Christ Is the Head
True union with others requires looking to God, not to each other, and trusting in His power to help us.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes that true unity in prayer and support comes from both individuals looking to God rather than relying on each other. He illustrates this with a story of a sailor who waited to rescue a boy until he was calm, highlighting that dependence on others can hinder help. Simpson argues that when people cling too tightly to us, it indicates they are not focused on God, which can paralyze our ability to assist them. Therefore, effective united prayer requires both parties to direct their gaze towards Jesus Christ. This shift in focus fosters a deeper connection and reliance on God's strength.
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Often we want people to pray for us and help us, but we always defeat our object when we look too much to them and lean upon them. The true secret of union is for both to look upon God, and in the act of looking past themselves to Him they are unconsciously united. The sailor was right when he saw the little boy fall overboard and waited a minute before he plunged to his rescue.
When the distracted mother asked him in agony why he had waited so long, he calmly replied: "I knew that if I went in sooner he would clutch at me and drag me down.
I waited until his struggles were over, and then I was able to help him when he did not grasp me too tightly." When people grasp us too strongly, either with their love or with their dependence, we are intuitively conscious that they are not looking to God, and we become paralyzed in our efforts to help them. United prayer, therefore, requires that the one for whom we pray be looking away from us to the Lord Jesus Christ, and we together look to Him alone.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Problem of Looking to Others
- A. We defeat our object when we look too much to others
- B. We become paralyzed in our efforts to help them
- II. The Secret of Union
- A. Looking to God, not to each other
- B. Unconsciously united when looking past ourselves to Him
- III. The Example of the Sailor
- A. Waiting until the person's struggles are over
- B. Helping when they do not grasp too tightly
- IV. The Requirement of United Prayer
- A. The one for whom we pray must look away from us to the Lord Jesus Christ
- B. We together look to Him alone
Key Quotes
“The true secret of union is for both to look upon God, and in the act of looking past themselves to Him they are unconsciously united.” — A.B. Simpson
“I knew that if I went in sooner he would clutch at me and drag me down.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- When helping others, wait until they are ready and able to receive your help without becoming dependent on you.
- In prayer, look to God, not to others, and trust in His power to help you and those you pray for.
- Recognize that dependence on others can lead to paralysis in prayer and relationships.