Lord of the Breakthrough
--
A Teaching on Intercession
By Bart Nelson
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Lord of
the Breakthrough
As we jump into this study, here
are some verses and definitions of break through:
Gen. 28:14 And your seed shall be
as the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west, and
to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in you and in your seed
shall all the families of the earth be blessed. (Here, spread abroad has the
same meaning as break through).
Gen. 38:29 And it came to pass, as
he drew back his hand that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How
have you broken forth? This breach be upon you:
therefore his name was called Pharez.
Breach: gap, breaking forth, in, bursting
forth, outburst, and broken wall
2 Sam. 5:20 And David came to Baalperazim,
and David smote them there, and said, The LORD has broken forth upon my
enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of
that place Baalperazim. (Lord of the breakthrough).
Break forth: break or burst away,
down, forth, in, into, open, out (violently), over, in pieces, through, up,
upon (from womb, limits or enclosure) increase, abroad, pressed, compelled,
make a breach in, increase, to use violence, to spread, distribute
Baal-perazim = "lord of the
breaks" 1) the site of a victory of David over the Philistines, and of a
great destruction of their images; also called 'Mount Perazim'
2 Chr. 26:3 Sixteen years old was
Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His
mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 4 And he did that which
was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father
Amaziah did. 5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding
in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to
prosper. 6 And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and broke down
the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built
cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines. 7 And God helped him against
the Philistines, and against the Arabians that dwelt in Gurbaal, and the
Mehunims.
Is. 54:1 Sing, O barren, you that
did not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you that
did not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate
than the children of the married wife, says the LORD. 2 Enlarge the place of
your tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of your habitations: spare
not, lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes; 3 For you shall break
forth on the right hand and on the left; and your seed shall inherit the
Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
Mic. 2:13 The breaker is
come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the
gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the
LORD on the head of them.
Now is the time of break through!
God is the Lord of the Breakthrough. We need to press in, to 'pray through' so
to speak, until the answer comes. The answer is nigh, it is very close, but we
must press on to the revealing of it. Often we give up just before the answer
comes. We're frustrated, tired, discouraged, whatever, and we let down our
guard, we quit the fight, we step down, step back from the battle, Heb. 10.22
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having
our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our
bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we
profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may
spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together,
as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all
the more as you see the Day approaching. 32 But recall the former days in
which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with
sufferings: 33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and
tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so
treated; 34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted
the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring
possession for yourselves in heaven. 35 Therefore do not cast away
your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so
that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
37 “For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no
pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of
those who believe to the saving of the soul.
The Lord is just in front of us.
How sad if we were about to have the answer in our grasp, only to have it elude
us because we quit. It is truly darkest before the dawn. Labor is toughest just
before the baby is born. Often the battle is toughest before it turns and the
victory is won.
Travailing
Prayer
It is quite interesting that in
these verses about break through that it talks about giving birth and battling,
about crying out and worship. This is not coincidence. Are you at a place in
your life (and who amongst us is not) that you are birthing something or are
battling something, if not many things? This word is for you. Press in, press
on, the battle is the Lord's, but He chooses to use us in the process. Don't
give up or give in.
The title of this teaching is Lord
of the Breakthrough -- A Teaching on Intercession. The ministry of intercession
is similar to evangelism in that many would say they don't have the gift, yet
God has called all of us to intercede on behalf of others. It may not be your
primary ministry or calling, but we are all called to it. Many equate gifts of
prophecy with intercession and I would agree. There are 3 different prophetic
gifts, motivational/personality from Rom. 12, manifestation from 1 Cor. 12, and
the office gift from Eph. 4. Again, you don't have to function in one of these
gifts to intercede, but most of those who we would call intercessors most
likely function in one or more of them. This break through process is what the
life of prayer is all about. The Lord births a need in us and we labor until we
give birth or break through. Just like labor, this process can affect each one
quite differently and different 'children' can come forth differently, but the
bottom line is that we dare not give up until the baby is born, or it might
die.
If we want to intercede
effectively, it's as if we take on the issue of the one we are interceding in behalf
of. In other words, we pray as if we were them to our God. This is much
different from shopping list prayers, this is personal. Often, intercessors actually
sense what the other is going through, even though they've never met, are
across the world from each other, and at times are only alerted to the need by
Holy Spirit.
