Copyright 1996 Thomas Edward Bartlett
All rights reserved.
It is an understatement to say that prayer is an adventure. When I was in the Navy I circumnavigated the globe and walked on every continent on Earth, except Antarctica and Australia. It was an adventure, but I would gladly trade it for the praying I failed to do during that time. I have experienced times when I could do nothing but pray, but I have always found that praying was more than anything else that I might have done.
Intercession reflects the principles Jesus taught about the first being last and the exalted being humbled. I experience victory for myself when I pray for others.
This work is a by-product of hundreds of hours of fellowship with God. Reading this is not the best way to learn intercession. The best way is on your knees. Nevertheless, if you read this with your heart and look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, you may learn a thing or two.
Psalm 35
28And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.
Psalm 39:3
Psalm 45:1
Psalm 66:17
Psalm 71:24
Psalm 126:2
Psalm 137:6
Psalm 139:4
Psalm 81
10 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
Proverbs 10:20
Proverbs 16:1
Proverbs 18:21
Isaiah 28
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people
12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
Zephaniah 3
9 ...pure language...
Mark 16
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;...
Luke 11
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
John 14
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Acts 2
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Acts 10
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Acts 15
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Acts 19
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Romans 8
26 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.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
I Corinthians 12
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarilor no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 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.
16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God
Ephesians 5
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Galatians 3
5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or or by the hearing of faith?
Ephesians 6
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
I Timothy 4
14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
Jude
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
The Assemblies of God
In an article which he wrote for the September 27, 1987 edition of the Pentecostal Evangel G.Raymond Carlson, the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God said,"If we do not hold our position regarding speaking in other tongues as the initial physical evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit, we have in essence lost our reason for being a Pentecostal church." He also said later on in the same article, "All ministry in the Assemblies of God must be Pentecostal ministry."
Psalm 149
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;
7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
8 To bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
Isaiah 14
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend , I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most high.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?
18 All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.
19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.
Ezekiel 28
11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou was created.
14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes in the sight of all them that behold thee.
19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.
Daniel 10
12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
Matthew 12
29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
Matthew 16
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Ephesians 4
27 Neither give place to the devil.
Ephesians 6
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 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.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
James 4
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
I John 4
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
I John 5
19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
by Tom Bartlett
Stepping onto the battlefield,
My armour tightly girded,
My shield is held with greatest care,
My war cries carefully worded.
Seeing the host of sin's decay
In quivering, hopeless, retreating,
I run to the roar, as I draw my sword,
Its ringing song repeating.
Sin's host runs well, these worms of hell,
Spurred on by naked terror,
But with gospel sandals on my feet,
I'm closing on them nearer.
Seeing the hopelessness of retreat,
They turn, releasing arrows,
But I recall a song well learned,
"His eye is on the sparrow."
And lifting Faith's bright war plate high,
I sing Sweet Old Thanksgiving:
"Praise God From Whom all Blessings Flow,"
And highest praises breathing,
I bruise their heads, 'neath Christ's strong heel,
And leave them crushed and bound,
Their freedom ended for a while
And freedom for our side found.
Heavenly Father, in the name of your son, Jesus, I ask that you anoint me with your Holy Spirit to do battle with the enemy of all souls.
Satan, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I bind you and I gag you and I cast you under the heel of Christ. I declare that you may do nothing there but suffer with his heel upon your neck and your face in the dust, which is your right and good and perfect station.
A Prayer for Refreshing during Battle
Heavenly Father, in the name of your son Jesus I ask that you continue to anoint my flesh as well as my spirit, that I might prevail against the wicked.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I command the entire army of Satan to stop and listen to the sound of my voice. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I bind and gag you all and cast you under the heel of Christ. I declare that you can do nothing there but suffer with his heel upon your necks and your faces ground in the dust, where you of right ought to be.
Angels of the Living God, go forth. Spoil the enemy's camp. Break his lines of communication. Ruin his supplies. Leave him nothing with which to fight. Create havoc and panic among his troops and cause him to dread further battle.
Command mutiny
Command desertion
.Galations 4
19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.Prayer for Intercessors Heavenly Father, in the name of your son, Jesus, I ask you to pour out fresh intercessory anointings of your Holy Spirit upon ( Speak names.) and me and place a double portion of travail in birth upon all who will receive it until you call more intercessors.
I Timothy 2
1 I EXHORT therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
A prayer for those in the government
Heavenly Father, in the name of your son, Jesus, I ask that you pour out blessings of wisdom and knowledge and faith for government upon (speak names) that your name may be glorified, that your children may be born, and that your joy may be full.
