THE MOST DIFFICULT PRAYER
Please allow me to begin read the following words of Jesus to start off our conversation today.
Matthew 5:44 NLT
[44] But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
Interceding for our enemies is most difficult because our natural default is a “tit for tat” eye for an eye response!
However, Jesus holds us to a higher standard because He knows the transforming power of the Gospel that is able to change, transform us and enable us to become loving and lovable. When embraces the “dunamis” of the Gospel, will not just enable us to forgive our enemies but empower us to intercede for them!
The reason we are to love and intercede for our enemies is because we no longer operate on the principles of this world, but operate on a higher principle of the Kingdom Love and as children of our Father in heaven. Matthew 5:45 NLT
[45] In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.
To show how our Father in heaven operates, Jesus reminds us that when He extends His goodness towards us, He does not discriminate like we do! He equally blesses all His children, whether they love or hate Him. The sun rises on all! The rain pours on all! O that we may be like our Father in heaven!
Interceding for friends and our loved ones is easy because of our natural love for then. On the other hand interceding for our enemies is humanly impossible! We may tell ourselves that we have overlooked an offense but when push comes to shove, and we are cornered, the bitterness within gushes out uncontrollably!
Praying for our enemies is one of those exercises looks humanly impossible! However, Jesus is quick to point out, “With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
Mark 10:27 BSB
If overlooking the wrongs of our enemies against us is so impressive and noteworthy, what about when we actually intercede for them and wish them God’s richest blessings not just once, but continually?
The Bible records how this truth was fleshed out by David as he dealt with his greatest nemesis, King Saul.
“After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.” So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. And David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the cave. So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’” Then David crept up secretly and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. So he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the Lord’s anointed.” With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way. After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My Lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’? Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the Lord delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my Lord, since he is the Lord’s anointed.’ See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life. May the Lord judge between you and me, and may the Lord take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you. When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil. And you have shown this day how well you have dealt with me; for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me.”
1 Samuel 24:1-18 BSB
What a powerful powerful testimony of overlooking an offense! Saul is confused about that gesture and declares!” When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May the Lord reward you with good for what you have done for me this day.
1 Samuel 24:19 BSB
Think about it! When people have wounded us deeply, it is almost humanly impossible to let them go! The desire to revenge to get back is almost instinctual!
But like David, children of God operate on of the a higher standard of forgiveness.
In the sermon on the mountain, Jesus is calling us yet to an even higher standard, moving beyond forgiveness to intercession motivated by love for our enemies! Jesus blazed that path because when His enemies were crucifying Him Jesus Interceded: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Luke 23:34 BSB
Stephen the first martyr also interceded for his enemies as they were stoning him. “Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:59-60 BSB. Stephen interceded for his enemies even with his last breath!
Like David, we all have our Sauls who pursue us and give us no rest, but interceding for them catapults us to the heart of God!
We may intercede for our enemies for a long time and see not change in their attitude towards us, but intercession changes our hearts by removing our bitterness and replacing it lightness of heart and the joy of the Lord!
Hurting people hurt others and therefore, we can pray, “Father heal the wounds of our Saul and save him into your Kingdom too for he is your child. Father enlarge his ministry and bless the labor of his hands. I have left him in your hands Lord God.”
Take your Saul or Sauls before the Lord today in intercessory prayer and watch the miracle happen beginning with a transformation in your heart.
The Bible still insists: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Matthew 5:8 BSB. Let’s resolve that nothing or anyone prevent us from seeing God! Let’s pursue purity of heart, a heart that holds no grudges and a heart like our Father God’s that loves, forgives and intercedes with goodwill for all.
“Spirit of the Living God! Fill us with love for the persecuting Sauls in our lives. Teach us from today to intercede for all our Sauls until all the bitterness and animosity disappears. Teach us to intercede until our hearts are filled with goodwill towards them in Jesus Name. Amen and Amen
