intercession 101 - pastor wendell · 2017. 5. 4. · us until we give up and quit praying. our...

© 2000 The City Church 9051 132nd Ave NE Kirkland, WA. 98033 INTERCESSION 101 Pastor Gini Smith

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INTERCESSION 101

The City Church Pastor Gini Smith


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INTRODUCTION December of 1992 was a wonderful time of spiritual change in my life. My renewing of mind and heart was primarily the consequence of a trip my husband, my son and I made to a church, at that time, called Toronto Airport Vineyard. We had heard rumors of a visitation of God and although somewhat apprehensive, we ventured out to see if these things were true. Our visit happened to fall on my birthday. Upon arrival for the meeting, at their newly acquired building, I intentionally stood back analyzing whether what I was observing was God or emotionalism. My husband and my son, being far more adventuresome, immediately positioned themselves to receive. As I watched, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, reminding me that what was happening was spiritual and could not be discerned solely with the natural mind but had to be discerned spiritually. The Holy Spirit urged me to respond in faith, test the water and see what He might do. I cautiously edged into the action and waited for someone to pray for me. Not accustomed to “falling in the spirit,” I determined that not to be an option; besides, the carpet was dirty and the floor cold. Again, the Holy Spirit challenged my faith and clearly said, “lie down.” I answered, “Why?” The Holy Spirit reiterated, “lie down.” With no one praying, no lightening bolt from heaven, in obedience to the voice of God, I obeyed. Lying on the carpet, feeling somewhat foolish, a wave of the Holy Spirit suddenly flooded over me. It was so empowering like nothing I have ever experienced before. I realized I was in a spiritual river that was about twenty-four inches deep. The next morning, hungry for more of what I had tasted the night before, I quickly responded to the appeal and hurried up to the altar next to my husband and son. One of the pastors approached me to pray, and in doing so, requested I place my hand over my heart and then proceeded to prophetically pray for my broken heart to be healed and that I might have a greater understanding of the love of my heavenly Father, who would never leave me or forsake me. I had never felt any particular need for healing of a broken heart and I had a relatively good knowledge of Bible principles concerning the love of God. Meditating on the prophetic word, I remembered my husband’s comment while walking into the meeting that morning, “God is going to give you a birthday present.” At that point, something very unusual started to happen. The violinist and vocalists came down from the platform, surrounded me, and began serenading me, playing, “I believe in Jesus, I believe He is the Son of God, He is here with the


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power to heal and the grace to forgive.” In that circle of worship, the power of the love of God was so strong. I could not stand upright and was bent over at the waist at a 90-degree angle. I was weeping profusely, not from self pity or fear but from the revelation of the love of God for me. It was as if Father God had His arms around me, squeezing me tight, like a little girl in the arms of her father who after some time wiggles away or begs him to let go because her love meter has surpassed its limit. I can honesty say I never consciously feared rejection from God. I had been well taught but apparently God knew my heart better than I knew my own. I was in a very awkward position and could hardly move my hands to my face. Mascara was everywhere and my nose was running. It wasn’t dignified, but I didn’t care. I finally was able to fall to my knees as the musicians departed. Something supernatural happen to me that morning. My life and understanding were forever changed. Although I did not know I needed to change or even wanted to change, God knew and He changed me. Something came alive in me. It was a revelation of the love of the Father to my spirit, not just my intellect. I had never comprehended love like that before and that revelation catapulted me into a new level of faith. It is from the motive of love that we enter into intercession on the behalf of others. If our motive is anything less we will fail to produce good fruit from our efforts to obey God and His commands. Our motive must match Jesus’, and His was always love.


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WHY PEOPLE DON’T PRAY “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray (make prayer). Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms (prayers of thanksgiving). 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. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray (prayer of hope) for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent (to be operative, be at work, put forth power) prayer of a righteous man avails (to have power; to have power as shown by extraordinary deeds; to exert, wield power, to have strength to overcome; to be a force, avail; to be able, can) much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again (to make persistent prayer), and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.”

James 5:13-20 “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.”

Proverbs 15:8 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

Matthew 7:7-11 "And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

Matthew 21:22 “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: ‘There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary. And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.' Then the Lord said, ’Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

Luke 18:1-8 “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.”

1 John 3:22


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WHY DON’T WE PRAY ? 1. WE DO NOT FEEL WORTHY TO ASK GOD FOR ANYTHING.

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior…”

1 Timothy 2:1-3 (NKJV) “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 2:5 (NKJV) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…”

Ephesians 1:3-7 (NKJV) “For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”

Ephesians 2:18 (NKJV) “And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Romans 12:2 (KJV) The reality is, apart from Jesus Christ, we are not worthy. Our worthiness is not based on our good works. Our worthiness is solely and completely based on the redemption of Jesus Christ. Because we are redeemed, He says that we are worthy. He calls us worthy. It has nothing to do with us and everything to do with Him. Our accuser and enemy tempts us to sin and when we fail and sin, then he condemns us. He screams in our ear, “How can you pray” or “You have failed to pray yesterday, so how can you pray today?” We allow him to condemn us until we give up and quit praying. Our Heavenly Father is not a God of condemnation. Jesus did not come to condemn, He came to save. He is not looking at your failures. He is applauding your successes. Some of us live thinking,“God is mad at me because I don’t pray enough.” The truth is that none of us pray enough. None of us are Jesus. We all need to pray more. God isn’t focused on our failures, He is applauding our successes in the same way you would cheer on your own children. For example, when toddlers are learning to walk, we don’t count the times they fall, we count the steps that they take. We even videotape them for others to watch and commend. In the same way our heavenly Father is good and He is applauding us. He is our best cheerleader. He is encouraging us to not give up, not draw back and continue to press in. So we failed. The Bible says a righteous man failed seven times yet he will arise. We must stand up in faith! Get a little angry at the devil and determine in your heart, “I am not going back; I am going forward in Christ; I am going to pray and I am going to believe God.” In the future when the devil comes to us and suggests that we are not worthy, just agree but add, “I am not worthy but Jesus Christ has made me worthy.” As long as our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, ASK ASK ASK and you shall receive.


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2. WE ARE NOT SURE THAT GOD REALLY HEARS US WHEN WE PRAY. “LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear…”

Psalms 10:17 “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.”

Psalms 34:15 “The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.”

Psalms 145:18-19 “The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.”

Proverbs 15:29 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Jerermiah 29:11-13 It seems, sometimes, that our prayers don’t break through the ceiling, let alone the heavens, and we have few if any answers to our prayers. This could be the consequence of praying amiss. The Bible says, “You have not, because you ask not, then when you ask you ask amiss” (James 4:2-3). Many times we don’t ask according to the will of God. Thank God He hasn’t answered all of our prayers over our lifetime. Some of us have prayed some pretty outrageous prayers like, “Lord, please let me marry that person,” or “Lord, send me there.” We later thank God He didn’t answer those childish requests. Just in the same way when our two or three year old asks for something that might hurt them, we make a decision not to give them their request. It is not because we do not love them, or necessarily because the request is sinful, but simply it is not good for them. It is in the same manner our good heavenly Father doesn’t give us all that we ask. He gives what we ask in accordance with His will. How do we know His will? We read His word. It is His will. God’s word is always in accordance with His will. 3. WE DO NOT KNOW HOW TO PRAY OR FEEL WE HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY TO GOD.

