we pray in faith something happens. So if we are praying and not seeing anything happen can we truly say we are praying in faith? If you are praying and not expecting anything to change why continue praying? The people you have praying for you, are they praying a prayer of faith? Are they expecting something to change because they prayed?
Now I want to share something with you that will hopefully stir you up and ignite your prayer life. All of us are facing situations where the only thing that is left to do is pray, and pray hard. Whatever you are facing I want you to listen closely to what I am about to tell you. Isaiah 55:11 says, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” The Bible says that when God speaks, His words go forth and they accomplish what He speaks. Now listen closely, if we are God’s children, if we have God’s life and nature living in us, then what we speak should come to pass if it lines up with God’s Word. When we pray, things should change. Now some of you may be wondering where in the world I came up with this! Am I now preaching a name it and claim it message? The answer is no. What I am telling you is that as a child of God operating within the will of God, when we cry out to our Father and believe that our prayer is answered, it will be! The problem is that many adults do not believe it! As a matter of fact, children sometimes believe it more than we do.
God told Isaiah that His word would accomplish what He wanted it to accomplish. Now I want you to see how this same “speaking forth” applies to us, especially as children of God. We have read Proverbs 18:21 many times as proof that our words carry power and we have often read this verse as a warning about being careful about what we say. But this morning I want you to think about this differently. I want you to think about it in the terms of a powerful prayer. This verse says, “(21) Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” If you think about this as it relates to your prayer life, what you are speaking according to Proverbs 18:21 will provide death or life – before, during, and after your prayer. Stay with me here, if you are praying about something and you are actively speaking against it, you are killing your prayer. If you prayed for a new job then told others that it would never happen, you killed your prayer before it ever got started being answered because you spoke against it. If you are praying about a situation right now, do not let any negative thoughts that might arise in your heart come out of your mouth. Speak forth the results that you are praying for and eventually you will begin to believe in those results. But as long as doubt and unbelief reside in your heart, you cannot speak it forth until your heart is changed. Jesus said it this way in Matthew 12:34-37, “(34) Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (35) A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. (36) But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. (37) For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” What words are you speaking that are condemning you and your prayers? When you listen as the person you have praying for you speaks, are their words confirming the prayer results being sought or are they killing them? What about your words? Are you speaking against your results?
I want to share a story with you from the Old Testament about a man who sincerely cried out to God on his own behalf and got an immediate response. Turn to Second Kings chapter twenty and we are going to read verses one through six. It says, “(1) In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, ‘Thus says the LORD:’ 'Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’ (2) Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD, saying, (3) ‘Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.’ And Hezekiah wept bitterly. (4) And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, (5) ‘Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: ‘I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD. (6) And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David.’” (Second Kings 20:1-6)
Did you see it? Isaiah gave Hezekiah the word from the Lord. He told him “Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.” Hezekiah immediately prays to the Lord. As Isaiah is walking out of Hezekiah’s house the Lord stops him and tells him to turn around because He had a new assignment for him. Isaiah told Hezekiah that he’s going to die; Hezekiah prays to God and reminds him of the things that he had done for the kingdom; and God hears him and grants him fifteen additional years. You don’t think prayer matters? God changed His mind after Hezekiah prayed. Imagine what will happen when we are praying in agreement with God’s desires and plan! Turn to the book of First John.
First John 5:14-15 records the following, “(14) Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (15) And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” As a child of God praying in the will of God, we should have confidence that God is hearing our prayers and is fulfilling them! No doubting!!! Remember what was recorded in Isaiah 55:11 – His word will not return to Him void – it will accomplish what He said it would! Now let’s look at Matthew 18:18-20.
