Sermon Illustrations on Intercession

Christ: The Mediator The Advocate

Christ advocates for sinners, granting access to heaven despite human failure.

A great minister who was noted for his Christlike spirit as well as for his consecrated ability, dreamed that he had died and stood at the gate of heaven knocking for admission. He gave his name, only to be told that his name did not appear upon the books. Finally, at his earnest entreaty, he was bidden to enter and was told he would have the privilege of appearing before the Judge of all the earth, and if he could stand His test he might abide in heaven forever. Standing before the throne, he gave his name, and the following questions were put to him: "Have you led a righteous life?" He said, "No." "Have you always been kind and gentle?" Again he replied in the negative. "Have you always been forgiving to those who have been around you?" "No, I have miserably failed there." "Have you always been honest and just?" He answered, "I fear not." As question after question was put to him by the Judge, his case seemed more and more hopeless. The last question was asked him, and to that, too, he was obliged to give the same negative reply. Just when he seemed to be in despair, the brightness about the throne became brighter, and suddenly he heard a beautiful voice-the most beautiful to which his ears had ever listened. It was sweeter than a mother's voice; it was more beautiful than all the music of heaven; it filled all the arches of the skies and thrilled the soul of this man as he stood before the Judge trembling and about to fall. The speaker said, "My Father, I know this man. It is true that he was weak in many ways, but he stood for Me in the world, and I take his place before Thee." Just as the last words of this sentence were spoken, the dream was over and the man awoke; he had his lesson, and it is a lesson for us all.

Intercession, Christian

Persistent prayer and personal zeal lead to many conversions.

The great secret of the success of Harlan Page was, that he always aimed at the conversion of some individual; wrestling in prayer with God, and in affectionate entreaty with the sinner, till he saw his wishes realized. By following this plan, though he was in humble life, active work, and often in deep poverty, he lived to see more than a hundred brought to God as the fruit of his zeal and intercessions. Howes.

Intercession, Christ's

Christ continually intercedes for His children, never forgetting their needs.

Suppose a king's son should get out of a besieged prison, and leave his wife and children behind, whom he loves as his own soul: would the prince, when arrived at his father's palace, please and delight himself with the splendor of the court, and forget his family in distress? No; but, having their cries and groans always in his ears, he should come post to his father, and entreat him, as ever he loved him, that he would send all the forces of his kingdom and raise the siege, and save his dear relations from perishing. Nor will Christ, though gone up from the world and ascended into his glory, forget his children for a moment that are left behind him. Gurnall.

Intercession, in Death

A dying man spent his last moments praying fervently for others' salvation.

When Dr. Bacchus (the President of Hamilton College) was upon his death-bed, the doctor called to see him, and, after examining the symptoms, left the room without speaking, but, as he opened the door to go out, was observed to whisper something to the servant. "What did the physician say to you?" asked Dr. Bacchus. "He said, sir, that you cannot live to exceed half an hour." — "Is it so?" said the good man. "Then take me out of my bed, and place me upon my knees: let me spend that time in calling upon God for the salvation of the world." His request was complied with; and his last moments were spent in breathing forth his prayers for the salvation of his fellow-sinners: he died upon his knees. Howes.

Intercession, Example of

A brother's sacrifice led to the pardon of his condemned sibling.

Æschylus was condemned to death by the Athenians, and about to be led to execution. His brother Amyntas had signalized himself in the service of his country, and, on the day of an illustrious victory obtained by his means, lost his hand. He came into court just as his brother was condemned, and, without saying a word, held up the stump of his arm in the sight of all. The historian says, that, "when the judges saw this mark of his sufferings, they remembered what he had done, and, for his sake, pardoned the guilty brother whose life had been forfeited."

Intercession, Meaning of

Intercession means speaking to God on behalf of others.

The question, "What is meant by intercession?" being asked in a Sunday school, one of the children replied, "Speaking a word to God for us, sir."

Intercession, Method of Christ's

Christ's intercession is like a high priest presenting His wounds before God.

It was when the high priest entered with the blood and incense within the veil before the mercy-seat that he made intercession for the people. The very presenting of the blood and incense was an act of intercession, whether words were used or not. It was done in behalf of Israel for the purpose of averting the displeasure and conciliating the favor of Jehovah. With reference to this, Jesus is represented as fulfilling in heaven this part of the priestly functions. In what precise manner his intercession is carried on, it may not be easy for us with certainty to determine. It is evident, from the type just alluded to, that there may be intercession in action as well as in words. If a general who had fought the battles of his country, and had received many a wound, were presenting a petition to his sovereign on behalf of any of his offending subjects, what could be a more effective intercession than the silent baring of his bosom, and pointing to his scars? Dr. Wardlaw.

Intercession, Office of

Christ purifies our prayers, presenting only what is pleasing to the Father.

"A child," saith Ambrose, "that is willing to present his father with a bouquet, goes into the garden, and there gathers some flowers and some weeds together; but, coming to his mother, she picks out the weeds, and binds the flowers, and so it is presented to the father." Thus, when we have put up our prayers, Christ comes, and picks away the weeds, the sin of our prayers, and presents nothing but flowers to his Father, which are a sweet-smelling savor.

— T. Watson

Intercession, Victorious

Luther's confident prayer coincided with a victorious outcome for Protestants.

How little most Christians know of the power and confidence in prayer that Luther had! "At the time the Diet of Nuremberg was held," says Tholuck, "Luther was earnestly praying in his own dwelling; and, at the very hour when the edict granting free toleration to all Protestants was issued, he ran out of his house, crying out, 'We have gained the victory! Do you understand that.'"

The Dying Master And His Slave

A dying man trusted his servant’s prayer for salvation when his minister failed him.

The conscience of the sinner, when aroused, not only accuses himself but his accomplices also. A rich Southern gentleman, careless about his soul, used often to invite his minister, a worldly man and a mere hireling, to hunt, drink wine, play cards, and join parties of pleasure with him.

The poor worldling was taken sick, and his case was pronounced dangerous. His mind was terribly agitated;—he felt unprepared to die. His physician asked him, one day, if he would not send for his minister to converse with him, and offer prayer in his behalf? No, he had no confidence in him: he could hardly bear the mention of his name. He had a poor pious negro servant, by the name of Ben. The master had sometimes overheard him at prayer. "Call for Ben!" said he. He came. "Ben," said the dying man, "can't you pray for your poor master?" Down he fell on his knees, and pleaded for the salvation of the sinner's soul; and the prayer, we hope, was answered.

Praying with Submission

A mother's fervent intercession prayer helped lead her son to salvation.

A MOTHER’S INTERCESSION.—A Christian minister in Somersetshire, Eng., stated, that on the evening when the first permanent impressions were made on his mind, his pious mother was detained at home. She spent the time devoted to public worship, in secret prayer for the salvation of her son; and so fervent did she become in these intercessions, that she fell on her face, and remained in fervent supplication till the service had nearly closed. Her son, brought under the deepest impressions by the sermon of his father, went into a field after the service, and there prayed most fervently for himself. When he came home, the mother looked at her son with a manifest concern, anxious to discover whether her prayers had been heard, and whether her son had commenced the all-important inquiry, "What shall I do to be saved?" In a few days the son acknowledged himself to be the subject of religious impressions; impressions which lay the foundation of all excellence of character here, and of all blessedness hereafter.