“Call (call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim, utter a loud sound, cry (for help), call (with name of God), to summon, invite, commission, appoint, call and endow, to name, give name to, call by name) to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'”

Jeremiah 33:3 Psalm 5 A Prayer For Guidance Psalm 28 Rejoicing In Answered Prayer Psalm 38 Prayer In Time Of Chastening Psalm 39 Prayer For Wisdom And Forgiveness Psalm 43 Prayer In Time Of Trouble Psalm 51 A Prayer Of Repentance Psalm 69 An Urgent Plea For Help In Trouble Psalm 86 Prayer For Mercy Psalm 85 Prayer That The Lord Will Restore Favor Psalm 103 Praise For The Lord’s Mercies Psalm 109 Plea For Judgment Of False Accusers


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Psalm 111 Praise To God For His Faithfulness And Justice Psalm 116 Thanksgiving For Deliverance Psalm 120 Plea For Relief From Bitterness Psalm 123 Prayer For Relief From Contempt Psalm 141 Prayer For Safekeeping Psalm 142 A Plea For Relief From Persecutors “I cry out to the LORD with my voice; With my voice to the LORD I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble.”

Psalms 142:1-2 In this scripture the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. Jesus’ response to His disciples is traditionally called “The Lord’s Prayer.” It could be better titled, The Disciple’s Prayer, because it is the prayer pattern that He taught them to use. The Lord’s Prayer is not magic words that we are to repeat over and over so eventually God hears and responds to our acts of penance. The Lord’s Prayer is a pattern of prayer, a blueprint for successful prayer. We would never attempt to build a building without a blueprint. In the same way God has given us a blueprint in which to build a prayer life. This blueprint is called the Lord’s Prayer. We need to learn to pray in accordance with the pattern, and as we become more proficient at working the pattern, the less we need it. If we don’t learn daily prayer, we will never be successful in intercessory prayer. Daily prayer is primarily self-centered. Praying for ourselves initially sounds selfish but the truth is, we need to pray more for ourselves not less. As we pray about our attitudes, circumstances, thoughts, relationships, etc. we are changed and our heart is aligned with the will of God and our mind is renewed. We are free of personal burdens and sins so we can pray effectually for others. This is not a license for becoming self-consumed and only praying for ourselves but is the starting block to catapult us into praying for others. Daily personal prayers could be referred to as petition prayers, and unless we learn to be a good petitioner we will never be a good intercessor. Our sins would come between us and the Father, and God will not be able to hear us. We can sabotage our intercession by blocking answers through unforgiveness and sin. 4. WE FEAR WE MIGHT BECOME OBLIGATED TO GOD NOT TO SIN.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Ephesians 2:8-10 “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.”

Hebrews 12:28 “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?”

Romans 5:19- 6:2


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We try to play “Let’s Make a Deal” with God, attempting to barter with God, trading obedience for favors. God doesn’t play “Let’s Make a Deal.” It is all or nothing with God. We give Him everything and He gives us back more. We give our little and He gives His all. It has nothing to do with our good works, doing better or being better. It has everything to do with grace. Ephesians 2:8-10 “By Grace you have been saved through faith not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast. We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before hand, that we should walk in them.” Hebrews 12:28 “Let us have Grace by which we may serve God acceptably.” Christians particularly fall into this trap because we tend to be “works”- oriented people. We are duped into thinking that we have to produce to be loved or accepted; therefore, if we pray and ask God for anything, we are obligated to repay the debt or favor with religious activity. God doesn’t want religious activity; He wants our whole life. He wants to take charge, be Lord, and direct our lives in grace. We ask by grace and He answers by grace. Grace is the ability and the desire to do the will of God. We define grace as God’s enabling power, but it is more than that. The definition implies God changing our heart so we want to do His will. That is the miracle! 5. WE DO NOT SEE INSTANT RESULTS OR THE RESULTS WE WANT.

"’For My thoughts (device, plan, purpose) are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways (road, path, journey, direction, manner, habit, of course of life) My ways,’ says the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.’”

Isaiah 55:8-9 “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor? Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him? For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”

Romans 11:33-36 “Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret--it only causes harm.”

Psalms 37:3-8 We tend to go to God like we go to a fast-food restaurant. We want to place our order and we want instant results. The Bible addresses this thinking in Isaiah 55:8. God’s ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts; His ways are higher than ours…The Christian life is not about our will and not about what we want. It is about what He wants. Romans 11:33 “My ways are past finding out.” Psalms 37 says, “Trust in the Lord.” That word “trust” means to be “careless” in the Lord. The thought is, we are to lean on Him, yielding control, and become careless. It goes on to say that we are to delight in Him, to laugh and to be happy about, make merry over and delight ourselves in Him. Third, we are to commit our way to Him, which implies rolling our problems or burdens onto Him.


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Fourth, we are to rest in the Lord, or be “dumb.” Not to be dumb in the sense of being stupid, but in the sense of not saying anything, just being silent before Him. We can’t demand anything from God although sometimes we act like spoiled children, stomping our feet in defiance yelling, “I want it and I want it right now.” We call that behavior a tantrum, an indication of babyhood or immaturity, but there is a point when we must grow up and realize that Dad is smarter than we are. From that attitude of humility we ask, not demand, entreating Him as a Father, “Lord not my will, but your will be done.” The Bible says if we want to be a disciple of Christ that we must take up our cross daily and follow Him, saying “no” to ourselves and saying “yes” to Him daily. That is the true definition of what it means to pick up your cross and follow Him. It is denying ourselves. It is dying to our ideas, our plans, the way we want it; and by doing so, saying, “Lord, not my will but your will be done.” This is called spiritual maturity. His will becomes our will, and as a result we become less and less demanding asking for fewer things outside His will and more and more prayers get answered. 6. WE HAVE GREATER CONFIDENCE IN OUR ABILITY TO WORK THINGS OUT ON OUR OWN.

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.” Proverbs 12:15

“What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.”

Romans 6:21 “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.”

Ephesians 5:6-10 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the word, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

James 1:22-25 We are trained from a young age to make things happen, to reason things out in our own strength and ingenuity. In contrast, as we grow in God, the more we realize the less we can do in ourselves. We can’t do anything of eternal value apart from Him. We are needy people, in need of His enabling power working in our lives. Everyday we make an exchange, our inadequacies and weakness for His strength. His strength becomes perfect in our weakness. This metamorphosis should take place daily in our prayers. Truly we can’t do anything without Him.


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7. WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF OUR INVESTMENT IN PRAYER.

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing—Life forevermore.”

Psalms 133:1-3 “But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Matthew 18:16-20 “You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you. Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you.”

Leviticus 26:7-8 There is significance and value in our prayers. When we pray we make an investment in eternity. In the same way we might put money into a savings account and receive interest on that investment. It is the same in the spirit. You make an investment in prayer, however feeble, and you will reap interest. It is not our efforts that create life. It is God’s anointing and grace on those prayers. Many times we feel inadequate, we feel feeble, and we feel that we do not have the same prophetic anointing that another might have in intercession. We devalue our investment because it doesn’t seem very significant. It doesn’t matter how feeble we feel when we drive up to that bank and deposit money; there is always a return on our investment. It is the same way in prayer. You’re just the vehicle for the Holy Spirit to drive to the bank and make the deposit. You are the vessel through which the prayer flows.


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SECTION 1: GOD’S ORIGINAL INTENT

OLD TESTAMENT – Exodus 19:6 ISRAEL WAS TO BE A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS - representing the nations to God and God to the nations. A priest is a person who intercedes on behalf of another, one who makes atonement for the sins of others as illustrated in the Tabernacle of Moses at the Altar of Incense. Revelation 11:1-2, Exodus 30:1-10 1. REVELATION

Divine revelation given to Moses on Mt Sinai to build according to the pattern.

Ark of the Covenant (The Glory of His Presence)

Altar of Incense (Prayer and Praise)

Candlestick (Word as a Lamp)

Table of Showbread (Communion Fellowship)

Brazen Laver (Water Baptism) Brazen Altar

(Salvation)

2. MATERIALS

Acacia wood representing Christ’s humanity, overlaid with gold representing Christ’s divinity and four horns representing power.