Matthew 18:18-20 says, “(18) Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (19) Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. (20) For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Do you understand that this is what we do every Sunday morning and Thursday night when we pray together? Do you understand when you ask someone to pray for you, you are asking them to come into agreement with you about your situation to take it to the Father? One of the primary reasons you must be selective about who you have praying about your business is not everyone praying for you is in agreement with you. Yes they agree to pray for you, but sometimes they believe you are getting what’s coming to you. If a person who believes that your situation is justified and deserved that person cannot come into agreement with you about getting out of it, even if they say they are in agreement with you. Do you see this?
God said in Isaiah 55:11 that His word will not return to Him void – in other words what He says will happen. Jesus, the Son of God, tell us that where two or three are gathered in His name He will be in their midst and when two come together and agree (in prayer) what they ask for will be done by the Father. So if whatever God speaks will happen, then the same applies to Jesus. And if the same applies to Jesus, then Jesus just told us that when we come together in agreement, those prayers are answered. God’s word will not return to Him void! And to make this even better, John then tells us that this is the confidence that we should have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. Now do you think its Jesus will that people are killing one another? Or that we are addicted to drugs? That our families are falling apart? Absolutely not! So when we pray about these things we have the confidence that our prayers are being heard and answered!!!
Now turn to Philippians 4:6-7. It says, “(6) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (7) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) As a child of God we should not tolerate anxiety or worry for it will have a detrimental effect on our bodies and our soul. God alone can help us and He will if we pray about everything and give thanks for everything. This is His word given to us to guide us through this life on earth. He tells us in everything there should be an element of prayer with thanksgiving. How is it we can give thanks after praying about a difficult situation? Because we know that God has heard the prayer and will answer.
Second Chronicles 7:14 says, “(14) If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (Second Chronicles 7:14) This was written in the Old Testament but the message is the same. Prayer has power and prayer works when it is prayed in faith and the person doing the praying believes something will change. We are His people. We are called by His name. It’s our time to humble ourselves, pray, and seek God’s face. We do not have any other means to change what is happening in the world around us. I believe when we do this, God will act on our behalf!
At the beginning of this message I asked you “If you were in need of prayer, who would you go to first, your pastor or Sis. Betsy, one of the regular members of the Church?” So let me give you the context for that question and you can see if your answer changes.
“Several years ago there was a drought in one city and the pastor of the Church called for a prayer meeting to pray for rain. The prayer meeting was held on a hot summer evening. All of the members came out dressed in summer cool clothes since they would be there for a while praying. Well, when Sis. Betsy arrived at the Church everyone heard her approaching as her shoes were making a loud noise. As she entered the Church, everyone turned to see why she was making such a loud entry. What they saw tickled them and some of the members actually laughed softly. Here was Sis. Betsy entering the Church wearing rain boots, rain coat, a hat and an umbrella. She looked a sight in the sweltering heat. Some of the members thought Sis. Betsy had finally lost her mind that her elevator was no longer going to the top floor. The pastor looked at her with much concern. He comes down from the pulpit and approaches her. He asks her, Sis. Betsy are you all right – are you feeling okay?” Sis. Betsy looked at him confused by the question and replied, “I feel fine.” Then the pastor asked her, “Well I must asked, why are you dressed this way? Didn’t you feel how hot it is outside? You must be burning up in this outfit. What possessed you to wear all of this tonight in this heat?” Again, some of the members continued to snicker and laugh under their breath while others now shifted to true concern for Sis. Betsy’s mental state. Sis. Betsy looked at her pastor and then scanned the faces of the rest of the members and made the following statement: “You know Pastor, I too was confused when I walked into the Church. You see, I thought we were all coming here to pray for rain and I expected there to be rain when we left. I am confused as to why none of you are dressed for rain since that is what we are supposed to be here asking from God.”
Sis. Betsy came to the prayer meeting expecting God to answer their prayer that night. No one else, including the pastor, came to that meeting that night expecting God to do anything except hear their prayer. So, knowing what you know now, who would you want praying for you in your time of need? Someone who expects God to just hear their prayers or someone who expects God to actually answer the prayer? I want Sis. Betsy praying for me!
Until next time, “The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
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