Luther'S Prayer For Melancthon

Luther fervently prayed for Melancthon's life, trusting God's power and pleading for his recovery.

At a certain time Luther received an express, stating that his bosom friend and co-worker in the reformation, Philip Melancthon, was lying at the point of death; upon which information he immediately set out upon the journey of some 150 miles, to visit him, and upon his arrival, he actually found all the distinctive features of death; such as the glazed eye, the cold clammy sweat, and insensible lethargy, upon him. Upon witnessing these sure indications of a speedy dissolution, as he mournfully bent over him, he exclaimed with great emotion, "Oh, how awful is the change wrought upon the visage of my dear brother!" On hearing this voice, to the astonishment of all present, Melancthon opened his eyes, and looking up into Luther's face, remarked, "Oh Luther, is this you? Why don't you let me depart in peace?" Upon which Luther replied, "O no, Philip, we cannot spare you yet." Luther then turned away from the bed, and fell upon his knees, with his face towards the window, and began to wrestle with God in prayer, and to plead with great fervency, for more than an hour, the many proofs recorded in Scripture of his being a prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God; and also how much he stood in need of the services of Melancthon, in furthering that cause, in which the honor and glory of God's great name, and the eternal welfare of unnumbered millions of immortal souls, were so deeply interested; and that God should not deny him this one request, to restore him the aid of his well tried brother Melancthon. He then rose up from prayer, and went to the bedside again, and took Melancthon by the hand. Upon which Melancthon again remarked, "Oh, dear Luther, why don't you let me depart in peace?" To which Luther again answered, "No, no, Philip, we cannot possibly spare you from the field of labor yet." Luther then requested the nurse to go and make him a dish of soup, according to his instructions. Which being prepared, was brought to Luther, who requested his friend Melancthon to eat of it. Melancthon again asked him, "Oh, Luther, why will you not let me go home, and be at rest?" To which Luther replied as before, "Philip, we cannot spare you yet." Melancthon then exhibited a disinclination to partake of the nourishment prepared for him. Upon which Luther remarked, "Philip, eat, or I will excommunicate you."—Melancthon then partook of the food prepared, and immediately grew better, and was speedily restored to his wonted health and strength again, and labored for years afterwards with his coadjutors in the blessed cause of the reformation.

Upon Luther's arrival at home, he narrated to his beloved wife Catharine the above circumstances, and added, "God gave me my brother Melancthon back in direct answer to prayer;" and added further, with patriarchal simplicity, "God on a former occasion gave me, also, you back, Kata, in answer to my prayer."

Intercession of Christ

Matthew 14:23

Christ intercedes for His disciples in distress, ensuring their deliverance and mission.

When disciples are at sea, their Master is at prayer for them Israel—Foreshadowed in Jonah. Like Jonah, out of their land, a trouble to Gentiles, cast out but miraculously preserved. In the future, in their hour of deep distress, they will cry to God, will be delivered and will go forth to the Gentiles as originally commanded, beseeching nations to be reconciled to God.

The Intercession Of Christ

Hebrews 7:25

Christ continually intercedes for believers with prevailing authority before God.

The Lord Jesus has led captivity captive and now sits at the right hand of God, forever making intercession for us. Can your faith picture Him? Like a Levitical high priest of old He stands with outstretched arms: there is majesty in His mien, and with authority He pleads. On His head is the bright shining mitre of His priesthood, and on His breast are glittering the precious stones whereon the names of His people are everlastingly engraven. Hear Him as He pleads — hear you not what it is? Is that your prayer which He is mentioning before the throne? The prayer that this morning you offered, Christ is now offering before His Father's throne. The vow which just now you uttered, He is now uttering there. He is the Altar and Priest, and with His own sacrifice He perfumes our prayers. And yet, mayhap, you have been praying long and had no answer. Poor, weeping suppliant! You have sought the Lord and He has not seemed to hear you, or at least not answered you to your soul's delight, and you are full of darkness and heaviness on account of this. Look to Him, and be lightened. If you do not succeed, He will; if your intercession be unnoticed, His cannot be passed away; if your prayers can be like water spilt on the ground which cannot be gathered up, yet His prayers are not like that: He is God's Son — He pleads and must prevail. God cannot refuse His own Son what He now asks — He who once bought mercies with His blood. Oh, be of good cheer, continue still your supplication, for Jesus "ever liveth to make intercession" for you.

Prayer For Others

Intercessory prayer expresses compassion by asking God to relieve others' burdens and needs.

James Whitcomb Riley writes this altruistic prayer:

Dear Lord, kind Lord, Gracious Lord, I pray Thou wilt look on all I love, Tenderly to-day! Weed their hearts of weariness Scatter every care Down a wake of angel-wings Winnowing the air.

Bring unto the sorrowing All release from pain; Let the lips of laughter Overflow again; And with all the needy O divide, I pray, This vast treasure of content That is mine to-day! (Text.)

--_The Reader Magazine._

Ways of Building Prayer In A Church

Ezra 9:4

Ways of building prayer in a church are many:

OBSERVE A WEEK OF PRAYER

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Ask the church Board to set time for a WEEK OF PRAYER FOR RENEWAL AND INVITATION and make a Sunday a special Day of Prayer. Besides studying prayer for renewal in church school and making it the theme of the worship service, the afternoon could be given over to prayer. This works especially well in a church whose members are widely scattered.

Dan Buttry, author of "Bringing Your Church Back to Life: Beyond Survival Mentality," has this to say about prayer and renewal:

"Prayer and renewal go hand in hand. Renewal is a work of God

yet so often we act as if God will not come through in our

difficult situations. Like the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel

we can work ourselves into an exhausted frenzy and still hear

nothing from heaven. When we realize that God is the active

inspirer and leader in renewal our model for ministry changes.

Like Elijah we prepare the altar and sacrifice. We do all the

practical matters to the best of our ability but we also pray in

a calm spirit of faith. We pray because we truly believe God is

present and wants to renew the church. We pray because unless

God builds the house of renewal our work is in vain. We pray

because it is not our work that lights the fire of renewal in

people's hearts but God's Holy Spirit. Gather a group within the

church to pray regularly for God's renewing work among you. Then

wait in faith-filled expectation for the surprises of the Spirit

to unfold."

PRAYER MEETINGS

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Prayer meetings during the week can take various forms:

* Plan one-hour prayer meetings in the church each evening, using different leaders.

* Schedule "Cottage Prayer Meetings" in members' homes. These provide a warm sense of KOINONIA and are best done on an invitation basis. Ask the deacons to contact people, perhaps using the "Deacon Under Shepherd Plan," making sure that all members are invited to one of the meetings. Refreshments should be simple.

* Include significant prayer time on the agendas of groups which regularly meet during the week. (Choir, clubs, boards, etc., need not be canceled.) Pray for the renewal of the church and for those who are not Christians.