Here is a list of other
travail-like words and verses to help make the point:
Agony - 42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup
away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” 43 Then an angel
appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony,
He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood
falling down to the ground.
45 When He rose up from prayer,
and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.
Travail - Is. 21.2 A grievous vision is
declared unto me; the treacherous dealer deals treacherously, and the spoiler
spoils. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to
cease. 3 Therefore are my loins filled
with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travails:
I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it. 43.1
(Also quoted in Gal. 4.27) Sing, O barren, you that did not bear; break forth
into singing, and cry aloud, you that did not travail with child: for
more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife,
says the LORD. 2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the
curtains of your habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy
stakes; 3For you shall break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy
seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
Jer. 4.31 For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the
anguish as of her that brings forth her first child, the voice of the daughter
of Zion, that bewails, that spreads her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my
soul is wearied because of murderers. Mic. 4. 9 Now why do you cry out aloud?
Is there no king in you? Is your counselor perished? For pangs have taken you
as a woman in travail. 10 Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter
of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shall you go forth out of the
city, and you shall dwell in the field, and thou shall go even to Babylon;
there shall you be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem you from the hand of
your enemies. 5.3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which
travails has brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall
return unto the children of Israel. Gal. 4.9 My little children, of whom I travail
in birth again until Christ be formed in you.
Crying Out - Ex. 2. 23 Now it happened in the
process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned
because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up
to God because of the bondage. 24 So God heard their groaning, and God
remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 2 Sam.
22.4-8I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be
saved from my enemies. “When the waves of death surrounded me, the floods of
ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of
death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried
out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry entered
His ears. “Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven quaked
and were shaken, because He was angry. 2 Chron. 20.9 ‘If disaster comes upon
us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and
in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You
in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’ Ps. 34.17-18 The righteous cry
out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The
Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a
contrite spirit. Heb. 5.7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up
prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was
able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear. 41Now as
He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known,
even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But
now they are hidden from your eyes.
Pour Out - 12 And it happened, as she continued
praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. 13 Now Hannah spoke in her
heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought
she was drunk. 14 So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your
wine away from you!” 15 But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a
woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink,
but have poured out my soul before the Lord. 16 Do not consider your
maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief
I have spoken until now.” 17 Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the
God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” 18 And she
said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her
way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
Wrestle/Strive - Gen. 32.24 Then Jacob was left
alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Mt. 11.12 And
from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers
violence, and the violent take it by force. Rom. 15.30 Now I beg you, brethren,
through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive
together with me in prayers to God for me. Eph. 6.18 praying always with
all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this
end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—19 and for
me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make
known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains;
that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Col. 2.1 For I want you to
know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for
as many as have not seen my face in the flesh. Col. 4.12 Epaphras, who is one
of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you
in prayers, that you may stand perfect and £complete in all the will of God.
You may have experienced things
like this before, and without instruction or someone around that understood,
you may have condemned yourself or had others condemn you, but no more. You may
have condemned others who acted strangely while interceding, but again, no
more. This travailing like prayer is not only normal, it is quite desirable.
Revival will not come without it. The great revivalist, Charles Finney had a
man who entered towns before him to pray like this. He saw great results, as
you may know. What is less known, it that he quit traveling once this man died.
He knew he would not have the revival without him like he had with him. May the
same be said of you and I!!
To intercede means (from Encarta):
from inter between + cedere to go: to intervene between parties with a view to
reconciling differences : MEDIATE, 1. plead for somebody: to plead with
somebody in authority on behalf of somebody else, especially somebody who is to
be punished for something 2. Speak for somebody: to speak in support of
somebody involved in a dispute 3. Mediate in a dispute: to attempt to settle a
dispute between others. From Strong's Heb. 6983 entreat, pray, supplicate,
plead. From Strong's Heb. 6293 fall, meet, reach, intercession, entreat, join,
to strike, to make attack, to reach the mark.