3. MEASUREMENTS Highest piece of furniture in the Tabernacle representing our highest calling in Christ.


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4. PURPOSE Burned incense before the Lord and offered blood on the altar.

5. MINISTRATION Trimmed lamp and burned incense every morning and every twilight.

6. POSITION Before the veil, immediately before the Holy of Holies and the presence of the Lord.

7. SYMBOLISM …“prayer be…as incense…and the lifting of hands as the evening sacrifice.”

Psalm 141:1 …“golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”

Revelation 5:8 8. APPLICATION

a. Revelation 5:8-10 - We are Kings and Priests that offer incense through prayer, true incense being the prayers of the saints Revelation 8:1-6; Acts 1:14,24; 2:42; 3:1; 4:31; 6:1; 8:15; 9:11;10:2 b. Five ingredients of incense (prayer) - 1 Timothy 2:1, Exodus 30:34-38

Onycha “travail, roaring” - Supplication Stacte “oozing out in drops” - Prayers Galbanum “lamenting” - Intercessions Frankincense “whiteness, pure incense” - Thanksgiving

NEW TESTAMENT 1. THE CHURCH IS TO BE A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS

Mark 11:17 2. THE CHURCH IS A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD OFFERING SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES

1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 5:10 3. THE CHURCH IS TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR ALL MEN

1 Timothy 2:1 4. THE CHURCH IS TO ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO INTERCEDE THROUGH

THEM Romans 8:26

The scriptures indicate that prayers, supplications, intercessions and thanksgiving are to be an ongoing and constant part of church life. We are to pray without ceasing, constantly acknowledging our need for God and His grace on our lives. Truly without Him we can do nothing. Prayerlessness is the greatest sin of the church and in its essence is pride, the antithesis of humility.


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GOD IS LOOKING FOR INTERCESSORS 1. “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth… “

2 Chronicles 16:9 2. “I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land…”

Ezekiel 22:26-30 3. “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.”

Psalm 34:15 4. “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.”

Proverbs 15:3 5. “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.”

Proverbs 15:8 6. “He saw that there was no man, And wondered that there was no intercessor…”

Isaiah 59:16 7. “…for the children have come to birth, but there is no strength to bring them forth.”

Isaiah 37:3-4 8. “Why, when I came, was there no man? Why, when I called, was there none to answer? Is My hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem?”

Isaiah 50:2-7 9. “Woe to you…who drink wine…and anoint yourselves with the best ointments, but are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.”

Amos 6:6 10. “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, and will hold your hand…to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from prison…”

Isaiah 42:6-7 11. “…says the LORD to His anointed…whose right hand I have held…to subdue nations before him and loose the armor of kings, to open before him the doors, so that the gates will not be shut: I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the Lord, who call you by your name…”

Isaiah 45:1-3 12. “I have set watchman on your walls…they shall never hold their peace day or night…give Him no rest…”

Isaiah 62:1-12 13. “But if they are prophets, and if the word of the Lord is with them, let them now make intercession to the Lord…”

Jeremiah 27:18


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14. “Consider and call for the mourning women…and send for skillful wailing women…teach your daughter wailing…”

Jeremiah 9:17-20 15. “Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all…appointed to die…and plead the cause of the poor and needy.”

Proverbs 31:8-9 16. “Then you will call upon Me and go pray to Me, and I will listen to you, you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:12-13 17. “As for me, I will call upon God, And the LORD shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.”

Psalm 55:16-17 18. “…men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”

Luke 18:1 19. “Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Matthew 26:40,41 20. “Watch therefore, and pray always…”

Luke 21:36 21. “And the prayer of faith will save the sick…The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

James 5:15-16 22. “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving…”

Colossians 4:2 23. “I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men…”

1 Timothy 2:1 24. “Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.”

1 Timothy 5:5 25. “…praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…”

Ephesians 6:18 26. “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.”

1 Peter 4:7 27. “…rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly (to be in constant readiness) in prayer…”

Romans 12:12


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SECTION 2: INTERCESSION IN THE BIBLE

OLD TESTAMENT 1. ABRAHAM - Genesis 18:16-33

“Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. And Abraham came near and said, "Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?”

2. MOSES - Exodus 34:9

“So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped. Then he said, "If now I have found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us, even though we are a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance."

3. DEBORAH - Judges 4 & 5

“Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time. And she would sit (dwelt, inhabited, abode, remained, stayed) under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. Judges 5:1-2 Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying: "When leaders lead in Israel, When the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the LORD! Judges 5:6-9 "In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, In the days of Jael, The highways were deserted, And the travelers walked along the byways. Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose, Arose (carry out, establish, stir-up, ratify, impose, endured, become powerful, come on the scene) a mother in Israel. They chose new gods; Then there was war in the gates; Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel. My heart is with the rulers of Israel Who offered themselves willingly with the people. Bless the LORD…Awake, awake (be triumphant, be excited, rouse, stir-up, incite), Deborah! Awake, awake, sing a song! Arise, Barak, and lead your captives away, O son of Abinoam!”

4. SAMUEL - 1Samuel 12:17-18,23

"Is today not the wheat harvest? I will call to the LORD, and He will send thunder and rain, that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking a king for yourselves." So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel…Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.”


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5. NEHEMIAH - Nehemiah 4:7-9,19-22 “Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night. Then I said to the nobles, the rulers, and the rest of the people, "The work is great and extensive, and we are separated far from one another on the wall. "Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us." So we labored in the work, and half of the men held the spears from daybreak until the stars appeared. At the same time I also said to the people, "Let each man and his servant stay at night in Jerusalem, that they may be our guard by night and a working party by day."

6. DAVID - 1 Samuel 16:21

“So David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armorbearer (intercessor).”

7. ESTHER - Esther 4:14-7:3

"For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: "Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!…And on the second day, at the banquet of wine, the king again said to Esther, "What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!" Then Queen Esther answered and said, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request.”

8. DANIEL - Daniel 9: 20-22

“Now while I was speaking, (commune, sing, speak, talk), praying (intervene, mediate), and confessing my sin (throw down) and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication (fall prostrate, to lie down) before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God, yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill (wisdom, insight, comprehension, teach) to understand (discernment, meaning).”

NEW TESTAMENT 1. ANNA THE PROPHETESS – Luke 2:36,37

“Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served (servant, minister, worship) God with fastings and prayers (supplication, entreating, seeking, asking) night and day.”

2. JESUS - Hebrews 7:25-27

“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for


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His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. Heb 9:24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us… “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”

Romans 8:34 “For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”

Ephesians 2:18 “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus…

1 Timothy 2:5 3. HOLY SPIRIT - Romans 8:26-28

‘Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

4. EARLY CHURCH - Acts 1:14,12:5

“These all continued (steadfastly, constant, persevere and not faint, waited on) with one accord (one passion, compound word: river that rushes along in unison) in prayer (earnest prayer) and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers…And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness…Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.”

5. APOSTLE PAUL - Galatians 4:19; 1 Tim 2:1-5

“My little children, for whom I labor (to grow weary, tired and exhausted) in birth again until Christ is formed in you.” “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus…”

6. SAINTS - Revelation 5:8

“Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.”


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SECTION 3: DEFINING INTERCESSION

THE MEANING OF INTERCESSION 1. HEBREW WORDS

a. Hebrew 6293. paga`, paw-gah'; a prim. root; to impinge, by accident or violence, or (fig.) by importunity: -come (betwixt), cause to entreat, fall (upon), make intercession, intercessor, intreat, lay, light [upon], meet (together), pray, reach, run.

• to meet with God, asking him to meet with someone else • to reconcile • birthing • praise, warfare • hover • take hold of • enforce victory • representation • divine appointment • meet with forces of darkness

b. Hebrew 8104. shamar, shaw-mar'; a prim. root; prop. to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; gen. to protect, attend to, etc.:-beware, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep (-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch (-man).

