In his Word, God commands believers to pray for one another. Praying for one another is part and parcel of the Christian life. What happens when we pray for one another? These seven staggering things.
Many people have prayed for me over the years. My Mom and Dad prayed for me. Brothers and sisters have at times laid hands on me and prayed for me. People have texted and emailed me telling me they are praying for me. I pray for others. I pray for my family members to be saved. I pray for our children and grandchildren and every single one of my wife and my descendants. Praying for one another is part and parcel of the Christian life. Paul told the Ephesians to pray for one another and asked them to pray for him:
…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, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:18 – 19).
Think about it for a second.
Paul, the great apostle, who led thousands to the Lord, who had been caught up to the third heaven, appealed to his fellow believers to pray for him. He didn’t think he was so strong in the Lord that he didn’t need others to pray for him.
He asked them to strive in prayer to God for him.
He asked them to pray for his safety.
He asked them to pray his service would be acceptable to the saints in Jerusalem.
What humility Paul had! He knew he needed the prayers of others and he asked for them. As I look at these Scriptures I’m freshly motivated to humble myself and seek the prayers of others.
Paul also prayed constantly for others. He told the Colossians that he prayed for them:
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding (Colossians 1:9).
Paul didn’t assume the Colossian believers would automatically keep growing in their spiritual knowledge and wisdom. He prayed for them.
What happens when we pray for one another? These 7 staggering things.
Paul’s example demonstrates how incredibly important it is for us to pray for one another. We desperately need each other. Jesus never intended for us to live the Christian life alone. So often I forget just how much I need others. I need to live my life out with others and I need others to pray for me.
God tells us to lift one another up. We need one another to get through this life. To get through afflictions. To get through temptation.
God tells us to pray for one another. God never tells us to do anything he doesn’t intend to respond to. He would not tell us to pray for one another if he didn’t intend to answer those prayers.
What happens when we pray for one another?
#1 – When We Pray for One Another, God Answers
Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven (Matthew 18:19).
God tells us here that he will answer the prayers of just two believers who pray for “anything” in agreement together. This is absolutely breathtaking. When two believers pray, God will do anything they ask.
Nothing is impossible for God, and he responds in uniquely powerful ways when believers join together to pray.
#2 – When We Pray for One Another, God Heals Us
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
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. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit (James 5:13-14).
James tells us that if we’re sick we should ask our pastors to pray for us and anoint us with oil. The result is that God will use those prayers to heal us.
