Prayer Helps, Part 2

In our last meditation we began considering the thought expressed in 2 Corinthians 1:11 that prayer helps.

2 Corinthians 1:11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

Let us first consider that prayer helps us when we pray for ourselves. Scripture cites numerous examples of people who prayed for themselves and were helped. Jacob prayed to be delivered from the hand of his brother Esau and God delivered him (Genesis 32:9-11). Hannah prayed for a child and God granted her request (1 Samuel 1:9-11, 19-20). Solomon asked God to give him an understanding heart to be able to judge Israel and God gave him what he asked (1 Kings 3:9-12). Hezekiah prayed that he might not die and he was granted fifteen more years of life (Isaiah 38). In the Psalms David recounts times when God helped him in answer to his prayers.

Psalms 34:4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalms 138:3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

But not only do our prayers for ourselves help us, but our prayers for others actually help them as well. This is why Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “ye also helping together by prayer for us.” Our prayers help others. When Abraham learned of the coming judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah, he prayed for his nephew Lot, who lived in Sodom. God heard and delivered Lot (Genesis 18:23; 19:29). Isaac prayed for his wife Rebekah because she was barren. God heard and granted her conception (Genesis 25:21). When Israel went to do battle with the Philistines, Samuel ceased not to cry unto God for Israel to save them from the Philistines. God heard the prayer of Samuel and Israel subdued the Philistines (1 Samuel 7:7-13). When Peter was imprisoned, “prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” Again, God heard and Peter was brought out of prison by an angel (Acts 12:1-17). Then we saw in our last study the example of the churches praying that Paul might be delivered so as to bring the collection that had been gathered to the poor saints at Jerusalem, which prayer God heard and answered. We could give other examples, but these suffice to show that our prayers for others help them.

You and I have no idea how many blessings flow into our lives as a result of the prayers of others for us. The help gained through prayer extends far beyond anything we can fully comprehend. No doubt we enjoy blessings today that have come into our lives because of prayers prayed for us by believing souls who have gone on to be with the Lord, yet the effects of their prayers remain.

Consider another example of how far reaching the help of our prayers for others can be. In this example Paul sought the prayers of the church of the Thessalonians for himself, Silvanus, and Timotheus.

2 Thessalonians 3:1 ¶Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:

2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.

God has indeed answered those prayers and that to such an extent that those prayers are still being answered today. God delivered these ministers of the word from unreasonable and wicked men, and He gave free course to the word of the Lord that they preached. In fact, God gave that word such free course that it is still running today. To this very day we have the teachings of Paul, Silvanus, and Timotheus recorded in Paul’s epistles that have been preserved and transmitted in copies and translations throughout the earth. When Paul was taken prisoner, even then he was delivered from unreasonable and wicked men.

When Paul arrived in Jerusalem bringing the alms that had been gathered for the poor saints there, the unbelieving Jews seized upon Paul and would have killed him had not the Roman authorities intervened and taken Paul captive. The account of this is found in Acts 21:17-33. Throughout the remainder of the book of Acts, we have the account of Paul’s imprisonment by Rome. During the time of this imprisonment, Paul was protected from the Jews who sought to kill him. God used Roman imprisonment to keep his servant safe. While a prisoner, Paul bore powerful witness before the Roman governors who heard his case. He could write this while a prisoner:

Philippians 1:12 ¶But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

2 Timothy 2:8 ¶Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

During this imprisonment, Paul was permitted to minister (Acts 28:30-31). And it was during this time that the great prison epistles were written and sent out: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 2 Timothy, Philemon, and Hebrews. Fully half of Paul’s epistles were written during the time he was in bonds. And what a blessing those epistles have been to believers throughout the centuries unto this day. I have been preaching from Ephesians alone since 19 December 2004. It is now 13 January 2009 and I just passed the middle of chapter 5. Indeed, Paul was delivered and the word of the Lord given through him has had free course! But remember, this has been in answer to the prayers of that faithful church of the Thessalonians.

Are you getting the idea that prayer helps. I mean, it really helps big time! It helps far beyond anything we realize. Just writing about this has excited me. Have you gotten goose bumps yet? Has this encouraged you? I shall close for today and do something to help you.