STRATEGIES FOR INTERCESSION
Sermon of TBOLF By Pr. Rufus Ashiedu
(Text: Acts 12:1-12)
Queen Mary of Scotland once said, "I fear the prayer of John Knox more than all the armies of the earth". The world does not fear the church anymore, it just tolerates the church. The world no longer sees the church as a key player in shaping the values of modem society. but only as an observer — a "yes man".
But the church has far more power than it knows. From our text, we see that the early church did not have enough influence to get Peter out of prison, but had enough power to pray him out of the prison!! If the church hadn’t prayed, possibly Peter could have been slain like James and that may have interrupted God’s program as Peter had the keys of the kingdom. This testimony underscores the need for an important aspect of prayer which many of us are not doing enough of -
INTERCESSION.
What Is Intercession? Ezekiel 22:30-31
This is the holy, believing and persevering prayer that pleads with God on behalf of an individual. people (church/families) and place (cities nations) for His intervention. God’s problem tocias is not with sinners or Satan. but he wonders that there arc no intercessors. Every Christian has a general call
to intercede for others, but as a part of His end-time moves, God is giving some people a specific calling into a special ministry of intercession for cities and nations.
Why Is Intercession Required?
The primary reason for intercession is to ensure that God’s work of redemption does not get frustrated in any generation. This is achieed as the Christian tirelessly takes spiritual responsibility to reconcile all things to God through repenting in place of others, roots out wickedness and plants righteousness prayerfully in a person, people, place or situation.
God’s desire for us is that through intercession, the church would achieve the following:
• Break the bands of wickedness and set the captives free - (Isaiah 49:24-26)
• Overthrow the plans (illness and death) of the enemy
• Usher in revival and restoration - (Joel 2:25-27). The spirit of revival starts from the persistent and prevailing prayers of desperate people. The leader of the greatest revival of this century in Wales (Evan Roberts) said the secret of their success was "ask and you will receive".
• Establish God’s counsel and will on the earth — in families, places and nations.
Many of us have wives, husbands, children, parents, relatives and friends in whose lives, Satan has a tyrannical hold. These beloved ones cry out to us daily waiting to be delivered. God also wonders why we can’t pay the price for their release. Don’t you have pity on these oppressed ones? God will do nothing if no one prays and intercedes for them. God is looking upto us who have known the truth and have been equipped with His power to demand like Moses "let my people go". Will you rise up to this occasion today? Do not disappoint God or these ones, enter into the ministry of intercession for them.
How Do I Intercede Effectively?
No matter what strategy is adopted, we can only effectively intercede with results if we:
• Have compassion and a burden for the oppressed
• Tirelessly stay in the place of prayer (I Cor 15:30), praying until we receive; until we have the assurance of an answer; until God says no.
• Manifest the gifts of revelation and faith.
• Respond prayerfully to revelations promptly and inform others to help pray.
• Stay above sin purity of heart and hands.
• Keep a daily prayer schedule/time table for each week; i.e. create time for intercession.
The Example of Esther (Esther 4:14-15).
Through intercession, Esther changed the destiny of the Jews, made God to reveal the plans of the wicked one, brought national revival and moved men to fulfil God’s purposes.
Brethren, can’t we intercede for our families, fellow brethren. Pastors, sinners? God is looking for a man to stand in the gap — to hold back the hand of judgement and bring in a wave of God’s mercies. We would need to start today. That unmarried sister. that sick wife or childless family, that husband having difficulty at the workplace, the countless many that are unsaved need us. Intercede for them today.