10/19/2021
Do we subconsciously limit our prayers to fellow believers, and our church, then occasionally branch out to include others like our countrymen, and those of the world? We might not do this consciously, but if we actually account for our time spent in prayer it would most likely surprise us. We take a prayer list from church and diligently work our way through it, and fervently pray for those who are closest to us, but in doing this are we leaving out the sick, wounded, and the dying, who are the lost souls in a world of sin?
“And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.””
Mark 2:17 ESV
It is good for us to pray for one another as believers, and God knows well that there are many of us who are sick, suffering, struggling spiritually, and in need of one another’s prayers. These include our fellow Saints, our pastors, and our church as a whole. We read the importance of this in James 5, but quite often we are inclined to spend an inordinate amount of time on those who are not on the verge of death, and too little on the lost who are teetering on the precipice of sin, and whose souls are in immediate danger of dying. We are righteous prayer warriors, but we are not very good at triaging those in need. We are spending our precious time, and prayer resources in places, and circumstances that draw us away from those who need immediate care, and fervent prayer.
When my children were young, and one of them was hurting, I would pray for their healing, and even do so to the point of asking the Lord to take their sickness and pain, and place it on me if that were His will, especially if by doing so I could relieve them of their suffering. I did this because I loved them more than my own life. Later in my walk of faith, it dawned on me that I should love the sinners, and lost in world, with this same sense of self-sacrifice, and pray for them with the same fervency, and intensity of prayer. After all, hadn’t Jesus done this very thing for me, for us? Didn’t He pray in Gethsemane over how this could best be accomplished? Didn’t He ask God to forgive us from the cross, and hadn’t He willingly taken on our sins to redeem us from certain death, and the wrath of God?
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV
So as righteous Saints we are told to pray for one another’s healing. We are to do this as brothers and sisters in Christ, and by hearing each other’s confessions in the process.
“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
But we should not do this by sacrificing the souls of sinners, and damning them to spiritual death by withholding or delaying our prayers, and the delivery of the gospel of Jesus, from them… not even for a moment. When we go into our closet to pray we should do so in full knowledge of who needs our immediate prayer because they are in the throes, or on the brink, of death, and who can wait a few more moments in their suffering. Listen to Jesus as He explains this form of spiritual triage to the Pharisees, scribes, and to us…
“And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.””
Luke 5:30-32 ESV
So how are we doing when it comes to prioritizing our prayers? When we have but an hour to spend in our own Garden of Gethsemane, who receives the first minutes of prayer, and how long do we sweat blood in prayer over them before moving on to the next need? If we see the suffering of those surrounding us do we ask our fellow Saints to pray for the dying first, and to place our lesser needs, or the needs of our fellow believers last? What if this means we suffer greatly with nails being driven through our hands, and feet? Think on this today, and pray for those who are in the clutches of sin, and facing emanate death.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for hearing the prayers of the righteous, and for the teachings of Jesus that not only guide us in how we should pray, but in how we are to determine the order, and duration, of our prayers. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who sent your Son Jesus to pray for the spiritually sick, while suffering, forgiving, and dying for the lost. We praise your name Lord, even in the midst of our own pain, and the heat of our feverish illnesses. You are merciful, and work all things for good to those who love you. You take the lost souls who are facing certain death, and send us to them with your healing touch. Wash us in the blood of Jesus, and guide our hands and prayers as we wash those who are lost in the world. Have mercy on your Saints as we do your will, and deliver each soul into your hands. We pray that you heal us in your perfect time, but if we must carry our wounds as Paul carried his, then so be it. Teach us to place your will, that none be lost, ahead of our own comfort… knowing that our reward is to be in Heaven. In the moment of our judgement Lord, please dry our tears, and seat us at your table where we will dine with you in the fullness of your comfort, and joy forevermore.
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 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. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.”
1 Timothy 2:1-6 ESV
Rich Forbes