Central Truth

Prayer is powerful. We can pray to call heaven to earth, to call down the blessings promised us in the Word, or we can use prayer as warfare against the enemy. And we can pray for others, as intercessors, coming into agreement with what they are praying for.

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Reflections

I love reading about the miracles Jesus performed: casting out evil spirits or raising the dead. But in Mark 2 there's something that really caught me and taught me. 

My marriage was going through a rough time, and I was " praying without ceasing" but my husband wasn't walking with the Lord.  I began praying, not for my marriage to be healed but for my husband's salvation. I enlisted many trusted prayer partners who I knew would stand in agreement with me, because I knew if he came back to the Lord he would come back to me.

The Holy Spirit revealed to me in this scripture that we don't know anything about the faith of the paralytic, we don't even know in the beginning if he's awake. It was his friends and their belief that Jesus could heal him that got Jesus' attention. I love the words " When Jesus saw their faith." It was not the faith of the man with palsy, but the faith of his friends, his intercessors.

God has chosen some to be intercessors; He has placed a burden on their hearts to pray for others. But all of us are instructed to pray and remember that the fervent prayer of the righteous avails much. 
Brothers and sisters in Christ, know there is power in prayer and know how important intercessory prayer is. So when someone asks you to pray for them, or when you say "I'll pray for you" take it very seriously. Your prayers could be what gets Jesus' attention. Your prayers might just be their healing, their provision, and their salvation.

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Discussion Questions

1. What characteristics are important in choosing a trusted prayer partner?

2. When have you ever interceded for a friend?

3. How important do you think intercessory prayer is?

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