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The Purpose

of

Prayers for Others

It is written:-

James 5:16

Confess your faults [not sins, for they must go only to Jesus] one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

[This Scripture refers to problems we may have with one another.]

Before we go any further into a study on the purpose for prayer for others, we need to get one thing very clear in our minds. Our Father and His Son have done, and are doing, everything they can to save humans from temptation and sin as the following quote shows.

Isaiah 5:3-4

And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt Me and My vineyard. What could have been done more to My vineyard, that I have not done in it? Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth [good] grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?

We cannot add to Their labours for Their efforts are perfect, but we may be able to co-operate with, and be used by Them. We must not entertain the thought for one moment that we can enable Them to do something They cannot do without us. We must appreciate that They want us to be a part of Their effort just as an earthly father may ask his child to help him push a fully laden wheelbarrow. Sometimes the sight of a fellow human may bring home the words of the Spirit more clearly, but Jesus did not take human form until four thousand years of sin had elapsed on earth so it is not absolutely necessary.

Let’s look at an example of prayer for some one else.

Luke 22:31-34

And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not: and when you are converted, strengthen your brothers and sisters [in the same way?]."

And he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both into prison, and to death." And He said, "I tell you, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that you shall three times deny that you know Me."

At first glance it appears that the prayers of Jesus were of no effect because as we all know, Peter did deny Jesus three times on the night. Matthew 26:69-75. But then he repented! Why?

Because he remembered the words of Jesus.

Christ’s Object Lessons 155-156

It was through self-sufficiency that Peter fell; and it was through repentance and humiliation that his feet were again established. In the record of his experience every repenting sinner may find encouragement. Though Peter had grievously sinned, he was not forsaken. The words of Christ were written upon his soul, "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." Luke 22:32.

In his bitter agony of remorse, this prayer, and the memory of Christ's look of love and pity, gave him hope.

Christ after His resurrection remembered Peter, and gave the angel the message for the women, "Go your way, tell His disciples and Peter that He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him." Mark 16:7. Peter's repentance was accepted by the sin-pardoning Saviour.

God’s word NEVER comes back to Him void, and so it was in this case. It did not stop Peter from facing the temptation: it did not stop Peter from choosing to enter into it: what it did do was save Peter from the results of his choice. But it was extra to the efforts of the Spirit and in the end it was His efforts through the remembrance of the words that got through to Peter.

Judas, who likewise betrayed Jesus that night, had also been warned but not quite so explicitly as we can see in the next quote. However, he did not choose to repent but after the trials went out and hanged himself.

John 13:25-30

He [John] then lying on Jesus' breast said to Him, "Lord, who is it?" Jesus answered, "He it is, to whom I shall give a sop [a crust], when I have dipped it [in the wine]."

And when He had dipped the sop, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus to him, "That you do, do quickly."

Now no man at the table knew for what intent He spoke this to him. For some of them thought, because Judas had the [money] bag, that Jesus had said to him, "Buy those things that we have need of against the feast"; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.

So what was the purpose of the prayers? To save Peter. And how did they do that? By changing the events? No. What they did do was enter Peter’s mind when Jesus told him He was praying for him! He now had that thought in his consciousness and it was this that he responded to when the Spirit reminded him.

Review & Herald May 25, 1876

Prayer does not change our Heavenly Father, but prayer does change our relations to him. We are thus brought nigh to God, and are enabled to unite our finite strength to his Infinite power.

The purpose of prayer is not to change God or His plans.

It is to change us.

The purpose of prayer for others is first,

to change us by giving us a deeper concern for others for as we pray and think about them our interest in them deepens,

and then second, to change them.

So it is imperative that they know about our prayers.

Consider these words:

Signs of the Times, November 2, 1882

During my sickness I learned some precious lessons,--learned to trust where I cannot see, while unable to do anything, to rest quietly, calmly, in the arms of Jesus. We do not exercise faith as we should. We are afraid to venture upon the word of God. In the hour of trial, we should strengthen our souls with the assurance that God's promises can never fail. Whatever he has spoken, will be done.

While I was lying upon my sick-bed, a message came by telegraph from Dr. Kellogg, "We are praying for Sister White's restoration." From friends in Oakland, and other places, the assurance came, "We are praying for you." My brethren and sisters, God has heard your prayers, Eld. Waggoner, with the members of my family, and other friends, often bowed at my bedside, and prayed earnestly for me. Sometimes the thought would come to my mind that I was too weak to have this exercise in my room; but I felt that in prayer was my only hope, and I could not give it up. In my conscious hours, those earnest petitions were a great comfort to me.

This should be sufficient for us but if not, here is another angle.

Another kind of prayer for others.

When Jesus told Moses to get out of His way so that He could go down to the people who were worshipping at the golden calf and destroy them, He had no intention of personally doing so, for God NEVER destroys at any time. Nor does He give sanction to a breakaway at any time. But some might have believed that Moses thought so as many Christians do today, and it was necessary to reveal that he (Moses) did not have this attitude.

Exodus 32:9-14

And the LORD said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: now therefore let Me alone [get out of My way], that My wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of you a great nation [a new church]."

And Moses besought [pleaded with] the LORD his God, and said, "LORD, why does Your wrath wax hot against Your people, which You have brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?

Wherefore [why] should the Egyptians speak, and say, ‘For mischief did He bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth?’ Turn from Your fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against Your people [change Your mind]. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You sware by Your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give to your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever’."

