Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
James 5:16,17
One of the great privileges we’re called to as children of God is to follow our Savior’s example in intercessory prayer. Remember Peter’s dilemma in Lk 22:31? “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.” How did our Lord react in the awareness of Satan’s attack on Peter in the next verse? “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” Just as the Lord prayed for Peter, He has also interceded for each of the redeemed. You could just as easily substitute your name in that passage! In fact, we have Jesus on record praying for us. In Jn 17:20 we find Him praying to the Father saying, “I do not pray for these alone [that is the eleven faithful disciples that would preach the Gospel after Christ’s resurrection], but also for those who will believe in Me through their word…” That’s us, church! Christ is on record interceding on your behalf!!!
The result of Christ’s intercession for Peter was a returning in Peter’s heart to Christ. We see that literally happening following Peter’s thrice denial of the Lord. Judas betrayed Christ and went out and hung himself. Peter betrayed Him as well through public denial but afterwards returned to find mercy at the Lord’s hand. Having now been strengthened, the Lord said Peter had a responsibility. It’s the responsibility that all of us have following deliverance that is the result of Christ interceding for us: “strengthen your brethren.” Christ’s prayer has been effectual in our lives. Now turn around and intercede for one another! In fact, you find the exact same “returning” (it’s even the same word in the original Greek) following our call to intercession in our text in James!
Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. (Jam 5:19,20)
Christ was tireless as He interceded for us. How many times did He labor late into the evening as in Mk 1:32 only to rise early before sunrise in v. 35 for the sole purpose of finding a solitary place to pray? Gethsemane was one such solitary place. He visited it so often that Jn 18:2 says Judas knew right where to find Him as he led the soldiers to betray Him. I have no doubt that frequently the prayers made in this solitary place were prayers of intercession on our behalf. Are you thankful that the Lord interceded for you? Prove it, and intercede for one another!
Jamie