Intercessory Prayer For Others

By David J. Stewart | March 2014

Colossians 4:12, “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”

       The following is an excellent article that I found today which explains the Biblical doctrine of INTERCESSORY PRAYER. We I say “INTERCESSORY PRAYER,” I mean praying to God for OTHERS. This type of unselfish prayer for others is seldom preached anymore in our churches. Instead we hear many preachers teaching the “give to get” philosophy. They say that if you give “seed money” TO THEM that it will grow and reap health, wealth and prosperity in PERSONAL earthly treasures. Such demonic teaching has destroyed countless churches and sent millions of lost sinners to Hell, who refused to come to Christ because they were turned off by the greed, deception and shady business of televangelism.

Jesus told us in Matthew 6:7-8 not to pray lengthy prayers for OUR SELF, because God the Father already KNOWS what our needs are (even the needs that we don't know we have). Instead, Jesus taught us in Luke 11:5-8 to pray at LENGTH for OTHERS. This is known as “INTERCESSORY PRAYER,” and it pleases God greatly when we think, live and pray FOR OTHERS. That's the essence and heart of what Christianity is all about, that is, HELPING OTHERS in Jesus' name. Jesus continually looked upon the needs, burdens and affliction of OTHERS. Philippians 2:4-5, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus...” You'll never know what it means to be a great Christian until you forget about YOUR SELF and start praying FOR OTHERS. Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001) once said in a sermon that if he could teach his people any one thing besides salvation itself, it would be to GET OUT OF THE SELF LIFE!!! Amen!

(I'll finish this article later on below, but first please read the following awesome article by Miss Diana S. Dew). END



Intercessory Prayer

"Oh, that one might plead for a man with God,
as a man pleadeth for his neighbor!"
Job 16:21

Copyright © 1976, 1977, 1997 — by Diane S. Dew

I. Great responsibility is involved in the ministry of intercession.

A. Because the Lord God did not find anyone to "stand in the gap," to intercede for the land, He was requited to pour out the judgment due its disobedience. Ezekiel 22:30-31

B. He would not have destroyed Sodom, because of Abraham's persistence, had He been able to find ten righteous men in the city. Genesis 18:23-32

C. Moses' intercession for the people of God, in pleading with the Lord for mercy, held back the hand of God from consuming the nation in His wrath. Exodus 32:7-14; Deuteronomy 9:8-9, 12-20, 23-27, etc.; Psalms 106:23

D. Because "prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God," Peter's "chains fell off from his hands," "the iron gate ... opened to them of its own accord," and he was led out of the prison by an angel of God! Acts 12:5-12, etc.

E. God told Jeremiah to search the city and see if he could find even one righteous man; that then He would spare the entire city (chapter 5:1). But Jeremiah knew that their hearts were all hardened against the Lord; that they were reprobate, beyond the place of repentance (ch. 5:3). God told him therefore to not even intercede for them (ch. 7:16; 11:14; 14:11).


II. God Himself seeks faithful intercessors.

Psalms 14:2 (2 Chronicles 16 :9) "The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God." Ezekiel 22 :30 "And l sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none."

A. The ministry of intercession is of divine appointment. Isaiah 62:6 "I have set . . ."

B. But it is the responsibility of each individual to take the initiative to "stir himself up to take hold of" God. Isaiah 64:7

C. Scripture says that God was amazed "and wondered that there was no intercessor." Isaiah 59:16

III. The Bible expresses in a descriptive way the very nature of this ministry and the great heaviness of spirit and burden of prayer experienced by those in intercession.