Luke 11
49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute;
I Corinthians 12
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
II Corinthians 12
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.
Ephesians 4
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of Christ:
Hebrews 3
1 WHEREFORE, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
Matthew 13
57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Mark 6
4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
Luke 4
24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
Luke 6
22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Luke 11
49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute;
I Corinthians 12
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Ephesians 4
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of Christ:
Acts 8
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
Acts 21
8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
I Corinthians 12
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Ephesians 4
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of Christ:
II Timothy 4
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
Jeremiah 10:21
Jeremiah 23:1
Ephesians 4
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of Christ:
I Corinthians 12
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
Ephesians 4
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of Christ:
Titus 2
3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, Employer Nations Catastrophes Ministries Churches Organizations Events Birth
Psalm 2
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Isaiah 66
8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
Author
If the Church is Zion then she must travail to bring forth her children. They will come forth as soon as, but not before, she travails.
Zecharia
12 10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn,
Romans 8
26 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.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Author
The above seems to speak of a deep rending of the heart, a wrenching of the soul, a drastic, frantic, rescue-or-die-trying way to pray which can only be experienced with the help of the Spirit. This is travailing in birth.
II Peter 3
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Author
There is the glorious revelation of God's unchanging will concerning the lost. With this we can ask for souls with confidence that we are asking according to his perfect will.
Galations 4
19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
Jude
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
A Prayer for Anointing Before Travail in Birth
Heavenly Father, in the name of your son Jesus I ask you to anoint me with your Holy Spirit, and place upon me a double portion of travail in birth, that your name may be glorified, that your children may be born, and that your joy may be made full, your eyes being made full of your children.
A Prayer for Regeneration
Heavenly Father, in the name of your son Jesus, I ask you to place upon me a double portion of travail in birth for (speak names)
Binding Together
Deuteronomy 22
13 If any man take a wife, and go in unto her
19 Deuteronomy 24:1-4
Psalms 147:3
Isaiah 49:25
Isaiah 61:1-3
Ezekiel 34:16
Malachi 2:13-16
Matthew 16:19
Matthew 18:18
Matthew 19:3-12
Mark 10:2-12
I Corinthians 7:11
I Corinthians 7:27,28
I John 5:14-15
Psalm 149
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;
7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
8 To bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
Isaiah 43
25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
Daniel 10
12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
Matthew 8
16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:
Matthew 10
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
Matthew 12
29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
Matthew 16
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Mark 6
13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.
Mark 16
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Ephesians 4
27 Neither give place to the devil.
Ephesians 6
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 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.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
James 4
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
I John 4
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. Author When someone asks me to pray about a problem and God reveals to me that the problem is being influenced by the enemy in a personal way I ask God to anoint me with his Holy Spirit to do battle and then I proceed into combat. When I want a devil to stop doing something I talk to it and tell it to stop. It's just that simple. What you say is what you get. What you don't say is what you might as well forget.
Exodus 21:22
Leviticus 18:21
II Chronicles 28:3
Job 31:15
Psalms 7:3 10:8 14:28 22:10 106:37 127:3
Prov 6:17 31:8
Ecclesiastes 11:5&6 12:14
Isaiah 49:1
Jeremiah 2:34 31:15
Ezekiel 16:20&21 22:27 23:37-39
Matthew 12:14
I Corinthians 6:19
Healing
A good study can be made by reading all of the chapters in the Bible which contain a healing.
Genesis........20, 25, 29, and 30
Exodus ........32
Numbers........12, 14, 16, 21, and 25
I Samuel........1
II Samuel......24
I Kings........17
II Kings....... 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 13, and 20
I Chronicles ..21
Job ...........42
Isaiah........ 38
Matthew ........8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21
Mark ...........1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10
Luke ...........1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 18, and 22
John ...........4, 5, 9, and 11
Acts ...........3, 5, 8, 9, 16, 19, 20, 21, and 28
Viewpoints
We are commanded to heal the sick. Matthew 10:8, Luke 9:2, and 10:9 say, "...heal the sick..."
We are given authority to heal the sick. Luke 9:1 says that he gave his disciples power to cure diseases.
We should have been taught to heal the sick. Matthew 28:19&20 say that the apostles were to go and teach everyone to do everything that Jesus taught the apostles to do.
The apostles did teach us to heal the sick by writing the four Gospels and the book of Acts.
Healing is closely related to driving out spirits. Out of 49 passages describing a supernatural healing, 22 mention a spirit, devil, or Satan.
It is appropriate to minister more than once to accomplish the healing, for Jesus did just this as recorded in Mark 8:22-25.
