Anguishing in Prayer
At some level, we have all experienced emotional or physical anguish because of something that has occurred in our personal lives (i.e. a profound loss, illness or injury). And to varying degrees we’ve all been in anguish over the trouble, the needs or the suffering that a loved one has or is experiencing. The reason we anguish over the suffering or needs of another person is because we have love and compassion in our hearts. If you didn’t have love or compassion in your heart, you wouldn’t feel the pain that another person is experiencing.
We see this passion and anguish for the spiritual condition of others in Paul’s heart in Galatians 4:19, “my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!” Paul's entire ministry was like a mother in labor pains (Romans 9:1-3; Colossians 1:28). He travailed to see the lost experience the new birth (2 Corinthians 5:17) and for Christ to take shape in the lives of his spiritual children.
The word “travail” means the pain that a woman experiences both in the act of childbirth and in the long months leading up to it. Do we travail over the spiritual condition of those without Christ and long for them to know the new birth? Unless there is anguish in our hearts that compels us to labor in prayer and in the work of the Lord, we will not see spiritual births or a spiritual awakening in our day. I want to suggest to you that a prerequisite for revival and spiritual awakening is anguish in prayer.
Notice 3 things about Paul’s anguish for the spiritual condition of others.
Dr. Scott Pauley observed: “The only three times [its recorded] that Jesus wept were near the cross. When He wept over Lazarus it was in the final weeks of His life. When He wept over Jerusalem it was in the final days of His life. When He wept in Gethsemane it was in the final hours of His life. The closer He got to the cross the more He wept. The more we die to ourselves and get a glimpse of eternity and what really matters, the more we will weep. The more we are captured by God’s heart, the more the love of Christ controls us. We weep for our minor inconveniences. We groan over things that don’t go our way. We fuss over things that a thousands years from now will not matter. But please tell me when was the last time we wept for lost souls.”
Although it’s important to confess our apathy to the Lord, our main focus should not be the lack of anguish in our hearts. Anguish is not something we can muster up ourselves. Anguish comes from the Spirit of God as we look away from ourselves to the love of Christ and His triumph on the cross over sin and death. As we daily draw near to the heart of God and focus on the needs of others, His love will be manifested in our hearts. When we our filled with His love our hearts will break for what breaks His heart. O may His anguish move us to action—move us to be weeping witnesses for Christ to the glory of His name.
In your service,
Pastor Marco
We see this passion and anguish for the spiritual condition of others in Paul’s heart in Galatians 4:19, “my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!” Paul's entire ministry was like a mother in labor pains (Romans 9:1-3; Colossians 1:28). He travailed to see the lost experience the new birth (2 Corinthians 5:17) and for Christ to take shape in the lives of his spiritual children.
The word “travail” means the pain that a woman experiences both in the act of childbirth and in the long months leading up to it. Do we travail over the spiritual condition of those without Christ and long for them to know the new birth? Unless there is anguish in our hearts that compels us to labor in prayer and in the work of the Lord, we will not see spiritual births or a spiritual awakening in our day. I want to suggest to you that a prerequisite for revival and spiritual awakening is anguish in prayer.
Notice 3 things about Paul’s anguish for the spiritual condition of others.
- Paul’s anguish was centered in the love of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:4) When we know the love of Christ in our hearts, we will be in anguish for the spiritual condition of those around us and beyond our boarders. How do we grow in the love of Christ? We must seek His face. To seek His face means to cultivate intimacy with Christ that leads to the accomplishment of his purpose. We take on Christ’s heart when we abide in Him and allow His word to abide in us (John 15:7).
- Paul’s anguish was concerned about living for Christ (Galatians 4:19) After the presidential election someone who attended our church walked out during praise and worship. When a brother saw him walking out he went after him and asked, “Brother, are you ok?” He responded, “No, I’m not ok. How can we be singing happy songs when the election was stolen?” It must break God’s heart that we can be so passionate about so many things but often have little to no brokenness over the spiritual condition of others. We can get so worked up about politics, sports, and gas prices. Yet by comparison when it comes to the spiritual condition of others we are barely moved. How many of you know, the greatest need in our city, in our Jerusalem, is not a new mayor, it’s not a sports championship, or even economic recovery. The great need is spiritual awakening, which will not happen until we agonize over the brokenness in our city. What are you in anguish about? Are you in anguish for those who need to grow in Christ or are away from Christ? Have you ever woke up in the middle of the night thinking about people who are lost or who have drifted from the Lord and cried out for them in prayer or made intentional plans to reach out?
- Paul’s anguish was compelling His labor for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:11-21) There are three ways that anguish rooted in the love of Christ compelled Paul to labor for Christ.
- Anguish compelled him to labor in prayer for others (Romans 9:1-3; 10:1)
- Anguish compelled him to labor to preach the gospel (1 Corinthian 9:16)
- Anguish compelled him to labor in presenting everyone mature in Christ (Colossians 1:28-29)
Anguish will lead to action. Those in the scriptures who anguished in prayer about the dire spiritual condition of those around them and were moved to action began their prayers by talking to God about God as He has revealed Himself in His word. When you see God rightly, you will pray rightly. When you set your heart to seek His face, He will share His heart with you. (Nehemiah 1:4-11 Daniel 9:3-19; Acts 4:23-31).
Dr. Scott Pauley observed: “The only three times [its recorded] that Jesus wept were near the cross. When He wept over Lazarus it was in the final weeks of His life. When He wept over Jerusalem it was in the final days of His life. When He wept in Gethsemane it was in the final hours of His life. The closer He got to the cross the more He wept. The more we die to ourselves and get a glimpse of eternity and what really matters, the more we will weep. The more we are captured by God’s heart, the more the love of Christ controls us. We weep for our minor inconveniences. We groan over things that don’t go our way. We fuss over things that a thousands years from now will not matter. But please tell me when was the last time we wept for lost souls.”
Although it’s important to confess our apathy to the Lord, our main focus should not be the lack of anguish in our hearts. Anguish is not something we can muster up ourselves. Anguish comes from the Spirit of God as we look away from ourselves to the love of Christ and His triumph on the cross over sin and death. As we daily draw near to the heart of God and focus on the needs of others, His love will be manifested in our hearts. When we our filled with His love our hearts will break for what breaks His heart. O may His anguish move us to action—move us to be weeping witnesses for Christ to the glory of His name.
In your service,
Pastor Marco