A. "Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water for the destruction of the daughter of my people. Mine eye trickleth down, and ceaseth not, without any intermission, till the Lord look down, and behold from heaven." Lamentations 3:48-50

B. Job cried, "Oh, that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbor!" Job 16:21

C. When God speaks of His intercessors ("watchmen") and their persistence in prayer, He says that they "never hold their peace day nor night" and "give Him no rest." Isaiah 62:6-7; Lamentations 2:18-19

D. "Their heart cried unto the Lord, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night: give thyself no rest; let not the apple of thine eye cease. Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord ..." Lamentation 2:18-19

E. "Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare Thy people, O Lord, and give not Thine heritage to reproach..." Joel 2:17

F. Moses told the children of Israel that in his intercession for them "I stood between the Lord and you." Deuteronomy 5:5; Psalms 106:23

G. Jesus "began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; and saith unto them (his disciples), My soul is exceeding sorrowful ... And He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed . . ." Mark 14:33-35


IV. Certain people should be the focus of intercessory prayer on a regular basis.

A. Leaders and government authorities. I Timothy 2 :1-2

B. The people of God. Joel 2:12-13, 17; Romans 1:9; Ephesians 6:18

C. Those in spiritual leadership. 2 Corinthians 1:11; I Thessalonians 5:25; Hebrews 13:17-18a

1. That they may have boldness to speak the truth. Ephesians 6:19-20

2. For their divine protection, spiritual strength, and victory over the enemy. Luke 22:31-32 ; John 17:15; Acts 12:5; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

3. That they will have an open door of ministry. Romans 15:30-32; Colossians 4:3; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

D. The community in which we live, or any city or nation. Psalms 112:6; Jeremiah 29:7; Daniel 9:3, 16-19


V. True intercession involves more than prayer in general. The intercessor bears a sense of burden and responsibility.

A. Great cries and tears in travail of prayer are known to those who have felt the urgency of a burden revealed to them by God. Ezra 10:1; Nehemiah 1:4; Isaiah 22:4 Jeremiah 13:17; 23:9; Lamentations 2:18-19; 3:48-51; Joel 2:12-13, 17; Hebrews 5:7

B. It often involves fasting. Deuteronomy 9:8-9, 12-20, 12-27; Ezra 10:6; Daniel 9:3-4; Joel 2:12-14, 17-18; Jonah 3:5-10


VI. Characteristics of a successful intercessor.

A. Persistence and determination. Isaiah 62:6-7; Lamentations 2:18-19 "keep not silence, and give Him no rest...day and night ..."

B. Patience. Isaiah 62:6-7; Lamentations 2:18-19

C. Faith. Isaiah 64:7

D. Severe self-discipline and selflessness (due to personal identification with the need). Mark 14:33-35; Lamentations 3:48-50

For information on 70 other such studies, at cost, write me at DS Dew, PO Box 340945, Milwaukee, WI 53234 or email me at DianeDew@aol.com. All studies in this series are available in printed, bound form at cost. (This is a ministry to the Body of Christ, not a money-making venture.) For more information on obtaining a hard copy of these articles & studies, go to the List of Publications.

SOURCE: Intercessory Prayer: A Study in the Scriptures

COPYRIGHT/REPRODUCTION LIMITATIONS

This file is the sole property of Diane S. Dew. It may not be altered or edited in any way. It may be reproduced only in its entirety for circulation as "freeware," without charge. All reproductions of this file must contain the copyright notice [i.e., "Copyright ©1976, 1977, 1997 by Diane S. Dew"]. This data file may not be used without the permission of Diane S. Dew for resale or the enhancement of any other product sold. This includes all of its content with the exception of a few brief quotations. Please give the following source credit: Copyright ©1976, 1977, 1997 by Diane S. Dew, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

END



Intercessory Prayer For Others (continued)

By David J. Stewart | March 2014

Praying is entirely a matter of one's individual and personal Christian faith. How much faith do you have in the promises of God? To the same degree that you believe Heaven really exists, and that God rewards those who diligently seek and serve Him by helping OTHERS, to that same degree you are going to be passionately motivated to give to the work of Christ generously, joyfully, consistently and prayerfully. There is no greater investment than debt-leveraging everything you own to invest in an eternal lifestyle.

