VITAL STRENUOUS PRAYING

Strive together with me in your prayers to God for me – Rom. 15:30

“All vital praying makes a drain upon a man’s vitality. True intercession is a sacrifice, a bleeding sacrifice, a perpetuation of Calvary, a filling up of the sufferings of Christ.” Such was the conviction of Dr. J. H. Jowett. Jesus worked many mighty works without outward sign of strain, but He “offered up prayers and supplications with strong cryings and tears” (Heb. 5:7). Our Lord’s intercession was to Him a costly ministry, and so will it be to the one who follows in His train.

Intercession is no dreamy reverie accompanied by a warm glow of pleasing emotion. Rather it is depicted as “wrestling”, “agonizing.” “Epaphras…is always wrestling for you in his prayers” (Col. 4:12, Way). Our ‘agonize’ derives from the word here used. How pale a reflection of Epaphras’ intercessions are our languid prayers.

The same word is used of a man toiling at his work until thoroughly weary: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily (Col. 1:29).

• It describes the soldier fighting for his life on the battlefield: Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life (1 Tim. 6:12), or the man who struggles to defend his friend from danger (John 18:36 – Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence).
• It pictures the agony of earnestness of a man to save his own soul: Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able (Luke 13:24).
• But its supreme significance appears in the tragedy of Gethsemane. “Being in agony He prayed more earnestly” (Luke 22:44), an agony induced by His identification with and grief over the sins of a lost world.

True intercession is costly. Our Lord first gave Himself, and then made intercession for His murderers. He could do no more for them. Are we asking of God something we could ourselves supply? Can it be intercession until we are empty handed? True intercession demands the sacrifice and dedication of all.

Have we given ourselves and all we can for those for whom we intercede, or are our prayers costless and crossless?”