A Word
of the Lord to Me
The Lord gave me a word recently
that really applies here: Zeph. 3.10 From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My
worshipers, the daughter of My dispersed ones, shall bring My offering. 11 In
that day you shall not be shamed for any of your deeds in which you transgress
against Me; for then I will take away from your midst those who rejoice in your
pride, and you shall no longer be haughty in My holy mountain. 12 I will leave
in your midst a meek and humble people, and they shall trust in the name of the
Lord. 14 Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your
heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! 15 The Lord has taken away your judgments, He
has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you
shall see disaster no more. 16 In that
day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be
weak. 17 The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will
rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will
rejoice over you with singing.” 18 “I will gather those who sorrow over the appointed
assembly, who are among you, to whom its reproach is a burden. 19 Behold, at
that time I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame, and
gather those who were driven out; I will appoint them for praise and fame in
every land where they were put to shame. 20 At that time I will bring you back,
even at the time I gather you; for I will give you fame and praise Among all
the peoples of the earth, when I return your captives before your eyes,” Says
the Lord. The word continued, "When you have a setback, don’t take a step
back, get ready for your comeback!"
Intercession
Scriptures
Here are some other scriptures
that can help guide us in our intercession…
.
2 Chron. 7.14 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. If there are problems, God looks to His people to
humble themselves, pray and seek His face, repent (both for themselves and for
sins they haven't committed, but others in the area they are praying for have.
To some degree, we all 'own' the sins in our church, city, nation, and world!)
Ps. 66.18 I regard iniquity in my
heart, the Lord will not hear. Iniquity is doing my own thing. We need to
have Holy Spirit search us because we can't know ourselves: Jer. 17.9-10
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know
it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man
according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. Ps. 139.23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if
there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Then,
whatever He brings to mind, we confess it and get cleaned up! 1 Jn. 1.7, 9
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we
confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness. The bottom line is that we want nothing to come
between the Lord and us as we pray.
Ps. 141.2 Let my prayer be set
before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Rev. 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. See how pleasing
our prayers are to Him! They are like incense, covering up the stench of sin He
has to bear every day!
Is. 59.16 He saw that there was no
man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought
salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him. Sometimes
God acts without our participation. Eze. 22.30 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. But often, He waits for
us to step up and intercede.
Jer. 27.18 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, that the vessels which are left in the house of the Lord,
in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, do not go to Babylon.’ A
major part of how an intercessor functions is knowing what God wants us to pray
for, what are His priorities. Our success will be much greater if we are lined
up with what He wants and pray in agreement with Him!
Mt. 6.8-13 Therefore do not be like them. For your Father
knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner,
therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.(Thanks praise
and worship should surround our prayers.) Your kingdom come. Your will be
done on earth as it is in heaven. (A key to what the will of God is what is
in heaven is God's will on earth!) Give us this day our daily bread. And
forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into
temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the
power and the glory forever. Amen. Jesus was asked by His disciples to teach
them to pray (not how to pray, but to pray). They had seen His example, saw the
results, and wanted it! Jesus gives us this pattern to prompt us to pray. A key
to what the will of God is…what is in heaven is God's will on earth!
Mt. 7.7-11 "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, when his
son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? "Or if he asks for a fish, he
will not give him a snake, will he? "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 what is good to those who ask Him! The Greek tense is present
active imperative, in other words – keep on ___ing. We are to keep on asking,
seeking, knocking (also shows a growing intensity) until the answer comes . Mt.
9.19-22 Jesus got up and began to follow him, and so did His
disciples. And a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve
years, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak; for she was
saying to herself, "If I only touch His garment, I will get well."
But Jesus turning and seeing her said, "Daughter, take courage; your faith
has made you well." At once the woman was made well. This unclean woman
pressed through social and religious pressures to touch the
garment of a holy man in order to be healed. Rather than receive a rebuke, she
received her healing. Lk. 18.1-8 Now He was telling them a parable to show
that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,
saying, "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did
not respect man. "There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to
him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.' "For a while he
was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God
nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal
protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.' " And
the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge *said; now, will not God
bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay
long over them? "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them
quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the
earth?" Praying at all times and not losing heart is tied to
faith. If we want to please God by having faith, we must pray at all times and
not lose heart. Gal. 6.7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for
whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh
will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the
Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing
good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those
who are of the household of faith. We need to continue sowing good things,
for if we do not give up we will reap the rewards!