I'm going to spend my life sowing the seed of the gospel, donating money to Independent Fundamental Baptist Christian missionaries on the field making a difference for God. I'm going to give TO THE POOR (genuinely poor, and not because someone needs a pack of cigarettes who lives in the park homeless). And I'm going to PRAY for OTHERS, begging God to help them according to His will; and thus, I am laying up treasures in Heaven by obeying the Word of God. The Bible teaches that God rewards LABOURING IN PRAYER. God COMMANDS us to pray WITHOUT CEASING (1st Thessalonians 5:17). PRAYER IS WORK!!!

We hear banks and money institutions telling people to lay up worldly treasures, so that they can enjoy a nice and carefree lifestyle when they retire (at age 95 if the government gets their way). Investing money today in the various U.S. retirement accounts for a nest egg that you hope to enjoy 30 years from now is foolish. By doing a little homework, you'll learn that inflation is a racket. For example: If college tuition had kept in pace with U.S. inflation, a year's tuition for college in 2014 should be $8,000; but it's a whopping $44,000 per student on average!!! In the U.S., 42 college presidents get paid over $1,000,000 a year!!! And another 180 college presidents get paid over $500,000 a year!!! What unethical men! They don't care about the kids at all. It's all about money and the intellectual arrogance of foolish men who are devoid in their souls of the wisdom of God (which comes only from the fear of God).

We have God's solemn promise repeatedly in the Scriptures that He will reward us an HUNDREDFOLD in eternity (Mark 10:29-30), and in this life with the blessing of a Christian CHURCH FAMILY (which is priceless). I'd rather have a church family to love, give, serve, help and pray for than to have all the money, fame and pleasures that this world has to offer.

One thing I've learned about the Christian life is that the ONLY way to lay up treasures in Heaven is by SELLING THAT YE HAVE (sacrificial giving) for the poor, and sacrificial praying IMPORTUNATELY for OTHERS. Intercessory prayer simply means that we are praying for someone else. “Importunate” simply means that we are consistently asking and begging God for the needs and lives of OTHERS. Praying at length, even begging continually for the needs of OTHERS, goes totally contrary to everything heathen society teaches today. The world pursues self-improvement and doesn't care about others, aka, “SELF” magazine.

The crazy world writes books on how to manipulate your way to success. Many women have underwent expensive breast enlargement surgeries (308,000 U.S. women in 2011), because statistics show that big-breasted women get more jobs, higher paying jobs, more frequent promotions, more respect in the workplace, et cetera. It's a sad but true phenomena in America, evidencing just how decadent and perverse our culture has deteriorated into over the past century. Woe unto America!!! God is not the One Who is changing, for the Lord NEVER changes (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). It is sinful men who have changed, and will continue to change. I don't even recognize America today as compared to 35 years ago in 1979.

The essence of Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:19-20 to lay up treasures in Heaven instead of down here upon earth, is that everything that we do for OTHERS (who cannot return the favor) will be rewarded. A poor person cannot give anything back to us, so our blessing is secure in Heaven. However, if you buy a friend dinner and then he turns around a week later and buys you dinner, your generosity was cancelled out. There will be no reward because you received your reward. Hence, the idea behind intercessory prayer is to pray for OTHERS who are spiritually either unsaved, backslidden, immature, or incapacitated with bodily afflictions. Jeremiah 5:1, “Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.” END

Importunity In Prayer

PRAYER MAIN PAGE


“THIS KIND”

James 4:2, “...ye have not, because ye ask not...”

What blessings have we all forfeited by not praying? One of the most horrible thoughts I have is one day hearing God say, “You could have had all these blessings and helps, but you didn't pray.”

Pray for each other brethren, because if we don't no one else is going to do it!

IMPORTUNITY IN PRAYER (begging God for OTHERS)
Job 16:21, “O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!”

Pray briefly for your own needs . . .
Matthew 6:7-8, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”

Pray at length for the needs of OTHERS . . .
Luke 11:5-8, “And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.”

The World At Our Doorstep!


Pray without ceasing.” —1st Thessalonians 5:17

"And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God." —Luke 6:12


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