It is not the hearers and watchers that are blessed, it is the doer of the word. The Bible says, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (James 1:22). Jesus when he saw the multitudes, he didn't just watched them and did nothing, but he reached them out, and asked his disciples to pray for them. "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." (Mat 9:36-38). You may not be able to come and help due to the distance, and you may be so poor that you cannot extend a financial help, but to neglect prayer for the opportunity of praying for this great need, is to neglect God's blessings and deliverance from problems and afflictions. Job was delivered from his afflictions or captivity and was so blessed by the Lord when he prayed for his friends. "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). Oftentimes, we could not pray for pastors, missionaries, brethren and others because we are so focused on ourselves and our problems, and there are those who couldn't pray because they do not want others to be blessed. But the secret of God's blessing is praying for others. How much more if we do good to those who are labouring for the Lord. "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."(Gal 6:10). If the Lord is going to reward a believer for giving a cup of water to a disciple or God's servant, how much more if you pray for God's servants and the ministries they are involved in. "And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward."(Mat 10:42). The question is, which is more easy to do, to give a cup of water or to pray for fellow believers?
There are 3 reasons why a Christian cannot pray for others:
1) He does not agree doctrinally
2) He is only focused on his own needs.
3) He does not want others to succeed and be blessed.
We are commanded by the Lord to...
Pray for fellow believers. We pray for those whom we disciple, but we need to pray for others who became believers through the ministries of our fellow laborers.
John 17:20 "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word"
Pray for enemies. If it is hard to love and pray for brethren, how much more it is hard to obey this command.
Mat. 5:44 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you"
Paul encouraged prayer for ministers.
1 Thes.5:25 "Brethren, pray for us."
2 Thes.1:11 "Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power".
2 Th.3:1 "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:"
Heb.13:18 "Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly".
When you start praying for others, then you compassion for them will grow and your faith will grow and more people will be blessed through your life.
"The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself". (Pro 11:25)
"And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in."
(Isa 58:10-12)
"Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand."
(2Co 10:15-16)
May the Lord enrich your prayer life. Like if you pray.
Missionary Edwin Jardinel
Missionary Baptist, Philippines
[email protected]