Obtaining Victory Over Sin - NetBibleStudy.com

Victory Over Sin 74The Intercession of BelieversThere are times when some besetting sin will not seem to budge until we enlistthe prayer support of others who know how to pray, particularly where there is somekind of powerful addiction. What is needed is the added support of others who willstand in for us in the presence of God. There are those who are morally weak –-- whomay not even know for sure whether they want to change their lifestyle or not. Theyneed persistent prayers and encouragement of God’s people to help them come toterms with their problem.Why is this necessary? Why is it that we need other believes to pray with us?Why doesn’t an all-powerful God just give us victory if we individually apply the rightprinciples? On the surface, it seems odd that our failure or success would bedetermined by other believers’ faithfulness or negligence. Why the need for others tobecome involved?Primarily, it is because God wants us to give up our independent spirit. Bynature, we all are creatures who prefer to live according to our own blueprint. How welive is our business --- what right does anyone have to ask or even be interested in howwe are progressing spiritually? If we want them to know, we’ll tell them!However, the New Testament teaches otherwise. We are all members of thebody of Christ, and each of us affects the function of others. If you have ever had atoothache, you know that the parts of your body are not isolated. When one toothaches, your whole body hurts.Have you ever seen a human hand severed from a body? It looks gruesome. Yet,attached to an arm and connected to the nervous system, the hand is not only highlyuseful, but beautiful too. The difference lies in its relationship to the body. Similarly, inChrist no individual is anything if cut off from the body!That’s why God wants us to enlist the resources of other believers. It’s humblingto realize that we need their support and help, but we do. Our struggles andtemptations remind us that successes or failures are always a team effort. There’s noroom in the body of Christ for an individual score card.That’s why we must be acquainted with God’s people. It is good to formfriendships in church, where committed believes gather for fellowship and instruction.Within the larger circle of believes, we find that there are those who become our specialfriends. As we develop confidence in them we can turn to them in the time of need. Atthat moment, we are tapping a reservoir of spiritual power. Jesus said, “For where twoor three have gathered together in My name, there am I in their midst” (Matthew 18:20). Thefirst responsibility of God’s people is persistent prayer for one another; not merelyindividual prayer, but corporate prayer. Prayer as a group is important!