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The Power of Prayer
Mike Oliver, who looks after Goodnews online and runs the online intercession ministry for Goodnews, writes about the power of intercessory prayer
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"Did I not tell you that if you believe you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40) Jesus said this to Martha and Mary just before raising Lazarus from the dead. The Goodnews prayerline hasn't raised anyone from the dead yet (give us a bit more time!) but we have certainly seen the glory of God at work. Each week we receive several dozen requests for prayer from all over the world, mainly for physical and spiritual healing, relationships, financial and employment problems, and difficulties conceiving. Jesus told us that our prayers are heard when we ask in His name (John 16:23-24) and it is really encouraging when we hear that they have been answered. On our website - www.ccr.org.uk - , you will see extracts from nearly 100 testimonies that we have received over the years. But we have to remember that it is Jesus who does the healing, not our efforts; it is not our prayers but the Holy Spirit who prays within us. "We bring, Jesus prays" The key to intercession is faith. In Mark 2:1-12 we read of the paralytic brought to Jesus by his friends. "When Jesus saw their faith …" (v. 5). However it was Jesus' prayer that healed the man. "He said to the paralytic: I say to you, rise …" (v11). When we intercede we are like the friends bringing the sick man to Jesus: we bring our needy brothers and sisters to Him in faith and invite Him to pray for them. It is a real privilege to be involved in this ministry. Sometimes however we can be daunted by the never-ending flow of often heart-rending e-mails. It reminds us of the scene outside Jesus house in Mark 1:32-33: "That evening, at sundown, they brought to Him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered together about the door." "Your faith has made you well" The faith of the intercessors is important, but so too is that of the person requesting prayer. Jesus said to the woman with a haemorrhage: "Your faith has made you well" (Mark 5:34). Just sending a prayer request is an act of faith, which the Lord will honour. At the start of His ministry, Jesus was the one who healed and the disciples watched in awe. However, Jesus patiently showed them how they too could heal (Matthew 17:19-20). We also are learning all the time. Finally, just before His ascension, Jesus told us that all believers could take authority over sickness in His name (Mk 16:17-18). This is a very powerful way of praying and again it is not by our efforts that prayers are answered but through the name of Jesus. People often write telling us how much it has helped them just to
know that we are praying for them. I experienced this myself when
our little granddaughter, Abigail, nearly died. For several weeks
she was in intensive care and throughout that time my wife Maria and
I literally felt lifted up by the prayers. We know that those prayers
played a large part in little Abigail's complete recovery. Praise
the Lord! If you have a prayer request that you would like to send us, visit our prayerline. Our team of intercessors will bring your request before the Lord in prayer
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