During the flu epidemic that swept the country this past January, both our mothers needed to be hospitalized, in each case initially spending some of that time in the emergency room of a local hospital. As I stood beside my mom’s bed in one of the emergency wards (which was filled to capacity), a frightened elderly man in the next cubicle kept calling for help. Though surrounded by family and competent, skilled medical personnel who were taking care of his needs and seeking to assure him that all was going to be OK, he kept calling out, “Help me! Help me!” Then in rising desperation, he began to utter frantic, profane curses in his calls for help.
During this time, a young woman who had fallen, evidently breaking a bone, was also admitted to the emergency room. It was New Year’s Eve, and she was crying—not so much from pain, but from the frustration of having her plans for the evening’s festivities so abruptly cancelled. “It’s not fair; it’s just not fair,” she sobbed to the one who sat with her.
A dear brother, having heard of my mother’s condition, had come to the emergency room to see her. As we stood at her bedside, he asked the Lord Jesus to comfort and help her—a prayer that was clearly audible to all through the thin curtains that separated the emergency room cubicles. What a difference that prayer seemed to make! The room suddenly became very quiet. The man who had been calling for help quieted, his cursing ceased, and the unhappy young woman stopped her sobbing.
How little we realize, perhaps, the mighty power and blessed effects of earnest, heartfelt prayer. An old writer has called prayer a “mighty engine,” and it surely is so. Some have noted that the week-night prayer meeting often seems the most poorly attended assembly meeting. This sad condition results in spiritual weakness and cold lethargy gripping believers. May the Lord stir each heart to more energetic private and collective prayer in these closing moments of the day of grace. There surely is no lack of circumstances needing prayer! May our hearts be stirred to put to use more faithfully the divine, mighty power of prayer.
Prayer for Others
We can be encouraged by the multitude of witnesses to the efficacy of prayer recorded in the Word of God. (Pray and prayer are mentioned 611 times in the Bible!) One early mention of prayer is found in Genesis 20:77Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine. (Genesis 20:7) when Abraham prays for the healing of Abimelech and his household. Another early example is the prayer of Abraham’s servant that God would prosper his mission to find a suitable bride for his master’s son (Gen. 24:1212And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham. (Genesis 24:12)). These two accounts contain important principles for encouraging and guiding believers in prayer.
We notice that, in both cases, the one praying was seeking the ultimate blessing of others, not self. While surely right and vitally important to pray for personal needs, it is instructive to find early in the Word that prayers have the character of service.
Doubtless there are multitudes of trials and difficulties that our brethren are passing through and for which we might earnestly pray. Abraham’s prayer for Abimelech was, in reality, a matter of life and death for his household. Today, Christian families—households—are a special target of the enemy and have great need of individual and collective prayer that they might be preserved.
Then, too, how many young believers are searching for a life’s companion or beginning life together. Others—young and old—are planning careers, looking for jobs, considering schooling or other major changes in life. Surely such are all in need of our prayers for wisdom and guidance as they make decisions that bear lifelong consequences. How good to spend time praying for the needs of others.
Prayer When There Is Failure
In Numbers 12:33(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) (Numbers 12:3) Moses is called meek above all the men upon the face of the earth. How often do we find this humble servant of God earnestly praying for the stubborn, disobedient people that God had delivered from Egypt’s slavery. We see his yearning beautifully expressed in Exodus 32:31-3231And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. 32Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. (Exodus 32:31‑32) after the people had worshipped the golden calf. Moses begs Jehovah to forgive them this awful sin, willing even to bear their guilt and judgment himself.
In Numbers 14:1919Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now. (Numbers 14:19), when the Israelites stubbornly refuse to enter the promised land, Moses utters these words of intercessory prayer to the Lord: “Pardon, I beseech Thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of Thy mercy, and as Thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.”
