The Power of Intercessory Prayer
Teach Us to Pray • Sermon • Submitted
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· 38 viewsPrayer is the greatest weapon God has given us in the spiritual warfare in which we live. There is power when the people of God unite in prayer. There is wisdom and healing when we learn to pray for one another. In this message, Pastor Bill explores the spiritual, emotional, and physical aspects of intercessory prayer.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
We are in a battle! We are fighting a war that has a real enemy and real casualties.
This war that is raging is not physical but spiritual. It is the war between God and Satan, and we are caught in the middle. This enemy wants to kill, steal, and destroy. But he is a coward that preys on the weak. He preys on humanity and specifically God’s people. Those in a covenant relationship with the Father and redeemed by the blood of his Son, Jesus Christ.
So we are told to put on the Armor of God to stand in this fight.
I think many of you might be familiar with this Armor of God we are to put on:
Belt of Truth: The Word of God
Breastplate of righteousness: The Ways of God
The readiness of the gospel as shoes for our feet: the Motivation of God
The Shield of Faith: The Protection of God
the Helmet of Salvation: The Redemption of God
And the Sword of the Spirit: The Power of God
All of these are the works and actions of God. How do we contribute? How do we join the fight.
Through Prayer!
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Prayer unites the saints in times of war.
There is a fundamental truth in all aspects of life: strength in numbers. Whenever you have a group of people that have come into agreement and unity, they are a force to be reconned with, good or bad.
The first thing God says about Man is, “It is not good that man should be alone.”
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
We can apply this same fundamental truth to prayer. When a group of people becomes unified in the Spirit through prayer, there is nothing they can’t do.
Prayer is all about unity.
Prayer is all about unity.
Unity with the Father
Unity with the Father
Prayer is the unification of our desires with God’s design.
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
Unity with one another
Unity with one another
Approaching the Father with a unified heart produces spirit-filled results.
18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
Learning to pray with and for others
Learning to pray with and for others
Spiritually
Physically
Emotionally
1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.
Praying for the Spiritual needs of others
Praying for the Spiritual needs of others
The greatest need that any one of us has is the Lord.
God desires that all would repent and be reconciled back to God.
God desires that all would repent and be reconciled back to God.
9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
We pray for reconciliation with God.
We pray for reconciliation with God.
For the lost, we pray reconciliation with God.
For the redeemed, we pray for the relationship with God.
For the backslider, we pray for restoration with God.
Praying for the Physical needs of others
Praying for the Physical needs of others
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, 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, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
The Pray of endurance from the hardness of this world
The Pray of endurance from the hardness of this world
Jesus desires you to come to him when you need help.
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
The prayer of faith over the sick
The prayer of faith over the sick
Again we see that confession is tied to healing.
A righteous person has insight into the true matter at hand, and therefore, knows how to pray.
Praying for the Emotional needs of others
Praying for the Emotional needs of others
The prayer of love for the soul
The prayer of love for the soul
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints,
The prayer of wisdom and revelation
The prayer of wisdom and revelation
16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,
The prayer of hope through the power of Christ
The prayer of hope through the power of Christ
18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might