I am in a series of messages at Victory Church on prayer and fasting. Today I taught on the greatest Christian service available for believers - intercessory prayer. Below is my sermon outline:
CHANGING LIVES THROUGH INTERCESSORY PRAYER
1 Timothy 2:1-4 (HCSB) First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior,
4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Two weeks ago I declared a “congregational fast” for Victory Church. We are fasting every Wednesday at lunch, and during that time we are praying and asking for God’s favor to rest on the ministry of Victory Church.
Today I would like to speak to you about the time in which we are alone with the Lord, the time that we are sitting before His presence, the time we are praying. I would like to focus on the subject of “intercessory prayer.”
• Once again this may be a new subject or concept for many of you, therefore, allow me to begin with the basics.
Scripture references about praying for others:
Matthew 5:43-44 (HCSB) You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Luke 6:27-28 (HCSB) But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Ephesians 6:18 (HCSB) With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and stay alert in this, with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.
James 5:14-16 (HCSB) Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they should pray over him after anointing him with olive oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful.
Paul left Timothy as the pastor of the church at Ephesus:
1 Timothy 1:3-4 (HCSB) As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach other doctrine 4 or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith.
While he is in Ephesus teaching and keeping things in order Paul instructs Timothy to pray and to intercede for everyone.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 (HCSB) First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good, and it pleases God our Savior,
4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
• But Paul was asking Timothy to pray not for himself, but to pray for others around him!
• This is the force behind the word intercession.
Why did Paul want Timothy to pray for others? 1 Timothy 2:2 (HCSB) “…so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”
• The ministry that the church is to carry out can be more easily accomplished in a peaceful environment!
• Paul believed that intercessory prayer was part of the equation that could bring about the most conducive atmosphere.
Therefore, intercessory prayer means to pray on behalf of
someone other than yourself!
The Apostle Paul believed that through intercessory prayer people could be changed!
• Intercession is the process that links those who need to be changed with the One who can bring about change! The Lord Jesus!
The term “intercession” literally means: “to come upon,” “to meet with,” “to come between.”
• When used in the context of prayer—as it is here—it takes on special meaning.
• To intercede is to stand between God and someone!
• It is to represent another person’s concern to God!
• An intercessor is a go-betweener!
Our prayers are the link between God’s inexhaustible resources and people’s needs!
When we intercede, we are standing in the gap between the need and the satisfaction of that need!
Therefore, as we intercede, there are some guidelines we need to follow:
1. WHEN WE INTERCEDE FOR OTHERS, WE ARE TO PRAY FROM HEARTS OF LOVE AND COMPASSION
True intercessory praying is driven by genuine love and concern for the one about whom we are interceding.
• Prayer motivated by anything else generally doesn’t last long.
• Sometimes, we may be the only one standing in the gap interceding on that particular situation, so it is critical that we are driven with the right motivation—one that will keep us on our knees until the answer comes.
Samuel prayed with compassion:
1 Samuel 12:23 (HCSB) As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the good and right way.
• Samuel loved the people and had compassion on them!
Jesus looked out over the crowds and had compassion on them:
Matthew 9:36 (HCSB) When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them, because they were weary and worn out, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 14:14 (HCSB) As He stepped ashore, He saw a huge crowd, felt compassion for them, and healed their sick.
Matthew 20:34 (HCSB) Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they could see, and they followed Him.
2. WHEN WE INTERCEDE FOR OTHERS, WE MUST PERSEVERE
Once we begin interceding for someone, we must not give up!
• We must stick with it until the answer comes!
• This will cost us something—our time!
Time is the most valuable asset we have and to intercede is to invest our most valuable commodity—our time!
The Lord can work without us, but He chooses to work through us! Therefore, the most difficult thing to remember while interceding is that the Lord is working in His time-table—not ours!
Isaiah 55:9 (HCSB) For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
3. WHEN WE INTERCEDE FOR OTHERS, WE MUST BE WILLING TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION
Often God uses the intercessor as part of the answer to the prayer. (i.e. Nehemiah)
When Nehemiah told the king about his concern, the king sent Nehemiah back to Jerusalem with enough supplies to be the answer to his own prayer!
Nehemiah 1:3-6 (HCSB) They said to me, “The survivors in the province, who returned from the exile, are in great trouble and disgrace. Jerusalem’s wall has been broken down, and its gates have been burned down.” 4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for a number of days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 I said, Lord God of heaven, the great and awe-inspiring God who keeps His gracious covenant with those who love Him and keep His commands, 6 let Your eyes be open and Your ears be attentive to hear Your servant’s prayer…
When interceding, we must remain open to the possibility of being used by God in a role other than intercessor.
• If we are not willing to be used to answer our own prayers, we are not cooperating fully with God!
What does all this mean to me?
When interceding…
1. You must desire the highest good—the best for the one you are praying for.
2. You must die to your selfish desires.
3. You must seek only God’s will.
4. You must place no conditions on your prayers
When we pray on behalf of others, we must take our hands off the situation all together and let God work out His plan His way!
Three things are necessary if we are to engage in this highest form of Christian service:
1. We must have a proper relationship & fellowship with the Lord.
a. Ask yourself, “Are there any unconfessed sins in my life?”
b. If there is unconfessed sin, then our prayers will be hindered.
Isaiah 1:15-16 (HCSB) When you lift up your hands [in prayer], I will refuse to look at you; even if you offer countless prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16 “Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil.
2. We must have and develop an “others” attitude.
a. We must be willing to pray beyond ourselves, our needs, and our problems
James 5:15 (HCSB) …pray for one another…
3. We must have an enduring faith.
a. Those enduring in the ministry of intercessory prayer are unlikely to escape the notice of Satan.
b. Therefore, be prepared for spiritual warfare.
Intercessory prayer is without doubt not only the highest form of Christian service, but also the hardest kind of work.
To the person who is not an intercessor such a statement seems absurd.
• Prayer to most people is looked upon as an easy occupation. Difficulties are unknown.
• But that is because they know nothing at all about the ministry of intercession.
• The Christian who enters upon the ministry of intercession will pass through a very different experience.
o Satan will do everything in his power to hinder and obstruct.
o There will be a conscious realization of his presence and opposition.
o Then, too, discouragement will cross our pathway.
o Again and again we will feel like giving up....
o Then, when all else has failed, he will burden us with work.
o Satan would rather have us work than pray any time.
o Full well he knows that prayerless work will be powerless and fruitless.
o Hence if he can only keep us busy so that we do not have time to pray he will have accomplished his purpose.
Let’s put this vitally important Christian service into practice:
1. Ask God to show you three (3) people He wants you to pray for—three people who have burdens, heartaches, or specific needs.
2. Tell God you are willing to be part of the answer—part of the solution.
3. Ask the Lord to share their burdens with you.
4. Ask the Lord for a genuine spirit of compassion and love for those three people.
5. Start with these three then add as the Lord leads.
Rees Howell: “As an intercessor, you must enter into the sufferings and take the place of the one prayed for.”
John Hyde: “The High Priest of old had to enter into the Holy of Holies alone, but our High Priest begs for partners to be with Him.”
Oswald Chamber: “The real business of your life as a saved soul is intercessory prayer. Wherever God puts you in circumstances, pray immediately, pray that His Atonement may be realized in other lives as it has been in yours.”
Frank Sells: “If you tell someone you are going to pray for them, pray right that second or you may forget.”
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