 |
|
May
4,
2004 |
Have
you ever had an individual’s name come to mind, someone
you had not thought of for awhile? Have you ever felt your
heart grieved about the state of a nation you have never
seen? Or maybe you have wept without words over the realization
of the sins of your country. Perhaps the Holy Spirit has
been trying to get you to intercede for a person or a nation.
What
is intercessory prayer? Webster’s Dictionary speaks
of intercession as “the act of interceding, meditation,
pleading, or prayer on behalf of another.” Intercession
is prayer offered for others as directed and inspired by
the Holy Spirit. An intercessor becomes a go-between, as
the Word of God says, someone who will “stand
before Me in the gap” (Ezekiel
22:30).
God
is searching for those who will be intercessors, for those
who can change life’s situations and people through
their fervent, upright prayers. But why doesn’t our
great God just change people and reverse the atrocities
of our world solely in His own strength and power? He could,
without doubt. But He has chosen man to be a co-laborer
with Him, reconciling men, women, and children to Himself
through us. What a tremendous privilege!
Ever
since the dawn of man’s history, God has covenanted
relationship with this unique, moral creation. And even
now, in our corrupt world, God seeks relationship with
us – an intimate fellowship cultivated through communication
in a place of prayer.
Our
prayers can move the hand of God and release the reconciling
work of the Holy Spirit. God has designed that it would
be so, perhaps for two reasons: That we might learn how
very dependant we are on Him, and that He might be able
to share the burdens, grief, and joy of His own heart with
us.
PRICIPLES
FOR EFFECTIVE INTERCESSION
By Joy Dawson
1.
|
Praise
God for who He is, and for the privilege of engaging
in the same wonderful ministry as the Lord Jesus
(Hebrews. 7:25). Praise God for the Privilege of
cooperating with Him in the affairs of men through
prayer.
|
2.
|
Make
sure your heart is clean before God, by having given
the Holy Spirit time to convict, should there be
any unconfessed sin in your heart. (Psalm 66:18;
Psalm 139:23-24).
|
3.
|
Acknowledge
you can not really pray without the direction and
energy of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26). Ask God
to utterly control you by His Spirit, receive by
faith that He does, and thank Him (Ephesians 5:18).
|
4.
|
Deal
aggressively with the enemy. Come against him in
the all powerful name of the LORD Jesus Christ and
with the “sword of the Spirit” – the
word of God (James 4:7).
|
5.
|
Die
to your own imaginations, desires, and burdens for
what you feel you should pray (Proverbs 3:5-6; 28:26;
Isaiah 55:8).
|
6.
|
Praise
God now in faith for the remarkable prayer meeting
that you are going to have. He’s a remarkable
God and He will do something consistent with His
character.
|
7.
|
Wait
before God in silent expectancy, listening for His
direction (Psalm 62:5; Micah 7:7; Psalm 81:11-13).
|
8.
|
In
obedience and faith, utter what God brings to your
mind, believing (John 10:27). Keep asking God for
direction, expecting Him to give it to you. He will
(Psalm 32:8). Make sure you do not move to the next
subject until you have given God time to discharge
all He wants to say regarding this burden, especially
when praying in a group. Be encouraged by the lives
of Moses, Daniel, Paul and Anna, knowing that God
gives revelation to those who make intercession a
way of life.
|
9.
|
If
possible, have your Bible with you should God want
to give you direction or confirmation from His Word
(Psalm 119:105).
|
10.
|
When
God ceases to bring things to your mind to pray for,
finish by praising Him and thanking Him for what
He has done, reminding yourself of Romans 11:36, “For
from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.
To Him be the glory forever! Amen.”
|
A
WARNING:
God
knows the weakness of the human heart towards pride. If
we speak of what God has revealed and done in intercession,
it may lead to committing this sin. God shares His secrets
with those who are able to keep them. There may be a time
when He definitely prompts us to share, but unless this
happens, we should remain silent. “And
they kept their silence and told no one in those days anything
of what they had seen” (Luke
9:36 RSV). “But Mary
kept all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Luke
2:19 RSV).
Taken
from "An Intercessor's Guide to the Jewish World" A
Year-round Prayer Guide. Used by permission. This
book is available through our Gratefully
Grafted Ministries Bookstore.
|
