Wednesday, May 4, 2016

How important is praying for others? - Why did God command us to pray for others?

How important is praying for others?
puricarefiles

Why should we pray if God already knows what is best for us, and has all the powers at His disposal to give the best to us? Surely, 

He is our heavenly Father, and He is wiser than we are.
Why does He need us to pray? Would it not be better to trust Him, as He says, leave even the smallest details of our lives to Him, and wait for His timing? 
Would it not bring Him glory if we would just leave everything Him to do what is best for us?
God is wiser than we are, no matter how educated we are, or no matter how advanced our technology is:
"For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men) 1 Corinthians 1:25 (ESV)
 God commands that we should trust Him:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
    and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make straight your paths"
 
Proverbs 3:5 (ESV)

God commands us to pray for others.

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The
prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working" 
James 5:16  (ESV)

It is for those very reasons that we need to pray. Praying for ourselves and praying for others, along with confession, have benefits of healing.

 

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working" James 5:16 (ESV)

James tells us that “the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” This does not mean that only the prayers of good people are heard.
The word righteous” in the Bible refers to those who have faith and are covered by Jesus’ own righteousness (Romans 5:1; 3:21–22; 4:2–3). They have been made righteous because they have received Jesus as Lord and Savior – Jesus’ own righteousness is imputed on them.
Jesus told us to pray in His name (John 14:13–14). If you do something “in the name of” someone else, it means you do it according to his will. Knowing God and understanding His will is an integral part of prayer.
We begin to see why praying for others is important. Prayer is not about getting everything we want for ourselves, or keeping our loved ones safe, healthy, and happy at all times.
Prayer is a powerful way in which we get to know our Savior. Praying for others will bring us closer to God, because effective prayer is based on a knowledge of His will (1 John 5:14).
Praying for others also brings believers together. It will also bring us closer to others, as we learn more about them and focus on their needs, their cares and their well-being.

Some of our prayers could be running along these lines: Lord, give my friend a good job, a new car, good health, and happiness. Keep him in the hollow of your hands. If we are close to someone, we might pray for his marriage and other relationships.
There is nothing wrong with praying for these things. In fact, the Bible encourages us to pray for everything and, by doing so, we address our anxieties (Philippians 4:6).
It is biblical to pray for health and for good things to happen

"Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul" 3 John 2 (ESV)

However, most of the prayers in the Bible are more for spiritual concerns.
When Jesus was praying for others, He prayed for their faith

"but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers" Luke 22:32 (ESV) 

He prayed for their unity

"And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name,  which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one" John 17:11(ESV)

He prayed against temptation in their lives

"And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation'” Luke 22:40 (ESV) 

   He prayed for their sanctification

"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth" John 17:17 (ESV)      

   Paul prayed for the salvation of the lost

"Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved" Romans 10:1 (ESV)

   He prayed that the brothers would stay on the right        path

"But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed" 2 Corinthians 13:7 (ESV)

He prayed that believers would be strengthened by the Spirit, rooted and grounded in love, able to comprehend God’s love, and filled with the fullness of God

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts     through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" Ephesians 3:14-19 (ESV)

These are all prayers for spiritual blessings.  They are all “in Jesus’ name” and according to the Father’s will.
These prayers that are in God’s word are God’s promises and are guaranteed to find a “yes” in Christ

"For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory" 2 Corinthians 1:20 (ESV)

Praying for others fulfills a New Testament command.
We are to pray for all people

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people," 1 Timothy 2:1 (ESV)

We are to pray for government leaders

"for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way" 1 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)  

We are to pray for the unsaved

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, … 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" 1 Timothy (ESV)

We are to pray for fellow Christians

"praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints," Ephesians 6:18 (ESV)

We are to pray for ministers of the gospel

"and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak" Ephesians 6:19 (ESV)

We are to pray for the persecuted church

"Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body" Hebrews 13:3 (ESV)

Praying for others gets our focus off of ourselves and our own interests and onto the needs of others around us.
God commands that we “carry each other’s burdens.”

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" Galatians 6:2 (ESV)

Start praying for others today and help to edify the Church, the body of Christ – the total body of believers
- that it may come into maturity and be a victorious Church.
"And I tell you, you are Peter, and 
on this rock I will build my church, and the gates
of hell shall not prevail against it" Matthew 16:18 (ESV)
In this spiritual war, there are no fence-sitters – you are either on the Lords’ victorious army or on the wicked “Powers” of Satan.
Ensure you’re enlistment on the victorious army of the Lord.  Settle that sin issue right now by saying this prayer:
“Father God, I confess I am a sinner and my sins have separated me from you.
I am truly sorry.  I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and live a new life pleasing to you.
Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again.
I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.
I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward.
Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. Thank you, Lord, that according to Your Word, I am born again.

Please use me for your glory.
      “Someone Is Praying for You”  
                                                 Heritage Singers
       

lyrics

Someone is praying for you,
someone is praying for you. 
So when it seems you're all alone,
and your heart will break in two. 

Remember someone is praying for you. 
Have the crowds round you gathered
in the midst of the storm? 
Is your ship tossed and battered are you weary and worn 
Don't lose hope someone's praying for you 
this very day 
And peace be still is already on the way. 
Someone is praying for you, 
someone is praying for you. 
So when it seems you're all alone, 
and your heart will break in two. 
Remember someone is praying for you. 

When it seems that you've prayed ‘til 
your strength is all gone 
And your tears fall like raindrops all the day long 
He cares and He knows just how much you can bear 
He'll speak your name to someone in prayer. 
Someone is praying for you, 
someone is praying for you. 
So when it seems you're all alone, and your heart will break in two. 
Remember someone is praying for you. 
Remember someone is praying for you

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