Spurgeon Morning and Evening February 6 PM

Biblical Context

The Epistle of James is one of the earliest books of the New Testament, likely written by James, the half-brother of Jesus and a prominent leader in the Jerusalem church (Acts 15). Addressed to “the twelve tribes scattered among the nations” (James 1:1), it was primarily intended for Jewish Christians facing various trials and persecutions. James’s letter is remarkably practical, focusing on living out one’s faith through actions rather than merely professing it. He tackles themes such as enduring trials, seeking wisdom, controlling the tongue, avoiding favoritism, the relationship between faith and works, patience, and, centrally, the power of prayer. The specific instruction in James 5:16, “Pray one for another,” comes within a passage emphasizing the importance of confession, healing, and the effective prayer of righteous people, underscoring the communal and practical nature of Christian living.

Key Word Study

Pray (προσεύχομαι – proseuchomai)

This Greek verb means “to offer prayers, to pray.” It is a combination of pros (towards, in the direction of) and euchomai (to pray, wish, vow). Together, proseuchomai signifies a conscious and deliberate turning towards God in worship, supplication, and intercession. It implies an intimate relationship and intentional communication with the Divine. Unlike a mere wish, proseuchomai involves reverence, seeking God’s will, and often, a humble submission to His sovereignty. In James 5:16, it underscores not just a personal act of devotion, but a communal responsibility to engage in this profound communication on behalf of one another, highlighting the active, purposeful, and relational aspect of approaching God’s throne.

The Sweetest Oblation: Christ-like Intercession

The passage opens with a profound truth designed “as an encouragement cheerfully to offer intercessory prayer.” It states that such prayer “is the sweetest God ever hears.” This assertion is immediately qualified and amplified by remembering “that the prayer of Christ is of this character.” Our Lord’s entire earthly and heavenly ministry is a testament to selfless love, and His prayers are the epitome of this.

We are reminded that “In all the incense which our Great High Priest now puts into the golden censer, there is not a single grain for Himself.” This imagery, drawn from the Old Testament temple service where priests offered incense to God, vividly portrays Christ’s ongoing intercession for humanity. His prayers are purely for us, for our redemption, sanctification, and ultimate glory. This makes His intercession “the most acceptable of all supplications—and the more like our prayer is to Christ’s, the sweeter it will be.”

While “petitions for ourselves will be accepted”—and indeed, the Bible encourages us to bring our needs to God—there is a superior quality to prayers offered for others. These “pleadings for others, having in them more of the fruits of the Spirit, more love, more faith, more brotherly kindness, will be, through the precious merits of Jesus, the sweetest oblation that we can offer to God, the very fat of our sacrifice.” This concept of “the fat of our sacrifice” harkens back to Old Testament sacrificial laws (e.g., Leviticus 3:3-5), where the fat, considered the best and richest part, was offered exclusively to God. It signifies the choicest, most valuable offering. When we offer intercessory prayer, especially motivated by the Spirit’s fruits, we are giving God our very best, a reflection of His own selfless love demonstrated through Christ.

The Mighty Engine of Prevailing Prayer

Beyond its sweetness, “Remember, again, that intercessory prayer is exceedingly prevalent.” The term “prevalent” here suggests effectiveness, power, and widespread impact. It is not merely a pleasant act but a potent force. The devotional emphatically declares, “What wonders it has wrought! The Word of God teems with its marvellous deeds.” While the text does not list specific examples, it invites us to recall countless biblical narratives where the prayers of individuals moved the hand of God—from Abraham pleading for Sodom, Moses interceding for Israel, to Elijah calling down fire.

The passage then personalizes this power: “Believer, thou hast a mighty engine in thy hand, use it well, use it constantly, use it with faith, and thou shalt surely be a benefactor to thy brethren.” An “engine” is a powerful machine, capable of immense work. Intercessory prayer is presented as such a tool, not for personal gain, but for the benefit of others. It empowers believers to become instruments of God’s grace and blessing in the lives of their fellow believers and even the wider world.

This access to divine power comes through direct communion: “When thou hast the King’s ear, speak to Him for the suffering members of His body.” This imagery emphasizes both intimacy and authority. We, as believers, have direct access to the Sovereign King of the universe, and we are encouraged to use this privilege to advocate for those who are struggling within the Christian community—the very body of Christ.

Deep Floods of Grace: The Mark of a True Intercessor

The devotional challenges us further by linking the depth of our grace to our commitment to intercession. “When thou art favoured to draw very near to His throne, and the King saith to thee, ‘Ask, and I will give thee what thou wilt,’ let thy petitions be, not for thyself alone, but for the many who need His aid.” This echoes promises like Psalm 37:4 or John 15:7, recontextualized to highlight the intercessory spirit. When God opens the door to unlimited asking, our hearts should naturally turn towards others.

A stern warning follows: “If thou hast grace at all, and art not an intercessor, that grace must be small as a grain of mustard seed.” This uses the familiar biblical metaphor (Matthew 17:20) not to describe faith, but grace itself. It suggests that true, deep grace inevitably expands our hearts beyond ourselves. A small grain of mustard seed is enough “to float thy soul clear from the quicksand,” implying just enough personal salvation. But it is not enough for true spiritual abundance.

“Thou hast no deep floods of grace, or else thou wouldst carry in thy joyous bark a weighty cargo of the wants of others, and thou wouldst bring back from thy Lord, for them, rich blessings which but for thee they might not have obtained.” This powerful metaphor paints a picture of a soul generously equipped with grace, likened to a sturdy ship (a “joyous bark”) capable of bearing heavy burdens—the needs of others. Such a soul then becomes a conduit for God’s blessings, bringing back “rich blessings” that others might never have received. This underscores the profound responsibility and privilege of intercession, making us active partners in God’s work of blessing.

The passage concludes with a poignant poetic plea, demonstrating the ultimate commitment of an intercessor:

“Oh, let my hands forget their skill,
My tongue be silent, cold, and still,
This bounding heart forget to beat,
If I forget the mercy-seat!”

This verse encapsulates the fervent desire of a believer whose life is so intertwined with the act of intercession that to forget the “mercy-seat”—the place of God’s presence and grace, where prayers are offered—would be to lose their very essence, their ability to serve, speak, and even live. It’s a powerful testament to the central role intercessory prayer should play in the life of every committed follower of Christ, living out the command of James 5:16: “Pray one for another.”