We are commanded to know God's will in Ephesians 5:17.
We are assured that we will receive if we ask according to God's will in I John 5:14.
To ask perfectly according to His will, pray in tongues as in Romans 8:27.
Jesus Christ gave Himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil world according to the will of God our Father. Galations 1:4
We should be confident. Hebrews 10:35-39.
Heavenly Father, in the name of your Son, Jesus, I pray for (speak names) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give unto them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of their understanding being enlightened; that they may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavanly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant them, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in their hearts by faith; that they, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that they might be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
I have placed this section last because I do this kind of intercession last during my prayer time, not because I consider it the least important. I don't believe that God needs any system of priorities, since His mind is infinite. God cares about everything infinitely. When we say that God cares more about our souls than our bodies we are really expressing what is most important to us.
When you receive a specific prayer request, determine whether the object of the request is an actual desire. You may do this through the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, or the discerning of spirits or simply by gentle conversation with the person until he voluntarily admits the truth to himself and you, but not by trapping him with cunning into blurting out a cherished secret. People sometimes ask for prayer for something that they think they are expected to want but for which they have no honest desire. This type of a request will cause you to waste your prayer time, for it will not be granted. God is not mocked.
If you determine that the prayer request represents a genuine desire then you will be free to pray with confidence. If, however, you find that the prayer request does not represent a genuine desire, you may still pray for the person as Paul prayed for the Ephesians that the eyes of his understanding may be enlightened and that he may know the hope of his calling. Either way you are accomplishing the work of an intercessor.
Now I would like to add something for balance. Try to keep judgement out of your intercession. Ask God to anoint you with his Holy Spirit to respond to people with the mind of Christ. Knowing as Christ knows is far removed from judging with our carnal mind. If you fail to know the difference, the work of intercession will be a difficult task for you in deed!
Matthew 7
7 Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
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I believe that God rejoices in our petitions as much as in our praise. I believe that when we fail to ask him for that which we desire and turn instead to our own resources we are actually worshipping other gods and committing spiritual adultery, but when we first go to Him for our desires and then let Him use whatever means He wishes to grant us them, we are communing with him just as surely as if we were singing praises to him in raptured ecstasy.
What freedom is brought to us when we repent of the tradition that we should only ask for our needs! How much closer we are to his perfect will when we ask with honest desire for that which we are certain God longs to grant us out of his abundant goodness! How perfectly we walk in newness of life when we want what God wants and then ask for it with confidence!
First, there is the subject of prayer. Some do it with violence. Others do it quietly. The rest rarely do it at all, perhaps sensing that the first two categories of people resent each other. Almost all styles of prayer are criticized by someone. The person who loves to pray quietly says that the loud prayer warrior is only trying to draw attention to himself and the person who thrives on spiritual warfare declares the gentle intercessor to be powerless. Those who take prayer seriously usually develop a specialised style which is limited in use. After they achieve perfection in that style they assume that it is the best way for everyone, making them the master and obligating everyone to study under them.
Next is the subject of spiritual gifts. There is controversy over the correct manner of recieving the Holy Ghost. Some people behave as though they have forgotten what it was like for them to receive as they declare the correct method for new candidates. Sometimes the church seems almost like a fraternity in which new and more frightening trials are dreamed up for new initiates. When a candidate receives in spite of all these rules and realizes that his experience was simpler than it had been described to him, he does not share this fact for fear that the authenticity of his experience will be questioned. The person who was tortured by well meaning friends who tried to assist the person by drastic measures, when asked to help others receive, may leave the candidates so much to themselves that they don't know whether they have had an authentic experience or not. The patient soul who prayed for the baptism for years and finally received may be so excited that he torments everyone around him who has not received with the idea that they are not earnestly seeking.
Last is the subject of physical health. Some who rarely are ill believe that sickness is from the devil and is not a part of a Christian's life unless they are disobedient. Others who are often sick see illness as the chastening of the Lord and that everyone who exercises faith for healing is rebellious. A minister who admits he doesn't know everything about healing is seen as a doubt peddler and a preacher who tries to teach a few principles of healing is seen as thinking that he can do it without God. Healing is rarely experienced, either out of fear of the occult or from substituting presumption for faith. The sick hesitate to request to be ministered to and those motivated toward healing are hesitant to offer their help. It has been my experience that the normal behavior of Christians is to react rather than to respond, to specialize rather than to build on experience, to reject rather than to respect, to fear rather than to question, to persecute rather than to investigate, to hate rather than to pity, and to idolize rather than to admire.