Touched With the Feeling of Our Infirmities
The sermon emphasizes the importance of sympathetic prayer, where we put others' needs before our own and pray with genuine love and sympathy, touching the Father's heart and bringing about healing and deliverance.
A.B. Simpson shares a poignant encounter with a suffering woman who, despite her own physical burdens, fervently prayed for an orphan boy in need. Her selfless act of love and compassion moved Simpson deeply, illustrating the profound connection between our struggles and the heart of God. He reflects on how such acts of empathy can touch the Father's heart, emphasizing the importance of focusing on others even in our own trials. This powerful moment serves as a reminder of the healing power of love and intercession.
Text
Some time ago I was talking with a greatly suffering woman about healing. She was quite burdened physically and sincerely wanted to be able to trust the Lord for deliverance. After a short conversation I prayed with her, committing her case to the Lord, asking that in absolute trust she might claim deliverance. As soon as I ended my prayer she grasped my hand and asked me to unite with her in the burden that was most upon her heart. And then, without a word of reference to her own healing or the burden under which she was being crushed to death, she burst into an impassioned prayer for an orphan boy of whom she had just heard that day.
Never have I heard a prayer surpass it for sympathy and love, as she implored God in agonizing sobs to help him and save him.
And then she ceased without even referring to her own need. I was deeply touched by the spectacle of love, and I thought how the Father's heart must be touched for her own need.
Sermon Outline
- The Power of Sympathetic Prayer
- The Importance of Empathy in Prayer
- The Result of Sympathetic Prayer
- The Father's heart is touched
- Healing and deliverance are possible
Key Quotes
“Never have I heard a prayer surpass it for sympathy and love, as she implored God in agonizing sobs to help him and save him.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- Make a conscious effort to put others' needs before your own in prayer.
- Pray with genuine love and sympathy, rather than just praying for your own needs.
- Develop a more empathetic heart in prayer by practicing putting others' needs before your own.