PHILLIPIANS 4:6

Phil 4:6 (KJV) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

1ST JOHN 5:14-15

1 John 5:14 (KJV) And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

1 John 5:15 (KJV) And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

NOTE:

Intercessory prayer is not a means of making someone do what you want them to do by manipulating spiritual forces. We cannot compel another person to satisfy our desires or live to our specifications by using prayer as a battering ram or as a management tool.

Rather, intercessory prayer provides an opportunity for the intervention of God’s Spirit, using the pray-er ( as the vessel or conduit) through which His will might have influence.

The key to successful intercessory prayer is to pray that God’s will be done in the matter. We must acknowledge the supremacy of God’s knowledge and God’s will in all things.

If we do not learn to live and pray according to God’s will, we will never be able to function as a conquering Christian. All of our efforts will be impeded by the flesh and it’s selfish desires.

I. HOW CAN I BE AN INTERCESSOR?

A. Prepare you heart and mind by totally surrendering to Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.

B. Sanctify yourself to God. Forbid works of unrighteousness the entry into your life.

GALATIONS 5:19-21

Gal 5:19 (KJV) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

Gal 5:20 (KJV) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Gal 5:21 (KJV) Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

II. WHY SHOULD I BE AN INTERCESSOR?

EPHESIANS 6:12

Eph 6:12 (KJV) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

1ST PETER 5:8

1 Pet 5:8 (KJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

  A. Your family and loved ones need someone to pray for them. The enemy is constantly on the prowl to destroy you, your children, your grandchildren, your friends.

B. Many people have no one to "stand in the gap" for them. You need to be a prayer warrior for your family.

III. HOW SHOULD I BE AN INTERCESSOR?

A. Pray with great faith.

John 15:7

John 15:7 (KJV) If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

MARK 11:24

Mark 11:24 (KJV) Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

B. Pray in your understanding and in the Spirit.

ROMANS 8:26

Rom 8:26 (KJV) Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. (ARTICULATE SPEECH)

NOTE:

1ST CORINTHIANS 14:2 AND 14:15

1 Cor 14:2 (KJV) For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

1 Cor 14:15 (KJV) What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

• We need to recognize the awesome and glorious benefits we have in the Holy Ghost. Praying in tongues enables the spirit to bypass our mental limitations, in addition to short circuiting the devil’s interference.

• The Holy Spirit will pray exactly what needs to be prayed. Direct, to the point, precise.

• We fight with one arm tied behind our back if we ignore the power of praying in tongues.

IV. DOES INTERCESSORY PRAYER REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

JUDE 1: 20-23

Jude 1:20 (KJV) But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

Jude 1:21 (KJV) Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Jude 1:22 (KJV) And of some have compassion, making a difference:

Jude 1:23 (KJV) And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

A. You, as an obedient and faithful child of God have the power, through prayer, to dramatically influence your family, friends, and other people in need.

MARK 16:17-18

Mark 16:17 (KJV) And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Mark 16:18 (KJV) They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

  B. Will you make a difference? Will you, in the Name of Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit, fight the good fight of faith? Will you, as Christ’s Ambassador, contend for your loved ones?

In closing, I want to encourage you to appropriate the promises written to the Ephesian believers almost 2,000 years ago as recorded in:

EPHESIANS 1: 15-23

Eph 1:15 (KJV) Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

Eph 1:16 (KJV) Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

Eph 1:20 (KJV) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,