Heb. 11.6 But without faith it is
impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and
that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Mt.18.18-20 “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.” Binding and loosing are two powerful weapons.
There will be more on that later. Another powerful weapon is agreement! God
gets so excited when two or three of us actually agree on something that He
does it! The word for agree is the same word we get symphony from. The idea is
not cookie cutter prayers, but more a harmonizing, interweaving, each one
adding to the other.
Mt. 21.12-13 Then Jesus went into
the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple,
and over-turned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who
sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a
house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” What is the
modern-day temple? Us, of course. Are we a house of prayer, and are our
churches houses of prayer. We can see what a priority this was for Jesus, it
should be so for us as well.
Mt. 26.36-46 Then Jesus came with them to a place called
Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over
there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to
be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to
death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He went a little farther and fell on His
face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass
from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” Then He came to the
disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! 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.” Again, a second time, He went
away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me
unless I drink it, Your will be done.” And He came and found them asleep again,
for their eyes were heavy. So He left them, went away again, and prayed the
third time, saying the same words. Then He came to His disciples and said to
them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the
Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going.
See, My betrayer is at hand.” Jesus
wanted companionship and agreement as He watched and prayed in His toughest
hour. Many take up this challenge to watch one hour as a minimum that God wants
for our lives. This kind of prayer helps us overcome temptation. The disciples
were all going to undergo temptation, so Jesus was trying to help them
overcome. He will do the same for us. The Spirit of God within us is indeed willing,
but our flesh continually struggles.
Mk. 2.1-12 When He had come back to Capernaum several days
afterward, it was heard that He was at home. And many were gathered together,
so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking
the word to them. And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four
men. Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof
above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which
the paralytic was lying. And Jesus seeing their faith *said to the paralytic,
"Son, your sins are forgiven." But some of the scribes were sitting
there and reasoning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak that way? He
is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?" Immediately Jesus,
aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said
to them, "Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts?
"Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven'; or to
say, 'Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk'? "But so that you may know
that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"--He said to
the paralytic, "I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go
home." And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in
the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God,
saying, "We have never seen anything like this." Another breakthrough,
here done on behalf of another: these friends broke through to Jesus through
the roof of a house of a stranger to obtain healing. Again, rather than facing
rebuke, Jesus honored their faith and desperation with forgiveness and healing.
Mk. 7.24-30 Jesus got up and went away from there to the
region of Tyre. And when He had entered a house, He wanted no one to know of
it; yet He could not escape notice. But after hearing of Him, a woman whose
little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet.
Now the woman was a Gentile, of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking
Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And He was saying to her, "Let
the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children's
bread and throw it to the dogs." But she answered and *said to Him,
"Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the
children's crumbs." And He said to her, "Because of this answer go;
the demon has gone out of your daughter." And going back to her home, she
found the child lying on the bed, the demon having left. This woman gives us
a strong example in this area. Facing Jesus’ and the disciples’ seeming
rejection, she pressed in to receive her miracle. She was desperate and
wouldn’t take no for an answer!
Mk. 9.28-29 And when He had come
into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it
out?” So He said to them, “This kind
can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” Jesus did not stop and tell
the person to come back in three days after He had prayed and fasted. He had prayer
and fasting as a lifestyle, so He was ready for ministry. If we need punch to
our prayer, fasting may be the answer.
Mk. 11.20 Now in the morning, as
they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter,
remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has
withered away.” 22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For
assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast
into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things
he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you,
whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you
will have them. Many times when Jesus and the disciples ministered or worked
miracles, they didn't pray out loud at the time, they just spoke the word believing.
At times when we are in intercession, God will call us to proclaim things, even
as Jesus and the apostles did. Watch and see, miracles will happen as we follow
Holy Spirit's leading!
Mk. 13.32-33 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not
even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch
and pray; for you do not know when the time is. There will be times when
Holy Spirit will ask us to watch -- that is stop normal activity (sleeping or
whatever) to pray. Sometimes it is because another has an urgent need at the
time. It may also be because we are about to be attacked and need to be ready.
