I Felt That!

Hey, this is Jim Graham from the Masculine Journey Podcast, where we explore relationship instead of religion every week. Your chosen Truth Network Podcast is starting in just a few seconds.

Enjoy it, share it, but most of all, thank you for listening and for choosing the Truth Podcast Network. On Encouraging Prayer, Dr. James Banks, author of the bestselling Prayers for Prodigals and many other books on prayer, provides weekly biblical insight to help you learn to love to pray. And now here's James. It's really so good to be back with all of you today for Encouraging Prayer.

James, did you miss me? You know I did, Robbie, although Rachel did a great job putting up with me as well. So, you know, we're glad you're feeling better. And we were really praying for you. And Tammy, a lot of us were. Yes, well, I can't really thank you enough for that because, you know, I will tell you, COVID-19 is no fun whatsoever. And I really was kind of taken by surprise on how difficult it was. But, you know, because of the difficulty of that, I really could feel the prayers that I know were coming from our listeners and from your church, James. Yeah, yeah. You know, that's the very thing we're going to be talking about today because many of us have had that same experience where someone was praying for us and we could really feel it. So let's go there.

What is that and how does that work? Yeah, I have a feeling the answers to those questions are going to be really cool. Well, let's start with the Word of God. There's an interesting passage in 2 Corinthians where Paul talks about what happened on one of his missionary journeys. He says, We were under great pressure far beyond our ability to endure so that we despaired of life itself.

So it's really low. And then he goes on. Indeed, we felt we'd received the sense of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril and he will deliver us again on him.

We've set our hope that he will continue to deliver us. And then he says, As you help us by your prayers, then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us an answer to the prayers of many. That's in 2 Corinthians chapter one versus eight through 11. So when I read this, it's interesting that Paul's first thought as he talks about God delivering him is to thank the Christians in Corinth for their prayers. And especially that phrase, as you daily help us by your prayers, that really jumps out at me. How would Paul know that they were daily helping him with their prayers unless he felt the difference that those prayers made for him every day?

Wow. I mean, that's a beautiful insight, James. So do you think we're mainly aware of others praying for us when we're going through a difficult time? Or does this apply to other times as well? Well, I do think, Robbie, that when we're going through a hard time, we're more tuned in because we realize how much we need God, how dependent we are on him for everything. And because of that, how much we need prayer.

But really, you know, I think this could happen at any time. I mean, there have been so many times as a pastor when I felt that others had my back with prayer. And it made such a difference in what I was doing, you know, whether I was preaching or counseling or anything else.

And I think what C.H. Spurgeon said to his church members one time, he said, If you don't pray for me, if you don't help me by your prayers, what would become of me? So scripturally, this also makes sense. And if you think about it, God's Word tells us we're all part of one body. And you could liken the Holy Spirit to the electrical impulses that move through our body neurologically, right? I mean, in one sense. So simply put, what happens in one place affects another.

You know, you hit your thumb and you feel it all over. So I don't think it's far-fetched or overly emotional to say we feel others prayers in the Spirit, if you will. It's, again, just another indication of the Holy Spirit at work within us. So don't you think this is also a great reason to have prayer partners? Well, I really do, and we shouldn't be shy when we're asking for prayers and we shouldn't be shy in offering them either. You know, God loves it when we comfort others that way. We were just in the first chapter of 2 Corinthians a moment ago, and that begins with these words, Praise be to the God Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion, the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble. With the comfort we ourselves receive from God. So why shouldn't that comfort extend through the prayers that we offer each other as well? Again, I just think this is something that the Spirit is at work in. Yeah, I think you're really, really on to something here, James. And it's interesting that this is something so many of us have experienced.

You know, we don't talk about it much, but I'm really glad that we are. Well, absolutely, and while, okay, you know, we're always so quick to point out that our faith is not dependent on feelings, which is true, but maybe we're so quick to point that out that sometimes we neglect another truth, that when God's Spirit is doing a work in us, it can affect us on any level. I mean, He can work in all of us, including our feelings as well, so it's not like they're off limits. And it's helpful to remember that Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 2.14 that some things are discerned only through the Spirit, and they may sound like foolishness to others.

So I think this is really likely one of those areas. But the point of all this is just that our prayers matter so much, or our prayers for each other. And I think this is one of those ways that God shows us how much they do by connecting us when we pray for each other in yet another way. And that's cool, and you're right, we can't always feel it. For example, we may not know exactly what time someone is praying, or maybe they're not praying at all. Right, we may not know at all also if they are praying for us. But again, the important thing is just that we're doing it. And as we continue praying, I think that we'll encounter this again and again. I know I certainly have, haven't you?

Oh, I have. And you're so right. I mean, this is part of the unity that as believers I'm so thankful for.

Me too. And I think that, again, the more we do this, the more we'll see what a gift prayer is, Robbie. I mean, how God has blessed us in so many ways with it, and how He binds us together in love, and, you know, through the power of His Spirit in this. So let's wrap up this time by asking God to help us live there more and more. Let's pray. Lord, thank you for this privilege. Thank you for the bonds of love that you give us as we pray.

Help us to know this more. Help us to just, again, live there more. And especially to just feel the bond that you have given us. We know our faith isn't dependent on feelings, but we also know that you move through them. Lord, we want every good thing that you have for us.

Thank you for your perfect love. In Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. You can hear more from Pastor James by visiting his website, jamesbanks.org, or by visiting Peace Church in Durham, North Carolina. May God bless you and encourage you as you pray. This is the Truth Network.