* Divide the membership by groups (age, sex, special interest, etc.) for effective meetings. Youth may favor a Friday or Saturday night "upper room" event where the meeting is geared to renewal and prayer for friends. A men's prayer breakfast and women's prayer brunch are traditional and effective.

* Keep the sanctuary or a prayer chapel open during the week to encourage people to come and pray when they have time.

* Encourage families to take time for prayer following the evening meal, Monday through Friday, praying for each other, for loved ones and friends who need to make a commitment to Christ and the church.

PRAYER TRIPLETS

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PRAYER TRIPLETS is a simple plan for you to pray with others that people in your circle of concern may find life abundant and everlasting through Jesus Christ.

Intercessory prayer is hard work. It seldom comes naturally so you need discipline and support. PRAYER TRIPLETS can help focus your prayer life by making it systematic and by having two other friends pray with you.

CHOOSE two other people with whom you have some things in common and whom you trust.

ASK if they would be willing to covenant as a PRAYER TRIPLET. Talk about your concerns for persons outside of Jesus Christ.

AGREE to meet regularly for intercessory prayer, focusing on evangelism. Meet weekly or even daily-whatever fits your schedules.

COVENANT to share names of three people who you feel have never responded to Christ's invitation to follow him.

ESTABLISH that the PRAYER TRIPLET will pray for the nine persons on your lists ... and for each other.

Pray for the renewal of your church. When you get together:

* Share what God has given to you as you have read the Bible. Share your personal experiences with God.

* Tell encouraging news of the people for whom you have been praying.

* Pray for the people on your list: their needs, their families and most importantly that they will discover their own needs for Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and make a decision to follow him.

* Pray -- above all -- that God will give you grace to be an inviter!

* Pray that other TRIPLETS will start in your church.

Agree that on the days when the TRIPLET does not meet you will set aside a specific time each day to pray for persons listed in this folder.

There is great power in knowing that the TRIPLET is praying simultaneously.

PRAYER CHAINS

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Groups of people call one another in succession after a specific concern develops. It is practical to organize both day and evening prayer chains. Requests are given first to the chain captain who is responsible to write down the information concisely. The captain calls the first person listed who in turn calls the next in line. For most effective praying, each person immediately writes down the prayer concern in the exact wording given, reading it back to the caller to make sure it is accurate.

Praying can be immediate, with the listener on the telephone, or after you have received the call, before dialing the next person. Don't leave the phone until you have prayed, if at all possible. Even if you can't pray at that moment, be sure to call the next person promptly.

Pray fervently and specifically. "The prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective!" (James 5:16)

PRAYER VIGILS

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An extended, structured period of prayer can be very meaningful in the life of the church. Some churches conduct all-night prayer vigils -- often when some calamity has occurred or in times of a national crisis for peace in the world.

Sign-in charts are made for 15-minute (or 30) intervals of prayer by successive persons, beginning at 6 p.m. and continuing until about 8 a.m. Often many people will participate who have never been involved in prayer activities before. The diaconate can be responsible for promoting the vigil and actively soliciting people to sign up for it. For this experience, one room of the church should be furnished with soft lighting, comfortable chairs and a visual prayer focus. A Bible could be open with a PRAYER passage highlighted. Place prayer requests and directions on a large poster or on a handout for each person to read. Describe each item for prayer as fully and clearly as possible for intelligent, intense praying. Suggest also that each participant spend part of the time in quiet meditation and praise on the goodness of God.

No leader is present. Each participant prays alone and is encouraged to pray audibly.

Emmett V. Johnson

Director of Evangelism

#990

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Does Prayer Change God's Mind?

Acts 17

Excellent article on how prayer can change an unchanging God. (He actually changes us first.) [Basis of sermon 1/8/95]

I. Can prayer change things?

A. Problems with God's omniscience and omnipotence.

1) Does prayer change God's will?

2) What happens when we don't pray?

3) What if God wants one thing, and I want another?

4) Does God limit his sovereignty by answering prayers?

B. God is sovereign, prayers are effective.

1) Paradox unfathomable by finite minds.

2) God has factored our prayers and His sovereign desires into

one plan in ways the finite mind cannot fully understand.

II. Does God change his mind?

A. Intercessory prayer.

1) Abraham for Sodom (and Lot) in Genesis 18.

2) Moses for disobedient Israel in Exod 32. (cf. Deut 10)

B. God does not change. Jam 1:17

1) God does not change like nature does. Ps 102:26-27

2) His plans are firm, unlike people's. Ps 33:11

3) Balaam wavers, God does not. Num 23:19

4) He does not change his mind. 1 Sam 15:29

5) He does not change at all. Mal 3:6

C. God's actions are in harmony with his perfect character.

1) He does not change, grow, develop, or learn.

2) He cannot go against his character.

3) Therefore, prayers cannot and will not ever cause Him

to deviate from who he is.

D. God can be moved emotionally.

1) He chooses to enter into relationships with them.

2) He is affected by our choices and actions, obedience and

disobedience.

3) God acts. But his actions for us will always correspond

to the changes we make in ourselves. Ezek 33:13-16

4) Not God, but WE change.

III. How prayer brings about changes.

A. Abraham and Sodom. Genesis 18

1) God informs Abraham of his concern over Sodom's sin.

2) God waited for Abraham to respond, and affirmed Abraham in

his evaluation of the situation.

3) It appears that Abraham haggled, but actually God drew him

out so Abraham could learn how to depend on God's

righteous and merciful character.

4) God was true to his nature: he judged the city for its sin

but did not punish the righteous with the wicked.

B. Moses and disobedient Israel. Exodus 32

1) Appears that Moses is pointing out something God missed.

2) But before Moses descended, God started a conversation with

him about the situation. "Now let me alone" is curious.

3) God is actually inviting Moses to be a mediator.

4) Moses never changed God's mind, but brought Moses to a point

where he wanted the very same thing that God wanted.

5) God embarked on a different course of action based on Moses'

proper response, but did what he always intended to do.

IV. The purpose and function of prayer.

A. Prayer does not assure that we will get from God whatever we

ask.

1) Prayer is the means of SOME ends.

2) Prayer should not be viewed as gettting what we want, but

as God achieving what he wants through us.

3) God does not need our prayers. Acts 17:25-27

4) We need to change. Prayer doesn't change our circumstances,

but directs us to depend on God and submit to him.

B. Only prayer in harmony with God's will is answered. Jn 15:7

1 Jn 5:14-15

1) The duty of Christians is to discover God's will.

2) This is done through prayer and God's Word.

"You Can Change God"

Genesis 18

Sermon on how an unchangeable God can be changed by our actions.

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YOU CAN CHANGE GOD

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I. Making changes.

II. The paradox of intercessory prayer.

A. Most of our prayers ask God to change things.

B. Problems with prayer.

C. God is sovereign, yet prayers are effective.

III. When God seems to change his mind. Genesis 18; Exodus 32

A. The impact of an intercessor.

B. In these situations, is God really changing? No. Ezekiel 33

IV. God is not unchanging like a rock.

A. Rocks don't respond to their environment.

B. But God can be moved emotionally.

V. How God brings about change.

A. Abraham and Sodom. Genesis 18

B. Like God, we need to be motivated by our highest ideals.

C. Ignorance is bliss.

How To Receive Prayer Requests

Acts 4:31

Jesus prayed before each major event in his ministry, and churches need to rediscover the power of prayer.

