You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give
thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
2 Cor 1:11
Honestly, I don’t know how this works. I just know that it
does, and there is not only example of it in the scripture, but testimony
within the scripture of the answers to that prayer and how effective it was
when employed. It is evident, that there is additional power in group prayer
that is not there when you just pray by yourself.
But another truth to this, is that you can’t do this without sharing both your
needs as well as contribute in prayer for another’s.
The Bible says, “If any two agree as touching anything it
shall be done” and “Where two or more are gathered in my name, there am I in
the midst of them.” (Mt.18:19,20). It is pride that keeps us from sharing, and
fear. Pride inhibits us, deceiving us into believing that we can “handle it
ourselves.” This is Satan’s old trump card, that we don’t need God. We don’t
need to talk to God, ask God or even anyone else to handle our issues – we can
do it ourselves. Yet, this is not what
Jesus teaches us. He teaches us …the more the better! But now, once we get past
pride, we need to overcome fear. It is a sad thing, that people under the guise
of calling themselves Christians have abused other Christians or abused their
trust. People sharing burdens that they entrusted others with to ask for
prayers, was spread throughout an entire town. People sharing burdens were told
that they shouldn't do that it meant they were weak. And then the "coup de grace," we shouldn't share things and pray for one another because of what some hustler
promised or did in the past. If you KNOW
God, then you know that any of the things we just mentioned is not from God but
from Satan.
The truth? You need
that power of prayer and sharing with others, to get through what you’re going
through. That’s why you need to ask others to pray for you. Paul taught, in Gal.6:2, “Carry each
other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” What is
the law of Christ? “Love your neighbor as yourself. (Mt.22:37-40)” When you
pray for other people, you are practicing the commandment of loving your
neighbor as yourself. When they pray for you, they are loving you as
themselves.
Who are the people in your life you can go to with your
prayer requests and trust that they will pray for you? For us here in our
little town, it is our local family of God. It may be your small group, a
support group you meet with, your personal family. What is important, is find
someone that you can meet with, talk to and share with. There are always going
to be abusers out there, but trusting God is better than anything that man can
do to you. God’s people are out there,
and they want to welcome you into their family and want to pray with you and
for you. You can start today, by helping by prayer. Like Paul, there will be many
that will give thanks for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
Jim
