Interceding for Our Friends

Discovering four types of individuals we pray for and learning to uphold one another in faith

Mar 18, 2024

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Job prayed for his friends, and so we pray for our friends. There are four types of others for whom we should especially intercede. Some of these will be in the church and others outside it, but we most likely have all these people near us.

Our study is of a Spurgeon sermon—Intercessory Prayer, having already covered an introduction, studied his commending the exercise of it, his encouraging us to enlist in it, and now we come to his suggestions for whom we particularly pray.

May we continue being taught to imitate the example of Job praying, and learn to uphold one another; and perhaps if we have been in trouble, our own difficulty may be turned.

Offending Friends

Three men were with Job during his suffering, and all was well while they were silent, yet when each spoke in turn, they offered little insight, solace, or comfort to Job.

There is a lesson here of being silent when near one who is suffering. Just being present is often enough to comfort to a grieving soul.

The three friends, and later a fourth who spoke, were harsh to Job, blaming him for some unconfessed sin against God as the reason for his suffering. Though the Lord had declared him upright, they accused him of hypocrisy and supposed all that he did was for selfish gain.

Job however was accepted at the mercy seat “and begs that his friends may be accepted too.” So carry to the throne those offending you, which would prove your forgiveness of any offense.

When alone before God, ask Him to forgive your erring brother or sister.

Controversial Friends

These men had argued about Job’s past and supposed offense to God, stating he was getting what he deserved: justice for a sin. They disputed his claim of innocence.

This caused the controversy to drag on, but better to pray than argue. If two disagree, Spurgeon suggests rather than public discussion, it is “a better thing to have prayer over it.”

Spurgeon recommends praying for a friend who thinks you are wrong, that God would allow them to see it. He wishes they would also pray that God would set them both right. He was perfectly willing to put it to the test that God answers by fire, with prayer over the matter the final arbiter, and he would let that stand.

Carry your argumentative friends to the prayer closet, and let this be your cry, “Oh! you that teaches us to our profit, teach me if I be wrong, and teach my friend wherein he errs, and make him right.”

Arrogant Friends

Pride is likely the thing that causes most to fall, isn’t it? Many think they are right, and even superior! How high and haughty were Eliphaz and Bildad, looking down on Job, accusing him of sins and hypocrisy.

Were they actually any better? They were not commended by the Lord. But some may think they are more gifted, blessed, or more graced by God than we are. They may puff up with spiritual pride because they serve in a more visible or important church position. They may speak piously of Bible studies or how they stay away from ‘bad things’ or memorize more verses.

We should not be upset by their being prideful. Spurgeon says pride is a very bad disease, and we should go and pray for the Lord to heal our friend of it. Our anger will not do it, but our prayer may set him right.

And if he be proud, I know this, if you prevail with God, God will soon take the pride out of His own child and make him humble as he should be.

Friends Unable To Pray

There are those who will not, or cannot pray and we should plead before the mercy seat for these.

Job had three friends unable to pray for themselves for the Lord said He would not accept them even if they did! He was angry with them, but the Lord said He would accept Job.

Even as Christians, there are times we cannot pray. “When a man has just been committing sin, repentance is his first work, not prayer.” We should first get right with God ourselves before we intercede.

Fears or doubts creep in and some cannot pray with confidence and faith. Now if you can pray, then take their pleadings with you to the throne room, go into the prayer closet and pray for them.

You will be heard on behalf of those unable to pray.

Then there are those unwilling to pray: our unsaved friends, who are dead in sins and cannot pray. You can offer intercession for those who have no faith, praying they be brought to repentance and salvation in Christ.

March 28th we conclude the sermon as Spurgeon exhorts us to pray for others.

Have you learned from this series? We’d ask you to help an intercessor you know