First John 5:1616And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. (John 5:16) not only shows the great value of prayer on behalf of one who has failed in his Christian life, but the importance of seeking to discern when and how to pray for such a brother or sister. Oh! for a meek and humble heart of love, such as Moses had, to be found thus pleading for one—redeemed and precious to the heart of Christ—who may be straying in the prodigal’s path.
What abundant blessings might result in assemblies, families and individual lives if there were greater united desire to come together for earnest, collective prayer on the behalf of those in need.
We read in James 5:19-2019Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. (James 5:19‑20) (JND) that a believer who turns back one erring from the truth “shall save a soul from death and shall cover a multitude of sins.” What a motive this provides to stir us to fervent, earnest prayer! May our hearts be filled with love and compassion for those who are out of the way.
The Power of Prayer
It has been rightly said that “prayer changes things.” Many of the mighty movements of the Spirit of God in the salvation of lost souls in various lands in the past 200 years have been preceded and sustained by spontaneous, earnest, united prayer. We find recorded in the Word of God that prayer often precedes God’s acting in His infinite power. Solomon’s prayer resulted in receiving great wisdom (1 Kings 3:99Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? (1 Kings 3:9)). Jehoshaphat’s lovely prayer in 2 Chronicles 20:6-126And said, O Lord God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? 7Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? 8And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, 9If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. 10And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; 11Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. 12O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. (2 Chronicles 20:6‑12) resulted in salvation from a mighty foe and great victory for the people of God, while Hezekiah’s earnest prayer resulted in his healing from sickness (2 Kings 20:23). The rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem began with Nehemiah’s heartfelt prayers (Neh. 1:4; 2:44And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, (Nehemiah 1:4)
4Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. (Nehemiah 2:4)), and many lives were spared (and God glorified) through the prayers of Daniel and his three companions (Dan. 2:17-1817Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: 18That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. (Daniel 2:17‑18)).
A striking New Testament example of the power of prayer is found in Acts 12 where prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for Peter. These prayers set in motion divine power which the wicked Herod’s strongest iron bars, prison doors and soldiers could not hinder or stop.
The Apostle Paul through divine inspiration also shows that prayer changes things. He beseeches the Hebrew Christians to “pray for us” and then adds, “I much more beseech you to do this, that I may the more quickly be restored to you” (Heb. 13:1919But I beseech you the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. (Hebrews 13:19) JND). The beloved Apostle knew that he would be released to them, but their earnest prayers for him would hasten the time of that happy liberty.
While these examples—some of many found in the Word—encourage us to earnest prayer, let us also remember the vital importance of walking in practical Christian righteousness so that our fervent supplications will have much power (James 5:1616Confess 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. (James 5:16) JND).
Combating in Prayer
A dear, mentally-handicapped brother often mentions, “People tell me there ain’t a thing I can do for the Lord. But I can pray to that precious One above!” Eternity alone will reveal the souls saved and blessed through this prayer warrior’s constant and earnest supplications. We find the character of combat connected with prayer in Colossians 4:1212Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. (Colossians 4:12) (JND). “Epaphras . . . the bondman of Christ Jesus, salutes you, always combating earnestly for you in prayers, to the end that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”
We remember hearing of the home-call of an elderly brother who had been faithful in the assembly all his life—yet rarely taking audible part. At his funeral, as a brother rode in the hearse to the cemetery, the undertaker asked him if the man had done much physical labor during his life. The brother, rather surprised by such a question, said, “Why no, he worked in an office. Why do you ask?”
The undertaker replied, “That is remarkable, for never in all my years have I seen such calluses on a person’s knees.” It was then the brother realized what the service of this saint had been for his life.
The Perfect Man and Prayer
In the gospel of Luke, the Spirit of God has recorded seven different occasions when our blessed Lord, as the perfect, dependent Man, is seen praying. Let us follow His divine example, seeking grace to cultivate a life of earnest and effectual prayer, availing ourselves continually of this never-failing resource of power and blessing.
Ed.