• to build solid walls of protection • praying a hedge of protection • watchman

c. Hebrew 6419. palal paw-lal'; to intervene, interpose, pray; to mediate, judge; to intercede; to pray; to come between two parties.

• hold off judgement 2. GREEK WORDS

a. Greek 1793. entugchano, en-toong-khan'-o; from Grk 1722 and Grk 5177; to chance upon, i.e. (by impl.) confer with; by extens. to entreat (in favor or against): -deal with, make intercession.


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b. Greek 1783. enteuxis, ent'-yook-sis; from Grk 1793; an interview, i.e. (spec.) supplication: -intercession, prayer.

• to persist c. Greek 5241. huperentugchano, hoop-er-en-toong-khan'-o; from Grk 5228 and Grk 1793; to intercede in behalf of: -make intercession for.

• to stand between two c. Greek 5177. tugchano, toong-khan'-o; prob. for an obsol. tucho (for which the mid. of another alt. teucho [to make ready or bring to pass] is used in cert. tenses; akin to the base of Grk 5088 through the idea of effecting; prop. to affect; or (spec.) to hit or light upon (as a mark to be reached), i.e. (trans.) to attain or secure an object or end, or (intrans.) to happen (as if meeting with); but in the latter application only impers. (with Grk 1487), i.e. perchance; or (pres. part.) as adj. usual (as if commonly met with, with Grk 3756, extraordinary), neut. (as adv.) perhaps; or (with another verb) as adv. by accident (as it were): -be, chance, enjoy, little, obtain, X refresh...self, + special. Comp. Grk 5180.

• to effect change Intercession is the prayer of agreement with the Holy Spirit for divine intervention in the lives of others. QUOTATIONS ON INTERCESSION “A person is not a Christian if he does not pray for others. We must be imitators of our blessed Lord Jesus Christ on earth; He was preeminently the Intercessor.”

Charles Spurgeon “When we allow the Holy Spirit to intercede through us, our prayer joins the intercession of Christ Jesus in heaven and moves us out of our time-space dimension into God’s realm of eternity. We are probably closer to immortality during intercessory prayer than during any other occasion.”

Judson Cornwall “By intercession we boldly tell God what we desire for others. We seek to bring down blessings from God. We seek the power of eternal life with all its blessings upon one soul or perhaps upon hundreds and thousands. Intercession! Do you believe that this can be the holiest exercise of your boldness as God’s child? The Church should count intercession as one of the chief means of grace. She ought to seek above everything to cultivate in God’s children the power of an unceasing prayerfulness on behalf of the perishing world!”

Andrew Murray


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“You do not have a large measure of grace unless it prompts you to use your influence with God for others. If you have grace at all, and are not a mighty intercessor, then that grace must be but the size of a grain of mustard seed - a shriveled, ugly, puny thing. Now, if you sow seed you may be very feeble, but it is not your hand that puts the seed into the ground that produces the harvest; it is the vitality of the seed. And so in the prayer of faith. When you can plead a promise and drop that prayer into the ground with hope, your weakness shall not make it futile. Your prayer shall still prevail with God and bring down blessings from on high.”

Charles Spurgeon “Prayer and travail on the behalf of others works. These other things, such as laying on of hands, require the individual’s direct cooperation. But prevailing prayer overpowers the works of the devil - to the pulling down of strong holds.”

Kenneth E. Hagin “There is no power like that of intercession. The secret springs that move the puppets of earth - for kings and princes are often little more than that - are the prayers of God’s believing people. Oh, if the Lord makes you an intercessor, even if you cannot speak with others, you occupy a position that is second to none. God help you fill it well!”

Charles Spurgeon “Intercession is necessary in the fulfillment of God’s divine will. This does not mean that God is incapable of bringing His will to pass, but He has chosen to include us in the realization of His will. Therefore, those who enter a ministry of intercession actually become an integral part of the fulfillment of God’s plans and purposes.”

David Y. Cho “God chose, from the time of the Creation, to work on the earth through humans, not independent of them. He always has and always will, even at the cost of becoming one. Though God is sovereign and all-powerful, Scripture clearly tells us that He limited Himself, concerning the affairs of earth, to working through human beings.”

Dutch Sheets “We must understand that our sovereign God has for His own reasons so designed this world that much of what is truly His will He makes contingent on the attitudes and actions of human beings. He allows humans to make decisions that can influence history…Human inaction does not nullify the atonement, but human inaction can make the atonement ineffective for lost people.”

C. Peter Wagner


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TYPES OF PRAYER The New Testament indicates that there are at least five different types of prayer. Among these is the ministry of Intercession.

1. Persistent Prayer supplications… 2. Petition Prayer prayers… 3. Praise Prayer giving of thanks… 4. Priestly Prayer intercessions… 5. Power Prayer praying in the spirit… Jude 20; 1 Cor. 14:4,15

Prayer moves the hand of God in the affairs of men. It is not our convincing words that somehow change God’s mind in the matters of life but just the opposite; in times of prayer as we yield to the will of God and pray in accordance with His word we are changed, our minds renewed, our spirit refreshed and our purpose; for living refocused. We line up with His design and purpose, He does not line up with ours. The first goal of prayer should be personal humility, and from that posture of faith God is able to reveal His will and desire to our heart. As we then agree in prayer with the will of God, which is always confirmed through His Word, we will find our prayers to be effectual. WHAT IS INTERCESSION 1. SURROGATE PRAYER Praying for and on behalf of others, those who don’t, won’t or can’t

1 Timothy 2:1; Genesis 18:23-33; Luke 23:34; Acts 12:5; 1 Timothy 2:1-4 “And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.’"

Luke 22:31-32 2. PRIESTLY PRAYER Representing people before God and praying to cover their sins and release mercy toward them

1 Peter 2:5,9; Revelation 5:8; John 20:23; Hebrews 7:25 “and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Revelation 1:6 3. FERVENT PRAYER Effective, fervent and earnest prayer, prayer that doesn’t give up or prayer that persists

James 5:16; Acts 12:5 “And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

Luke 22:44


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4. WARFARE PRAYER Like a Patriot Missile air strike before the ground troops are sent in; Laser Prayer

Matthew18:18 "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Matthew 16:19 5. HARMONY PRAYER Like an Orchestra in harmony, everyone playing their part

Matthew 18:19 …“speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”

Ephesians 5:19

6. PROPHETIC PRAYER Praying with prophetic insight, revelation and anointing

Jeremiah 27:18 “Hear my prayer, O LORD, And let my cry come to You. Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble; Incline Your ear to me; In the day that I call, answer me speedily… My heart is stricken and withered like grass, So that I forget to eat my bread. Because of the sound of my groaning My bones cling to my skin… I lie awake, And am like a sparrow alone on the housetop… For I have eaten ashes like bread, And mingled my drink with weeping… You will arise and have mercy on Zion; For the time to favor her, Yes, the set time, has come… For the LORD shall build up Zion; He shall appear in His glory. He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, And shall not despise their prayer. This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the LORD...To hear the groaning of the prisoner, To release those appointed to death… They will perish, but You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed… And their descendants will be established before You."

Psalms 102:1-28 7. HOLY SPIRIT PRAYER Praying in agreement with the Holy Spirit, the will of God - 1 John 5:14; the Mind of the Spirit

Romans 8:26,27 “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

1 Corinthians 2:14 8. LABOR & TRAVAIL Spiritual labor and travail to birth and bring forth spiritual children

Galatians 4:19; Romans 8:23; Isaiah 66:8; 42:14; Jeremiah 30:6 "A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.”

John 16:21-24


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9. GAP-STANDING PRAYER Standing in the gap of the wall, making up a wall or hedge of protection for others

Ezekiel 22:30 "O Israel, your prophets are like foxes in the deserts. You have not gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the LORD.”

