Mark 1:30-31 “But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. (31) So, He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.”
Within the second sphere of authority which believers have, children (over the age of thirteen) can pray the prayer of faith for their parents in certain circumstances, such as when the parent is unable to pray the prayer of faith for themselves due to severe illness for example. The above account in scripture clearly shows us that truth; for in this example Simon and his wife prayed the prayer of faith for Simon’s mother-in-law, and in response to their prayer, the Lord healed her. Obviously the term parents, encompasses both parents in the natural and in-laws, for God recognises both as being included in our spheres of authority.
John 11:1-4 “Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (2) It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. (3) Therefore, the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick." (4) When Jesus heard that, He said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Our second sphere of authority that we have also extends to our siblings, for in the above quoted passage in scripture we have the account of Mary and Martha praying the prayer of faith for their brother’s healing. We all know the outcome of this account, in that Jesus answered their prayer by raising Lazarus from the dead. Nevertheless as with children praying for their parents, this prayer of faith also only works when the sibling being prayed for is in a condition where they are unable to pray for themselves. Obviously in this example Lazarus was unable to pray for himself, being in a severely weakened condition.
Matthew 8:5-13 “Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, (6) saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented." … (13) Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that same hour.”
The third sphere of authority that believers have extends to those who are employed by the saints. In the above quoted account we see evidence of that truth, for Jesus honoured the centurion’s prayer of faith by healing his servant. Nevertheless again it must be mentioned, that the prayer of faith only works when the employee being prayed for is in a condition where they are unable to pray the prayer of faith for themselves. Clearly in this example the Centurion’s servant was unable to pray for himself.
James 5:14-15 “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. (15) And the prayer of faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”
The fourth sphere of authority that believers have extends to fellow believers that are unable to pray the prayer of faith for themselves. We see that truth revealed to us in the above quoted passage of scripture. This passage has a twofold application to it. Firstly, it can mean that the person being prayed for is in a weakened physical condition, and is thus unable to pray the prayer of faith for themselves. But it can also mean that the believer being prayed for is a baby Christian and is therefore weak in faith, and is thus unable to pray the prayer of faith for themselves. This passage therefore teaches us that God answers a mature believer’s prayer of faith which is prayed on behalf of their weak brethren. And so in this section we have examined four spheres of influence which believers have, where they can pray the prayer of faith for others and get results. Other than these four areas however, there is no scriptural evidence to show that saints can pray the prayer of faith for others and get results. To illustrate this point we can look at the Lord Jesus as our example. If there was one person who could have prayed the prayer of faith for others and get results it would have been the Lord Jesus; and yet as we have already seen, He was unable to get results in His own hometown when He laid hands on those who chose not to exercise their own faith.
Michael E.B. Maher
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