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Do you pray for others - that God will intervene in their lives, according to a perceived need? Sometimes we assume that when we pray for someone, that GOD will intervene in some way and answer our prayer for them.

But could you be the answer to your own prayer for them?

Or, could you be the messenger?

God may directly intervene by a miracle, or in circumstances in order to answer our prayer for another, but most of the time God works through His children - who have been positioned to be instruments of His love, compassion, and mercy. God may use someone or something other than you, but He is just as likely to use you as part of His response to your petition for another.

Are you willing to be the hands-on "messenger" carrying God's answer, or facilitating the answer, to the very one or ones for whom you have been interceding? He loves us through others - more often than we realize. Very often He demonstrates His love for us in actions through someone else.

Jesus makes some seemingly difficult to understand statements which affect answers to our prayer. Much consternation has been experienced over what seems like a "blank check" promise by Jesus (John 15:7) and also John (1 John 3), that anything we ask in prayer will be given us if we only believe. We forget the clarification contained in another statement by Jesus that “all things are possible to him who believes”. The first qualifying word is “possible. Another condition is that what we are asking for is according to His will. If we know that it is according to His will, we also know that we have already received - it is as good as already done, although we have not received or seen the physical evidence.

Another qualification is that we have Christ living in us, that we are actively loving others - and thereby bearing fruit. Bearing fruit is a prime condition to the promise of receiving whatever we ask for ourselves and others.. Whatever we ask must be to enable us to bear more fruit (John 15:7-17). The promise to receive whatever we ask is defined by the use of that which we are asking. If we are not using the “whatever” to produce more fruit, the prayer does not meet the conditions of the promise.

The fruit that we produce will be that which is growing in others for whom we are praying. The lack of fruit bearing is a major reason that more prayers are not answered. Bearing fruit envelopes the whole spectrum of our calling, and the reason we are living. Otherwise, we would have already been made immortal. There would be no reason for us to take up space on God’s earth anymore.

We need to pray that others will bear more and more fruit, and for those whom God knows are not, to begin to bear fruit. In this way, we also become the messenger of the Holy Spirit in the lives others. Most often, we can recognize these divine assignments by circumstances. Usually, the circumstances will seem just that - circumstantial. But in reality, it is an open door. A door for you to walk through to fulfill God's appointment as a messenger of His answer to your - or their - prayer. This is divine interaction, between each of us, with the other, and with God who sent you.

Your assignment as a messenger may be in response to someone else's prayer, supplication, request, or intercession. Many times we do not know just why we are where we are, doing what we are doing. It may seem strange and inexplicable. You may find yourself, if you are yielded to become His messenger, feeling that you are going through motions that are confusing, and illogical. But after you have fulfilled your commission, it will all make sense. You will understand what happened. Although, you may not understand why. That part belongs to the receiver of the message and God.

You may have the blessed privilege of being the answer to your own prayer - the instrument of His love toward those for whom you have expressed your love for, in prayer to Him. Intercessory prayer obligates us to be willing to become the instrument of God's will, in His answer to our prayer for someone else. When you pray for someone, be prepared. Be open and yielded to the possibility that, when He does, He has you in mind also. He may ask you to become His instrument for the answer. You may be fearful. Usually we cannot help or serve without some type of risk. You may feel unworthy, but...what an honor from God! What a blessing for those you interceded for, who will also bless you - if not now - some day.

This becomes the oneness of God in action. In this way we can participate in the fulfillment of the prayer of Christ - the very condition that Jesus asked of the Father the night prior to His crucifixion (John 17:20). It all becomes the answer to His prayer - the Divine Messenger - our Savior, and Lord.

When you pray for others, be ready to say, "Here am I. Send Me!..."

I said, “Too bad for me! I am destroyed, for my lips are contaminated by sin, and I live among people whose lips are contaminated by sin. My eyes have seen the king, the Lord who commands armies.” But then one of the seraphs flew toward me. In his hand was a hot coal he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, “Look, this coal has touched your lips. Your evil is removed; your sin is forgiven.” I heard the voice of the sovereign master say, “Whom will I send? Who will go on our behalf?” I answered, “Here I am, send me!” and He said, “Go...” - Isaiah 6:5-9a (NET)

"'Christ in You...'" from Dale Krebbs

The Saints Who Slept