Ezekiel 13:4,5 10. WATCHMAN PRAYER Being a “Watchman” on the wall

Isaiah 62:6; Nehemiah 4:9-13; Isaiah 56:7-10; 2 Samuel 18:24; Ezekiel 33:6 “For thus has the Lord said to me: ‘Go, set a watchman, Let him declare what he sees.’ And he saw a chariot with a pair of horsemen, A chariot of donkeys, and a chariot of camels, And he listened earnestly with great care. Then he cried, ‘A lion, my Lord! I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime; I have sat at my post every night.’”

Isaiah 21:6-8 Two Purposes of a “Watchman on the wall” a. To watch for the enemy - Ezekiel 33:6 b. To watch for messengers (Word from God) - 2 Samuel 18: 24-32

Intercession is an action of faith in obedience, enabled by grace and motivated by love, a selfless demonstration of the heart of Jesus. As an intercessor we are most Christ-like. WHAT IS NOT INTERCESSION? 1. LOUDER PRAYER

"And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.”

Matthew 6:5 2. LONGER PRAYER

"Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."

Luke 20:47 3. MORE SPIRITUAL PRAYER

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith…”

Romans 12:2-6


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4. WEIRD PRAYER “For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him…”

Colossians 2:5-6 “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.”

1 Corinthians 14:37-40 5. MAN-INITIATED PRAYER

"And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.”

Matthew 6:7 6. YELLING AT THE DEVIL

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.”

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 7. A SELECTIVE SPIRITUAL GIFT

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

1 Peter 2:9 Intercession is not a spiritual gift but the calling of very believer. It is a discipline of faith in which we choose to participate and in the process grow in grace and skill.


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SECTION 4: THE MINISTRY OF INTERCESSION

STEREOTYPES OF INTERCESSION 1. Older women or retired saints 2. Peculiar people 3. Weirdness 4. Yelling and screaming at the devil 5. Laborious hours of travail and wailing NEW VISION FOR INTERCESSION 1. COUPLES INTERCEDING TOGETHER IN AGREEMENT

1 Peter 3:7 "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.”

Matthew 18:19 2. YOUNG PEOPLE INTERCEDING FOR THEIR GENERATION

Acts 13:36 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.”

Acts 2:17 3. MEN IN TRAVAIL OF SOULS

Jeremiah 30:6 “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting…”

1 Timothy 2:8 4. CHILDREN LEARNING TO INTERCEDE

Matthew 18:10 “…and said to Him, ‘Do You hear what these are saying?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Yes. Have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise'?’’”

Matthew 21:15,16 5. ENTIRE CONGREGATIONS - CORPORATE PRAYER

Acts 4:24; Acts 13:2,3 “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.”

Acts 12:5


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6. WORSHIP INTERCESSION John 4:24 “And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, ‘See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’"

Revelation 19:10 7. TARGET GROUPS - STRATEGIES OF PRAYER

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.”

1 Timothy 2:1-3 8. ACTS OF INTERCESSION

Acts 21:11 “Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.”

Acts 19:11 INDICATIONS THAT GOD IS PROMPTING YOU TO INTERCEDE 1. You feel a burden for other people 2. You feel led to pray for someone 3. You have sudden urges to pray in the Spirit 4. You are sensitive and prone to mood swings that affect your spirit 5. You find yourself saddened, grieving or weeping at unusual times and places 6. You experience an overwhelming sense of heaviness 7. You find yourself being easily agitated or overly sensitive 8. You awaken at odd hours of the night for no obvious reason 9. You have repeating descriptive dreams which you can remember 10. You discern the significance and symbolism of circumstances 11. You have a desire to pray more, but often don’t know how or what to pray 12. You read a book, go to a Seminar, or hear someone speak on intercession and it stirs your spirit HOW TO INTERCEDE 1. Maintain a strong personal prayer life - Matthew 6 2. Wait on the Lord and posture yourself in faith - Isaiah 40 3. Sense the prophetic anointing and stir yourself 4. Be in agreement with others and pray in unity 5. Flow with the Holy Spirit - intercession is initiated by the Holy Spirit 6. Pray in the Spirit - begin in the faith 7. Pray the Scriptures 8. Follow an anointed leader’s direction or strategy 9. Save strange manifestations for private times


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FOR WHAT DO WE INTERCEDE? Strategic intercession should focus primarily on vital Holy Spirit revealed issues as they relate to the population of the local church, city, nation and world. The intercessor should maintain their focus on the bigger picture and priorities, especially when praying together with others. 1. Harvest - laborers, resources, creative means 2. Reconciliation - People to God and people to people 3. Extend blessing and mercy on people, not the judgment of God 4. Primary issues of concern for the local church as they relate to people 5. Protection against specific evil influences that might be hindering God’s purpose 6. Power and grace for church leaders and workers Intercession is made on behalf of people not things. The ultimate goal of intercession is people reconciled to God.


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SECTION 5: INSIGHTS FOR CORPORATE INTERCESSION

Corporate intercession or the prayer of agreement “multiples” the power of God or empowers the power. As the people of God come into unity interceding as “one body” and reflect the identity of Jesus, the Intercessor, their spiritual authority multiples in bringing down spiritual strongholds and demonic forces and releasing the power of God over individuals, communities and nations. The power of agreement or “unity in the Spirit” is more than individuals meeting together for a common purpose or unification around a cause, but it is the supernatural joining of hearts and minds activated in prophetic prayer that becomes “one voice” with Jesus before the throne of God in intercession. THE POWER OF UNITY IN INTERCESSION 1. COMMANDED BLESSING

“ Behold, how good (benefit, welfare, prosperity, happiness) and how pleasant (delightful, sweet, lovely, agreeable, beautiful (physical)) it is For brethren to dwell together in unity (unitedness, together, alike)! It is like the precious oil (anointing of the Holy Spirit) upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron High Priest, intercessor for the people), Running down on the edge of his garments (consecrating the whole body, the church). It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion (the church); For there the LORD commanded (ordained, appointed) the blessing (prosperity, a gift, present, treaty of peace)--Life (living, alive, flowing, fresh (of water), lively, active (of man), revival, renewal) forevermore.”

Psalm 133:1-3 2. EFFECTUAL PRAYER

“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

Matthew 18:16-20 agreement: Strong's Greek Number 4856: sumphoneo, soom-fo-neh'-o ; Root: from 4859; Part of Speech: v ; Vine's Word(s): Agree, Agreement; Usage Notes: 1) to agree together 2) to agree with one in making a bargain.


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3. MULTIPLIED EFFECTIVENESS “You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you. Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you.”

Leviticus 26:7-8 “How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight…”

Deuteronomy 32:30 4. PEOPLE WILL BELIEVE

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one (numeral), as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one…”

John 17:20-22 5. UNITY OF PURPOSE

“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing (be in full agreement), and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”

1 Corinthians 1:10 6. UNITED HEART

“Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.”

Acts 4:32 7. COOPERATION OR WORKING TOGETHER AS A WINNING TEAM

“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”

Acts 1:14 accord: Strong's Greek Number 3661: homothumadon hom-oth-oo-mad-on' Usage Notes: KJV - 1) with one mind, with one accord, with one passion. A unique Greek word, used 10 of its 12 New Testament occurrences in the Book of Acts, helps us understand the uniqueness of the Christian community. Homothumadon is a compound of two words meaning to "rush along" and "in unison". The image is almost musical; a number of notes are sounded which, while different, harmonise in pitch and tone. As the instruments of a great concert under the direction of a concert master, so the Holy Spirit blends together lives.

