Praying for Others

1 March 2009

1 Samuel 12:23

Read 1 Samuel 12:23

1. Introduction

As a leader, the prophet Samuel, who was also a judge of Israel, was responsible for the people and therefore to pray for them. On this occasion, they had sinned by asking for a king to emulate the other nations – which was an expression of distrust in God – but their desire was granted. So Samuel warned them to serve the Lord with all their hearts (12:20) and assured them that he would continue to pray for them. Not to do so would be a sin.

2. Using a Prayer Diary

Story of how Baptist pastor and singer Robert Colman told me that he and his wife prayed for my Vanessa me every week. I was surprised and challenged. So I began to pray for them and then for others in ministry. Later I added missionaries; then friends and family; then students and fellow staff; and so on. The result was a list of people to pray for regularly. This eventually developed into a prayer diary.
A Prayer Diary helps us to pray for others by reminding us of their names every week.
There are sound reasons why we should pray for others…

3. Through prayer for others we obey God

Scripture tells us plainly to pray always for all the saints (Eph 6:18). Not to pray for others for whom we are responsible is a sin (1 Sam 12:23).

4. Through prayer for others we live peaceably (1 Tim. 2:2)

Pray for –

political leaders
church leaders

‘This is good and pleases God our Saviour’ (1 Timothy 2:3)

5. Through prayer we give thanks for one another

See Romans 1:8; 1 Cor 1:14; Philippians 1:3; Colossians 1:3; 1 Thess 1:2; 2 Thess 1:3
To do: Regularly thank God for one another (even those who annoy us!)

Prayers of thanksgiving –

acknowledge that all blessings come from God
result in a growing appreciation of those for whom we give thanks

6. Through prayer we develop fellowship with one another

When we pray for others, we develop a fellowship in prayer
Even though we don’t see them, we feel closer to them and in fellowship with them
Remember 1 Samuel 12:23.
We become one with those we pray for
As we pray for each other we actually share in one another’s needs.
As a result we identify with them in their lives and work.

7. Through prayer we share in the suffering of others (Romans 15:30-32)

Prayer for others in need is not just a pious exercise: we actually share their hurts and ease their burdens by our praying

8. Praying for others means wrestling in prayer

Romans 15:30; Col 2:1
Sunagonidzomai means ‘to agonise together’ or ‘to strive or wrestle or contend together’ like athletes in a team – not struggling against each other but striving together on the same team.
This means earnest, fervent, passionate prayer
Prayer is a team activity!

Example of Epaphras (Col 4:12)

How much do we pray like this?
Do we contend or wrestle in prayer for people.
Do we pray until we sense a breakthrough.
Do we share their ‘burden’?

Sometimes when we kneel before the Lord, especially when we pray with the spirit, it is as though the Lord gently lays his hand on our shoulders as if to say, ‘It’s not time to rise yet.’ And so we pray longer. Or if we are walking, it is as if we hear his voice saying, ‘It is not time to go home yet…’ So we continue to pray till the ‘burden’ lifts.

9. Through prayer we undergird the ministry of others

Paul asked believers to pray for him for SIX things in particular--

That the Word would be preached GENEROUSLY (Ephesians 6:19-20)
That the Word would be preached FEARLESSLY (Ephesians 6:19-20)
That the Word would be preached OPENLY (Colossians 4:2-4)
That the Word would be preached CLEARLY (Colossians 4:2-4)
That the Word would go forth SPEEDILY (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2)
That the Word would be HONOURED (2 Thessalonians 3:1)

If Paul needed such prayer support, how much more do we?
Pray for your pastor(s). Put them in your Prayer Diary! Pray that they also will proclaim the Word faithfully and fearlessly.
We should all pray for our leaders – let us not sin by failing to do so.

10. Through prayer we keep our attitudes right (Matthew 5:43-48)

The best thing we can do for our enemies is pray for them
‘You may talk about me as much as you please
I’ll talk about you down on my knees.’
Do we genuinely pray for God to bless people who have hurt us?
Or do we nurse and cultivate our hurts until we become bitter and resentful?
It is impossible to remain bitter towards people we pray for!
Difficulties can make us either ‘bitter’ or ‘better’.
If we are to be ‘perfect’ we need to forgive (Matthew 5:48).

11. Through prayer for others we act like Jesus

Even in the most extenuating circumstances, Jesus still thought of others.
On the cross he prayed, ‘Father, forgive them...’ (Lk 23:34)
No matter how bad our own situation is, to act as Jesus did is to remember to pray for others, anyway.
Praying for others is the first step towards forgiving them

12. Challenge

Which of these has the Spirit been impressing on us today? Praying for--

family and friends
those who are suffering
those in the ministry
those who have hurt us

We need to repent of our failures in these areas.

We need to spend more time before the Lord.

Let’s resolve by faith to upgrade our prayer for others today.

When we step out, God steps in!

13. Samuel’s prayer (1 Samuel 12:23)

‘As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you.’

Something to think or talk about

Remember – you don’t have to answer all the questions. Just choose those that seem most relevant to you.
Read 1 Samuel 12:23; Eph 6:18-19; Romans 15:30; Colossians 4:2-4; 2 Thess 3:1-2.

Biblical
1. Read 1 Samuel 12. What was the background to Samuel’s commitment to pray (23)?
2. Who was Epaphras? (Col 4:12)
3. Paul mostly asks people to pray about his ministry. But he does mention one particular personal need. What was it? What can you find out about the background to this request? (See Acts 20:20-23; 21:10-13; 21:27-36; 25:10-12; 28:16, 30).
4. What do Paul’s requests for prayer tell us about Paul’s understanding of prayer?
5. What do Paul’s requests for prayer tell us about Paul’s understanding of apostolic ministry?

Personal and practical
6. How do Paul’s requests for prayer compare with the kind of requests common in Christian circles today? (e.g. as in prayer letters, revival prayer meetings etc). Give examples if you can.
7. Realistically, how can we pray ‘for all the saints’? (Eph 6:18).
8. We all have some people for whom we are responsible to pray. How do we decide who to pray for? Who are the people for whom you should pray regularly? (No need to divulge actual names.)
9. What are the benefits for you in praying for others?
10. Thinking about Paul’s requests for prayer, what sort of requests would you make if you were writing a letter to your church? Why?

Christian Life