Jn. 14.13-14 And whatever you ask
in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you
ask anything in My name, I will do it. Jn. 15.7 If you abide in Me, and My
words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
Praying in the name of Jesus is another key. What exactly does that mean? It
means praying in alignment with His character, His nature, with what He would
want. When we've done that, then we can also pray in authority, not as wimps, because
we know we're aligned with Him and we can pray as He did!!!
Rom. 8.26-27 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. 34 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. Heb. 7.25 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. Jesus
and Holy Spirit are our constant prayer partners and intercessors. We can't pray
as we should, but Holy Spirit has been doing it for millennia! He is a willing
helper. It does help if we ask!! 1 Cor. 14.13 Therefore let him who speaks
in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit
prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is the conclusion then? I
will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will
sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 17 For you
indeed give thanks well. There are many benefits to praying in tongues along
with our natural tongue. When we don't know God's will, we can pray in tongues
and know we are praying His will, we can then also wait and ask for the
interpretation so that we can know what He wants.
Eph. 1.19 and what is the
exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the
working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him
from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far
above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is
named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.
22 And He put all things under His
feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His
body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. We have no problem agreeing
with this scripture about Jesus' authority over EVERYTHING, that all is under His feet. Eph. 2.4 But
God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even
when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace
you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in
the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show
the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. But
this scripture, which shows we are in that exact same seat of authority with
Him, this we have trouble believing. We need to pray with authority, once we
are in agreement with Him and His will!
Eph. 3.20-21 Now to Him who is
able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to
the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to
all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Never limit God by praying small.
He will do more than we can even imagine! How does He do this? According to
this scripture, according to the power that works in us!
Eph. 6.10-18 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 prin-cipalities, 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. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the
breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of
the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will
be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying
always with all (kinds of) prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being
watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.
The armor and our weapons are all there for the purpose of prayer. That is
our main battle, our main work! We need to remember, our battle is not against
flesh and blood, but against our real enemy.
Phil. 4.6-7 Be anxious for
nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let
your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Anxiety should be a
trigger for our need to pray. It's not enough to just quit being anxious, we
need to crank up the prayers at the same time. No peace -- need to pray and mix
our prayers with thanks. We can thank God in advance for hearing and answering
us if we pray according to His will. He will answer when we pray that way.
1 Thes. 5.16-18 Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus for you. What a sandwich! Rejoice, pray, thanks always. In
other words, we have to do them all, all the time. It's a lifestyle thing.
1 Tim. 2.1-4, 8 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. I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy
hands, without wrath and doubting. Praying for those in authority is one of
our main tasks because it is so important. Paul says that first of all. That is
at the city, county, state, national and international levels.
Jam. 5.7 Therefore be patient,
brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the
precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the
early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the
coming of the Lord is at hand. Realize that the coming of the Lord is not
just an event in our future, although that's a wonderful thing! It is also God
showing up in our lives when we need Him most, in the way we need Him most.
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him
sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the
church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the
Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise
him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your
trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 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. 18 And he
prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit. Suffering?
-- pray, Sick? -- get agreement and anointing from those more experienced than
you. Sin? -- confess it and get prayer. The accountability will help us
overcome. We want to pray effectively. Elijah knew the word and prayed
according to it, so his prayers were answered. When we know the word, which is
His will, and pray it, we can pray with fervency because we have the confidence
what we pray will happen!! I heard a pastor pray fervently one Sunday and
commented that he really knew how to pray. Some one else said that how we pray
is of no consequence as to the prayer's effectiveness. This verse disagrees. Fervent
prayer is what is effective to get answered.
1 Jn. 5.4 For whatever is born of
God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the
world—£our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that
Jesus is the Son of God? 14-16 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. If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to
death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not
leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should
pray about that. We've already talked about praying in God's will. This
verse shows us the confidence we can have when we do. We won't take no for an answer.
Examples
of Intercessors
Jesus, as we have seen above and
in the verses that immediately follow, is an obvious intercessor. Is. 53.12 Therefore I will divide
Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the
transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the
transgressors. Mt. 23.37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the
prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather
your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you
were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to
you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the
name of the Lord!’ ” Lk. 19.41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept
over it, 42 saying, “If you had known,
even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But
now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your
enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on
every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and
they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the
time of your visitation.”
