When Prayer Isn’t About You

I. WHAT IS INTERCESSION?

Definition: Intercession — the act of petitioning God or praying on behalf of another person or group.

The key component of intercession is the removal of self.

It is prayer focused on others, groups, cities, and nations.

It is stepping into someone else’s need and carrying it before God.

It is not formulaic

Transition Statement: Intercession is not a side ministry — it is the very ministry of Christ.

II. INTERCESSION IS THE MINISTRY OF CHRIST Jesus Modeled It on Earth

John 17:20–26 (CSB)

20 “I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word. 21 May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me. 22 I have given them the glory you have given me, so that they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me. 24 Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they will see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the world’s foundation. 25 Righteous Father! The world has not known you. However, I have known you, and they have known that you sent me. 26 I made your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love you have loved me with may be in them and I may be in them.”

Jesus prayed for:

His disciples

Future believers (that includes us)

Unity

Glory

The Father’s will

III. INTERCESSORY PRAYER IS INTENSE

Intercession is not casual. It is spiritual labor.

Illustration:

Like a surrogate mother carries a child she will never keep — She labors so someone else can receive joy.

That is intercession. We labor in prayer for someone else’s breakthrough.

But There Is Tension

We are not begging God. We are not manipulating heaven.

Yet we pray with deep burden.

Romans 8:26–27 (CSB)

26 In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Intensity does not equal effectiveness.

Intensity reflects:

A softened heart

A burden that mirrors God’s heart

Jesus in Gethsemane

He prayed with intensity — but ended with surrender: “Not my will, but Yours.”

Reflection Question:

Before we ask God to move… Are we asking Him to break our hearts for what breaks His?

(Talk about the song Hosanna)

IV. INTERCESSORY PRAYER IS CONSISTENT

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (CSB)

17 Pray constantly.

Intercession is not occasional. It is continual.

The Persistent Widow

Luke 18:6–8 (CSB)

6 Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 Will not God grant justice to his elect who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay helping them? 8 I tell you that he will swiftly grant them justice. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Persistence is not about wearing God out.

It is about:

Refusing to forget our calling

Refusing to let go of others

Making intercession part of our spiritual DNA

Ask the Church:

How consistent are you in praying for others?

What drives consistency?

Consistency flows from identity.

When prayer is no longer performance… We move into discovery.

We discover:

God’s will

God’s heart

Our own motives

The mysteries of His Kingdom

V. INTERCESSORY PRAYER IS FILLED WITH FAITH

Intercession is rooted in confidence — not doubt.

Hebrews 4:16 (CSB)

16 Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

We approach boldly.

The Lord’s Prayer

“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

That is a daring prayer.

We are partnering with Christ to establish His kingdom on earth.

John 14:13–14 (CSB)

13 Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

1 John 5:14–15 (CSB)

14 This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him.

Faith-filled intercession:

Aligns with God’s will

Trusts God’s timing

Believes God hears

VI. INTERCESSION RESULTS IN THE GLORY OF GOD

The ultimate purpose of intercession is not outcomes — It is the glory of the Father.

Praying for salvation → Glory to God Praying for healing → Glory to God Praying for church growth → Glory to God

John 14:13–14 (CSB)

13 Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Ephesians 3:20–21 (CSB)

20 Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

CLOSING EXHORTATION

Intercession is:

The ministry of Christ

The labor of love

The persistence of faith

The pathway to God’s glory

Final Challenge:

Who are you carrying in prayer?

Who are you laboring for?

If we are the body of Christ — Then we must continue the interceding work of Christ.

Let us pray not for performance. Not for emotional display. But for hearts aligned with heaven.

Let us be an interceding church.