Our Part in Answering Jesus’ Prayers

By Colly Caldwell

    “⁶"I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. ⁹I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. ¹⁵I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.²⁰ I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; ²¹that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” (John 17:6,9,15 20-21).

   Today, I want to focus a moment on prayer. Not just any prayer, but the one Jesus prayed for His disciples and for us who have believed on Him through their word. Isn’t it wonderful, even awesome, that Jesus would pray for his disciples and that He would pray for us? While Jesus is praying for us, however, shall we disappoint Him by failing to do our part?

   I believe that we have a role in some of the prayers of Jesus being answered. You know, Jesus prayed for God to forgive those crucifying Him, even while they were mocking and spitting upon Him. But they would have to do their part to have those sins remitted. On Pentecost, Peter told them that they must repent and to be baptized for God to forgive them… for Jesus’ prayer to be answered (Acts 2:38). So what can we do to answer Jesus’ prayers?

   We can keep His Word. I love to pray for my family and for my friends and brethren. Certainly when one of those is going through a crisis, we pray for them. What a difference it makes in our relationships if we pray for one another. But of course, we must do what God says is right if we expect Him to listen to our prayers (Isa. 59:2).

   I used to have in my library a book by a Pentecostal/ Evangelical preacher named Tony Campolo. He tells of attending a worship service in which a man prayed for his friend: “Dear Lord, you know Charlie Stoltzfus. He lives in that silver trailer down this road about a mile. I talked to him today and he is leaving his wife and kids. Please do something to bring that family back toge-ther.” Well, Tony left to drive home and as he entered the turnpike, he noticed a hitchhiker and decided to give him a lift. “My name’s Tony” he said, “What’s yours?” “Charlie Stoltzfus,” the hitchhiker said. Campolo got off at the next exit. “Where are you taking me?” the man anxiously asked. “I’m taking you home,” Tony said. In amazement, the man watched as Tony drove right up to his silver trailer. Tony read God’s word concerning husbands and wives loving each other and staying together and that day the family was rescued. They determined to do the right thing by each other and their children. They also decided that they should start going to worship. We believe God answers prayers in His own ways; but we all know that both that man and his wife also had to keep God’s word for the friend’s prayer to be answered.

   We can stay away from the devil. When Jesus asked God to keep them from the evil one, he was (at least in part) praying for the disciples to be strong to avoid temptations. Paul said, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what  you are able,  but with the  temptation will make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13). We are not “only human.” Jesus prays for God to help us and He will. But for Jesus’ prayers to be answered, we also know that we must make the right decisions and we must be strong in not allowing ourselves to be caught up in those sins. Remember also, we are not alone!

   We can remain united. Jesus prays for this church to be united so that the world will believe on Him. For that prayer to be answered, we must overcome our envy and jealousy, pride and selfishness, and commit to the unity of the Lord’s body. Charles Jefferson said, “An audience is a crowd. A church is a family. An audience is a collection. A church is an organism. An audience is a heap of stones. A church is a temple.” Christ is depending upon us to be united into a body of people who represent Him, not ourselves. And He wants us to work together for the advancement of His cause.

   I heard of a country church that was planning to build a new building in which to worship. To break ground, they brought out an old one-horse plow. Recalling Jesus’ words, “Take my yoke upon you,” they attached two stalwart members to the plow and asked them to break the ground before their cameras. But the two could not pull the plow. So they had all the deacons join in. But they could not pull through the hard earth. So they joined their Bible class teachers and still no movement. Finally, they had every member pulling together and the plow moved.

   Jesus is praying for us. He wants us to be strong and to be united. We need His prayers and God’s help daily, but we must do our part. My question is:  “Am I doing MY part?” It takes each one fulfilling his/her responsibility for great things to be accomplished.