(Suggestions are given for how to receive prayer requests for members.)

Lyle Schaller writes, "While it is impossible to prove cause and effect, the evidence strongly suggests that those churches that places a highly visible emphasis on the power of intercessory prayer have a higher ratio of worship attendance of membership than those that give it low visibility."

(Other suggestions are given for prayer meetings, prayer triplets, and fasting.)

(A schedule is given for a Prayer Sunday.)

"To Quote..."

Job 34:4

Oswald Chambers: "God never gives us discernment in order that we may

criticize, but that we may intercede."

#3084

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Don't Just Pray For Troubles

When was the last time you prayed for someone whose life was running smoothly? We usually pray for uncommon things, those that are out of the ordinary. Christians need to pray for those who are strong in the faith, those who don't seem to "need" prayer. Paul sometimes encourages us to pray

for specific needs, but in nearly every letter he tells us to pray for the saints' growth and strength.

There Is No Secret To Revival

John 16:24

A friend of the late Robert Roberts (the great preacher of Wales) once asked him where he got the idea for the great sermon to which many attributed the great Welsh revival. Roberts led him to a spot where he had spent four days and nights on his knees in prayer. "Here, Sir, is the place of all great sermons.'"

By prayer a handful of unlearned and unlikely men turned the world upside down and spread the name of Christ beyond the limits of Roman power.

By prayer a tentmaker in Tarsus won the dissolute Corinthians to faith in Christ and laid the foundation of Western Christianity and exulted the name of Jesus above that of Nero.

Martin Boos spent hours and days in intercession. Afterwards, when he preached, his words were as flames, burning into the hearts of those who heard.

Evan Roberts said, "There is no secret to revival. I only 'ask' and 'receive.'"

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Your Prayers Matter

Luke 11:5

Things happen - or don't happen - because of prayer.

God gave us intercessory prayer so we could partner with Him in transforming society, saving the lost, and establishing His Kingdom.

1. God governs in response to our prayers. Gen 18:16-33; Exod 17:8-13;

Ezek 22:23-31; Neh 1:4-11

2. God releases His grace and power when we pray. Lk 11:5-8; Jam 5:16

3. Intercession is the key to great works. Jn 14:12-13; Acts 1:8

4. Prayer transforms society. 1 Tim 2:1-2

5. People are saved through prayer. Jn 17:20; Rom 10:1; 1 Tim 2:1-4

6. Prayer defeats Satan. Eph 6:12,18; Exod 17:8-13; Lk 22:23

7. Transforming Prayer. Eph 6:11; Col 4:2,12

Prayable Moments

Snatching time for intercession throughout the day. 1 Thess 5:17

1. Jesus' Example.

a. Before meals. Matt 15:36, 26:26

b. After a busy day. Matt 14:23

2. Prayer Stops.

a. Here and now. Matt 18:20

b. Intercessory phone calls. Phil 1:3-4

c. Social Situations.

d. Family Matters. Phil 4:6

3. As easy as Breathing. Jam 5:13-18

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God's Son, Our Intercessor

Job 9:33

Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman recently told this story of one of his friends who was a boyhood companion of Robert Lincoln. He entered the Civil War and went to the front.

When Robert Lincoln found that he was a private soldier, he said to a friend: “Write, and tell him to write to me, and I will intercede with father, and get him something better.”

The young soldier said: “I never took advantage of the offer, but you do not know what a comfort it was to me. Often after a weary march I would throw myself on the ground and say: ‘If it becomes beyond human endurance, I can write to Bob Lincoln and get relief; and I would rather have his intercession than that of the cabinet, because he is a son.’”

Every true Christian knows that he has the best friend possible at the court of Heaven in the Son of God, who ever liveth to make intercession for us.

— L. A. Bauks

Intercession

In 1517 there was a great riot in London, in which houses were

sacked and a general insurrection reigned; guns in the tower were

thundering against the insurgents, and armed bands were assailing them

on every side. Three hundred were arrested, tried and hanged; five

hundred were cast into prison, and were to be tried before the king,

Henry VIII. As he sat in state on the throne, the door opened, and in

they came, every man with a rope about his neck. Before sentence could

be passed on them, three queens entered, Catharine of Aragon, wife of

the king; Margaret of Scotland, sister of the king, and Mary of

France. They approached the throne, knelt at the feet of his majesty

and there remained pleading until the king forgave the five hundred

trembling men.

But there is a better intercession than that going on for you and

for me at this moment.

By J. Wilbur Chapan, "Present Day Parables."

An Anchor That Holds

Hebrews 6:19

"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and

steadfast." \reference{Hebrews 6:19}{Hebrews 6:19} In this world of

sin and death, we need a strong anchor to keep us from drifting into

an ocean of fear. Knowing that Jesus prays for us is such an anchor to

all who trust Him as Savior and Lord. The 16th-century Scottish

preacher, John Knox, depended on this truth, especially during his

final days on earth. As Knox lay seriously ill, his wife would read

\reference{John 17}{John 17}, a chapter of Ephesians, and

\reference{Isaiah 53}{Isaiah 53} (prophecy of Christ's death). A

little before noon on what would be the last day of his life, Knox

asked her to read I Corinthians 15, that great keystone chapter on the

resurrection. As she finished, he remarked, "Is that not a comforting

chapter?" Four hours later, recognizing that his earthly stay was

almost over, he said to his wife, "Go, read where I cast my first

anchor." Immediately she knew what he wanted. She turned to

\reference{John 17}{John 17} and read one last time the comforting

reminder that Jesus is the Christian's high priest.

From Earth To Heaven

An incident that occurred in Boston, some years ago, where a friend

of mine was preaching. At the close of a meeting one night, a lady

arose and said, "Sir, can I have the privilege of reading a letter

that I received today from my old home in Wales, where I was born and

brought up, and united with the church?" Permission was given, and

this was the extract:

There had been a special religious interest in that town. At the

beginning of the services, the minister stood in his pulpit one day,

and announced the meetings. Then he said, "Brother, will you take such

a soul to pray for?" He was a man who knew the town well and Sister,

will you take such a one?" And so he went on through his congregation,

giving, as she supposed, each a soul to pray for, and directing that

they should not cease praying until that soul was saved. He dismissed

the meeting.

As he was going down the aisle, a humble servant girl looked up

into his face and said, "Pastor, you did not give me anybody." "Didn't

I?" I thought I gave every one a soul to pray for. Is your mistress

converted?" "No, that will do, pastor." She went out, attended to the

domestic matters at home, and the mistress retired to her room, and

the servant girl to hers, as was supposed.