So, also, were Abraham, Moses,
Samuel, Daniel and Paul, to name a few. Let's see their examples to us…
Abraham's intercession: Gen 18.20 And the Lord said,
“Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin
is very grave, 21 I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether
according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will
know.” 22 Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but
Abraham still stood before the Lord. 23 And Abraham came near and said, “Would
You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there were fifty
righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it
for the fifty righteous that were in it? 25 Far be it from You to do such a
thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous
should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the
earth do right?” 26 So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous
within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.” 32 Then he
said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten
should be found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of
ten.”
The intercession of Moses: Ex. 8.9 And Moses said to Pharaoh,
“Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants,
and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they
may remain in the river only.” Ex. 32.9-13 And the LORD said to Moses,
“I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! Now
therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may
consume them. And I will make of you a great nation.” 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.30-32 Now it came to pass on the next day
that Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. So now I will
go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” Then Moses returned
to the Lord and said, “Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have
made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but
if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.” Num. 14.12-20
I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of
you a nation greater and mightier than they.” And Moses said to the LORD: “Then
the Egyptians will hear it, for by Your might You brought these people up from
among them, and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. They have
heard that You, LORD, are among these people; that You, LORD, are seen face to
face and Your cloud stands above them, and You go before them in a pillar of
cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night. Now if You kill these people as
one man, then the nations which have heard of Your fame will speak, saying,
‘Because the LORD was not able to bring this people to the land which He swore
to give them, therefore He killed them in the wilderness.’ And now, I pray, let
the power of my Lord be great, just as You have spoken, saying, ‘The LORD is
longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but
He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the
children to the third and fourth generation. ’Pardon the iniquity of this
people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have
forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.” Then the LORD said: “I have
pardoned, according to your word; Num. 16.46-48 So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a
censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it
quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out
from the Lord. The plague has begun.” Then Aaron took it as Moses commanded,
and ran into the midst of the assembly; and already the plague had begun among
the people. So he put in the incense and made atonement for the people. And he
stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped.
Samuel's intercession for Israel: 1 Sam. 7.3 Then Samuel spoke to
all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the Lord with all your
hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and
prepare your hearts for the Lord, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you
from the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the children of Israel put away the
Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only. 5 And Samuel said, “Gather
all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the Lord for you.” 6 So they gathered
together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the Lord. And they
fasted that day, and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.” And Samuel
judged the children of Israel at Mizpah. 7 Now when the Philistines heard that
the children of Israel had gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the
Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard of
it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 So the children of Israel said to
Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that He may save
us from the hand of the Philistines.” 10 Now as Samuel was offering up the
burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the
Lord thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so
confused them that they were overcome before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel
went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and drove them back as far as
below Beth Car. 13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come
anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the Lord was against the
Philistines all the days of Samuel.
Daniel's intercession for Israel: Dan. 9.1-19 In the first year of
Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king
over the realm of the Chaldeans— in the first year of his reign I, Daniel,
understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the
Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in
the desolations of Jerusalem. Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make
request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I
prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and
awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with
those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have
done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your
judgments. Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your
name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the
land. O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this
day—to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those
near and those far off in all the countries to which You have driven them,
because of the unfaithfulness which they have committed against You. “O Lord,
to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because
we have sinned against You. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness,
though we have rebelled against Him. We have not obeyed the voice of the Lord
our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the
prophets. Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not
to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of
Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned
against Him. And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us and
against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great disaster; for
under the whole heaven such has never been done as what has been done to
Jerusalem. “As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this disaster has come
upon us; yet we have not made our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might
turn from our iniquities and understand Your truth. Therefore the Lord has kept
the disaster in mind, and brought it upon us; for the Lord our God is righteous
in all the works which He does, though we have not obeyed His voice. And now, O
Lord our God, who brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty
hand, and made Yourself a name, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have done
wickedly! “O Lord, according to all Your righteousness, I pray, let Your anger
and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain;
because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your
people are a reproach to all those around us. Now therefore, our God, hear the
prayer of Your servant, and his supplications, and for the Lord’s sake cause
Your face to shine on Your sanctuary, which is desolate. O my God, incline Your
ear and hear; open Your eyes and see our desolations, and the city which is
called by Your name; for we do not present our supplications before You because
of our righteous deeds, but because of Your great mercies. O Lord, hear! O
Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God,
for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.” There are some amazing
keys here in Daniel's prayer for his nation. 1. He knew the prophesies and promises
of God for them and that they had not been fulfilled. 2. Daniel joined fasting
with his prayer for more potent power. 3. Daniel confessed the sins of his
fathers and his nation, even though they weren't his own. 4. Daniel persisted
21 days in his prayer and fasting, not giving up until he had an answer from
God. Dan. 10.12-14 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the
first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before
your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the
prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold,
Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone
there with the kings of Persia. Now I have come to make you understand what
will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many
days yet to come.”