CORPORATE INTERCESSION PRAYER STRATEGY 1. THE PURPOSE To intercede for individuals as represented by our church, community, nation and world. The time invested in intercession should be primarily devoted to praying for people to be reconciled to God and for equipping people to become ministers of reconciliation. If the intercession ministry becomes self centered and introverted, focused only on the nagging problems of the congregation, the participants will eventually become bored, frustrated and discouraged. It is


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important for the leader to consistently encourage the intercessors with testimonies of change, salvations, healings and answered prayer.

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us (intercession): we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.”

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (NKJV) 2. THE PATTERN To practice a Biblically principled pattern of intercession, not just a subjective interpretation. The majority of time, in corporate intercession, should be spent in varied prayer and not in non-biblical distracting activities. It is the ploy of the devil to keep us from effectual prayer and mesmerized with ineffectual religious traditions or in a charismatic playground. One important key, when interpreting and applying scripture, is to major on the major doctrines and minor on minor areas of teaching.

‘Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.”

2 Timothy 2:14-16 3. THE PLAN To systematically wait on God, for the prophetic direction of the Holy Spirit, as to how to pray for given requests and needs. In these days of the prophetic anointing and outpouring of the Holy Spirit many Christians are enamored with the gifts of prophesy and the ministry of the prophet in the 21st century. One significant expression of prophesy, in the local church, is intercession and the understanding that true intercession is initiated by the Holy Spirit and is prophetic in nature. The goal of the leader, of corporate intercession, is to direct the prayer time with prophetic revelation and guide the group in anointed effectual prayer.

“'But if they are prophets, and if the word of the LORD is with them, let them now make intercession to the LORD of hosts…”

Jeremiah 27:18 (NKJV) “Now because of this King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, prayed and cried out to heaven.”

2 Chronicles 32:20 (NKJV) “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly…”

James 5:17 (NKJV) 4. THE PROCEDURE To instruct, assist and provide strategic guidelines to equip intercessors for success in corporate intercession. Guidelines should be simple and reflect the spiritual maturity level of the group. They should be consistently reviewed if the group is open to new participants. Intercession, because of its subjective nature can attract people who want an excuse for weird behavior in the name of the Holy Spirit. There must be some level of control exercised in order to maintain unity and a clear theme of prayer. The greater spiritual maturity in a group the


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more liberty can be allowed. If the leader does not exert some direction the group will become disjointed and limit their effectiveness. We give our intercessor license to be weird at home in private but not in the corporate gatherings of prayer. HOW TO INTERCEDE CORPORATELY 1. BRING YOUR DAILY PETITIONS BEFORE THE LORD faithfully in private prayer. A significant hindrance to successful corporate intercession is the need of individuals to pray for themselves including the need for repentance, reconciliation, grace, healing, etc. 2. JOIN TOGETHER CORPORATELY with other believers at a particular place and time of prayer. Private intercession is extremely important but the church that comprehends the value and significance of unity and agreement in prayer multiplies their efforts and answers. Corporate anointing cannot be reproduced individually and requires the cooperation of faithful and faith-filled persons.

"Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.” 2 Chronicles 7:15

“Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations."

Isaiah 56:7 “And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”

Acts 1:13-14 “Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.”

Acts 3:1 “And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.”

Acts 16:13 3. STIR UP THE PROPHETIC ANOINTING by waiting on God and praying in the Spirit.

“Then Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whose heart the Lord had put wisdom, everyone whose heart was stirred, to come and do the work.”

Exodus 36:2 …“for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority.”

2 Corinthians 9:2 “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Romans 8:26-27


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“Therefore I remind you to stir up (to kindle up, inflame one's mind, strength, zeal) the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NKJV) “And let us consider one another in order to stir up (provoke, incite) love and good works…”

Hebrews 10:24 (NKJV) “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),”

2 Peter 3:1 (NKJV) 4. DISCERN THE “THEME” of intercession or the “mind of the Spirit” for that particular prayer time.

a. Discover the “vein of gold.” b. Allow a designated leader to set the pace and establish the agenda. c. Stay within the boundaries of the Word of God, instructing the

participants that the Word of God is never in conflict with the will of God. d. Stay within the boundaries of church prayer strategies and guidelines.

5. PRAY ALONG THE THEME as quickened by the Holy Spirit.

a. Allow for Holy Spirit direction in your prayer strategy. b. Follow the “vein of gold” until you exhaust it, while staying with the

emphasis of the Spirit, in the “middle of the river” and not sidetracked into tributaries or distractions.

6. MAINTAIN THE FOCUS OF AGREEMENT as directed by a prophetic leader.

a. Be cognizant of prayer postures: standing, sitting, kneeling, etc. b. Designate the agenda or direction as guided by the Holy Spirit. c. Encourage cooperation and response from all those involved, including:

Praying in the Spirit Praying according to a similar theme Worshiping Times of silence and meditation Praying a scripture Giving thanks Praying for a group, city, church, or nation Prayer walking Shouting, clapping, etc. Statements of faith, chants Small group prayer Holding hands in agreement

7. PRAY FROM A HEART OF COMPASSION, MERCY, BURDEN AND HUMILITY.

a. Do not use intercession to manipulate. b. Do not curse or pray judgment on someone’s life.


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THE EXPRESSIONS OF INTERCESSION IN THE LOCAL CHURCH There are a variety of ways that intercession can be exercised in the local church. 1. Scheduled Church Prayer Times: Prayer for the service including, the congregation, church staff, ushers, teachers, door greeters, etc. 2. Prayer Watches: Established daily prayer times at the church 3. Special Intercession Groups: Designated to prayer for a specific ministry 4. Pastor’s Appointed Intercessors: Appointed group praying for Pastoral Staff 5. Crises Prayer Chains: Emergencies 6. Target Groups: for schools, neighborhoods, political leaders 7. International Intercession Groups: Missionaries and nations


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SECTION 6: QUALIFICATIONS OF INTERCESSION

QUALIFICATIONS OF AN INTERCESSOR 1. Love for God 2. Love for People 3. Love for the Pastors 4. Love for the local church 5. Pure of heart 6. No hidden agendas or motives 7. Righteous and holy 8. Clear Conscience 9. No hidden sin 10. No spirit of manipulation or control 11. Submitted to Godly authority 12. A member of the local church THINGS TO AVOID IN INTERCESSION 1. Trying to impress others with your prayers 2. Selfish prayers 3. Changing the subject drastically 4. Preaching and exhorting in your prayers 5. Interrupting someone else who is praying 6. Long prayers 7. Manipulative prayers 8. Weird emotional prayers 9. Old habit patterns 10. Religious habits 11. Dominating the prayer time 12. Praying to the devil


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GUIDELINES FOR INTERCESSORS 1. FULFILL THE CHURCH MINISTRY TRAKS

a. Membership: A minimum of six months b. Discipleship Class: Basic Doctrine class c. Builders Training: The Church Ministry Philosophy d. Active Prayer Team Member: Altar worker training completed e. Intercessors Training: Intercession 101 class

2. COMMITTED TO CHURCH ATTENDANCE AND TO TITHING It is difficult for a person to be sensitive and discerning regarding the life and ministries of the church without being committed, involved and immersed in the ongoing spiritual life and vision of the church. Hearing the regular preaching of the Word, to the church, and receiving systematic teaching is necessary to maintaining spiritual sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s work in that church. 3. COMMITTED TO A REGULAR AND CONSISTENT PRAYER LIFE

a. Daily Personal Prayer b. The Church Corporate Prayer Times

4. COMMITTED TO THE FOLLOWING PERSONAL STANDARDS

a. Discretion and Confidentiality Issues, emergencies, crisis, names and details are not to be repeated to anyone outside of the prayer time. Any violation of this standard would not only grieve the Holy Spirit but also jeopardize the church and therefore would result in dismissal from this ministry.