And the LORD repented of the evil which He thought to do to His people [Did He change His mind?].

The Spirit of Prophecy has this to say about the incident.

Patriarchs and Prophets 318 -319

"Let Me alone, . . . that I may consume them," were the words of God. If God HAD purposed to destroy Israel, who COULD plead for them?

How few but would have left the sinners to their fate! How few but would have gladly exchanged a lot of toil and burden and sacrifice, repaid with ingratitude and murmuring, for a position of ease and honor, when it was God Himself that offered the release.

But Moses discerned ground for hope where there appeared only discouragement and wrath. The words of God, "Let Me alone," he understood not to forbid but to encourage intercession, implying that nothing but the prayers of Moses could save Israel, but that if thus entreated, God would spare His people. He "besought the Lord his God, and said, Lord, why doth Thy wrath wax hot against Thy people, which Thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?"

God had signified that He disowned His people. He had spoken of them to Moses as "thy people, which thou broughtest out of Egypt." But Moses humbly disclaimed the leadership of Israel. They were not his, but God's--"Thy people, which Thou has brought forth . . . with great power, and with a mighty hand. Wherefore," he urged, "should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did He bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth?"

During the few months since Israel left Egypt, the report of their wonderful deliverance had spread to all the surrounding nations. Fear and terrible foreboding rested upon the heathen. All were watching to see what the God of Israel would do for His people. Should they now be destroyed, their enemies would triumph, and God would be dishonored. The Egyptians would claim that their accusations were true--instead of leading His people into the wilderness to sacrifice, He had caused them to be sacrificed. They would not consider the sins of Israel; the destruction of the people whom He had so signally honored, would bring reproach upon His name.

How great the responsibility resting upon those whom God has highly honored, to make His name a praise in the earth! With what care should they guard against committing sin, to call down His judgments and cause His name to be reproached by the ungodly!

As Moses interceded for Israel, his timidity was lost in his deep interest and love for those for whom he had, in the hands of God, been the means of doing so much. The Lord listened to his pleadings, AND GRANTED HIS UNSELFISH PRAYER.

God had proved His servant; He had tested his faithfulness and his love for that erring, ungrateful people, and nobly had Moses endured the trial. His interest in Israel sprang from no selfish motive. The prosperity of God's chosen people was dearer to him than personal honor, dearer than the privilege of becoming the father of a mighty nation. God was pleased with his faithfulness, his simplicity of heart, and his integrity, and He committed to him, as a faithful shepherd, the great charge of leading Israel to the Promised Land.

We know that the prayer made by Moses for the guilty and unrepentant ones was not accepted by them and they remained rebellious when the call was made and were punished for this. The other guilty and yet repentant ones were protected by Moses, while the innocent ones killed those who refused to be saved.

Exodus 32:26-29

Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, "Who is on the LORD'S side? Let him come to me." And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him.

And he said to them, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour."

And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. For Moses had said, "Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that He may bestow upon you a blessing this day."

Patriarchs and Prophets 324-325

Though God had granted the prayer of Moses in sparing Israel from destruction, their apostasy was to be signally punished. The lawlessness and insubordination into which Aaron had permitted them to fall, if not speedily crushed, would run riot in wickedness, and would involve the nation in irretrievable ruin. By terrible severity the evil must be put away. Standing in the gate of the camp, Moses called to the people, "Who is on the Lord's side? let him come unto me."

Those who had not joined in the apostasy were to take their position at the right of Moses; those who were guilty but repentant, at the left. The command was obeyed. It was found that the tribe of Levi had taken no part in the idolatrous worship. From among other tribes there were great numbers who, although they had sinned, now signified their repentance. But a large company, mostly of the mixed multitude that instigated the making of the calf, stubbornly persisted in their rebellion.

In the name of "the Lord God of Israel," Moses now commanded those upon his right hand, who had kept themselves clear of idolatry, to gird on their swords and slay all who persisted in rebellion. "And there fell of the people that day about three thousand men." Without regard to position, kindred, or friendship, the ringleaders in wickedness were cut off; but all who repented and humbled themselves were spared.

Those who performed this terrible work of judgment were acting by divine authority, executing the sentence of the King of heaven. Men are to beware how they, in their human blindness, judge and condemn their fellow men; but when God commands them to execute His sentence upon iniquity, He is to be obeyed. Those who performed this painful act, thus manifested their abhorrence of rebellion and idolatry, and consecrated themselves more fully to the service of the true God. The Lord honored their faithfulness by bestowing special distinction upon the tribe of Levi.

The Israelites had been guilty of treason, and that against a King who had loaded them with benefits and whose authority they had voluntarily pledged themselves to obey. That the divine government might be maintained justice must be visited upon the traitors. Yet even here God's mercy was displayed. While He maintained His law, He granted freedom of choice and opportunity for repentance to all. Only those were cut off who persisted in rebellion.

(This looks like God does punish, but we should remember that there were TWO forms of government operating in Israel at that time. God’s AND man’s -- heaven’s and earth’s. The people had elected to take up weapons and had formed an earthly society based on force with God as its nominal leader, yet ruled by men in reality, and now they must be judged by that standard. And punished by it! Their own brethren must execute the traitors under the command of their "King" (not their God). See thoughts on "Bible Study" on this site.

So prayer for others is based on the fact that they must know about it.

It is not some magic formula which twists God’s arm and persuades Him to do something which He did not intend to do. It simply makes us more bold and willing to be used as "tools" in God’s hands.

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