Intercession was a major part of
Paul's ministry: Rom.1.9
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son,
that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers. Rom. 9.1-3 I
tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness
in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart.
For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my
countrymen according to the flesh. 1 Cor. 14.15 What is the conclusion then? I
will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will
sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 18 I thank
my God I speak with tongues more than you all. Eph. 1.16 do not cease to give
thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. Eph. 3. 14 For this reason
I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole
family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to
the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in
the inner man, Phil. 1.3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you 4 always
in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, Col. 1.3 We give
thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for
you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all
wisdom and spiritual understanding. 1 Thes. 1.2 We give thanks to God always
for you all, making mention of you in our prayers. 2 Thes. 1.11 Therefore we
also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling,
and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with
power. Philmn. 4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers. 2
Tim. 1.3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers
did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day.
Samples
of How to Intercede
Here are some realms we are
responsible to pray for:
Families in the church and
surrounding area
Prayer groups and ministries in
the church and surrounding area
Missionaries from our church and
any we know
Churches and schools in the area
US, state, county and city
government officials, executive, legislative and judicial
One way we can pray for others
(prayer of Jabez):
Truly bless us indeed richly
(spirit, soul and body, financially and in our relationships), enlarge our
coasts and boarders (depth and breath of influence), keep Your hand upon us
(make us more and more aware of your presence, recognize the need for Your
help, guidance, balance and strength) and keep (preserve, deliver) us from evil
(not make me strong enough to endure it, but keep me away from it entirely).
A more detailed way we can pray:
|
Bind, Receive, Plead Blood of Jesus, work of the
cross, Name of Jesus Anointing Mind of Christ, Heart of God,
Will and purposes of God, guidance, wisdom, understanding Healing, wholeness – spirit,
soul and body, bind up our hearts, fill in the empty places Acceptance, unity,
reconciliation Self Control, contentment,
gratefulness, generosity Word and generational blessings Positive affects of memories Helmet of the hope of salvation,
encouragement Breastplate of Righteousness Feet to path of Righteousness Belt of truth, armor of light Shoes of preparation of gospel
of peace, Spirit of power, love, & sound mind Sword of spirit – every word of
God ever heard, spoken or read Shield of Faith Lances of Intercession, spirit
of praise and worship, Gifts of the Spirit. Spirit of supplication, warrior
spirit Forgiveness, mercy Liberty, freedom New nature Ministering and warring angels
working on our behalf Provision, abundance Fruits of the Spirit The strongman Manifest presence of the Holy
Spirit |
Loose, Break, Renounce, Repent
and Forgive Sin and demonic strongholds Yokes and burdens Ways of the world, wrong
attitudes, patterns of thinking, beliefs, ideas, desires, emotions, and
motivations and associated strongholds and soul ties Sickness, disease, pain, hurt –
spirit, soul and body Rejection, division, jealousy
and envy Lust, greed, idolatry Word and generational curses and
mistakes Negative affects of memories and
associated strongholds Depression, discouragement,
temptation and every attack on our minds Condemnation Paths of the world Deception, blindness, darkness
and lies Confusion, worry, anger,
blasphemy and fear Every word of satan ever heard,
spoken or read Doubt, fiery darts and missiles
of the enemy Distraction, apathy Unforgiveness, bitterness,
resentment, judging Control, witchcraft, religion,
tradition, manipulation Old nature All powers of darkness Poverty, debt Works of the flesh, wrong
behaviors and habits Everything the strongman has
stolen – 7 fold pay-back, every influence or evil device that he has had. |