In the night the woman awoke, and said to her husband, "I never had

such impressions about my sinfulness nor my soul's danger as I have

now; won't you get up and go for some Christian to come and pray for

me?" "This is very strange," said the husband, "you never had such

feelings as these before. Can not you wait until morning?" She said "I

will try." He went to sleep again, but there was no sleep for her. By

and by she awoke him again and said, "This pain is so great, it seems

as if I would die and be lost forever. Can not you go and get somebody

to pray for me?" "Well," said he, "isn't our servant girl a

Christian?" "I believe she is," said the mistress. "Well, we will get

up and go to her room," said he. So they got up and put on their

clothes and went to the servant girl's room, but there was no servant

girl there, and the bed was undisturbed.

They were disconcerted for a moment. Then the mistress said,

"Sometimes she goes up into the upper room and perhaps, she has gone

up there and fallen asleep; we will go up there." They went up, and as

they approached the door they heard these words: "Oh God, my mistress

is very dear to me, have mercy on her soul! Oh God, my mistress is

very dear to me, have mercy on her soul!" There that dear girl , for

hours, in the darkness of the night, had been offering that earnest

heart prayer. She was into the garden of Gethsemane, in her heart,

with Jesus. "My husband," said the mistress, "this is the trouble."

The door was opened and they entered; and you may be sure salvation

came there.-Albert P. Graves

Jesus Intercedes For You

Job 16:19

There is no truth that can give you any more courage and boldness as you live out your Christian life, especially in the workplace, than that found in Romans 8:34, "... Christ died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us...."

Christ, the Lord of the universe, is now 1) at the right hand of God and 2) making intercession to the Father on our behalf.

He intercedes; he pleads our case to the Father. He always does this according to the will of God and is always heard. When Jesus intercedes for us, the Father always hears him; the Father always responds immediately to bring to pass what the Son has requested. He is our advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1). The apostle John assures us that "we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous...."

He intercedes before the Father when we sin. He asks the Father to release into our life all that the Father has provided, especially the Holy Spirit (John 14:16).

When you come to the Father, in Jesus' name, and ask for boldness, or courage, or wisdom, or patience, or anything else that is appropriate to ask in his name, Jesus is there before the Father to confirm that you are his disciple, that you are indeed a child of God, and that your request is right and good and the Father can grant it. The Father always hears the Son (John 11:41-42).

What incredible encouragement this brings to the Christian who walks by faith (that is, believing what Jesus says, and acts on it).

Jesus' intercession can dramatically affect your personal life and walk with God. He can and will keep you from sin. He can affect your marriage for good. He can return wayward children. And he can give power in witness on your job.

In the days of his flesh, Jesus clearly and dramatically interceded before the Father on behalf of his disciples at a very significant moment, and in a very dramatic way. Just before the cross, when his disciples were about to experience their greatest pressure from the enemy, Jesus assured them, "... And the Lord said, 'Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren...." (Luke 22:31-32).

Jesus does this directly for you also. Call on him, and he will intercede for you.

Calling Daddy To Come

1 Samuel 12:22

Our daughter was doing something she does several times a day - picking up our infant grandson. She bent over OK - but suddenly she couldn't straighten up. A sudden pain shot through her back, almost paralyzing her really. She managed to set the baby down and to lie down on the bed. But the pain was almost unbearable, and she couldn't move. Daddy was at the office - and the only one there to call for help was our 3-year-old grandson. He picked up the phone, dialed Daddy's office, got the receptionist and gave her a simple but direct message - "Mommy got boo-boo on her back - tell Daddy to come home now!" Well, when he was put through to Daddy he gave it to him direct - "Daddy, Mommy got boo-boo on her back - come home now!" In a matter of minutes, it was Daddy to the rescue. In a matter of days, Mommy was back to normal.

Well, I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A WORD WITH YOU today about "Calling Daddy To Come."

Daddy came in answer to the cry of one of his children - who called to him on someone else's behalf. Sound familiar? When our daughter told us about our grandson's call, I thought of the word the Bible uses to describe a process like that - intercession. Our grandson had gone to his father on behalf of another person's need. That's exactly what you and I are supposed to be doing for the people we care about - interceding for them with a Heavenly Father who can do for them what we could never do.

The Old Testament leader Samuel understood what a responsibility we have to intercede for people. God's people had just said to him, "Pray to the Lord your God for your servants ..." Then in 1 Samuel 12:22, our word for today from the Word of God, Samuel says, "As for me, be it far from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you."

When you step up to go to God for someone's need, you are, in essence, aiming the laser beam of heaven at that person's life. Like our son-in-law that day he got the call, our Heavenly Father takes action to do what only He can do in response to our call to heaven.

This ministry of interceding is all through the Bible - Abraham standing before the Lord, representing the righteous in Sodom and Gomorrah ... Moses begging God for mercy on His idolatrous people. And what was the last thing Jesus did before He was hauled away to be tried, tortured, and crucified? In John 17, He interceded for His disciples, and even for us. And it's what He's doing in heaven today! That's how important it is!

Most of us are so busy, so preoccupied with trying to fix things ourselves, or so self-absorbed, that we don't spend much time going to the Father for the people in our world. Obviously, we just don't understand the resources of heaven that are unleashed when we go to God in interceding prayer. How much time are you spending interceding daily for your children? For your spouse? For your church leadership? For your coworkers? For your friends? Please don't "sin against the Lord" by "failing to pray" for them. If we just spend as much time talking to God about their needs as we spend talking to others about it, worrying about it, scheming over it - who knows what miracles we could see!

Open up this exciting ministry frontier in your life. Take time each day to go to our "Daddy" in heaven for people you care about - "Daddy, she really needs you - please come now!"

________________

*

The Spirit Helps Our Infirmity

Romans 8:26

“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit [is], because He makes intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God.” (Romans 8:26-27 NKJV)

The Spirit Helps Our Infirmity

• likewise — not only does hope help us

• helpeth — 2 Cor 12:9, Matt 10:19-20, 20:22, Zec 12:10, Eph 2:18, Rom 8:15 — Gk., to bear together with another, as when persons assist in carrying a heavy load

• groaning…uttered — Ps 42:1-4, 77:4, 1 Sam 1:13 — inwardly felt by the spirit

• He…hearts — He the heart-searcher — 2 Chr 6:30, 1 Sam 16:7, 1 Chr 28:9, Jer 17:10, Ps 7:9, cf., Rev 2:23, Matt 9:4, 12:25, Luke 5:8, John 2:24-25, 16:19, Acts 1:24

• mind…Spirit, aim, desire of these inarticulate groanings

• maketh intercession — He complaineth — Same Greek word used by Festus (Acts 25:24) and of Elijah (Rom 11:2)

• according…God — Gk., according to God

The Spirit helping our infirmities — Rev. C. Bridges, M.A.