b. Objective Wisdom for Subjective Ministry In the process of learning to receive words from the Lord, we are learning to discern subjective revelation. Sometimes in compassion for the situation we desire God to move in a certain way and what we feel is really our own thoughts. Sometimes it is the deceptive voice of the devil working in the lusts or fears of our own heart. Sometime, we are influenced by people or culture around us. Sometimes we ate too much pizza and sometimes we interpret the voice of God incorrectly in our attempt to find an answer. Not everything you hear from God is to be shared. Not everything of God is for now. It is vital to use wisdom as to the source, the message, the timing and the group.

c. Focus and Vision Our vision for these prayer times is to focus primarily on the larger issues of the church and not get sidetracked by detailed petitions and multiple personal requests.

d. Faith Conversation As good stewards of the intercessory ministry we should always keep our conversation and language positive, full of faith and confident in the Lord. It is easy to drift into unedifying conversation based on knowledge given and find ourselves trying to determine


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the mind of the Spirit with the mind of men. We must avoid the snares of gossip, inadvertent slander or carnal reasoning. Our calling is to intercession not to administrative strategy. Any strategic insights received in prayer should be shared or given to the Pastors of the church for their prayerful consideration and implementation. Details and revelation given to the intercessor should not be shared with others who are not part of the problem or the solution.

e. Self Control An intercessory prayer time with other gifted believers is not a time for strange manifestations or weird demonstrations in the name of intercession. Often, unusual expressions and emotional manifestations accompany serious and intense prayer and spiritual warfare. However, we ask intercessors in this group to reserve that for private expression and exercise self-control in the meetings, in order to remain focused on the real issues and not get distracted. We also ask the intercessors to refrain from exercising any kind of prophetic ministry with the exception of prayer during intercessory prayer times, including personal prophesy and personal directive-type prayers.

f. Recognition not Competition Corporate prayer times can, at times, be frustrating because of the variety of manners and methods in which people pray. It is important to recognize the various giftings and personalities God sets into the church and not compare ourselves among ourselves or somehow feel spiritual peer pressure to conform. We are not in competition with one another, rather we are in recognition of one another’s giftings.

Other Intercession Resources:

Prayer Points - Weekly published prayer needs Regular Instruction for Intercessors - Weekly in conjunction with a corporate prayer time

WARNINGS TO INTERCESSORS 1. Do not manipulate with your prayers 2. Do not seek men’s approval in your praying 3. Do not allow selfish ambition to taint your prayers 4. Do not pray your own agenda, plans or try to manipulate the Pastor(s) 5. Do not harbor bitterness or resentment toward anyone, especially your Pastors 6. Do not allow your sensitivity to bring discouragement or heaviness to your spirit but rejoice in the Lord always 7. Judge and try the spirits 8. Avoid extreme subjectivism and mysticism


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9. Any strange or bizarre behavior in prayer should be reserved for your private closet times in prayer 10. It is not the task of an intercessor to set the doctrine, vision or strategy of a church, rather to support and pray for God’s strategy to be revealed to the Pastors. Prophetic people or intercessors should not give direction but rather confirm it. 11. Do not attempt to take on principalities and powers over your city or region alone. This is not your place nor do you have the authority to do this. Binding and loosing should be exercised with caution, wisdom and discernment.


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SECTION 7: THE CALL FOR INTERCESSORS

THE CALL OF THE SPIRIT IN DAYS OF REVIVAL 1. PRAYER PRECEDES REVIVAL & HARVEST

…"if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:14 2. PRAY FOR RAIN IN THE DAYS OF THE LATTER RAINS

“Ask the LORD for rain In the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, Grass in the field for everyone.”

Zechariah 10:1 3. THE BIRTHING OF SOULS COMES THROUGH INTERCESSION

“Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children.”

Isaiah 66:8 4. THE CHURCH IS PROTECTED THROUGH INTERCESSION

“I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, And give Him no rest till He establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”

Psalm 127:1; Isaiah 62:6 5. THE SPIRIT’S CALL TO PRAYER, FASTING AND INTERCESSION

“Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Romans 8:18-27 6. WORLDWIDE PRAYER MOVEMENT


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A CALL FOR INTERCESSORS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY 1. CLOSET PRAYER - Daily Personal Prayer

"But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

Matthew 6:6 a. Praying for your own needs daily b. Private times of Intercession c. Family Prayer Times

2. TEMPLE PRAYER - Corporate Prayer Times

“Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour…”

Acts 3:1 a. Weekends & Midweek All-Church Prayer times b. Special All-Church Prayer & Fasting times

3. WALL PRAYER - Prayer Watches

“I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent…”

Nehemiah 4:9,13; Isaiah 62:6 a. Prayer Watches at the Church b. Praying with other members of the Church c. Staying focused on the Prayer Points of the Church d. Special Prayer Watches

4. FIELD PRAYER - Assigned Target Groups

"Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." Matt. 9:38

a. Generation - Youth & Children b. Church Pastors & Families c. Pastors of Other Churches in our City d. Harvest & Evangelism e. Business & Finances f. Marriages & Families g. Social Service Ministries h. Global Missions i. Target Groups for Specific Needs


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SECTION 8: INTERCEDING FOR THE UNSAVED

It is the purpose that “the son of God was manifest,” the reason Jesus Christ came to earth, that all people might be saved. It has been God’s plan from the fall of man to reconcile people to Himself. As the church we have the awesome privilege and responsibility to “team” with the Holy Spirit to bring about the redemptive purposes of God on the earth. As a team, He is the coach (Jesus), manager (God) and referee (Holy Spirit - He wrote the rule book) and the church the players. Our primary role, as a player, is to meet with the “coach” to study His strategy (no two battles in history have employed the exact strategy) and be thoroughly and properly equipped. Because our warfare is not with “flesh and blood” but with “principalities and powers” we must learn to war in the Spirit, recognizing that prayer and intercession are the “playing fields” in which we exercise the strategies of God, equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit and destined to win! GOD’S DESIRE THAT ALL BE SAVED

“…I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

1 Timothy 2:1-4 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise…but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

2 Peter 3:9 "Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'”

Ezekiel 33:11 STRATEGY OF INTERCESSION FOR THE UNSAVED 1. PRAY A “HEDGE” around their life, keeping them from the attack of the enemy and negative influences.

Nehemiah 2:17-18, Job 1:10, 1 Peter 1:5


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2. PRAY THAT GOD WOULD LIFT THE VEIL so their spiritual understanding can be illuminated or enlightened by the gospel.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 3. PRAY THE BLINDERS OFF THEIR MIND: lies, deception, wrong thinking.

2 Corinthians 3:13-16, Ephesians 1:18-20 4. PRAY AND LOCK OUT the spirit of pride or self-sufficiency.

Matthew 11:25-27 5. PRAY AND UNLOCK them from the snare or stronghold of the devil, that they may understand the truth and come to their senses.

2 Timothy 2:23-26 , Luke 15:17-20, 1 Corinthians 15:34, Ephesians 5:13-14, Psalms 124:7, Acts 26:18, Colossians 1:13-14, Isaiah 42:6-7

6. PRAY FOR “MESSENGERS OF TRUTH” to touch their life.

1 Corinthians 1:18-25, Isaiah 61:1-3 7. PRAY FOR A HUNGER FOR “TRUTH”.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10, John 8:32, John 14:6, John 17:17, Matthew 5:6 8. PRAY THAT THEY WILL BE DRAWN TO CHRIST.

John 12:32, John 6:44


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SECTION 9: SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY IN INTERCESSION

DEFINING SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY “When we realize that the authority that belongs to Christ also belongs to individual members of the Body of Christ and is available to us, our lives will be revolutionized!”

Kenneth E. Hagin Definition of “Authority” - (Webster’s) Power or right to command or act; dominion; control; a person exercising power or command: a expert in a field to support a fact, opinion, action, etc.

