D. Scott Meadows

“Pray one for another.” —James 5:16

6 FEBRUARY PM, MORNING AND EVENING BY C. H. SPURGEON

As an encouragement cheerfully to offer intercessory prayer [prayer for others], remember that such prayer is the sweetest God ever hears, for the prayer of Christ is of this character [Rom 8.34; Heb 7.25; 9.24]. In all the incense which our Great High Priest now puts into the golden censer [Psa 141.2], there is not a single grain for himself. His intercession must be the most acceptable of all supplications [earnest begging]—and the more like our prayer is to Christ’s, the sweeter it will be; thus while petitions for ourselves will be accepted, our pleadings for others, having in them more of the fruits of the Spirit, more love, more faith, more brotherly kindness, will be, through the precious merits of Jesus, the sweetest oblation [sacrifice] that we can offer to God, the very fat of our sacrifice [a special part always reserved for God, Lev 3.16].

Remember, again, that intercessory prayer is exceedingly prevalent [or, powerful (archaic)]. What wonders it has wrought! The Word of God teems with its marvellous [astounding, even miraculous] deeds. Believer, thou hast a mighty engine [instrument] in thy hand, use it well, use it constantly, use it with faith, and thou shalt surely be a benefactor [one who gives help] to thy brethren. When thou hast the King’s ear, speak to him for the suffering members of his body. When thou art favored to draw very near to his throne, and the King saith to thee, “Ask, and I will give thee what thou wilt,” let thy petitions be, not for thyself alone, but for the many who need his aid.

If thou hast grace at all, and art not an intercessor, that grace must be small as a grain of mustard seed. Thou hast just enough grace to float thy soul clear from the quicksand, but thou hast no deep floods of grace, or else thou wouldst carry in thy joyous bark [ship or boat] a weighty cargo of the wants [needs] of others, and thou wouldst bring back from thy Lord, for them, rich blessings which but [except] for thee they might not have obtained:—

On James 5.16

This particular exhortation to “pray for one another” is found in a biblical passage mentioning both our spiritual need of divine forgiveness and our physical needs for deliverance from affliction and healing from sickness, sometimes consequences of our sins (Jas 5.13–18). The
exhortation to pray follows specific direction to the sick person in relation with his or her elders, and broadens the ministry of intercessory prayer to be the work of all the Lord’s people, considered “righteous.” They must be those who are justified in Christ by faith alone, and people of true piety, leading godly lives. The fervent prayer of any such person is effectual and avails much (5.16). Elijah illustrates this by his prayer for drought upon apostate Israel and for rain upon repentant Israel three years later, both answered publicly, immediately, and dramatically (5.17–18). This is not to say that the prayers of righteous people for a particular sick person will necessarily be answered right away, but that God hears those prayers favorably and works through them to bless His people. We must always offer our petitions to God with a profound submission to His sovereign will (Matt 26.42; 1 John 5.14, 15). Spurgeon’s remarks upon James 5.16 and intercessory prayer are faithful to Scripture and to this passage in James 5.

The structure of this devotional message

I. Intercessory prayer is very praiseworthy
A. Christ Himself offers intercessory prayers
B. Intercessory prayer is full of Christian graces

II. Intercessory prayer is very powerful
A. The history of intercessory prayer illustrates this
B. Therefore, pray for people in great need of divine blessing

III. Intercessory prayer characterizes Christians with much grace
A. If you only pray for yourself, you have little grace at most
B. Your intercessory prayer can gain great blessing for others

Application

1. We should faithfully and earnestly pray for one another concerning our legitimate needs in the will of God. While God is able to bless us without specific prayers for those blessings, and, by His grace, He does this for us every day, it pleases and glorifies Him to be petitioned for countless things, and our joy would increase to know that we have gained them by our prayers (John 16.24).

2. Intercessory prayer by the gathered church is indispensable. A congregation should pray together for its members by name with their specific needs in mind. We should also remember all Christ’s churches throughout the world, with more specific intercessions for those we know by report or more directly from personal acquaintance. The public reading of letters from other churches is to be considered a normative practice in the life of any church, for this facilitates more earnest and detailed prayers for them.

3. Perhaps from the best motives, some have ridiculed the practice of many prayers in the gathered church for the physical healing of the sick and injured. While spiritual concerns are foremost, our gracious Lord welcomes and answers prayers for healing. We are not disembodied spirits but human beings of flesh and blood. Even our ailments have the Lord’s compassionate concern. Ω