I. What is prayer? Look upon it as –

1. Grounded upon the office and work of Christ;

2. Connected with the work of the Spirit.

II. What praying soul is not conscious of deep and manifold infirmities?

1. The matter of our prayers. We know not what to pray for.

2. Their manner and spirit. These too are fraught with infirmities.

III. Our assistance in prayer. Christ intercedeth for us. Mark this help in –

1. Exciting intense desires within us;

2. Moulding these desires in subjection to the will of God.

IV. The acceptance of prayer.

Application –

1. Where prayer is a mere form, it is a dead matter;

2. Yet be not discouraged although you may not have known these earnest desires;

3. In infirmities we must not indolently wait for the promised help;

4. Are we overcoming our infirmities, or simply confessing them?

5. Learn to worship the Spirit;

6. Mark how well the Spirit’s work in prayer connects itself with that of Christ

The aid of the Holy Spirit in prayer — Dr Leifchild

The infirmities in prayer against which the Holy Spirit proves an adequate succour. The infirmity of –

I. Ignorance;

II. Doubt;

III. Dullness;

IV. Utterance.

Man’s spiritual infirmities and God’s agency — G. W. Humphreys, B.A.

I. The good man is subject to various spiritual infirmities:

1. Ignorance;

2. Doubts and fears;

3. Love for temporal things;

4. Reluctance to engage, and difficulty to continue in well-doing.

II. Among these infirmities there is ignorance of the nature and mode of prayer:

1. We know not what we should pray for;

2. We know not how to pray.

III. These infirmities the Spirit helps us to overcome:

1. Christ intercedes in heaven-the Spirit on earth in us;

2. Christ is the advocate with God; the Spirit, with men;

3. Christ is in heaven preparing a place for us; the Spirit is preparing us for heaven.

IV. The manner of the Spirit’s help is inexplicable and earnest.

The help of the Holy Spirit — Mr C__, a pious gentleman, was on a visit to a friend. Mr C__ having taken occasion to recommend family worship, his friend remarked that he was sensible of the importance of the duty; but having been a stranger to the practice of it, he felt a difficulty in commencing; that, however, if Mr C__ would make a beginning he would endeavour to continue it. To Mr C__ this proposal was embarrassing, for he was always accustomed to the help of a prayer-book. But his desire for usefulness prevailed; the family were convened, and their guest presided at family worship. At first he was agitated, and his voice began to falter; but he soon recovered confidence. The success of his first attempt encouraged him to lay his formulary aside, and experience soon taught him, that when the spirit of devotion prevails, there is rarely a difficulty in giving expression to the feelings it excites.

“We must thus think of the just man, that if he fall into poverty or disease, or any other of those seeming evils, all these things work together for good to him, either alive or dead. For the man is never neglected by the gods who exerts himself to the utmost to become just, and to practise virtue, so far as it is possible for a man to resemble god.” — Plato

“In prayer it is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart.” — Bunyan

The Death, Resurrection, and Intercession of Christ

Romans 8:33

“Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? [It is] God who justifies. Who [is] he who condemns? [It is] Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” (Romans 8:33-34 NKJV)

The Death, Resurrection, And Intercession Of Christ

• lay…charge — Isa 50:8-9, 54:17, Zec 3:1-4, Rev 12:10-11 — bring an accusation against

• elect? — Eph 1:3-4, 2 Th 2:13, 1 Pet 1:2 — chosen in Christ

• God…justifieth –Rom 3:24, Isa 43:25 — therefore the declaring of them to be righteous cannot be frustrated

• condemneth? — pronounceth to be guilty?

• Christ…died — Rom 14:10, Gal 3:13, 2 Cor 5:21 — in our stead, and procured our pardon. The penalty for our sin has been already inflicted.

• that…again [and…risen] — Rom 4:25, 1:4, 1 CXor 15:17, Rom 4:10, John 14:19 — the proof that His dying for us is accepted.

• who…us — Heb 10:12-14, 19-22, Acts 7:56, 1 Pet 3:21-22, Heb 8:1, 1:3, Isa 53:12, 1 Jn 2:1, Luke 22:32 — and though He has finished the work that was given Him to do, He is still engaged in securing our salvation

Christ’s intercession — Dr Belfrage

I. Its nature. It consists in –

1. His appearing before God for us, and presenting the memorials of His sufferings in our behalf;

2. His declaring that the blessings He has purchased should be given to the objects of His mercy;

3. His answering all Satan’s accusations against His people.

II. Its excellences:

1. Most earnest;

2. Affectionate;

3. Constant;

4. Universal.

III. The blessings we derive from it

God’s elect — J. B. Brown M.A.

I. The elect nation –

1. We have in the call of Israel all the conditions of an election, such as the N. T. sets forth. They were the elect nation.

2. The light thrown on their election by their history.

Il. The elect soul –

1. Its condition;

2. Its calling unto life.

The mediation of Christ, the ground of the believer’s triumph — Dr Sprague

I. A brief view of the mediation of Christ:

1. The character of Jesus;

2. His death;

3. His resurrection;

4. His exaltation;

5. His intercession for His people.

II. His influence in securing the believer’s acquittal and triumph — “Who is he that condemneth?” The believer has nothing to fear from –

1. External afflictions;

2. Indwelling corruptions, and the suggestions of Satan;

3. Death;

4. All the powers of darkness. In consequence of Christ’s mediation, he triumphs over all these.

Learn:-

1. What constitutes the distinctive character, and the essential glory of the Gospel;

2. The dignity of the Christian character;

3. Humility;

4. The guilt of unbelief

The appearance of all before the judgment-seat of Christ — Rev. J. Bloomfield

I. The appellation by which the people of God are distinguished,-God’s elect. Elect, because –

1. God has translated them from a state of sin and death, to one of holiness and life;

2. They are conformed to the likeness of their Almighty Maker;

3. They are objects of Divine compassion and protection;

4. They are made the children of God by faith in Christ.

II. The condition in which the elect are said to be — justified

The resurrection of Jesus Christ — Dr Specer

I. The number of witnesses who gave testimony to it.

II. Their credibility:

1. Their capacity as men of discernment;

2. Their opportunity for knowing;

3. Their agreement one with another;

4. The time of their bearing their witness;

5. The place in which they gave it;

6. The motives which induced them to testify

The right hand of God — C. H. Spurgeon

The place of –

I. Majesty and favour. The raising and elevation of Christ is the elevation, the acceptance, the enshrinement, the glorifying of all His people, for He is their head and representative.

II. Power. Christ, at the right hand God, hath all power in heaven and in earth. Rest thou secure. If Jesus is thine all-prevailing King, and hath trodden thine enemies beneath His feet; if sin, death, and hell, are all vanquished by Him; by no possibility canst thou be destroyed.

Method of Christ’s intercession — It was when the high priest entered with the blood and incense within the veil before the mercy-seat that he made intercession for the people. The very presenting of the blood and incense was an act of intercession, whether words were used or not. It was done in behalf of Israel for the purpose of averting the displeasure and conciliating the favour of Jehovah. With reference to this Jesus is represented as fulfilling in heaven this part of the priestly functions. In what, precise manner His intercession is carried on, it may not be easy for us with certainty to determine. It is evident, from the type just alluded to, that there may be intercession in action as well as in words. If a general who had fought the battles of his country, and had received many a wound, were presenting a petition to his sovereign on behalf of any of his offending subjects, what could be a more effective intercession than the silent baring of his bosom, and pointing to his scars? — Dr Wardlaw

“Go forth now, my soul, and bid defiance to all thy enemies. For the shield of thy faith shall receive all their dents without any danger to thee, retorting them back even into the adversaries’ faces. Appear now with confidence before the judgment seat of God, “bringing with thee to the bar of mercy thy advocate Christ Jesus.” — Sir J. Harrington

“Though the mariner sees not the pole-star, yet the needle of the compass, which points to it, tells him which way he sails; thus the heart which is touched with the loadstone of Divine love, trembling with godly fear, and yet still looking towards God by fixed believing, points at the love of election, tells the soul that its course is heavenward, towards :the haven of eternal rest.” — Leighton

Can You Give Me A Sign?

