By Faith Enterprises

How can We be Faithful Follower of Christ and Not Recognize Our Responsibility to Pray for Others?

Tip! A person’s character is always demonstrated in their behavior. The Savior again said,“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good ...” -- Luke 6:45

"...Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me..." -- Luke 11:5, 6.

It obviously was not the man's own personal need that made him duty-bound to ask for the three loaves in this parable. No, it was the urgent need of the tired traveling friend that moved him to request the bread at the midnight hour. This desperate man said, "...A friend of mine in his journey is come to me..." Our Lord Jesus wanted us to focus our attention on the responsibilities we have to pray for one another when He expressed these stirring words in this parable found in Luke 11.

Is it possible for us to be faithful follower of Christ, but yet not recognize our responsibility to pray for others? The spiritual life we received from Christ will motivate us as Christians to present the requests of others to God's throne of grace. This is where mercy is acquired, and the promise of grace can be found to help others in their time of urgent need. Our personal duty is to intercede for others; this is made even more evident when we give emphasis to the words, "...Is come to me..." Have you ever wondered what kind of strange combination of circumstances could have caused this man to look for help from his baker friend? Let us think on that for a moment.

Could it be that this traveler had turned on to the wrong road in the bewildering darkness of the night? We are all aware that the parable does teach the unsettling truth that people are lost in the darkness of sin, and that it is our duty as Christians to lead them to Christ. But the disgraceful dilemma of this traveler is not the only upsetting truth contained in our Lord's teaching of this story.

Notice the statement, "...A friend of mine in his journey...," this should sway us to assume that this traveler knew before he started on his journey that he could take a break in comfort at the home of his friend. So, it was this traveler's faith in his friend's reputation for hospitality. This must have been what had encouraged him to persist on his journey even through the unrelenting darkness of the night.

Tip! Let us always be aware of the fact that the power that is achieved to do the greater works that are required for Christ, is only gained through fervent prayer and faith in Jesus Christ.

The parable also shows that people will come to us when they are sure of our ability to get help for them through intercessory prayer. This news that a certain person or church can succeed with God in prayer will soon reach a huge number of hopeless and helpless people. Some person or people who are troubled in their souls will soon be knocking at our doors seeking help, rest and comfort.

Christ was always giving help and comfort to all people while He was here on earth. It was the good news that He was giving them that caused the multitudes to look for Him both day and night. His disciples also had this boldness in their preaching and this same power in their praying that drew the broken hearted and heavy burdened of humanity to seek our Savior.

Paul was speaking his gratitude to God for the church when he said in his letter to Thessalonica,

Tip! The Master will not expect more from anyone than a person is capable of doing for Him. Jesus wants us to understand that each person will be rewarded according to their faithfulness in doing their given task.

"...From you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing." -- 1 Thessalonians 1:8.

The seeking or looking for Christ by lost people is not merely by chance as some may think. No, it is the convicting and convincing power of the Holy Spirit that draws them to Himself. The Spirit of God performs His office work in this world through Christ's witnesses. This is why Jesus said,

"...The Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning." -- John 15:26, 27

Is it not obvious that the Holy Spirit causes us as Christians to draw lost people by our faithful witness of our Savior? Our Lord has not called all of His people to preach, but He has commanded all of us to pray.

Tip! “Intercession” is amplification in prayer; it is going out in broadness and fullness from ones self for others. Primarily, it does not center in praying for others, but refers to the freeness, boldness and childlike confidence in praying.

Only the great revivals were born in the hours of agonizing prayer. Only true, heartfelt, loving intercessory prayer will attract the attention of our civilized world today. Then and only then will people came for the express purpose of getting the spiritual help they need through the preaching and praying of God's servants. Please pray for the lost of our world! We are commanded to pray for them; are you?

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