Authority: Strong's Greek Number 1849 Greek word: exousia ex-oo-see'-ah Root: from 1832 (in the sense of ability) Vine's Word(s): Authority, Jurisdiction, Liberty, Power, Right, Rightly 1) power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases 1a) leave or permission 2) physical and mental power 2a) the ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises 3) the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege) 4) the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others an obeyed) 4a) universally 4a1) authority over mankind 4b) specifically 4b1) the power of judicial decisions 4c1) a thing subject to authority or rule 4c1a) jurisdiction 4c2) one who possesses authority.

1. SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY ORIGINATES IN GOD.

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.”

Matthew 28:18-20 2. SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY IS DELEGATED FROM GOD AND THE INHERITANCE OF EVERY BELIEVER.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong (be empowered through your union with Him) in the Lord and in the power (authority) of His might.”

Ephesians 6:10-18 “Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.”

Luke 9:1


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"Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

Luke 10:19 “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power (authority) toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power (in us and through us) which He worked in Christ When He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places…”

Ephesians 1:17-20 “So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’”

John 20:21-23 “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places (gave us joint authority with Him) in Christ Jesus,”

Ephesians 2:1-6 “But he who is joined (glued or fastened) to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”

1 Corinthians 6:17 3. SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY IS ACTIVATED IN OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD. WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN ALL AUTHORITY WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF HIS WORD, WILL AND PURPOSE.

“For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.”

Romans 5:19 "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep (obey) My commandments.”

John 14:14-15 "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you… You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”

John 15:7,16 “And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.”

1 John 3:22 “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

1 John 5:14-15 “Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained (bound).”

2 Tim 2:8-9


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"And see, now I go in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, "except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”

Acts 20:22-24 4. SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY IS DELEGATED TO THOSE UNDER AUTHORITY.

“Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, "for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.” Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.”

Luke 7:1-10 “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?”

Romans 6:16 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Ephesians 6:1-12 “Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you. Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.”

Titus 2:15-3:1-2 “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”

Hebrews 13:17 “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,”

1 Peter 3:1


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“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.”

Romans 13:1-5 “What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.” 1 Corinthians 9:18-26

“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.”

1 Corinthians 15:22-28 “For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men's labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere…”

2 Corinthians 10:14-15 …“and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption…”

2 Peter 2:10-12 “Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’”

Jude 1:8-9


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5. WE EXERCISE SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY BY FAITH NOT FEELING. OUR AUTHORITY IS IN THE POWER OF THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST NOT OUR ABILITY TO BELIEVE.

“Be sober (self-controlled), be vigilant (a watchman); because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (in fear and unbelief). Resist him, steadfast in the (your) faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered (choosing God’s will and denying yourself) a while, perfect (mend), establish (set you in the right way), strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

1 Peter 5:8-11 6. OUR SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY IS HINDERED THROUGH IGNORANCE OF SATAN’S DEVICES. “To the degree we are ignorant of the way our adversary thinks and operates - of his plan, plots, schemes and devices - to that degree he will gain on us, prey on us, defraud us of what is ours and have or hold the greater portion.”

Dutch Sheets …“lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

2 Corinthians 2:11 “Power never was and never will be the issue between God and Satan. Authority was the issue - the authority Satan had obtained through Adam. Jesus did not come to get back any power, nor to remove Satan’s power. He came to regain the authority Adam lost to the serpent and break his headship over the earth.”

Dutch Sheets "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

Luke 10:19 “The power that is in you is greater than the power that is in the world, because the power that backs our authority is greater than that which backs our enemies. Our job is to enforce His victory. His victory belongs to us, but we are to carry it out.”

Kenneth E. Hagin “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

1 John 4:4 “Finally, my brethren, be strong (be empowered through your union with Him) in the Lord and in the power (authority) of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand…praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…”

Ephesians 6:10-18


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USING THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM “Intercession, according to our definition, involves two very different activities. One is a reconciling, the other is a separating. One is a tearing away - a disuniting, the other a joining to - a uniting. This is what Christ did through His work of intercession, and it’s what we do in our continuation of it.”

Dutch Sheets “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock (rock of revelation, the word of God)…I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail (be victorious) against it. ‘And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be (or have been) bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be (or have been) loosed in heaven.’ Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’ Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.’”

Matt 16:13-28 1. THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM ARE IN JESUS CHRIST

key: Strong's Greek Number 2807 1) a key 1a) since the keeper of the keys has the power to open and to shut 1b) metaph. in the NT to denote power and authority of various kinds kingdom: Strong's Greek Number 0932 1) royal power, kingship, dominion, rule 1a) not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom 1c) of the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah's kingdom bind: Strong's Greek Number 1210 1) to bind tie, fasten 1a) to bind, fasten with chains, to throw into chains (to lock with chains) loose: Strong's Greek Number 3089 2) to loose one bound, i.e. to unbind, release from bonds, set free “The key of the house of David (the church) I will lay on his (Jesus) shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open.”

Isaiah 22:22 "I am He (Jesus) who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”

Revelation 1:18


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“For the LORD shall build up Zion; He shall appear in His glory. He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, And shall not despise their prayer. This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the LORD. For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary; From heaven the LORD viewed the earth, To hear the groaning of the prisoner, To release (to open a door) those appointed to death…”

Psalms 102:16-20 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed (S#3089) the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.”

Acts 2:22-24 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken (S#3089) down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.”

Ephesians 2:13-16 “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy (S#3089) the works of the devil.”

1 John 3:8 “The key of the house of David (the church) I will lay on his (Jesus) shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open.”

Isaiah 22:22 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." ' "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens": "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”

Revelation 3:6-8 2. UTILIZING THE KEYS IN FASTING

“Is it a fast that I have chosen, A day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, And to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, And an acceptable day to the LORD? Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose (to open, free) the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke?”

Isaiah 58:5-6 3. UTILIZING THE KEYS IN UNITY OR THE POWER OF AGREEMENT

"Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be (has been) bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be (has been) loosed in heaven. Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."

Matthew 18:18-20


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4. UTILIZING THE KEYS TO LOCK-OUT OR BIND THE ENEMY "If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”

Matthew 12:26-30 "No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.”

Mark 3:27 “Therefore submit to God. Resist (to set one's self against, to withstand, oppose) the devil and he will flee from you.”

James 4:7 “So shall they fear The name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard (to attack) against him. The Redeemer will come to Zion, And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," Says the LORD. "As for Me," says the LORD, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants," says the LORD, "from this time and forevermore."

Isaiah 59:19-21 5. UTILIZING THE KEYS TO UNLOCK OR LOOSE PEOPLE FROM SIN, INFIRMITIES, DISEASE AND DEMONIC STRONGHOLDS

“The Lord then answered him and said, "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound--think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?" And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.”

Luke 13:15-17 “Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him. And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened (S#1210)." Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.”

Mark 7:32-35 “So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

John 20:21-23 “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy (unlock) the works of the devil.”

1 John 3:8 …"how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing (set free, unlock) all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

Acts 10:38


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6. UTILIZING THE KEYS TO BUILD HEDGES AND STAND IN THE GAP "So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads," says the Lord GOD.”

Ezekiel 22:30-31 “Therefore He said that He would destroy them, Had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach, To turn away His wrath, lest He destroy them…”

Psalms 106:23 “Then Moses pleaded with the LORD his God, and said: "LORD, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, 'He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, 'I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.' So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.”

Exodus 32:11-14 “Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.”

Nehemiah 4:7-9 “He who digs a pit will fall into it, And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.”

Ecclesiastes 10:8 “And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; And break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.”

Isaiah 5:5 “Why have You broken down her hedges, So that all who pass by the way pluck her fruit?”

Psalms 80:12 “You have broken down all his hedges; You have brought his strongholds to ruin.”

Psalms 89:40


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intercession 101 - pastor wendell · 2017. 5. 4. · us until we give up and quit praying. our...

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