Kathleen Wetzel received confirmation of the effectiveness of prayer when her son, Lieutenant Robert Wetzel, told her what happened to him in an Iraqi prison after he had been treated for his injuries.

After several days without water, he thought he was near death and prayed, “God, please give me some water.” Within minutes a guard opened his cell and gave Bob the last drops of water from his pail. Then, after getting more water, he filled Bob’s cup a second time. Some days later, as he shivered on the icy concrete floor while the nighttime desert temperature dropped to near zero, he prayed, “God, I’m so cold. I’m feeling pretty helpless. Can You give me a sign?” Minutes later the cell door opened and someone threw in a blanket. Finally, one night the prison was nearly leveled in an air raid. The terrified guards fled, leaving Bob and six other POWs locked in their cells. One more bomb would have reduced the prison to rubble. It never came and not a single POW was injured.

In comparing notes Mrs. Wetzel was able to estimate that all of these events occurred after she stopped praying for herself and directed all her prayers toward Bob.

May I Pray For You

I walked into the office. The secretary seemed physically struggling with her breathing and her countenance was different than normal.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Allergies,” she replied. “Sometimes it gets so bad I can hardly breathe.”

“May I pray for you?” I asked.

“Oh, I don’t want to take up His time with something as menial as me. I’d rather not waste it on me. You should pray for someone much less fortunate than me. My mother always taught us to pray at the dinner table for those less fortunate than us,” she replied. The woman was touched that I would offer to pray for her.

The next day I told her my prayer group was praying for her. She could not believe that I would do such a thing for her.

It is interesting what happens when you offer to pray for someone. Offering to pray for someone can be the most genuine and loving thing you can do for another person. It can be the one means of getting a conversation on a spiritual plane that cuts across religious stigmas and gets to the root of the problem-the person’s real need. It immediately reveals your own values and sets the stage for future encounters. All it takes is a little holy boldness to step through the door when the opportunity seems to present itself.

Is there anything too small to pray about? Do we, in fact, bother God when we make any request that is not dealing with only the poor in Calcutta? Paul clearly tells us in this passage that prayer is talking with God. It is having such a relationship with Him that we can bring anything to His attention.

We’ve all heard the housewife’s prayer for a parking spot or other such seemingly trivial prayer requests, but are they trivial to God? If God is our closest and most intimate friend, then it becomes very natural to talk to Him as you would a friend who might be sitting next to you in the car. Yes, God desires to have such close communion with you and me that we can pray about anything-even a parking spot.

As you enter the workplace today, ask a co-worker if you can pray for him about something. You may be surprised at what doors will open as a result.

The Dungeon of Self-concern

Job 42:1

And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. — Job 42:10.

Nothing fosters love like true intercession, and the man, hitherto swallowed up in morbid introspections and unwholesome anxieties about his own soul, beginning to pray for others would be freed from these mean anxieties; for they come out of unchecked religious selfishness; and the holy love which set him to pray for his neighbors’ souls would lift him up out of the dungeon of engrossing selfish concern for his own. — J. D.

Prayer makes the darkened clouds withdraw,

Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw;

Gives exercise to faith and love,

Brings every blessing from above,

The Prayer Warrior and Moody's London Revival

Job 16:20

In 1872, D. L. Moody made a trip to England for rest, with no intention of preaching. While he was in London, a pastor spotted Moody and asked him to preach for him the next Sunday and Moody agreed. On Sunday morning the church seemed indifferent to his message.

But when he spoke that evening, the response was completely changed. After the sermon, Moody asked those who wished to become Christians to stand, and hundreds stood up. Moody thought that they must have misunderstood him, so he asked them to sit down and he repeated the invitation more clearly, asking all who wanted to become Christians to step into the inquiry room. So many people crowded into the room that extra chairs had to be brought in. Moody was amazed, thinking that they still did not understand. So he asked all of those who were in earnest to meet the pastor there the following night.

The next day, Moody sailed across the Irish Sea, but he no sooner reached Dublin than the pastor sent an urgent message for him to return, because more inquirers came Monday night than had been present on Sunday! Moody returned and preached for ten days, during which 400 people made professions of faith and joined that church.

Moody sensed that someone had been praying for this church. He began asking and finally was led to a bedridden girl, Marianne Adlard. She lay twisted and distorted by her suffering, but she spent many hours daily in prayer. She had been asking God to send revival to her church, which she never could attend because of her illness. She had read of Moody’s work in Chicago, and she specifically asked God to bring this man to her church to preach.

When her older sister returned from that lifeless morning service and told Marianne that a man named Moody from Chicago had preached, she spent the afternoon in prayer until the Lord gave her assurance that He would bring revival. Marianne Adlard prayed daily for D. L. Moody as long as he lived.

________

(adapted from Lyle Dorsett, A Passion for Souls [Moody Press], pp. 161-162; and D. Edmond Hiebert, “The Significance of Christian Intercession,” Bibliotheca Sacra [Jan.-Mar., 1992, pp.20-21).

The Joy of Gospel-Driven Prayer

Job 16:20

Our instinctive expectation when we pray is for God to intervene in the circumstances and situations we bring before His throne. It is proper and appropriate to expect God to respond when we pray. We must never forget that He responds in the way He deems best, and that His response may often be different than our desires. Whatever God’s response, the act of prayer is itself a pathway to joy.

Prayer is a petition we present before God -- never directions we give to God. However, knowing that every time we pray in accordance with biblical guidelines, God does hear and does respond, is a promise that should bring joy to the heart of every believer. Prayer becomes our passage into a front row seat to see God at work. It is our assurance that we are living in His grip and are a part of His unfolding purposes. Christians with the habit of prayer tend to be Christians who live with a deeply rooted sense of joy growing from their certainty about God’s presence and work in their lives. Let’s dig a little deeper into why we can experience joy as a fruit of our prayers.

The first way a Christian learns to pray is praying as an expression of need to the Lord who loves us and gave Himself for us. The Gospel tells of our sin and the sacrifice Jesus made to save us. If He would do that, He would surely hear my cry for help. If He will provide forgiveness and eternal life, surely He will provide present help. Praying for His intervention on the basis of His provision for our salvation becomes a vivid reminder of how He feels about us. Prayer is in effect a tutorial reminding us of why we can have confidence in the Lord and what His presence in our lives means. When the Gospel story drives your prayers, it drives you to joy.

