Pass the Prayers Please

Introduction: Anybody need prayer? We all do. Are you praying for someone today? Who? Who do you need to add to your prayer list? How many people are lifting you up? Is intercessory prayer mentioned in the Bible? Where?
 

1. Did you know James writes in his epistle about praying for others? (James 5:16)

“6Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

The word “healed” is ἰάομαι, (ee-ah’-om-ahee), which means I heal, generally of the physical, sometimes of spiritual, disease.

Let’s consider what this does not mean.

This does not mean we need a priest, a pope or a preacher to get to God. Rather we can pray and confess our sins directly to our Lord; however, this does mean that as the Holy Spirit leads we can confide in a brother or sister, more specifically one that we have offended. And especially we can pray for each other!
 

2. Did you know Paul writes in his epistle about praying for others? (1Thess 5:17)

“17Pray without ceasing.”

(1Tim 2:1-7)

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.”

 Then he lists who we should pray for.

“2For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 3For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.”

Are you praying for our President? It is ok to disagree with his policies, but biblically speaking we should pray for him.
 

3. Did you know our Lord Jesus writes about praying for others? (Luke 11:9-13)

“9And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 11If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”

Jesus articulates the earthly example of a father and a son in comparison to our Heavenly Father and His children. Even though this is not directly related to intercession, it is in the context of prayer. 
 

4. Did you know John writes in his epistle about prayer? (1John 5:14,15)

“14And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

Obviously, there are conditions for answered prayer. For instance, here is God’s will. As we intercede it is extremely important that we pray according to the will of our heavenly Father.
 

5. How about Abraham’s willingness to intercede for Sodom and Gomorrah? (Gen 18:20-33)

First, notice our Lord’s CONDEMNATION on Sodom! 

“0And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; 21I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.”

Secondly, look at Abraham’s INTERCESSION for Sodom!

“22And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. 23And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? 25That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? 26And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. 27And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes: 28Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. 29And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty’s sake. 30And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there. 31And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake. 32And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once:” 

Lastly, check out God’s RESOLUTION!

“Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake. 33And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.”

Here is a great example of the Power of Intercession. Because of Abraham’s willingness to pray on behalf of this city, our Lord was ready to spare them if there were enough righteous (light in the place).
 

Conclusion: I need others to pray for me. You need others to pray for you. We all need to pray for each other.

So let’s pray!

Love y’all,
Dr. Randy Reese