The second way a Christian learns to pray is by praying for the needs of others. Someone once defined evangelism as “one beggar telling another beggar where to get food.” Our encounter with Christ reveals His love for us. Our walk with Christ makes clear His love for others. The Gospel is bigger than me. The Gospel is for the whole world. As John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The better you know the Gospel, the more you understand the love of God is deep enough and wide enough to embrace all who turn to Jesus in faith.

The Apostle Andrew was always bringing others to Jesus because He knew that Jesus cared about them, too. Imagine his joy as he watched Jesus embrace those he brought with the same love he experienced. Knowing the Gospel is for the whole world drives us to pray for the needs of others with as much passion as we pray for our own needs. Seeing God work in ever-wider circles multiplies the joy of seeing Him work in us.

The third way a Christian learns to pray is by praying for the purposes of God to be fulfilled. Children know their parents love them, but they do not understand the depth of that love. As they grow and mature, they realize more and more the distinctive, sacrificial love that drove every loving act of their parents. Things their parents did and decisions their parents made look different when they realize those decisions were driven by love. As adults with children themselves, those kids are often surprised when they raise their children in the same way they were raised. Why? Parental love drives their decisions, too. As we learn more and more of Christ, our prayers begin to reflect more and more of His priorities. When you are praying for what you know God wants to do, you rejoice in the certainty He will hear and He will respond to prayers in the direction He is already going.

101-Year-Old's Salvation Caps Wife's 24-Year Prayer

Acts 11:14

Lou Warshaw prayed for 24 years that her husband George would accept Christ as his Lord and Savior.

After years of refusing to give up on the hope that he would become a Christian, God answered her prayers when, at the age of 101, George made that decision and followed through with believer’s baptism.

“The devil kept telling me it wouldn’t happen,” Lou said, admitting to times when her faith was tested. “But I kept believing God would let it happen. I think I’m still on cloud nine.”

George’s conversion story began on July 24, 1991, when he and Lou became husband and wife. The two were of different faiths; George was a Jewish non-believer; Lou was a Christian.

Even so, George attended Calvary Baptist Church in Alexandria, Louisiana, most Sundays with Lou, where she was a member. They sat in the same pew every Sunday for worship and then attended a Bible study class.

Lou and other friends never pushed their faith on George through the years but showed him Christian love and prayed that he would come to know Christ.

In recent months, George had become unable to continue attending Calvary or even living at his residence with Lou, so he went into the Veterans Affairs Nursing Home in nearby Pineville but still remained in constant contact with Calvary members and staff.

In late June, questions he asked about the Christian faith were more frequent and, on July 10, 2015, George asked David Boothe, his longtime Sunday School teacher, to visit him.

Boothe said the conversation “moved to that of denomination and [Lou] and I both explained to him that being a member of a denomination doesn’t mean anything as far as a relationship with God.”

“We told him you have to get your relationship with God straightened out, and the way you do that is trusting in God. We talked some more and he said he wanted to accept Christ.”

Three weeks later, Lou was at the VA Nursing Home for a moment flowing from her intercession for George. Surrounded by friends and family who had prayed and never given up hope that he would accept Christ, George was baptized.

Since he was too weak to undergo baptism by immersion, Boothe and Calvary pastor David Brooks jointly baptized George using water from the Jordan River that Brooks had collected during a trip to the Holy Land.

Brooks described Lou is a perfect example of a Christ-like follower who obeys Christ’s commandments even when the situation seems hopeless.

“She prayed for him for years and lived out an exceptional Christian life in front of him,” Brooks said.

“It is a great lesson to be persistent in praying for the salvation of anyone and witnessing to them. And never underestimate living a Christ-like life 24-7 in front of your family members. You never know the impact your life will have on them.”

Since his conversion and baptism, Lou and George read the Bible when they are together during her visits at the nursing home.

“He can’t see well anymore, so I read him the Bible for a long time when I’m at the nursing home with him,” Lou said. “I really didn’t know he would love to hear the Bible as much as he does. It’s like he has a hunger for it.”

George’s baptism portrays a lesson Lou for Christians who have witnessed to a non-believer for many years: “Keep praying and believe God will answer your prayers.”

“Just stay with it,” she said. “God’s time is not our time. When the time is right, He will answer your prayer.”

Yeah, I'll Pray For You

James 5:16

One opportunity that most believers experience on a fairly consistent basis is to respond in prayer to prayer requests shared by other believers or even those who are not yet believers.

A friend, co-worker or fellow church member shares with you by conversation, email, phone call, or even social media a sincere prayer concern and asks if you will join him in prayer over the matter.

How do you respond? I’ve never heard anyone say, “No, I don’t have time for that, but good luck.” Normally, we quickly respond that we will pray and go on about our business. Sometimes we remember the request and pray about it quickly, but I will confess there have been times that I have completely forgotten about the matter and have been unfaithful in my commitment to pray for my brother or sister. In essence, I have lied to someone. I told them I would do something and failed to do it.

I have found a solution to this problem, and I have made it a practice in my life. It is not incredibly complicated, it is nothing new, but it works: When someone asks you to pray about a matter, stop whatever you are doing and pray with them right then.

If you are in the store, stop and pray. If you are on campus, stop and pray. If you see it on Twitter or Facebook, stop and pray and then send the individual a private message letting them know you have prayed and will continue to pray for the situation. If you are driving and talking on the cellphone, stop and pray -- but keep your eyes open. It does not have to be a long prayer, but a sincere prayer. It does not have to be the only prayer time, but the beginning of prayer for the situation.

This practice accomplishes two important things through my prayer life:

1. I never lie to anyone when I commit to pray about a matter. I say I will pray, and we pray right then. I never intended to lie before, but it occasionally happened that I would completely forget. My memory lapse made for some humbling moments when my paths crossed with that individual the next time.

2. The second thing this practice accomplished was unexpected: I have found that when I stop and pray, there is a work that takes place in my heart concerning the matter. It seems to me an immediate, quick and genuine prayer in some real way seals that request in my heart and mind. I find myself remembering it often over the next few days, writing it in my journal to pray going forward, and genuinely desiring to follow up with the one who had made the request. Bottom line: I find myself more engaged in the ministry that a specific prayer request always affords. This practice has led many times to further ministry opportunities.

Maybe you have already made this a practice. If so, keep it up. If not, why not give it a try? Just commit that if someone asks you to pray about something, you will stop and seek God’s face together, remembering the words of Scripture: “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).

Get ready: If you make this commitment, I believe someone is going to share a prayer need with you soon. What blessings does God have in store in such an opportunity?

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Tommy Kiker (@tommykiker on Twitter) is associate professor of pastoral theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. This column first appeared at the seminary’s Theological Matters website, www.theologicalmatters.com.

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Prayer

Exodus 30:34

Prayer of the contrite ascends like incense based on Christ's intercession and blood.

Incense, a type of. See Ps. 141:2. Prayer of contrite believer ascends as a fragrant cloud to God (Prov. 15:8). Fire under altar brought out fragrance (Rom. 8:26, 27). Fire was from blood-sprinkled altar (Heb. 10:19, 20). Prayers were based on intercession of a priest (Rom. 8:34)